Grado Labs Signature HP100 SE

Grado Labs Signature HP100 SE

Grado Labs, world-renowned designer and manufacturer of award-winning headphones, presents its latest and flagship model, the Signature HP100 SE. Joseph Grado, founder of Grado Labs, created what many consider the high-end headphone market with the release of the Signature HP1 headphones in the early 1990s. In honor of Joseph Grado's 100th birthday and this industry milestone, Grado Labs is producing these Special Edition headphones. "Although Uncle Joe left us ten years ago, he will always be a presence at Grado Labs," says Joseph's nephew and CEO of Grado, John Grado.

NEW driver design

At the heart of the HP100 SE is a completely new loudspeaker design. When considering the features of a new 52 mm driver, Grado's goal was to deliver a loudspeaker that produced excellent high frequency resolution, smoothness in the midrange and bass energy with low distortion, resulting in a musical and harmonically correct sound.

A new paper composite cone was chosen, in addition to a powerful high-flux magnetic circuit that uses rare earth metals, and a new voice coil made of lightweight copper-plated aluminum. This new magnetic circuit combined with the voice coil provides excellent dynamics and transient response, along with a highly refined sense of space, soundstage and imaging.

Modern housing design and detachable cables

Paying homage to the recognizable heritage of the original Signature HP1/2/3 headphone designs, but with a modern touch, the housings are individually crafted from specially treated aluminum with the product name neatly engraved on the front. The HP100 SE comes in a stylish space gray finish.

The HP100 SE is the first Grado model with detachable cables. Unlike the cable currently used in the Statement series, this cable is designed with a softer but durable braided finish, with cable insulation that improves flexibility and reduces overall cable weight.

The cable features a 6.3 mm plug and connects to each enclosure via a 4-pin mini-XLR plug. Additional detachable cable options will be available in the future, such as 4-pin XLR jacks, 4.4 mm balanced jacks and different cable lengths. This allows the cable to be customized to meet customer needs in terms of source-side connection and cable range.

Headband redesign

The HP100 SE's headband has changed from the classic Grado models. Designed for comfort during long listening sessions, the new headband has 50% more padding than previous Grado designs, with a stainless steel band and height-adjustable bars for a perfect fit to minimize listening fatigue.

Grado Labs' engraved gimbals are made of aluminum alloy and the stainless steel height adjustment rod increases contact point stability. The height adjustment rod is also designed to prevent it from sliding out of the connecting block if the zinc alloy end caps become loose. This mechanism limits housing rotation to 105 degrees to reduce wear.

Hand assembled in Brooklyn

Founded in 1953 at a kitchen table and working with wood for more than a quarter century, Grado Labs has been perfecting the art of sound reproduction every day since. This HP100 SE has traveled from workbench to workbench until it was ready for your ears. Every experience since that kitchen table has led to the creation of the HP100 SE.