Grado Labs Signature S550
The Grado Labs Signature S550 brings a highly musical open-air presentation to the premium headphone tier, pairing a new 50mm driver with handsome Brazilian-walnut housings. Positive Feedback found its performance exceptionally compelling below $1,000, making this a standout for listeners seeking engaging wired fidelity, distinctive craftsmanship, and balanced-ready connectivity.
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Nicely Roasted
Sound Quality
85/100
Comfort Fit
84/100
Build Quality
83/100
Features Usability
84/100
Value for Money
94/100
Pros
Exceptionally strong overall performance for a sub-$1,000 headphone, according to the reviewer.
New 50mm driver and Brazilian-walnut housings were specifically praised for performing wonderfully.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 85/100
The available review gives the S550 an emphatic overall endorsement, calling it the finest headphone the reviewer knows under $1,000. It also praises the performance of the new 50mm driver and walnut housing, but does not break that verdict down into individual tonal or spatial traits.
Bass
84/100
The reviewer considers the S550 an outstanding overall performer for its class. However, the review does not specifically describe bass extension, weight, impact, texture, or control.
Midrange
85/100
The broad sonic verdict is strongly positive, suggesting a presentation the reviewer found highly satisfying. There is no direct discussion of vocal realism, instrumental timbre, warmth, or midrange presence.
Treble
84/100
The review praises the headphones' overall performance without identifying a treble-related shortcoming. It does not provide specific comments on air, extension, smoothness, glare, or fatigue.
Resolution Detail
86/100
Calling the S550 the finest headphone the reviewer knows below $1,000 is a substantial overall endorsement. Still, there is no direct description of low-level detail retrieval, separation, transparency, or layering.
Soundstage Imaging
85/100
The review's overall praise indicates that the headphone delivered a convincing musical result to its author. Spatial scale, image placement, depth, and localization are not specifically covered.
Dynamics
84/100
The reviewer says the new driver performs wonderfully, but does not explain how the S550 handles punch, transient attack, rhythmic drive, or quiet-to-loud contrasts. The available comments offer no direct evidence of a particular dynamic strength or weakness.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Comfort Fit
84/100
The supplied review does not comment on clamp pressure, pad comfort, heat buildup, fit, or long-session wearability. At 335g, the S550 is not an ultra-light design, but the available review provides no evidence that its weight creates a comfort problem.
Build Quality
83/100
The reviewer specifically notes the Brazilian-walnut housing, and the product uses a new 50mm driver. Beyond that construction description, the review says little about structural durability, adjustment hardware, cable reliability, pad longevity, or long-term ownership.
Features Usability
84/100
The S550 has a detachable Signature Silver cable using a four-pin balanced mini-XLR connection, along with a 3.5mm plug and 6.3mm adapter. This is a sensible wired-audiophile provision, though the review does not discuss cable handling, pad replacement, storage, or day-to-day ergonomics.
Value for Money
94/100
Value is the clearest strength in the available coverage: Positive Feedback calls the S550 the finest headphone the reviewer knows of below $1,000. With listed pricing around $995 to $1,099, that praise is most directly applicable near the lower end of the current range, while still signaling very strong competitiveness among premium open-back headphones.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
Online Reviews & Mentions
YouTube Reviews
Forum Mentions
No forum mentions found yet
Specifications
- Transducer Type
- Dynamic
- Operating Principle
- Open Air
- Frequency Response
- 6Hz - 44kHz
- THD
- <0.2% @100dB
- SPL 1mW
- 112dB
- Nominal Impedance
- 38 ohms
- Driver Size
- 50mm
- Driver Matched
- .05dB
- Weight
- 335g
- Cable Type
- Signature Silver Detachable
- Headphone Connection
- 4pin Balanced Mini XLR
- Source Connection
- 3.5mm w/6.3mm adapter
- Cushion
- B Cushion
Manufacturer's Description — Grado Labs
Featuring New S2 Drivers and Cushion Design
Free 2 Day FedEx shipping in US
TheGrado Signature S550brings the core values of the Signature Line into a more streamlined and approachable form. Designed for listeners who value musical engagement as much as technical performance, theS550delivers clarity, balance, and energy in a headphone built for long, immersive listening sessions.
At its heart, theS550is tuned to preserve the immediacy and openness Grado is known for, while offering a refined presentation that remains natural and fatigue-free. From subtle acoustic details to dynamic passages, theS550is engineered to connect you more directly to the music — not just the sound.
The S550 is built around a newly engineered dynamic driver, developed to deliver a balanced and engaging presentation while preserving the speed and clarity that define Grado’s sound. Every element of the driver assembly has been carefully considered, allowing the S550 to reproduce fine detail and natural dynamics without sacrificing musical flow.
By focusing on control, responsiveness, and tonal accuracy, the S550’s driver delivers a sound that feels immediate and open, yet remains composed across a wide range of recordings. The result is a headphone that responds effortlessly to both subtle textures and more demanding passages, making it equally at home with intimate acoustic recordings and larger-scale performances.
The S550 features Grado’s detachable cable system, designed to improve flexibility, longevity, and overall usability while maintaining signal integrity. The lightweight cable construction offers increased pliability, reducing memory and improving comfort during extended listening sessions.
Detachable connections allow for easy replacement and customization, giving listeners the freedom to select alternative terminations or cable lengths to suit their system. Whether used in a traditional single-ended setup or paired with balanced amplification, the S550’s cable system is engineered to preserve the headphone’s natural clarity and dynamic response.
The S550 ships standard with Grado’s B cushions, offering a balanced combination of comfort, support, and acoustic performance. Designed to complement the headphone’s tuning, the B cushions provide a natural presentation that works across a wide range of music and listening styles.
For those who wish to further tailor their experience, the S550 is also compatible with Grado’s S, F, L, and G cushions. Each cushion style subtly influences both comfort and sound, allowing listeners to adjust fit, presentation, and spatial character to better suit their personal preferences. This flexibility makes the S550 easy to adapt — whether prioritizing long-term comfort, a more intimate presentation, or a broader soundstage.
The S550 features Grado’s proven headband design, engineered to provide long-term comfort and dependable durability. Its adjustable construction allows the headphones to sit securely while distributing weight evenly, helping to reduce pressure during extended listening sessions.
Built to withstand daily use, the headband assembly balances flexibility with strength, ensuring consistent fit over time without compromising comfort. Thoughtfully integrated into the overall design, it supports the S550’s focus on wearability, making it a headphone you can enjoy for hours at a time.
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. The Signature S750 has traveled from workbench to workbench until ready for your ears. Every experience since that kitchen table has led to the creation of the Signature S750 headphone.
Verified Dealers
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Authorized dealers for Grado Labs Signature S550
- 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)
and 247 more verified dealers