Grado Labs GW100x
Grado’s GW100x brings open-back spaciousness to wireless listening, pairing vivid imaging with rhythmic energy, natural vocals and revealing detail. What Hi-Fi? highlights its poised, musical presentation, while MajorHifi celebrates exceptional separation and soundstage. Add aptX Adaptive, a light on-ear fit and 46-hour battery life; the supplied cable unlocks still sharper transparency.
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Nicely Roasted
Sound Quality
91/100
Comfort Fit
89/100
Build Quality
78/100
Features Usability
87/100
Value for Money
92/100
Pros
Exceptionally spacious, precisely imaged open-back sound with strong separation for a wireless headphone.
Energetic, musical tuning combines punchy bass, natural detailed vocals and convincing rhythmic drive.
Lightweight, gently clamping on-ear design supports comfortable long listening sessions.
46-hour battery life, aptX Adaptive support and a wired mode that improves clarity add real versatility.
Cons
Open-back design leaks substantial sound and offers no noise cancelling, making it unsuitable for commuting or shared public spaces.
Wireless features are sparse for the price: there is no companion app, EQ control, spatial audio or other modern extras.
The functional construction can appear almost flimsy, and the no-frills aesthetic will not suit every buyer.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 91/100
Reviewers find the GW100x unusually accomplished for a wireless open-back on-ear, combining a clean, open presentation with strong musical drive. Its standout qualities are its spacious, precisely organized presentation and the extra clarity available through its wired connection, while the tonal balance gives the upper mids more prominence than the lower midrange.
Bass
91/100
MajorHiFi hears significant punch on pop material, along with speed and grip that keep the low end lively. What Hi-Fi also finds synth chords weighty and emotionally convincing, suggesting satisfying substance rather than a lightweight presentation.
Midrange
91/100
Vocals are brought forward by the emphasized upper-midrange, and MajorHiFi describes their timbre as natural, breathy and detailed. What Hi-Fi likewise praises the room given to vocals and the coherent, balanced handling of orchestral music.
Treble
87/100
MajorHiFi finds the highs well represented without making the headphone overly bright. Strings have a polished, fluid quality, though the reviews provide less detail on ultimate treble extension or long-session fatigue.
Resolution Detail
91/100
Acoustic-guitar strums are said to have fantastic definition and delicate handling, while the overall presentation is notably transparent. Both reviews note an additional step up in sharpness and subtle string detail when the supplied 3.5mm cable is used.
Soundstage Imaging
95/100
This is a major strength: MajorHiFi calls it the most spacious wireless presentation in its price class and praises its gorgeous imaging and separation. What Hi-Fi similarly describes the presentation as precise, spacious and musical, with ample room around voices.
Dynamics
93/100
What Hi-Fi hears lively punch, rhythmic drive and infectious energy, with convincing emotional weight at orchestral peaks. MajorHiFi also attributes lively energy to the bass's speed and grip.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Comfort Fit
89/100
Both reviews find the lightweight on-ear design easy to wear. MajorHiFi notes gentle clamping force and very low weight, while What Hi-Fi considers the fit unburdensome despite the limited padding.
Build Quality
78/100
MajorHiFi says the construction shares the SR60x/SR80x's familiar look and feel, but describes it as almost flimsy in appearance. The stitched soft-leather headband adds a more premium touch, but the reviews say little about long-term durability.
Features Usability
87/100
The GW100x offers Bluetooth 5.2, SBC/AAC/aptX Adaptive support, a quoted 46-hour battery life, USB-C charging and a supplied 3.5mm cable for wired listening. What Hi-Fi considers the sound class-leading but notes that the broader feature set is sparse for the asking price.
Value for Money
92/100
At its roughly $249-$329 pricing, What Hi-Fi calls the sound quality class-leading for the money and says listeners seeking audio quality should put it on their shortlist. The qualification is that competing wireless models may offer more features, but neither review disputes the Grado's sonic value.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
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Specifications
- Bluetooth Version
- 5.2
- Battery Life
- 46 hours*
- Charging time
- 2 hours
- Codec
- aptX adaptive, AAC, SBC
- Frequency Response
- 20Hz~20KHz
- Nominal Impedance
- 38 ohms
- Mic Sensativity
- 42dB +/- 3db
- Battery Capacity
- 850mAh
- Working Distance
- 10m
- Included
- Headphones, USB-C to USB-A cable, 3.5mm headphone cable, instruction booklet
Manufacturer's Description — Grado Labs
Our first wireless headphone becomes even better with Bluetooth 5.2, longer battery, and our new X Drivers. Nothing is lost except the wires.
When you snag your pair of Grado’s open-back GW100x headphones, you’ll discover a message on the box interior proudly proclaiming the company’s six-decade legacy as a family-run business in Brooklyn. The design of these headphones echoes our heritage, boasting a no-frills aesthetic with circular grills, a smooth black-leather headband, and a commitment to delivering exceptional sound.
Grado has introduced 44mm drivers, redesigned speaker housings, and support for the aptX Adaptive codec, enhancing the overall performance. However, the design philosophy for the GW100x prioritizes functionality over flamboyance, and we've maintained a stripped-back aesthetic that exudes an industrial, hard-edged feel. The lightweight design offers practical features like an in-built microphone for voice calls and robust up-and-down slider mechanism for easy adjustments, a choice between wired and wireless connections, and an impressive 46-hour battery life at 50% volume.
Perfect for at home listening, the GW100x delivers as expected from Grado, offering a rich and detailed audio experience. Whether used wirelessly or with the 3.5mm jack-equipped cable, the headphones excel in reproducing diverse musical genres with clarity and precision. If you prioritize top-notch audio in a quiet environment, the GW100x is worth considering, despite its unconventional design and features.
2 Days to Tune Out
With a more efficient battery and Bluetooth 5.2, the GW100x can now play music for nearly two days straight. Matching our GT220, USB-C is now included, bringing the GW100x in line with global charging standards. The upgraded chipset allows more information to flow from your device to the GW100x, all while maintaining a strong connection.
Features
- Wireless Bluetooth 5.2
- Mic and voice control
- 46 hour battery
- Drivers matched .1db
- Touch controls
- Voice assistant
- De-stressed drivers
- WS cushions
X Series Driver
4th Generation Grado drivers are here. Specifically tuned for the wireless GW100x, this new speaker design features a more powerful magnetic circuit, a voice coil with decreased effective mass, and a reconfigured diaphragm. Reengineering these components for our 44mm drivers improve efficiency, reduces distortion, and preserves the harmonic integrity of your music.
Milestone After Milestone
The GW100 are the worlds first open-back Bluetooth headphones. Their speaker housings and internals have been designed from the ground up, now working in tandem to notably diminish escaping sound by up to 60%.** There is a design language that’s seen throughout all of our headphones since we released our first one in 1991. The GW100x continues this, looking like it’s part of the family simply at a glance. These wireless Grado headphones are a milestone in our seven decade history.
Music, Voice, Volume, Calls
Ignore that one person you’re avoiding and leave your phone in your pocket. The GW100x is capable of letting you control your volume and music playback right at your ear. If your device allows, you can activate your voice assistant and also answers calls. Or ignore them, you know, for that one person.
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Authorized dealers for Grado Labs GW100x
- 2C Stereo — in-store — Washington, District of Columbia, United States (website)
- A Tube High Fidelity — online and in-store — Almere, Flevoland, Netherlands (website)
- Absolute Audio - Canada — in-store — Calgary, Alberta, Canada (website)
- Accent On Music — in-store — Mount Kisco, New York, United States (website)
- Acoustic Sounds — online and in-store — Salina, Kansas, United States (website)
- Acoustic Technologies — online and in-store — Montréal, Québec, Canada (website)
- AES — in-store — Mitte, Hessen, Germany (website)
- Ahead Stereo — in-store — Los Angeles, California, United States (website)
- ALAIN CHOUKROUN — online and in-store — Paris, Île-de-France, France (website)
- Alen Audio — in-store — Extramurs, Comunidad Valenciana, Spain (website)
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