Наушники — Grado Labs Signature S950

The Signature S950 is an open-back headphone from Grado Labs, the family company founded on a kitchen table in 1953 and still assembling its headphones by hand in Brooklyn, New York. It follows the Signature HP100 SE, sharing its new driver and headband, but uses a housing of Brazilian walnut, a first for Grado. It is the second model of the new Signature line, and Grado positions it as a differently voiced alternative to the HP100 SE.

Key specs that matter

It uses a 52 mm dynamic S driver with a paper composite cone, a high-flux rare-earth magnet circuit and a copper-plated aluminium voice coil. Frequency response is 3.5 Hz to 51.5 kHz, THD is below 0.1% at 100 dB, and nominal impedance is 38 ohms. Sensitivity is quoted at 117 dB for 1 mW. Drivers are matched to within 0.4 dB. The headphone weighs 395 g, and it is priced at USD 2,195 in its standard cable configuration. The detachable 12-conductor Grado Signature Gold cable, about 1.8 m long, connects via 4-pin mini XLR at the headphone and a 6.3 mm plug at the source.

Engineering and use context

The S driver was developed for the HP100 SE. The combination of a strong magnet with a light coil improves control of the diaphragm. The housing is Brazilian walnut, a dense wood that resists decay and changes little with temperature and humidity, so the acoustic behaviour of the chamber stays stable. Each housing is shaped individually and its grain is never identical, so each pair looks different. The detachable cable was introduced to the Signature line with the HP100 SE, and the S950 is also offered with an optional 3.7 m cable and with 4.4 mm or 4-pin XLR balanced terminations. The headband has 50% more padding than earlier Grado models, with a stainless steel band and adjustable height rods. The aluminium gimbals are engraved, and housing rotation is limited to 105 degrees to reduce wear on the cable entry. Both G Cushions and F Cushions are supplied, letting the listener choose between larger, open pads and flatter pads. Grado has worked with wood housings for over a quarter of a century. The cable is braided.

Pairing

Being easy to drive, the S950 reaches full level from portable players and phones as well as desktop amplifiers. As an open-back design, it suits quiet listening rooms rather than travel.

Alternatives

Grado's Signature HP100 SE is the open-back model from which the S950 takes its driver and headband.