Change is hard. Especially when you have been manufacturing headphones a very specific way for decades. Having visited the Grado factory in Brooklyn and watched them make the plastic ear cups that have been a key component of the design and also helped to keep them affordable — I know how hard some of these changes have been. A quick look at the new Grado Signature HP100 SE reveals that they knew it was time.
Having been a Grado Labs customer going back to the 1990s when I schlepped my first pair of SR-80 headphones across the globe in my knapsack, only to have them vanish during a terrorist incident in Israel — I feel a sentimental bond with the Brooklyn-based manufacturer.
I attribute my 30 year relationship with Grado Labs to our mutual desire to escape sameness. And there is a lot of that in audio these days. Sameness and Brooklyn do not belong on the same page and that is why Grado Labs can never stop being what it is.
A pair of Grado SR80x in a cloth carrying case live at the bottom of my laptop bag and have followed me everywhere.
Grado has been manufacturing high-end headphones (and phono cartridges) for longer than some of the current Head-Fi crowd have been alive (and makes me feel very old), and the industrial design of their models has not really evolved all that much — which felt rather strange to those of who have been active participants in the high-end headphone revolution.
Grado no longer exists in a world where they only had to worry about Sennheiser, AKG, Beyerdynamic, and STAX.
The list of high-end brands that now constitute the competition includes all of the aforementioned brands, along with Sony, Apple, Bose, Bowers and Wilkins, Focal, HiFiMAN, Audeze, Dan Clark Audio, Meze Audio, 1More, FiiO, Denon, and another dozen that have become extremely popular with listeners.
A new headphone grows in Brooklyn?
What has changed?
Driver technology has clearly evolved; the evolution of planar magnetic and electrostatic drivers has moved the performance bar to another level and consumers expect a lot more.
The Head-Fi crowd puts a great deal of importance in the ability to swap out cables in order to upgrade the performance of their headphones and they also want the ability to switch between single-ended and balanced connections.
Headphones have also become the primary way that millions of consumers listen to music and that requires headphones that are lighter, easier to fold, and more comfortable for longer listening sessions.
The New Grado HP100 SE Flagship
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 100th 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 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 Grado HP100 SE is hand-assembled in its Brooklyn-based headquarters.
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 accurate.
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 aluminum.
This new magnetic circuit coupled with the voice coil produces improved 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 open-back Grado Signature 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 4-pin mini XLR plug. Additional detachable cable options such as 4-pin XLR termination, 4.4mm balanced termination, and various cable lengths will be available in the future.
There are plenty of third party cables that will now work with the new Signature HE100 SE.
Some Extra Padding Never Hurt Anyone
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 models, with a stainless steel band and height rods that can be adjusted for the perfect fit to minimise 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.
Specifications
- Transducer Type: Dynamic
- Operating Principle: Open Air
- Frequency response: 3.5Hz – 51.5kHz
- THD: <0.1% @100 dB
- SPL 1mW: 117 dB
- Nominal impedance: 38 ohms
- Driver size: 52 mm
- Driver Matched dB: 0.4 dB
- Cable type: 12-conductor detachable
- Headphone Connection: 4-pin Mini XLR
- Source Connection: 6.3 mm
- Earpad type: G-cushions
The Bottom Line
A quick look at the Grado website reveals that the HP100 SE will now replace the $1,999 USD GS3000x as the new flagship; the Cocobolo wood housing that provides them with a rather unique look and does impact the tonal balance is not continued forward with the new model.
We suspect that whilst the HP100 SE will offer even greater detail and higher levels of resolution — the tonal balance will be more accurate and less dark in the midrange.
Our experience with Grado’s headphones are that they are very easy to drive and these don’t seem to offer anything different. A Dongle DAC or DAP will have no difficulty driving these and there are a number of desktop options from Schiit Audio, FiiO, and Topping that should be excellent tonal matches.
The open-back design means that everyone can hear what you are listening to — which will certainly make some jealous. Not sure we would wear these on the NYC Subway or the TTC at the moment. Probably safe on Metro North.
Improving the thickness of the headband and switching to detachable cables were two changes that were long overdue.
Will Jennings should have a review ready by the end of the year.
The Grado Signature HP100 SE is available in November 2024, priced (MSRP): £2,795 / $2,495 from www.grado.co.uk (UK) and gradolabs.com (US).
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