Grado Labs

World-renowned designer and manufacturer of award-winning headphones, Grado Labs has released its newest flagship model, the Signature HP100 SE. The company's 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. 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.

At the heart of the HP100 SE is a completely new speaker design. The goal was to deliver a speaker that produces 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.

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 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 6.3mm plug, it connects to each housing via a 4-pin mini XLR plug. Additional detachable cable options such as 4-pin XLR termination, 4.4mm balanced termination, and various cable lengths, will be available in the future. This allows for the cable to be changed based on customer needs.

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 their previous designs and has a stainless steel band and height rods that can be adjusted for the perfect fit to minimize listening fatigue. The engraved gimbals are made from an aluminum alloy, and the stainless steel height rods enhance stability. This mechanism limits housing rotation to 105-degrees to reduce wear and tear.

Some of the most important features are summarized below:

• NEW 52mm dynamic driver
• Hand-machined aluminum housing
• White stitched leather headband
• Drivers matched to .04dB
• NEW detachable 12 conductor cable
• G-style cushions and F-style cushions to provide maximum comfort for each user