Grado Labs Signature S950
The Grado Signature S950 brings vocal intimacy, fast transient attack and richly revealing detail to an open-back, Brazilian-walnut design. ecoustics praises its textured, present midrange and smoother treble, while Paul Rigby highlights its focused, information-forward delivery. Detachable cables and improved long-session comfort make this an especially compelling modern Grado for detail-led listening.
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Nicely Roasted
Sound Quality
85/100
Comfort Fit
86/100
Build Quality
85/100
Features Usability
87/100
Value for Money
82/100
Pros
Excellent vocal texture, clarity and presence, with a warmer, smoother top end than older Grado designs.
Highly explicit midrange detail and immediate, impactful bass make small mix elements easy to follow.
Detachable dual-entry mini-XLR cable system is a major usability upgrade, with a softer, more flexible braided cable.
Improved headband padding, large pads and balanced 395g weight support longer listening sessions than previous Grados.
Cons
The focused, somewhat compressed presentation is less airy and expansive than more neutral open-back rivals.
Upper mids can sound etched or edgy on compressed and bright recordings.
At this price, the supplied ear pads feel less premium than expected; one reviewer also wanted more headband padding.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 85/100
The S950 is presented as a direct, detail-forward open-back with a warmer and smoother side than earlier Grados. Reviewers particularly praise vocal presence and the ability to expose fine mix details, while noting a focused, somewhat compressed spatial presentation and an analytical edge in the upper mids.
Bass
84/100
The Audiophile Man found bass crunchy, hard and impactful rather than lush or expansive. That immediacy is appealing, but the same reviewer described the bass as somewhat compressed and "chrome plated," suggesting less natural weight and ease than the best alternatives.
Midrange
86/100
Vocals are a central strength: ecoustics heard excellent texture, clarity and presence with male and female voices, calling Nick Cave's tone particularly accurate and affecting. The caveat is an etched, occasionally edgy upper-midrange character noted by The Audiophile Man.
Treble
84/100
ecoustics welcomed the warmer timbre and smoother top end, a notable departure from the sharper Grado house sound. Conversely, The Audiophile Man still heard an analytical, etched character through the upper frequencies, so bright recordings may not always sound relaxed.
Resolution Detail
90/100
Detail retrieval receives the clearest praise. The Audiophile Man says subtle points are brought to the fore and that listeners who do not want anything hidden in the mix should audition the S950; the review also specifically lists midrange detail among its strengths.
Soundstage Imaging
84/100
ecoustics found that certain recordings could extend far beyond the earcups and sound massive. The Audiophile Man instead heard most of the action concentrated in the centre image, with side elements widening the stage rather than creating a consistently broad, airy presentation.
Dynamics
82/100
The S950 is described as immediate and eager, with impactful bass lending music a heightened sense of attack. However, direct comparisons to the HD650 led The Audiophile Man to describe the overall presentation as slightly compressed, limiting its sense of dynamic freedom.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Comfort Fit
86/100
The larger pads, thicker headband and more even distribution of its 395g weight make this a more comfortable Grado for extended listening. ecoustics still wanted more headband padding after a roughly 45-minute session, so comfort is improved rather than unqualified.
Build Quality
85/100
Reviewers note the Brazilian-walnut housings alongside aluminum-alloy gimbals and a stainless-steel height rod, giving the S950 a purposeful premium construction. The available coverage says little about long-term durability or wear of the pads and adjustment mechanism.
Features Usability
87/100
The Signature range introduces detachable dual-entry 4-pin mini-XLR cables, a meaningful practical improvement for Grado owners. ecoustics also praises the supplied cable's softer, more flexible and apparently more durable braided finish; alternative balanced terminations were announced separately.
Value for Money
82/100
At $2,195/£2,495, this is a costly specialist open-back headphone. ecoustics specifically questions why it does not include a higher-quality ear pad at that asking price, while the other reviews focus more on its distinctive presentation than on compelling value against rivals.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
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Specifications
- Transducer Type
- Dynamic
- Operating Principle
- Open Air
- Frequency Response
- 3.5 Hz – 51.5 kHz
- THD
- <0.1% @100 dB
- SPL 1mW
- 117 dB
- Nominal Impedance
- 38 ohms
- Driver Size
- 52 mm
- Driver Matched dB
- 0.4 dB
- Cable Type
- Grado Gold detachable cable
- Headphone Connection
- 4pin Mini XLR
- Source Connection
- 6.3 mm
- Earpad Supplied
- G Cushions and F Cushions
Manufacturer's Description — Grado Labs
Grado’s All New Signature S950 Headphones: Premium Sound in a Hand Crafted Brazilian Walnut Shell!
Grado Labs, world-renowned designer and manufacturer of award-winning headphones, announces the release of its latest open-back headphone, the Signature S950. Building on the success of the recently released HP100 SE, the Signature S950 is the second headphone to become part of the new Signature line. Staying true to Grado’s longstanding tradition of using woods in crafting their headphone housings, this model utilizes a Brazilian Walnut, the first time Grado has chosen this family of woods. Grado finds that different woods offer distinct sonic characteristics allowing this headphone its own sound signature which contrasts the more analytical, machined aluminum HP100 SE stablemate.
Lightweight but durable, the Signature S950 is crafted from Brazilian Walnut. Weighing only 395 grams it offers a comfortable fit and reduced fatigue for those long listening sessions. The wood grain of each individually crafted housing is never identical, bringing a special one-of-kind quality to each build. Walnut, known for its density and resistance to decay, has been chosen for a relaxed musical presentation and stability. The lack of expansion and contraction due to changes in temperature or humidity helps maintain the acoustical characteristics. Brazilian Walnut is grown in the tropical rain forests of the Amazon, and sustainable practices help protect the ecosystems in the area.
NEW Driver Design
The Signature S950 utilizes a version of the new Grado 52mm S driver originally designed for the award winning Signature HP100 SE. While developing this new 52mm driver, Grado aimed to create a speaker that delivers exceptional high-frequency detail, a smooth midrange, and powerful bass while maintaining minimal distortion, ensuring a musically and harmonically accurate sound.
To achieve this, a paper composite cone was selected, paired with a high-flux magnetic circuit made from rare earth alloys. The driver also features a lightweight copper-plated aluminum voice coil. Together, the advanced magnetic circuit and voice coil enhance dynamics and transient response while providing a refined sense of space, soundstage, detail and imaging.
While the award winning Signature HP100 SE has been lauded by recording engineers and consumers around the world as detailed, revealing and accurate to the recorded piece, the Signature S950 has a more neutral and balanced sound, providing a broad brush stroke to the musical presentation. A presentation that allows the listener to experience a relaxed personal insight to what the music is communicating.
Headband Assembly
The Signature S950 will utilize the new headband assembly that was first made available on the Signature HP100 SE. Built for long listening sessions, the updated headband includes 50% more padding than earlier Grado models. It features a stainless-steel band and adjustable height rods, allowing for a customized fit that helps reduce listening fatigue.
Grado Labs has crafted the engraved gimbals from an aluminum alloy, while the stainless-steel height rod adds stability at the connection point. The height rod is designed to stay in place if the zinc alloy end caps become dislodged while restricting the housing rotation to 105 degrees, helping minimize wear over time.
Detachable Cables
The Grado Signature line will continue to feature detachable cables. First introduced with the launch of the Signature HP100 SE, these new cables have been a welcome change to Grado headphones. The Signature S950 headphone will ship standard with the Grado Signature Gold cable, with a length of 6 feet and a 6.35mm single ended termination. All new Grado cables have been redesigned with a softer more durable braided finish as well as an improved insulation that enhances flexibility while reducing overall weight.
The cable connects to each housing via a 4-pin balanced mini XLR plug. Future Grado detachable cables will be available with termination options, there will be a 4-pin balanced XLR termination and 4.4mm balanced termination, variable cable lengths will also be available. The detachable cables allow users to customize their headphones to best match their source and personal preferences.
Features
- Transducer Type: Dynamic
- Operating Principle: Open Air
- Frequency Response: 3.5 Hz – 51.5 kHz
- THD: <0.1% @100 dB
- SPL 1mW: 117 dB
- Nominal Impedance: 38 ohms
- Driver Size: 52 mm
- Driver Matched dB: 0.4 dB
- Cable Type: Grado Gold detachable cable
- Headphone Connection: 4pin Mini XLR
- Source Connection: 6.3 mm
- Earpad Supplied: G Cushions & F Cushions
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 S950 has traveled from workbench to workbench until ready for your ears. Every experience since that kitchen table has led to the creation of the S950.
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- 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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