Grado Labs Signature S950

Grado Labs Signature S950

Grado Labs, world-renowned designer and manufacturer of award-winning headphones, announces the release of its newest open headphones, the Signature S950. Building on the success of the recently released HP100 SE, the Signature S950 is the second headphone to be part of the new Signature line. True to Grado's long tradition of using wood to house its headphones, this model uses Brazilian walnut, the first time Grado has chosen this type of wood. Grado finds that different woods offer different sound characteristics, giving these headphones their own sound signature that contrasts with the more analytical, machined aluminum HP100 SE.

NEW driver design

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

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

While the award-winning Signature HP100 SE has been praised by sound engineers and consumers around the world for its detailed, forthright and accurate reproduction of the recorded piece, the Signature S950 has a more neutral and balanced sound, giving the musical presentation a broader brushstroke. A presentation that allows the listener to gain personal insight into what the music conveys in a relaxed manner.

Headband construction

The Signature S950 uses the new headband construction first available on the Signature HP100 SE. The redesigned headband is made for long listening sessions and has 50% more padding than previous Grado models. It features a stainless steel band and height-adjustable bars, allowing it to be customized to reduce listening fatigue.

Grado Labs manufactured the engraved gimbals from aluminum alloy, while the stainless steel height-adjustable rods provide additional stability at the connection point. The height-adjustable rods are designed to stay in place if the zinc alloy end caps become loose, while limiting housing rotation to 105 degrees, minimizing wear over time.

Detachable cables

The Grado Signature line will continue to use detachable cables. First introduced with the launch of the Signature HP100 SE, these new cables are a welcome change for Grado headphones. The Signature S950 headphones come standard with the Grado Signature Gold cable, measuring 1.8 meters in length with a 6.35 mm single-ended jack. All new Grado cables have been redesigned with a softer, more durable braided finish and improved insulation that increases flexibility and reduces overall weight.

The cable connects to each enclosure via a 4-pin balanced mini-XLR plug. Future detachable cables from Grado will be available with different connectors, including a 4-pin balanced XLR jack and a 4.4 mm balanced jack. Cables of different lengths will also be available. The detachable cables allow users to customize their headphones according to their source and personal preferences.

Hand assembled in Brooklyn

Grado Labs, founded in 1953 at a kitchen table and working in woodworking for more than a quarter century, has been perfecting the art of sound reproduction every day since. This S950 has come a long way from workbench to workbench until it was ready for your ears. Every experience since that kitchen table led to the creation of the S950.