Grado Signature HP100 SE Headphones Review: Heritage Meets Innovation
Read Time: Approx. 17 min.
Flagship Headphones Blend Timeless Design with Freshly Engineered Technologies
Grado Labs is one hi-fi brand in the audiophile community that needs no introduction. Since 1989 Grado has been manufacturing timeless headphones with a classic sound. The company's most recent release, the Signature HP100 SE Headphones is a contemporary version of a true classic, blending Grado's iconic style with freshly engineered technologies. With an updated design throughout, the HP100 SE features new drivers, new headband assembly, and the company's first detachable cable.
If the HP100 SE looks familiar to you, it's because it is. These flagship headphones are the modern-day version of the iconic Signature HP1 Headphones released by Grado Labs founder Joseph Grado in 1990. The late Joseph Grado would be celebrating his 100th birthday this year and to honor his legacy and strides in the headphone industry, the HP100 SE was born! "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. If there's one thing to be said about Grado it's their respect for tradition.
PROS
- Detachable Headphone Cable!
- No Plastic Used
- Expansive Soundstage, Incredibly Dynamic Sound
CONS
- On the larger size for Grado Headphones
Design
The HP100 SE's aesthetic is consistent with that of previous Grado designs: Round earcups, large earpads, and tightly woven grilles. Where the HP100 SE differs though is in its size. I'd say that it's considerably larger than their other models. Is it uncomfortably large? No, not by any means. Some of their headphones almost fall into the on-ear category, but the HP100 SE is a truly enveloping pair of over-ear headphones. Weight-wise, I didn't find them to be overly light or super heavy. The weight isn't disclosed on their website so I can't provide any specifics. When you pick them up you'll notice they've got a little heft to them but once they're on your head they don't feel bulky or cumbersome.
Hard to miss is the incredibly large earpads on the HP100 SE. The earpads are firm and comfortable–like a memory foam mattress. Do you know how some earpads can make your ears sweat, feel hot, and fatigued after a short period? That's not these. I'll be the first to admit I was surprised by how comfortable they were. These are a perfect happy middle–not too firm. Not too soft. Just right. Plus they come with two pairs so if the G-cushions aren't your favorite, you can switch them out!
If you're familiar with Grado Headphones–or own a pair yourself–you know they're one of the few companies manufacturing audiophile headphones with a hardwired cable. It was something that always plagued me about them because as audiophiles, we love to tweak our setups. As a company specializing in custom cable solutions, Grado headphone re-terminations have always been one of our top requests. So, the release of their first headphone with a detachable cable was a day of celebration at Moon Audio. It's monumental, honestly. We may never know why Grado decided to make this design change, but I'm grateful for it.
The HP100 SE's driver housings feature a 4-pin mini XLR plug with a 6.3mm termination on the detachable cable. Grado has teased the release of additional detachable cable options in the future–WAHOO–like a 4-pin XLR termination and 4.4mm balanced with various cable lengths. The design of this new cable departs from those currently used in the Statement Series, featuring a braided finish that's softer but just as durable. Additionally, the cable's insulation improves its flexibility while decreasing the overall weight of the cable. Fingers crossed Grado will implement the detachable cable design in future headphone releases.
The headband has also been redesigned for a more comfortable listening session with 50% more padding than previous models. Staying consistent with the HP1's design, the HP100 SE doesn't feature any plastic. The housing is constructed with treated aluminum, known for its anti-resonance qualities. The same stainless steel height rods featured on all Grado models are also on the HP100 SE. The height rod is specifically designed to enhance stability when listening and to not slide out of the junction block if the zinc alloy end caps become dislodged. What does that mean? They're less likely to break. This specific mechanism limits the housing's rotation to 105 degrees to reduce wear and tear so you can place the headphone's ear pad-side down on a flat surface.
The HP100 SE's color scheme is nice with a stylish Space Grey finish on the housing and a black stainless steel band with white stitching. You'll find the Grado Labs logo engraved on the gimbals, as well as on the sides of the earcups with the model name. Overall, the Signature HP100 SE Headphones are beautifully designed, retaining that Grado charm.
Sound
For my listening session, I paired the Grado Signature HP100 SE Headphones with the Black Dragon Premium Headphone Cable and connected it to the NAD Masters M66 BluOS Streaming DAC-Preamplifier.
Grado Headphones are celebrated for their open, expansive soundstage, and remarkable detail resolution, making them a fan favorite among discerning listeners and audiophiles who love to revel in the details. So it was no surprise that the HP100 SE retained that tried-and-true Grado sound–spacious, smooth, and musical. For those unfamiliar with Grado's sound signature, their headphones are neutral-sounding. I can't say I'd classify them as analytical, but they're definitely not warm, so neutral it is.
The HP100 SE features a brand-new speaker design with a paper composite cone, a powerful high-flux magnetic circuit, and a new voice coil made from lightweight copper-plated aluminum. The goal with this new 52mm driver was to deliver excellent high-frequency resolution, midrange smoothness, and bass energy with low distortion. I'd say Grado hit the nail on the head. The bass response is in line with Grado's neutral sound signature in that it was present but not overly pronounced or powerful.
The bass had a nice physical energy to it. Songs with the typical bumping bass and oomph were more refined with what felt like a very low vibration or gush of air. When they said expansive soundstage, they weren't exaggerating. Listening to "Oye Como Va" by Santana felt like I was listening live at an amphitheater, sipping wine, and grooving to the melody. And that soundstage was present in every song. I kept gravitating toward classical, strings, jazz, and soft rock. The HP100 SE articulated the fast attack of the French Indie Pop song "Ann Wants to Dance" by Papooz, which I appreciate as a listener who LOVES musicality and generally fast-paced songs. I was most impressed by the HP100 SE's performance with artists like Taylor Swift and Adele whose vocals switch from smooth and silky to rich and powerful in a single song. It was the perfect balance of depth, clarity, and resolution.
One, maybe lesser-known thing about Grado Headphones is how great they are for low-level listening. I've noticed this one or twice before when listening to Grado Headphones–I didn't have to crank up the volume a ton to hear the music. Typically, the more demanding the headphone, the more power it needs, and if the device you're using to drive the cans is insufficient you'll need to turn that volume up more than usual to hear anything. With the HP100 SE, I think it's a combination of the lower impedance, high sensitivity, and dynamic drivers that makes them so easy to drive. You could sufficiently drive these from a DAP or Dongle DAC, but in my case, I used the NAD M66, which is a component with some power. We also tested the HP100 SE with our Dragon Inspire IHA-1 Tube Headphone Amplifier and Black Dragon Premium Headphone Cable. This pairing was a favorite of Moon Audio's CEO & Founder Drew Baird, P.E. because of the warm, dynamic sound signature of the tube amp.
I connected the HP100 SE to the Black Dragon Premium Headphone Cable, plugged it into the NAD M66, and turned the volume to my usual listening level. It wasn't until about 30 minutes of listening to music that I realized I didn't need to have the volume cranked. And crazy enough, once I turned the volume down I felt like I heard more than I did when it was super loud. Here's my case study.
This song needs no introduction but "Orinoco Flow" by Enya was my test track on repeat. It's a song we've all heard a thousand times, and one I can confidently say I barely know the words to. I don't know what it is but every time I've ever listened to this song I couldn't make out anything more than "sail away sail away sail away." I swear I thought she was speaking another language or gibberish at times. I think a lot of that can be attributed to the layering of vocals, harmonics, and synth sounds creating a complex melody. At some points, it feels like Enya's vocals are competing with the instrumentation to be the loudest, proudest one in the room. But I kid you not, this was the FIRST time I've ever listened to Orinoco Flow and understood every word. The HP100 SE did an incredible job of balancing everything, bringing Enya's vocals to the front, and giving them enough room to live comfortably.
That's one of the biggest takeaways here–The HP100 SE performs incredibly well at low volumes. Every Grado Headphone I've listened to has a great dynamic range that allows them to handle low-volume listening levels with ease. I think this is the reason why Grado headphones complement classical music so well. Classical music can have extremely quiet and very dramatic passages, and there are some headphones that don't handle these dynamics well. So for the HP100 SE to have no problem at all is a win-win for me.
Meticulous
By Rainbow Kitten Surprise
(Love Hate Music Box)
Orinoco Flow
By Enya
(Watermark)
Ann Wants to Dance
By Papooz
(Green Juice)
Oye Como Va
By Santana
(Abraxas)
Features
- New 52mm Dynamic Driver
- Hand-machined Aluminum Housing
- White stitched Leather Headband
- Drivers matched to .04dB
- New Detachable 12-conductor Cable
- G cushions and F style cushions
- Hand assembled in Brooklyn, NY, USA
Aside from a physical redesign, Grado implemented newly engineered 52mm speaker drivers into the HP100 SE. It's no secret that Grado likes to keep their driver designs and details under wraps, but what we do know about the HP100 SE drivers is this:
"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." - Grado Labs
Grado's goal with this new design was to deliver a speaker that produces excellent high-frequency resolution, midrange smoothness, and bass energy with low distortion for musical and harmonious sound quality. Save to say that's been accomplished.
Comparisons
Given the HP100 SE is inspired by the HP1 it's only natural to compare the two. While we don't have a physical model of the HP1, we do have another vintage Grado model, the PS1–courtesy of Moon Audio's CEO and Founder Drew Baird, P.E. who has one of (if not the last) produced model of these cans today.
The Grado HP100 SE Headphones share the expansive soundstage of the HP1 and PS1 Headphones but offer significantly more openness, reminiscent of a hybrid between the Sennheiser HD800 and Grado GS-1000 Headphones. The PS1 differs from the HP1 and HP100 SE with a warmer and more neutral sound quality, "breaking the mold" in a sense, being more dynamic, tight, and punchy than other Grado models. Design-wise, both the HP100 SE and HP1 prioritize aluminum construction to minimize resonance, completely avoiding plastic components. The most significant evolution in the HP100 SE is its detachable cable system - a first for Grado - while maintaining the brand's commitment to premium build quality established by the original HP1.
Grado HP1 Headphones
Grado PS1 Headphones
Dragon Cables
[Black Dragon Premium Headphone Cable]
With the new detachable cable, we're thrilled to finally offer a Dragon Audio Cable for the Signature HP100 SE Headphones. We recommend pairing them with our Black Dragon Premium Headphone Cable. Why? Grado Headphones are celebrated for their open, expansive soundstage and remarkable detail, making them a great candidate for the bottom-end weight and warmth the Black Dragon delivers. The HP100 SE stands out with its exceptional detail, resolution, and airiness–characteristics that the Black Dragon Cable enhances while smoothing out higher frequencies without sacrificing detail or character. It adds body to the overall presentation, delivering a fuller sound with enhanced bottom-end weight–perfect for those seeking a more robust listening experience.
Our HiFi Audio Dragon Cables bring out more of what you love in your music and audio gear. If you love your headphones but wish they had a bit more top-end sparkle - a Silver Dragon Headphone Cable would be a great option. If your USB cables keep dying - as many stock cables do - then check out our quality USB Audio Cables. We say time and time again that materials matter, and our audio cables and custom geometries actually help to bring out those desired properties in your gear and music. We make tons of custom options for our customers so that you can get the right HiFi Audio cable for your exact needs. If you have any questions feel free to Contact Us and we'll be more than happy to help.
Verdict
The Grado Signature HP100 SE Headphones are one of those pieces that just click with you from the moment you put them on. Like meeting a stranger and knowing you'll be lifelong friends within five minutes of talking. The HP100 SE is a true reference headphone in every way, from the sound quality to the meticulously crafted design. The detachable headphone cable is the cherry on top, awarding you the freedom of tailoring your listening experience even further. I decided to strengthen the musical presentation of the HP100 SE with our Black Dragon Premium Headphone Cable, which delivered just enough warmth for bolder genres like R&B and Blues.
Who are the Grado Signature HP100 SE Headphones for? The Grado Signature HP100 SE Headphones are for the discerning listener who prefers detail retrieval over warmth and high energy. It's got great musicality, perfect for easy-listening genres like classical, acoustic, soft rock, jazz, etc. But they don't silo themselves to just those genres. They emphasized the strengths of every genre, whether it was pop, R&B, indie, or country. These are the headphones I'd slip on after a long day when I just want to unwind and enjoy some of my favorite songs. The Signature HP100 SE Headphones represent Grado's attention to detail and commitment to preserving the original recording.
If you love Grado Headphones then these are a no-brainer. At $2,495 you get a headphone with flagship status, exceptional sound quality, and quality craftsmanship. You're really getting what you pay for: Plastic-free, detachable headphone cable, handcrafted, and made in the U.S.A. Not to mention these headphones are special edition so anyone considering the HP100 SE shouldn't hesitate. Grado Labs went off the radar for a bit (now we know why!) but they're back and better than ever with this new flagship, ushering in a new era of high-end headphones while staying true to their values.
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What's in the Box
- Grado Signature HP100 SE Headphones
- Detachable Headphone Cable (6.3mm termination, 4-pin Mini XLR plug)
Specifications
Transducer Type: Dynamic
Operating Principle: Open Air
Frequency Response: 3.5Hz- 51.5kHz
THD: <0.1% @ 100dB SPL
Sensitivity (1mW): 117dB\
Nominal Impedance: 38 Ohms
Driver Size: 52mm
Driver Matched dB: 0.4dB
Cable Type: 12 conductor detachable
Headphone Connection: 4-pin Mini XLR
Source Connection: 6.3mm
Earpad Type: G-Cushions
