We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-02 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a complete recording front end with a set of closed-back monitor headphones already in the box, choose PreSonus Quantum ES 2; if you need a dedicated pair of wired open-back headphones for pure home listening, choose GRADO Classic Series SR80.
• PreSonus Quantum ES 2 — biggest strength: it's a full 2x2 USB-C audio interface (MAX-HD preamps, 32-bit/192 kHz AD/DA conversion, loopback, Auto Gain, 48V phantom power) bundled with Polsen HPC-A30 closed-back studio monitor headphones and XLR cables.
• PreSonus Quantum ES 2 — biggest trade-off: it's a recording system, not a listening-only product. You're paying for converters, preamps and software, and the headphone experience is a closed-back monitoring one, not an audiophile one.
• GRADO Classic Series SR80 — biggest strength: an open-back, over-ear design tuned for a spacious, lively and engaging sound, with a lightweight build and 38-ohm impedance that's easy to drive.
• GRADO Classic Series SR80 — biggest trade-off: open-back headphones leak sound both ways. They're built for a quiet room at home, not for tracking in a live room or blocking out noise.
• Who each pick is for: the Quantum ES 2 bundle is for producers, musicians and creators who need to record and monitor; the SR80 is for listeners who want an involving headphone for home listening sessions.
The Quantum ES 2 is, at its core, a desktop recording interface. Two MAX-HD mic preamps with +75 dB of gain give you plenty of headroom for a wide range of microphones, and the front-facing instrument input — co-developed with Fender engineers — means you can plug a guitar or bass straight in without reaching around the back. That combination alone tells you what this thing is for: capturing sources, not just playing them back.
Around that core, the spec sheet is dense. You get 32-bit/192 kHz AD/DA conversion, a DSP monitor mixer with loopback, 16 channels of ADAT I/O, S/PDIF I/O, two reamp outs, ten line outs, two phone outs, Auto Gain, low-latency monitoring and 48V phantom power. It runs over USB-C on Mac, Windows, iOS and Android, and it ships with Studio One Pro and Studio One+ software. There's a full-color, high-resolution screen on the front, and the bundle includes a USB-C cable, two XLR cables and the Polsen HPC-A30 closed-back studio monitor headphones.
GRADO Classic Series SR80: Who It's For
The SR80 is a different animal entirely. It's an over-ear, wired, open-back headphone — no interface, no software, no preamps. Just a 3.5mm mini jack with a 1/4" adapter, a dynamic driver, 38-ohm impedance and a 20 Hz – 20,000 Hz frequency range. Grado has been refining this design for decades, and the SR80 pulls improvements from higher models in the line for more balance and clarity.
The defining trait is the open-back construction. Because the earcups are open, sound is allowed to breathe, which creates a more spacious presentation with better instrument separation and detail. Grado's house sound is lively and immediate — clear vocals, detailed highs, music pushed forward rather than politely recessed. If you've heard people describe Grado headphones as "engaging," that's the design intent, and it's why they're so often recommended for rock, acoustic and vocal-driven music.
The other thing the spec sheet emphasizes is comfort. It's a lightweight build with improved cable flexibility, aimed at long listening sessions. The 38-ohm impedance means it's easy to drive — you don't need a dedicated headphone amp to get usable volume from a phone, laptop or desktop output.
Who should buy it? Home listeners who want an involving, energetic headphone and have a reasonably quiet space to use it in. Who should skip it? Anyone who needs isolation. Open-back headphones leak sound out and let room noise in, so they're a poor choice for tracking vocals next to a live mic, for commuting, or for shared offices. There's also no noise control here — the data sheet lists it as "None" — so don't expect any attenuation. And since it's wired only, it's a sit-down product, not a walking-around one.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for recording and monitoring → PreSonus Quantum ES 2. Preamps, converters, phantom power, Auto Gain and loopback are all built for capture.
• Best for isolation while you work → PreSonus Quantum ES 2. The bundled Polsen HPC-A30 is closed-back, so it keeps sound in and room noise out.
• Best for a spacious, detailed soundstage → GRADO Classic Series SR80. Open-back construction is the whole point of this design.
• Best for recording on the move → PreSonus Quantum ES 2. USB-C connectivity with Mac, Windows, iOS and Android support covers desktop and mobile.
• Best for long, comfortable listening sessions → GRADO Classic Series SR80. Lightweight build, flexible cable, over-ear fit.
• Best for guitar and bass players → PreSonus Quantum ES 2. The front-facing instrument input was co-developed with Fender engineers.
• Best for a plug-and-play, no-setup experience → GRADO Classic Series SR80. One cable, one jack, done.
In my opinion, the right pick comes down to what you're actually doing. If you make music — recording mics, DI'ing a guitar, tracking into a DAW — I'd buy the PreSonus Quantum ES 2 bundle. It gives you the interface, the cables, the software and a closed-back monitoring headphone in one go, and the spec sheet is genuinely deep for a 2x2 desktop unit.
If you just want to get lost in your music collection, I'd buy the GRADO Classic Series SR80. It's the more honest answer to "I want a great-sounding headphone," as long as you have a quiet room and don't need isolation. Two different jobs, two different tools.
what are closed back studio headphones
Closed-back studio headphones have sealed earcups that block sound from escaping and reduce outside noise coming in. That makes them the standard choice for recording and monitoring, because the sound you hear doesn't bleed into a nearby microphone. The Polsen HPC-A30 included with the PreSonus Quantum ES 2 bundle is exactly this type.
what are the best closed back studio headphones
"Best" depends on your setup. Closed-back headphones are judged on isolation, comfort over long sessions and a neutral-enough balance for monitoring. The Polsen HPC-A30 in the Quantum ES 2 bundle is a closed-back studio monitor design, which is what a recording chain like this calls for. Check the current price on Amazon before deciding.
what is open back studio headphones
Open-back headphones have vented earcups that let air and sound move freely. The trade-off is almost no isolation — sound leaks out and room noise leaks in — but the payoff is a more spacious, natural presentation with better instrument separation. The GRADO Classic Series SR80 is an open-back over-ear design built on exactly that principle.
what is the difference between open back and closed back headphones
Open-back headphones breathe, giving a wider, airier soundstage but no isolation, so they suit quiet home listening. Closed-back headphones seal, giving isolation for recording, tracking and noisy environments but a narrower sense of space. Between these two, the GRADO SR80 is open-back and the Polsen headphones in the PreSonus bundle are closed-back.
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