Signature S950

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.