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Grado Introduces the Signature S150: Your Entry into the Grado Signature Line

Post author By armourpress
Post date 22 October 2026
No Comments on Grado Introduces the Signature S150: Your Entry into the Grado Signature Line

Grado Labs, designer and manufacturer of award-winning headphones, announces the Signature S150, the most accessible entry into its expanding Signature Line.

Featuring a newly developed 44mm S driver incorporating technology from Grado’s higher end HP100 SE and S950 headphones, the S150 delivers exceptional clarity and detail while maintaining a full-bodied, musical presentation.

The S150 also introduces an entirely new single-piece housing design, modernizing the classic Grado appearance while retaining its unmistakable identity. Combined with detachable Signature Bronze cables, a comfortably padded leather headband, and refined mechanical components, the S150 offers a compelling combination of musical performance, comfort, and versatility.

New 44mm S Driver

At the heart of the Signature S150 is Grado’s 44mm S driver, marking the first use of this new driver design. The driver incorporates a paper-composite diaphragm based on the technology found in the larger 52mm S drivers utilized in the HP100 SE and S950.

Developed specifically for the smaller 44mm format, the new driver builds on Grado’s ongoing exploration of materials and magnetic design, and their influence on musical reproduction.

The S150 delivers a level of clarity and detail that challenges expectations for a headphone in its class, while preserving the natural body and musical character of the performance.

While open-back headphones are often associated with a more restrained low-frequency presentation, the S150 delivers clean, articulate bass with a satisfying sense of presence. This contributes to a balanced presentation across the frequency spectrum, allowing subtle musical details to emerge without sacrificing fullness or musical engagement.

As with every Grado headphone, the S150’s final acoustic presentation reflects a combination of engineering, extensive listening, and fine-tuning, with the goal of bringing listeners closer to their music.

Signature Bronze Detachable Cables

The Signature S150 features Grado’s detachable cable system, incorporating the new Signature Bronze cable as standard equipment.

Part of Grado’s latest generation of Signature Line cables, the Bronze cable features a lighter, softer, and more flexible construction, improving comfort and convenience during everyday listening.

The S150 features 3.5mm connections at each headphone housing, providing additional freedom to adjust cable orientation to suit individual listening preferences and comfort. The included cable terminates in a 3.5mm plug at the source end and is supplied with a 6.3mm adapter, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of portable audio players, headphone amplifiers, and home audio equipment.

The S150 can also be ordered with alternative cable terminations, allowing listeners to select the connection that best suits their audio equipment.

Comfort, Fit and Refined Engineering

Weighing just 220 grams, the Signature S150 combines lightweight construction, a padded leather headband, and updated mechanical components to provide a comfortable and secure fit for extended listening sessions.

The S150 incorporates Grado’s new Signature headband assembly, featuring a padded leather strap that distributes the headphone’s weight comfortably across the head. A flexible steel band within the headband allows listeners to adjust the inward tension, providing a more personalized fit and level of comfort.

The assembly includes redesigned matte-black polymer gimbals, stainless-steel height rods, and reinforced junction blocks, providing improved stability, adjustability, and durability. Controlled housing rotation limits unnecessary movement while maintaining the flexibility needed for a personalized fit.

The new Signature headband assembly is also available separately as an accessory, offering owners of compatible earlier Grado headphones a convenient way to incorporate the latest comfort and mechanical refinements.

The S150 is supplied with Grado’s F cushions, selected as part of the headphone’s overall acoustic tuning. Their design incorporates internal acoustic slits that promote airflow and contribute to the headphone’s open, detailed presentation.

The S150 is also compatible with the complete range of Grado headphone cushions, allowing listeners to explore different cushion options and personalize the headphone’s sonic presentation and comfort.

A Contemporary Interpretation of a Classic Design

The Signature S150 introduces an entirely new, single-piece acoustic chamber body, bringing a contemporary refinement to Grado’s iconic headphone design.

Moulded from engineered ABS polymer, the housing combines lightweight construction with durability and dimensional consistency. Its rich matte-black finish creates a refined, understated appearance while preserving the recognizable character of a Grado headphone.

The new housing design reflects Grado’s continued approach to product evolution, combining modern materials and manufacturing techniques with the distinctive appearance that has defined the brand for generations.

Continuing the Evolution of the Signature Line

The introduction of the Signature S150 represents the next step in Grado’s ongoing commitment to advancing headphone design and musical performance, making the latest Signature Line developments accessible at a new price point.

Combining the new 44mm S driver, paper-composite diaphragm technology, detachable Signature Bronze cables, updated headband engineering, and contemporary housing design, the S150 brings together meaningful developments in acoustic performance, listening comfort, and versatility. The result is a headphone designed to reproduce music with clarity, detail, and natural musical expression, continuing

Grado’s longstanding goal of bringing listeners closer to the music they love.

The Grado Signature S150 is available for pre-order at an MSRP of $295 and SRP of £295 USD, with shipping expected to begin in early November 2026.

Technical Specifications

Transducer Type: Dynamic

Operating Principle: Open Air

Frequency Response: 16Hz – 34kHz

THD: <0.3% @100 dB

SPL 1mW: 104 dB

Nominal Impedance: 38 ohms

Driver Size: 44mm

Driver Matching: 0.05 dB

Weight: 220g

Cable type: Signature Bronze Detachable

Headphone Connection: Dual 3.5mm Mini

Source Connection: 3.5mm with 6.3mm Adapter

Earpad Supplied: F Cushion

To learn more about the Signature S150 and discover other Grado products, please visit www.gradolabs.com.

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Tags audio, brooklyn, grado, headphones, hi-fi, music, open-back, S150, signature

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Grado’s all new Signature S950 headphones: Premium sound in a handcrafted Brazilian walnut shell

Post author By armourpress
Post date 19 February 2025
No Comments on Grado’s all new Signature S950 headphones: Premium sound in a handcrafted Brazilian walnut shell

Grado Labs, world-renowned designer and manufacturer of award-winning headphones, announces the release of its latest open-back headphone, the Signature S950. Building on the success of the recently released HP100 SE, the Signature S950 is the second headphone to become part of the new Signature line.

Staying true to Grado’s longstanding tradition of using woods in crafting their headphone housings, this model utilizes a Brazilian Walnut, the first time Grado has chosen this family of woods. Grado finds that different woods offer distinct sonic characteristics allowing this headphone its own sound signature which contrasts the more analytical, machined aluminium HP100 SE stablemate.

Lightweight but durable, the Signature S950 is crafted from Brazilian walnut. Weighing only 395 grams it offers a comfortable fit and reduced fatigue for those long listening sessions. The wood grain of each individually crafted housing is never identical, bringing a special one-of-kind quality to each build.

Walnut, known for its density and resistance to decay, has been chosen for a relaxed musical presentation and stability. The lack of expansion and contraction due to changes in temperature or humidity helps maintain the acoustical characteristics. Brazilian walnut is grown in the tropical rain forests of the Amazon, and sustainable practices help protect the ecosystems in the area.

Speaker design

The Signature S950 utilises a version of the new Grado 52mm S driver originally designed for the award-winning Signature HP100 SE. While developing this new 52mm driver, Grado aimed to create a speaker that delivers exceptional high-frequency detail, a smooth midrange, and powerful bass while maintaining minimal distortion, ensuring a musically and harmonically accurate sound.

To achieve this, a paper composite cone was selected, paired with a high-flux magnetic circuit made from rare earth alloys. The driver also features a lightweight copper-plated aluminum voice coil. Together, the advanced magnetic circuit and voice coil enhance dynamics and transient response while providing a refined sense of space, soundstage, detail and imaging.

While the award-winning Signature HP100 SE has been lauded by recording engineers and consumers around the world as detailed, revealing and accurate to the recorded piece, the Signature S950 has a more neutral and balanced sound, providing a broad brushstroke to the musical presentation – a presentation that allows the listener to experience a relaxed personal insight to what the music is communicating.

Detachable cables

The Grado Signature line will continue to feature detachable cables. First introduced with the launch of the Signature HP100 SE, these new cables have been a welcome change to Grado headphones. The Signature S950 headphone will ship standard with the Grado Signature Gold cable, with a length of 6 feet and a 6.35mm single ended termination. All new Grado cables have been redesigned with a softer more durable braided finish as well as an improved insulation that enhances flexibility while reducing overall weight.

The cable connects to each housing via a 4-pin balanced mini XLR plug. Future Grado detachable cables will be available with termination options, there will be a 4-pin balanced XLR termination and 4.4mm balanced termination, variable cable lengths will also be available. The detachable cables allow users to customize their headphones to best match their source and personal preferences.

Headband assembly design

The Signature S950 will utilise the new headband assembly that was first made available on the Signature HP100 SE. Built for long listening sessions, the updated headband includes 50% more padding than earlier Grado models. It features a stainless-steel band and adjustable height rods, allowing for a customized fit that helps reduce listening fatigue.

Grado Labs has crafted the engraved gimbals from an aluminum alloy, while the stainless-steel height rod adds stability at the connection point. The height rod is designed to remain secure to the junction block as well as restrict the housing rotation to 105 degrees, helping minimise wear over time.

The Grado Signature S950 is available in March, priced (MSRP): £2,495 / $2,195

Technical specifications

Transducer Type: Dynamic

Operating Principle: Open Air

Frequency response: 3.5 Hz – 51.5 kHz

THD: <0.1% @100 dB

SPL 1mW: 115 dB

Nominal impedance: 38 ohms

Driver size: 52 mm

Driver Matched dB: 0.4 dB

Cable type: 12-conductor detachable

Headphone Connection: 4pin Mini XLR

Source Connection: 6.3 mm

Earpad Supplied: G Cushions and F Cushions

To buy the Signature S950 and discover other Grado products please visit www.grado.co.uk

IMAGE DOWNLOAD GALLERY

Tags audio, grado, headphone, headphones, hi-fi, high-end, music, open-back, premium, wired

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Grado’s new Signature HP100 SE headphones are a contemporary homage to the trailblazing high-end HP1 model heralding a new design direction

Grado Labs, world-renowned designer and manufacturer of award-winning headphones, announces the release of its newest and flagship model, the Signature HP100 SE. Grado Labs founder Joseph Grado created what many consider to be the high-end headphone market with the release of the Signature HP1 headphone in the early 1990s. In recognition of Joseph Grado’s 100^th birthday and this industry milestone, Grado Labs is introducing these Special Edition headphones. “Although Uncle Joe left us 10 years ago, he will always be a presence at Grado Labs”, says Joseph’s nephew and Grado’s CEO, John Grado.

While the HP100 SE pays homage to Grado’s illustrious past, these headphones are a contemporary version of a true classic, with a new design from the ground up. With newly engineered drivers, the HP100 SE also boasts detachable cables, as well as a fresh headband assembly. This also ushers in a new direction for future Grado headphone releases. As always, the HP100 SE is hand-assembled in its Brooklyn-based headquarters.

New speaker design

At the heart of the HP100 SE is a completely new speaker design. In considering the attributes of a new 52mm driver, Grado’s goal was to deliver a speaker that produced excellent high frequency resolution, midrange smoothness and bass energy with low distortion, resulting in a voicing that is musically and harmonically correct.

A new paper composite cone was chosen, alongside a powerful high flux magnetic circuit using rare earth alloys, and a new voice coil made from lightweight copper-plated aluminium. This new magnetic circuit coupled with the voice coil produces excellent dynamics and transient response, along with a highly refined sense of space, soundstage and image.

Modern housing design with detachable cables

Honouring the recognizable heritage of the original Signature HP1/2/3 headphone designs but with a modern feel, the housings are individually machined from specially treated aluminium with the product name neatly engraved on the face. The HP100 SE arrives in a stylish space grey finish.

The HP100 SE is the first Grado model to feature detachable cables. A departure from the cable currently employed on the Statement Series, it has been engineered to a softer but durable braided finish, with cable insulation that improves flexibility and decreases the overall weight of the cable.

Terminated with a 6.3mm plug, it connects to each housing via a 4pin mini XLR plug. Additional detachable cable options such as 4pin XLR termination, 4.4mm balanced termination, and various cable lengths available in the future. This allows for the cable to be changed based on customer needs for source side termination and cable range.

Headband assembly redesign

The HP100 SE’s headband assembly has changed from the classic Grado models. Designed for comfort during long listening sessions, the new headband features 50% more padding than previous Grado designs, with a stainless steel band and height rods that can be adjusted for the perfect fit to minimize listening fatigue.

Grado Labs engraved gimbals are made from an aluminum alloy, and the stainless steel height rod enhances the stability of the point where they meet. The height rod is also designed to not slide out of the junction block if the zinc alloy end caps become dislodged. This mechanism limits housing rotation to 105-degrees to reduce wear and tear.