Grado Signature S950 Headphones Sport Brazilian Walnut Cups Housing 52mm Drivers
The Signature S950 are the latest open-backed cans to join the Brooklyn brand's exclusive Signature line.
The Signature S950's earcup housings are made using Brazilian Walnut, in contrast to the HP100 SE's aluminium (both shown above), which makes for an attractive and lightweight construction (395g) and offers what Grado characterises as a "relaxed musical presentation". Grado does seem to love wooden housings, as demonstrated by its Statement and Reference offerings.
Grado's Signature S950 borrows the 52mm S driver, initially designed for the Signature HP100 SE cans as a jumping-off point.
This latest iteration was apparently developed to create a driver that would deliver "exceptional high-frequency detail, a smooth midrange, and powerful bass", all while keeping distortion levels at a minimum for acoustic accuracy. Grado claims the S950 produces a THD figure of <0.1% @100 dB.
The driver consists of a paper composite cone paired with a high-flux magnetic circuit and a copper-plated aluminium voice coil. When combined, Grado claims that the magnetic circuit and voice coil enhance the new headphones' dynamic reproduction while providing a "refined sense of space, soundstage, detail and imaging". This results in a stated 3.5 Hz – 51.5 kHz frequency response, SPL 1mW: 115 dB and 38 ohms nominal impedance.
Comfort is provided by an updated headband that is said to feature 50 percent more padding than earlier Grado models, while the S950 sports a stainless-steel band and adjustable height rods for customising your fit accordingly.
Bundled with the new Signature series headphones is a six-foot cable terminated in a 6.3mm connector at one end and 4-pin balanced mini XLR plugs at the other. We're told that Grado plans to offer varying lengths of detachable cable options, with 4-pin balanced XLR and 4.4mm balanced terminations becoming available later.
The Grado Signature S950 will be available from March, priced at £2,495 / US$2,195.
Visit Grado for more information
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Jay Garrett
StereoNET’s resident rock star, bass player, and gadget junkie. Jay heads up StereoNET as Editor for the United Kingdom and Europe regions. His passion for gadgets and Hi-Fi is second only to being a touring musician.
Posted in: Headphones
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