Grado SR60 Hi-Fi Headphones

Open-Back Headphones Built for First-Time Audiophile Listeners

The Grado SR60 is the most direct path into the Grado lineup and one of the longest-running open-back headphone models on the market. For more than three decades it has introduced listeners to the world of open-back listening with a simple, honest, and engaging approach that skips digital processing and closed-back tricks in favor of a straightforward dynamic driver design. The SR60 is the right choice for music lovers stepping into open-back headphones for the first time who want a lively, musical sound without paying flagship prices.

At the heart of the design sits a 44 mm X2 dynamic driver built around a Mylar diaphragm, copper voice coil, and rare-earth magnetic system. The tuning favors balance and musicality, delivering clear midrange, natural detail, and an inviting presentation designed for long listening sessions at home.

What Makes the SR60 Stand Out in the Classic Series

What sets this headphone apart at its tier is the combination of a die-injection molded open-back housing and Grado's steel-spring headband assembly. The molded cups keep the headphone light and comfortable while the open-back architecture lets music breathe naturally, producing the spacious presentation that defines the Grado listening experience. The fixed Bronze cable and the included 3.5 mm to 1/4 inch adaptor make it ready for both portable sources and full-size home gear straight out of the box.

Key Technical Specifications

• Transducer Type: Dynamic — single moving-coil driver per side for a coherent, musical presentation
• Operating Principle: Open air — open-back housing that creates an airy soundstage and natural imaging
• Driver Size: 44 mm X2 — large dynamic diaphragm with Mylar film, copper voice coil, and rare-earth magnets
• Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz — full-range coverage that reaches down to the lowest bass and up to the top of human hearing
• SPL (1 mW): 98 dB — efficient sensitivity that reaches comfortable listening levels from modest sources
• Normal Impedance: 38 ohms — easy to drive from phones, laptops, and entry-level headphone amplifiers
• Driver Matching: 0.1 dB — tightly matched left/right drivers for accurate stereo imaging
• Cable: Fixed Bronze cable, 3.5 mm termination with 1/4 inch adaptor — durable fixed wiring with included adaptor for home hi-fi gear
• Cushions: Grado S cushions — stock pads that sit on the ear and act as part of the tuning

Who the Grado SR60 Is For

The SR60 is built for listeners who want to experience open-back headphones for the first time without committing to a flagship price. It suits home listeners who want a lively, forward sound for rock, acoustic, and vocal-heavy genres, and it pairs naturally with phones, laptops, and modest desktop amplifiers thanks to the 38 ohm impedance and 98 dB sensitivity. Reviewers consistently describe the SR60 as punchy in the bass, clear and natural in the mids, and bright and energetic in the treble, with an intimate open-back stage that feels like sitting a few rows back at a small live venue. Because the housing is open-back, sound leaks in and out, so it is best enjoyed in a quiet room rather than on a commute.

Grado and the SR60 Story

Grado Labs has hand-built headphones in Brooklyn, New York for decades, and the SR60 has been part of the Prestige and now Classic Series for more than thirty years. For many reviewers, engineers, and founders now shaping the headphone industry, the SR60 was where the journey into open-back listening began, and it remains one of the simplest, most direct paths into the Grado lineup.