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Audio Award Winner 2025 - Popular Science Magazine
Contemporary, Redesigned Version of a True Classic
Grado’s new Signature HP100 SE headphones are a contemporary homage to the trailblazing high-end HP1 model, heralding a new design direction for the company.
World-renowned designer and manufacturer of award-winning headphones, Grado Labs presents 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 producing 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.
Award-Winning Performance
The Signature HP100 SE was an Audio Award Winner 2025, Popular Science magazine. According to reviewer Tom Ware, "It’s shimmery, not shouty, vivid without being oversaturated, and scales sweetly. And when it comes to reproducing guitars, no one does it like Grado. You can pick out fingers on frets and mid-syllable sighs, feel the leading edge as the fuzztain and phaser kick in.
"For anything that thrives in the mids and lives for having its transients under a spotlight, but particularly rawk or metal, the HP100 SE is all about less grain and more grins. Let it help you find a moment of zen, or just 43 minutes of nervy, delirious Total Peace."
"My Favorite Dynamic Headphone to Date"
"The Grado Signature HP100 SE Open Air Headphone is a true audiophile reference headphone and as such it is not forgiving of source nor electronics, yet the musicality and presentation make for an absolutely pleasurable experience. In fact, the Grados seem to lend something to every genre of music whether it was Classical, Folk, Rock, Jazz, Lounge or even stark New Wave like The B52s," observes Gary Alan Barker, headphone.guru, October 29, 2024.
"Simply put, the Grado Signature HP100 SE is my favorite dynamic headphone I have heard to date and I would happily recommend them to anyone who is a critical listener and looking for a reference headphone."
"My take from CanJam Dallas [trade show]: Super-spacious and detailed sound; great bass for a Grado," reports Jersey D, head-fi.org, November 6, 2024.
A New Design from the Ground Up
While the HP100 SE pays homage to Grado’s illustrious 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 HP100 SE is hand-assembled in Grado's Brooklyn-based headquarters.
Completely New Driver Design
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 correct.
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 excellent dynamics and transient response, along with a highly refined sense of space, soundstage and image.
Modern Housing Design and Detachable Cables
Honoring 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 aluminum with the product name neatly engraved on the face. The 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 1/4" (6.3mm) plug, the cable connects to each housing via a 4pin mini XLR plug. Additional detachable cable options such as 4pin XLR termination, 4.4mm balanced termination, and various cable lengths, will available in the future. This allows for the cable to be changed based on customer needs for source-side termination and cable range.
Headband Assembly Re-design
The HP100 SE’s headband assembly has changed from the classic Grado models. Designed for comfort during long listening session, the new headband features 50% more padding than previous Grado designs. Stainless steel band and height rods that can be adjusted for the perfect fit to minimize 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.
Two Ear Cushion Styles Included for Sound Tuning
Your HP100 SE ships with G cushions installed on the headphones. Grado understands that the preferred sound signature of a headphone varies from listener to listener. There are many ways to tune a headphone, but only one way to allow you to personalize the performance of your headphones, so that you can experience music the way you like.
For this reason, Grado also included a pair of its Grado F style ear cushions for your consideration when listening to your new HP100 SE. The F style cushions were the standard cushions on the original HP1, HP2 and HP3 headphones. Try both pairs of cushions – Type G and Type F – and use the pair you prefer. The only opinion that matters is your own, but you will discover that while both pairs sound great, you may like one better than the other.
Hand Assembled in Brooklyn
Founded on a kitchen table in 1953, and working with wood for over a quarter century, Grado Labs has been perfecting the art of sonic reproduction every day since. This HP100 SE has traveled from workbench to workbench until ready for your ears. Every experience since that kitchen table has led to the creation of this very special headphone.
