A Respected Hi-Fi Brand Just Dropped New Entry-Level Audiophile Headphones

They are the Brooklyn-based audio maker’s most affordable headphones in its elite Signature series.

Close-up of a black Grado headphone earcup with foam padding and metal screws.Grado Labs

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Earlier this year, Grado Labs introduced a new pair of open-back wired headphones to its Signature series, which is the most elite (and expensive) line of headphones that the Brooklyn-based hi-fi manufacturer makes.

The then-announced Signature S950 ($2,195) were essentially slightly more affordable versions of Grado’s flagship open-back headphones, the Signature HP100 SE ($2,495).

And now, Grado is introducing an even more affordable option, which, according to the brand, offers a “new entry point into [its] expanding Signature collection.”

Grado Signature S750

Black Grado over-ear headphones with foam ear pads and coiled audio cable with gold 3.5mm plug.
Grado’s S750 is its most entry-level pair of headphones in its elite Signature series.
Grado Labs

A new hi-fi entry-point

The S750 is the third addition to Grado’s Signature series of wired open-back headphones. And despite being a new entry point, they’re still very much high-end headphones designed for audiophiles.

A pair of these cans costs $1,695 and requires a high-end amplifier to drive them.

Black Grado headphones resting on the arm of a black leather tufted sofa with a tube amplifier in the background.
That said, the S750s are still high-end cans that require proper amplification.
Grado Labs

Redesigned drivers

The Signature S750 resembles Grado headphones — which mainly means they have an open-back design and exude retro vibes — but the company says it essentially designed them from the ground up.

They pack brand-new S2 50mm drivers that pair a carbon fibre and paper composite diaphragm with a lightweight copper-plated aluminium voice coil. Grado says that this driver “delivers a natural musical presentation with definition and dynamic range.”

Black Grado over-ear headphones with foam ear pads and a black and red cable.
The head rods allow the earcups to rotate 105 degrees and rest flat.
Grado Labs

All-new ear cushions

The S750 also features all-new ear cushions — which Grado calls “B cushion” — that, according to the brand, “shortens the distance between the driver and the ear and introduces a smaller interior opening to adjust balance.”

Compared to traditional ear cushions, these B cushions rest flatter on your ears to more evenly distribute pressure. The idea is that this will hopefully reduce fatigue, allowing you to enjoy longer listening sessions.

Also, the S750 has an all-aluminium construction and weighs 460 grams, which is over 10 percent lighter than the brand’s flagship HP100 SE. They also come with a leather headband that Grado claims has 50% more padding than earlier models.

Black tube headphone amplifier with three glass vacuum tubes next to black Grado headphones on a curved wooden stand on a white shelf.
The new “B cushion” ear pads aim to reduce ear fatigue.
Grado Labs

Detachable cables

Like its other Signature headphones — both the Signature S950 and Signature HP100 SE have been released in the last 12 months — Grado has updated the Signature S750 with detachable cables. (For years, this was somebody Grado stayed clear of.)

The headphones come with a 6-foot cable terminated in a 6.35mm single-ended plug. Each cable hooks up to the cans via a 4-pin balanced mini XLR connectors.

There’s the option to get different-length cables as well as balanced terminations (such as 4-pin XLR and 4.4mm), ensuring that the headphones are upgradable and can work with a range of sources.

Black Grado Labs over-ear headphones with foam ear pads and padded leather headband on a white background.
The Signature S750 has an all-aluminium construction and a padded leather headband.
Grado Labs

Price and availability

The Grado Signature S750 open-back headphones cost $1,695 and will be available in November. They only come in one black color option.

Black Grado over-ear headphones with foam ear pads, black leather headband, and red and black braided cables.Grado Labs

Grado Signature S750

Specs

Frequency response 6 Hz – 46 kHz
Nominal impedance 38 ohms
Sensitivity 115 dB (SPL 1mW)

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