Grado SR125e Prestige Series Open Backed Headphone

I bought a pair of Grado SR60i headphones in 2010 direct from then SuperFi without hearing a pair, they were only for my iPod so anything was going to be better than what 'Apple' provided with the iPod and was happy with the sound from them using the iPod but was amazed by the sound quality from them when plugged into my CD player, these are the cheapest that Grado offered at the time, I paid around £80 for them, headphones this cheap just do not sound that good with a good CD player. I bought a pair of Sennheiser HD660s headphones in the summer of 2018, just before E.I.S.A gave them 'Headphones of the year' award, I had a credit note left with a dealer so I gave them a try, was I very disappointed in them, they were going to go back but I gave them 50 hours use and found they were good with classical music and live concerts, they are so laid back they make heavy rock sound slow, big band sound they are perfect, brass sections as with other parts of the band are placed perfectly into a pin point stereo image but with such a high impedance of 150 ohms a fair bit of power was needed to get them going, my Marantz's headphone output just wouldn't drive them. It was with the reasurance of good sound quality i ordered a pair of Grado SR325e headphones in July 2019 for use with my Marantz SA11s3 player. They are heavier than the SR60i headphones but have the alluminium headpieces and a heavier gauge cable. They are slightly less comfortable also but not intrusive as to make them uncomfortable, I did find the cable shorter than I would like. Sound quality, this to me is the most important thing, i do not care what they look like as long as the sound quality and the build quality is good then i am happy. The first disc i played 'The Beatles' 1967-1970 Disc One (1995 issue) It took a bit of time for the headphones to settle in but by the end of the disc i can honestly say i have heard things from this recording i have never heard before, the sound was neither forward or set back, you are inside the recording or actually on the stage during the performance unlike my Sennheiser HD660s headphones which place the recording so far back that you would have thought the harmonies and multi-tracked instrument drops were just not there. The next disc i played amazed me, it's a recording i have played hundreds of times since i bought it 4 years ago, it sounds stunning via my Musical Fidelity NU-Vista 600 amplifier and Bowers & Wilkins 805D3 speakers 'The Girl In The Other Room' (SACD) by Diana Krall, these headphones showed clearly every nuance of Diana Krall's stunning gravel vocal and stunning piano playing every foot movement on the piano foot pedals, every smack of her lips, every instrument that was recorded was there, everything had that 'magic' and it's only the second disc these headphones have had anything played through them and they improve up to 50 hours of use upon where they settle down fully and you are left with that rich, detailed stunning Grado sound quality. I payed £269.00 for these from HiFiHut/Amazon, i was hoping to get a price reduction during the 'Prime Day' offers but alas 'No' I tried them on my Computer using the 'Loxjie' valve headphone amp via the 'Balanced' output from the 'Korg DS-100 DAC' but they sounded rather 'spitty' and as they are reserved for my Marantz SA11s3 direct using the onboard Class A headphone amplifier I will be happy using the Grado SR60i and the Sennheiser HD660s in 'Balanced and Single ended' modes respectively with the computer. Without a doubt these are the best headphones from my collection of the three, anyone looking at these as a upgrade please be in no doubt there really are amazing. As a footnote. Anyone who is not happy with the sound from their pair of 'Sennhhiser HD660s' try removing the ear pads and taking the thin foam pad out then replace the ear pads, they come alive instead of sleeping in the background, big improvement but still not a patch on the Grado SR325e, i wonder just how good the reference series of Grado's headphones are ??

Utterly brilliant headphones. I've been through several pairs of headphones over the years, from the more affordable SR80s to several Sennheiser models and none can compare. I will place the usual caveat on anything as subjective as headphones that your opinion may be different. For me, the sound quality is excellent and well balanced. There is no bass heaviness to make your ears weary after listening, the treble is sharp but not overpowering. Everything is clear and the overall sound is very well balanced to my ears, much more to my taste that having heavy bass. The biggest test I normally have of headphones is whether they bring songs/albums you have listened to hundreds of times alive in a new way you've never heard before. These do. With good quality input (flac audio files) I find new reasons to love my favourite songs all over again. Where I've found these headphones really shine in when I hook them up to my record player, although this may be a fairly subjective the end result is that the music is something else entirely, I happily listen for hours. The headphones are comfortable once you stretch the headband out, I can happily listen to music for several hours without feeling uncomfortable at all, the pads are great. The open cups leak a lot of sound out and let sound in but you get a sound space which feels massive because of that. Due to this they aren't suitable for portable use, the cable is also lengthy and thick, both qualities you want for home use but ill suited for use on the go. I was somewhat hesitant to spend this much on a pair of headphones and wondered whether the jump from SR80s to these was going to be worth it. It was. Every time I put them on I'm impressed, even after 6 months, there's always some detail to be found that you've never heard before in a song.

Firstly, if any of the following are true then Grado headphones are not your best bet: You love thundering bass. You need headphones that leak very little sound. You want portable headphones. You primarily listen to MP3 format or via your phone For everyone else the 325e is a fantastically musical headphone with incredible tonal accuracy, bags of detail, large sound-stage and effortless dynamics. I find that the 325e engages me in both the sound and emotional content of the music more than any other headphone I have used. They suck you into the music in an exciting and intoxicating way and you can get lost for hours. However there are two barriers to get over before you achieve this level of musicality and enjoyment. Firstly I agree with many others that they can sound bass light and slightly bright or brash. To eliminate all of these negative characteristics and make them sing to their full potential I have had to use a music player and dedicated headphone amp worth around £1000! They demand good quality equipment to sing. Secondly you may find them uncomfortable; not necessarily unbearably so but you always know you are wearing them and this can limit your listening sessions. So unless you have a seriously good system you may well find them wanting and even if you get them to perform to their full potential comfort may be an issue. However they are so good that you have to try them. Bottom line is that the 325e is a true audiophile headphone. Highly recommended. Pros - Sound. Grados' have a specific sound characteristic that is only fully appreciated from the upper level of the prestige range. Each and every note has a precision and realism and a feeling of space around each instrument and vocal. This precision does not mean that they are clinical because there is a wholeness to the sound. However being Grados' they have a particular frequency characteristic that gives bass notes extraordinary detail and precision that is free of reverberation and bloat but this is achieved at the expense of power. This means that bass impact in terms of slam is reduced but by no means eliminated, but the speed and detail gives an extraordinary drive and pace to bass that most headphones cannot match. Vocals are wondrous and slightly forward in the mix and at all times the level of subtle detail brings out the emotion in voices and instruments alike, however there can be a slight hardening on high notes but it is transient and doesn't detract from the overall musicality. I would say that there is an effortless impulsion to their presentation that is intoxicating, however when pushed to high volumes they can sound a bit edgy, but the balance and level of detail means that you get all of the musicality at lower to medium listening levels. The detail does not lead to a felling of a clinical presentation because everything sounds integrated and fluid. All other headphones that I have heard at twice the price (except other Grados') sound 'muffled', vague and compressed in comparison. - Build quality. Build is very good and they are made to last. Although the cable is thick and bulky this does eliminate any vibrations travelling up the cable and into the headphones. The look and feel just confirms their build quality. - Easy to drive. Can be driven by phones and DAPs with no need for dedicated headphone amplifier. - Consistent. They sound great across all genres from classical to dub-step and all formats. They make the best of high bit rate MP3 but not low rate standard MP3 or poorly produced recordings. - Good value. Even at £350 I have not heard any headphone that I prefer at twice the price (other than other Grados'). - Cool. As in, don't get hot a sweaty. - Packaging. In general Grado don't waste your money on expensive packaging or supplying a carrying case. I think this is a good thing as the money goes on the headphones. - Low volume listening. You will probably find that you do not need to crank up the volume as the Grados' sound at their best at low to medium levels but with no loss of excitement, fun or musicality. In the long term this is good for your hearing. CONS - Comfort. The 325e are acceptably comfortable for a couple hours and do get more so with wear. However people with larger ears may find them too uncomfortable and also after a couple of hours the foam surround can start to irritate. Personally I am just on the cusp of having the right ear size and I do get a little irritation from the foam consequently you always know you are wearing them. Comfort is their Achilles heal and if they didn't sound so good I would send them back and it is the sole reason they lose a five star rating. - Cabling.The cable is not detachable and as far as I know they cannot be converted to a balanced cable, however given their incredible levels of detail a balanced cable may be over the top. Also because of the build quality I cannot imagine ever having to change the cable. The cable is also thick gauge and its weight does pull on the headphone which doesn't help the comfort issue. - Sound Leakage. All Grados' are open backed and leak a lot of sound to the environment. This isn't a fault as they are deigned to do so. This also works both ways so for intense listening the user needs to be in a quiet environment. Not Portable. Again this isn't a fault but, the leakage coupled with their size means that they are definitely not portable. - High level listening. The forward and detailed nature of the 325s' mean that they may start to sound a little shrill or edgy at high volumes. Can be critical of poor recordings. Poorly produced albums can sound a bit flat and lifeless. Useful Comments (I hope) - If you are a Grado user then I recommend you try the 325e as to my ears above all other Grado headphones they push the boundaries in terms of the Grado 'house sound', and it is a place worth exploring. - If you are new to Grado headphones then given what I have said I would suggest you try the 125e or 225e prior to the 325e. - As usual with Grados' the foam softens a little with use and makes the headphones more comfortable over time. - I found that in the first 30 hours the 325s' improved in sound quality. I would suggest that you just let them play to themselves for about 10 or so hours before you start using them. - To get the most from the Grados' you need a good quality source player. Phones are a bit of a waste and I would suggest a minimum quality of something like a Fiio X5 mark II player all the way up to a £3,500 Astell&Kern. They sound fantastic through my £7000 CD player and £5000 amp. - I find that they sound best with neutral to slightly warmer DAPS and amps. They sound great through my Onkyo DP-X1 and also connected to my Little Dot Mk2 Valve amplifier (tube rolled), which increases the bass impact and slightly softens the mids and highs. - Bass impact can be improved by using a good quality headphone amp.

over several months. The reason I had so many of these are as follows: 1 - I love the Grado sound signature 2- The Grado SR125i developed Grattle / noticeable rattling coming from either one or both of the drivers. – I highly suggest Googling this before purchasing a set. So, as you can see, I liked the sound enough to go through 3 returns, before calling it a day. I purchased Beyerdynamics DT880 after this fiasco, and I have been happy with them, the build quality being superb. They have been on whilst cycling... in the rain. A few times as well. The thing is, you kind of miss the Grado sound signature and therefore, I saw that these headphones had an e at the end of their name. So I have gone into this with the hopes that e stands for no rattle. These headphones sound great, a ample amount of bass and clarity which is quite direct. I have had them for the couple of months and no noticeable rattling noise as of yet. A few points to note – The thick cables tangle after the Y joint, not sure what it is called. They can become uncomfortable after an hour of use or so around the back of the ears. In summary, I personally would give these 5 stars because I really do like the sound that they emit, and until I develop a problem with these headphones I would recommend these to anyone else. * *recommend for people who don’t mind noise leakage (Open Backed), the style – a lot of plastic, the thick cable – not ideal for out and abouting as you’ll find it weighing your head down.

This is my first 'serious' set of headphones and they are a revelation. I feel like my ears have been scrubbed clean and I'm hearing my music for the first time. My other headphones are some Eptymotic Research Hf3s (which I use for running), a pair of philips fidelio m1s (for commuting) and some Grado sr60s. Out of these I love the Grado sr60s the most. I used to have some AKG K450 which were great and really loud, good for commutes and travelling but they made my ears way too hot for long listening so replaced them with the M1s when they died. The M1s aren't as much fun (more laid back sound) but they are very comfy. I went through a few sets of Sleek Audio SA1s which have a great sound for in-ear but the flakey cable drove me mad. I switched those for the hf3s and the sharper sound took some getting used to but I enjoy running in them as they are very light. However the sr60s have been with me for many years and I always want to use them, but the open backs make them terrible for work (or being around anyone). Well, now I have the luxury of working from home so I bit the bullet and got a serious pair of Grados. The sr325e are incredibly detailed and it's like hearing my music afresh. The M1s are very warm compared to the sr60s but compared to the sr325e they sound like they are caked in mud! It's not a loss of bass more a clarity of everything else. However if bass is everything to you these probably aren't the phones for you. Not quite used to the donut pads yet, tried switching them with the pads off my sr60s as they feel a little more comfy. The build quality of the sr325e helps get over the cheap plastic vibe of the rest of the sr range but they still come in the cheapest packaging you'll ever see from a premium product. Not followers of the 'unboxing is part of the pleasure' philosophy. But I don't care when they sound as good as they do. Great headphones.

I am a very big fan of Grado headphones and this the 5th pair I have purchased. I have used other brands but always seem to return to Grado as in my view they offer an excellent balance of comfort, performance and price. This is my second pair of the 125 series. The previous pair was the older 125i model. I have used cheaper and more expensive Grado models vs the 125 model but I consider this model to be an excellent price/performance balance for computer/ipod listening. I do not notice a big performance difference with this new e series vs the older model other than they seem a little mellower/smoother with the sound. The new e model does come with the 3,5mm PC jack vs the 125i, which had the HiFi 6.35m jack. However, both models give a really smooth, clear sound. I listen to a lot of rock music on my ipod and you get a very clean bass sound with the 125 model. I consider there is a step change in quality moving from the SR80s to the 125 model and paying this extra for the 125s is a good investment. Like all headphones that are open they leak sound like a sieve so they need to be managed in public places. However, some sensible management of this situation does not distract from the pleasure of owning these headphones. In conclusion, a brilliant pair of headphones and fully recommended.

Tested these against Philips Fidelio X2 and X3 on a Creative X7 DAC with Burson Audio V6 Vivid and Classic op-amps and here's my subjective opinion. Sound: Their sound is very clear, relatively good soundstage, however I found the mids and the trebles harsh compared to the Philips headphones. The bass is definitely present but cannot match the depth of neither of the Philips headphones which have bigger, 50mm drivers. Cable: The cable looks and feels solid, it is attached to the headphones through a 2-sided connection to each earcup and it's relatively short (~1.5m). It is impractical mainly because of its thickness and the 2-sided connection. Comfort: These are uncomfortable headphones to wear for longer periods of time due to the smaller earcups and the rather hard headband, whereas the Philips Fidelios are the definition of a comfortable headphone. Value for money: Price-wise they are about the same as the Fidelio X3, however, the X2 is a much cheaper option with a better sound than any of the aforementioned

Very bright, harsh and screechy. I can get behind the idea of these headphones if they were being marketed towards people who have a hard time with hearing highs, such as the elderly, but I've seen so many people raving about how great they are. There's a lot of detail, but it's hard to enjoy it when the highs are so incredibly piercing. The sound stage isn't really there either, and the low end had a decent punch to it but actually seemed to distort whilst listening to bass-heavy music, which should not be happening with headphones at this price point. They're fairly comfortable given their very lightweight, but that's primarily due to the build quality as a whole being pretty dreadful. It's entirely made out of cheap plastic, and the cups are foam. After returning a set for a replacement to confirm that the awful sound wasn't just due to a faulty unit, it became clear that it's just a property of the headphones. Not recommended unless you ONLY listen to light female vocals and violins. They were both very enjoyable to listen to.

Questa recensione è per i modelli sr325e e sr125e. Questi i punti in comune: - suono dettagliato, eccellente distinzione delle varie voci/strumenti - scena acustica ampissima - "bleeding" elevatissimo (si sente tutto al di fuori) - isolamento nullo - materiali ottimi - suono neutro che non predilige nessun registro Queste le differenze: - il prezzo, 410€ per le 325 e 220€ per le 125, a mio avviso totalmente ingiustificato in quanto i driver sono gli stessi e il suono è quasi identico, l'unica differenza sostanziale sta nei materiali e nell'estetica (a questo proposito vorrei far notare come le 325 vengono vendute in america, dove sono prodotte, per 295 dollari, che equivalgono a 256 euro. Non si sa il perchè di un sovrapprezzo così esagerato. Le 125 vengono invece vendute a 150 dollari, ovvero 132€) - cupola e griglia in metallo nella 325 e in plastica nella 125 - archetto più spesso e curato nelle 325 - padiglioni conici (scomodissimi) nella 325 e piatti nella 125, decisamente più comodi (si possono però comprare a parte ed esistono quelli piatti per la 325) Consiglio vivamente l'acquisto delle 125, che io ho comprato usate per 100€ per una qualità audio pressochè identica, ho infatti poi venduto le 325. E va da sè che probabilmente le sr60e cioè le più economiche della serie non sono a loro volta troppo diverse, ma non avendole provate non posso dirlo con certezza. A chi avesse il dubbio, perchè molti lo scrivono, che queste cuffie siano da utilizzare solo con adeguata amplificazione, per come la vedo io questo è totalmente falso. La qualità delle cuffie (o dei diffusori) costituisce sempre la maggior parte della qualità del suono che andrete ad ascoltare. Fermo restando che utilizzando una buona sorgente ed amplificazione il risultato sarà decisamente migliore, l'uso di queste cuffie è assolutamente sensata anche con dispositivi portatili di qualità più bassa. Senza contare che ormai i dac portatili sono ovunque e a prezzi contenutissimi.

Ciao a tutti! Difficile non essere stupiti da queste meravigliose cuffie.. Parto dicendo che non sono cuffie adatte da un amante dei bassi e dell'isolamento più totale, perchè il suono che riproducono (testato in Flac da un riproduttore Hi-Fi) è una melodia perfettamente riprodotta, bilanciata ed equilibrata. con una dinamica pazzesca, che non enfatizza nessuna frequenza in particolare, ma che anzi, fa della neutralità e della purezza il suo punto forte. Senza un file flac e un riproduttore adatto non si apprezza tutta la qualità disponibile, certamente anche il cellulare più di bassa lega riesce a farle muovere, ma vi assicuro che non serve a niente un paio di cuffie del genere se non si ha tutto "l'impianto" di livello. Assodato quanto detto prima, passiamo alla comodità, i padiglioni in dotazione sono comodi, non scaldano troppo e non schiacciano la testa, io riesco a fare anche 3 ore consecutive con queste Grado, e anche a volumi alti non affaticano perchè tutte le frequenze riprodotte non "sparano" mai più delle altre e quindi non sarete mai intontiti da bassi esuberanti, da alti gracchianti, o da medi nasali. L'effetto "apple" è totale, i materiali sono premium, la pelle che ricopre l'arco superiore è morbida e di sostanza e i padiglioni esterni non sfigurano davanti a nulla, il cavo è della giusta sezione e anche i jack finali (è presente l'adattatore per i 6mm) sono di qualità e di sostanza. Con queste cuffie potrete veramente giudicare con estrema neutralità il mixaggio e il master del disco che state ascoltando e vi renderete conto di quali autori prestano attenzione ai dettagli e di quali registrano e mixano con patate carote ed ortaggi vari. Questo è un difetto da un certo punto di vista, perchè se ascolterete una cantantucola pop attuale vi renderete conto degli effetti e dell'autotune a manetta che va in voga in questi anni, e questo, vi farà cadere tantissimi miti XD!!!! Fortunatamente non è il mio caso, perchè fortunatamente non ascolto certa roba. Scherzi a parte, grazie a queste grado riesco ad apprezzare tutto, il charleston suonato con spazzole o con bacchette, il basso suonato con plettro, dita, slap, la chitarra che monta una certa dimensione di corde, o la voce che vibra, soffia, urla, scende e sale, il tutto condito da suoni di contorno (appunto per chi maniacalmente arricchisce i suoi brani) che perfettamente sposano ogni canzone... Sentirete gli archi grattare le corde, i fiati che giocano con il soffio, le diverse sonorità delle percussioni in base alla tipologia di materiale ecc In definitiva, consiglio l'acquisto agli amanti della perfezione sonora, della dinamica e della neutralità della musica registrata.

装着感が心配だったのですが好きです 涼しい イガイガしない 圧迫感もない その気になればずっとつけてられます 音質は人それぞれ好き嫌いがあると思います cd900stを持っています 寒い時にはソニー 暑けりゃこれ 両方音質に不満はないってことで

these headphones sound sublime, and represent phenomenal value. for over 15 years, i have owned sublime, accurate and yet warm sounding Grado RS-1 that i *love*. my ears are used to their warm, yet accurate sound and staging. i got the SR225e to use at work, but as a test plugged them into my home system, straight out of the box, without breaking them in, it is obvious they are (a) more easily driven than the RS-1, meaning they will play louder (great for being driven out of something like the Audioquest Dragonfly, which is my intended use); and (b) have punchier bass than the RS-1. on the other hand, as of now and without break-in, spatial resolution is smaller than the RS-1. nevertheless, considering the price differential, the SR225e is absolutely amazing, and will only get better as it breaks in some. absolutely recommended. musical, revealing, and lively. comfort level is fantastic due to the lightness. these are totally open cans so if you listen to loud music in an open office they're not the best choice. nor if you want noise isolation. but as a pure music engine, please hook them up to a worthy source so you can listen what they are truly capable of. PS on 1/22/15: 3 months into ownership, these are the only headphones i use at work, connected to a Cambridge Audio DacMagic Plus. the combo provides me hours of joy, listening to classical and jazz and new age, typically in FLAC format using JRiver Media Center. thoroughly enjoyable - even at very low volumes i hear a lot of detail and spatial resolution, but what i love is the fact i take in the entire performance because despite their accurate nature they are warm. PS on July 2018: I love the 225 so much I decided to check out the 325e. Don't bother. At least that is my opinion. I have a collection of headphones reaching from the 225e's $200 to $700 and above. I am not saying the 225s are better. But to me they deliver everything, and they are super comfy. *Maybe* they're better. I love them. PS2 on the 325e: It is odd because they claim the exact same specs, but the 225e I have play louder than the new 325e I received. makes comparing difficult, but reveals that Grado may have some issue with delivering consistent specs at times? i am not complaining if i happened to get the best 225e ever built. it's just odd there's such an obvious discrepancy with the sound level when the published specs claim there shouldn't. at this point in time, i rate the 225e far superior to the 325e. it really sounds louder and better - but again, this may be down to fluctuation. PS3: i also own 20 year old Grado RS-1, which i will always keep. i also owned Grado PS-500 for a while. I love the Grado sound. That said, my recommendation is - stay with the 225e. They are amazing. they do sound better than the PS-500 and the 325e (which i bought expecting improvement, and was underwhelmed with, because the 225e sounded better by every criteria), and they sound better than the RS-1 (which i will always keep, they were amazing in their day, and they provide me with a benchmark of how audio has come).

The Grado SR125e headphones are a nearly perfect headphone for me. The have all of the tight bass punch I need in that jazz drum beat and bass strumming while maintaining the utterly crisp and detailed mids and upper register for which Grado is so famous. This is all within the context of a slightly warmer sound over the SR80s (which have a slightly warmer sound than the 60s). Mind you, I’ve yet to find a pair of Grados that I don’t like, but they do improve at each price point so that, at least for these three, they seem the best value of their respective price points for quiet listening. They are, after all, open air, hence the wonderfully large sound stage. So, sound seeps out and into the headsets. When I need to close off the world, I go to my Sennheiser Momentum’s (see Cans: A Personal Journey Through Soundscapes for more on the Sennheisers) and for more mobility I use LG Platinum Tones with Comply Sport Earphone tips (see LG Tone Platinum Tone Brings the Clarity and Detail, Comply Sport Earphone Tips make Your Workout Bassalicous for more on these). I have loved the Grado line ever since my first pair of SR60s which I bought a little over eight years ago. The hallmark of Grado headphones is clarity and detail combined with an open sound stage. The SR 60s bring exactly that. There is nothing that touches them in that price range. If they are so good, why move up? Two reasons: the supporting base is reasonable but it lacks oomph and the overall tenor of the sound is a little analytic. I prefer something slightly warmer. The SR125es bring all the richness with tight bass while keeping that sparkling clarity and penchant for detail. The also are relatively easily driven, so, while an amp will help these, they don’t require one. I mostly listen to them with my LG V20 phone which sports an ESS Quad DAC that can push 32 bit / 384 kHz sound with a solid amp. Much of my music is FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) files ripped from CDs in the standard 44.1 kHz, 16-bit mode. I also have some lossless WMA files, 320 mp3, 256 mp3 and a smattering of others. However, I also have a mix of HD music (from HDTracks) ranging from 24 bit / 44.1 kHz to 24 bit / 192. I also traverse from classical orchestra and string quartet to jazz to electronica and mashups (think Lindsey Stirling’s dubstep pieces). The SR125es handle this eclectic mix of genres with aplomb. I would also say that the bass is slightly tighter than my Sennheiser Momentum as well a more detailed mids. That’s saying something since the bass and mids on the Momentums are smooth and clear with an astonishingly good soundstage for completely closed in over-the-ear (circumaural) headphones. What do you need to know about owning these? Well, when you first get them, the headband might be a bit tight; it loosens up over time. The cable to the headphones is thick and a bit stiff at first. It will also lose its tendency to not want to uncurl. It’s also permanently attached to the headphones, so if it breaks (unlikely with this set), you’ll need to send them in. I did this once with my SR60s; they were quick and the repair was reasonable. On par with a new set of cables. While breaking them in may improve them, they sound great right out of the box. As I indicated above, they need a relatively quiet environment but in such, your $150 will be well rewarded. I cannot recommend these enough. See joesgeekfest on Wordpress for more detail.