Grado Signature S750 headphones
Direct communications from the editor of this fine site are quite rare things; quite gratifyingly so from my perspective. Products get commissioned, the review is written and some time later, the sordid business of payment is sorted. It was a surprise therefore when I received a message from Jason inquiring if I had found the Signature S750 (which had come to me so I could write this review before heading to Jason) comfortable.
For such a superficially simple question, the answer is surprisingly complicated. You see, judged by the standards of many of its notional rivals, the S750 is not terribly comfortable. It would likely require the assistance of a few stiff drinks to forget you were wearing them for example. However, judged by the standards of Grado headphones, the S750 is in fact, pretty good. It does, in microcosm, sum up the premise of a headphone that is intended to be both an advancement of Grado design principles while keeping loyal Grado buyers on board.
To this end, the basic design of the S750 is very definitively Grado. This is an open backed headphone in the very purest sense of the word where the housing exists to prevent the driver falling out rather than to exert much influence on its performance. The drivers in question are 50mm across, and unusually Grado has divulged some information on what they are made out of. The S2 driver is a carbon fibre and paper composite diaphragm, paired with a lightweight copper-plated aluminium voice coil. There are still limits to what Grado is willing to tell you (not least how these two rather different materials are actually combined) but this is a lot more information than we’ve been treated to in the past. Grado quotes a frequency response of 6Hz to 46kHz which should head off most requirements you might have.
The enclosure that supports the drivers is different to older designs. There is no use of wood at any point in its construction (and, even when wood wasn’t visible on some models, it was still present internally) and it is built entirely of aluminium. This metal section is not actually very large; barely wider than the driver itself. The majority of its perceived size is actually down to the foam cushion that prompted the message from Jason.
Grado calls this the ‘B cushion’ and describes this as ‘a fresh approach to comfort and acoustic performance’ which, as we’ve hinted at has met with different results from both Jason and myself. The B cushion is designed to shorten the distance between the driver and the ear; it’s as close to my ear as I can remember on any headphone. This is via a smaller interior opening with eight precisely engineered slits to improve airflow beyond what breathes naturally through the foam, with the aim of opening up the soundstage while maintaining detail.
Grado says that the flat surface distributes pressure more evenly across the ear, reducing fatigue and creating a distinct new feel for long listening sessions and, given that some older models have also created a distinct feeling for long listening sessions; that feeling being that I could not physically undertake them, I feel am pretty positive about it. The thing is though, if you are arriving at S750 ownership from another brand, this is still not a cosseting device to wear.
It is more flexible in how you can use it though. At the bottom of each housing, you’ll find the means to disconnect the cable. This is big progress for Grado as they have traditionally used captive cables limiting you to one length and termination type. The review sample arrived with a traditional 5ft cable; a length seemingly carefully calculated to be not quite right for anybody, but there is no need to stick with this if you don’t want to; shorter, longer and balanced cabling is now an option too.
Aesthetically, the S750 is still very much a Grado… but again it’s a Grado that hints at a modernity that has usually not been present up to now. There is a cleanliness to the overall design that is a different thing to what came before. Somehow, without impinging on their standard aesthetic, the S750 feels modern and impressively minimalist in its execution. The standard of finish, on the housings in particular is exceptional too; this is not a lavishly finished device but it’s solidly bolted together. Also, some aspects of the design that might look crude – the sliding pin arrangement to adjust the size of the headband for example – feels a bit Heath Robinson but they actually work better than some more ornate arrangements. Grado’s largesse does not extend to any form of case though so don’t forget to budget for one if you need it.
Sound quality
So, we’ve established that 50% of contributors to The Ear who have experienced the S750 find it ‘comfortable for a Grado’ and 50% don’t find it comfortable at all so you might reasonably ask why you would persevere past this point. The reason is simple enough; connected to a capable source, the S750 can do things that are beyond rivals at any price. Their ability to create a sound that extends far beyond those B cushions is truly extraordinary. When Agnes Obel begins singing on Riverside, she is a tangible presence in front of you in a way that is wholly improbable for a device attached to the sides of your head.
Not only is the Grado doing things in terms of moving information around, this is not the sole area it excels in. Obel’s ephemeral vocals are delivered with a presence that is truly impressive. She’s not over emphasised or separated from the supporting piano but she’s tangible in a way that can require a very significant speaker to get anywhere near. What is notable about this is that the Grado can balance an exceptionally revealing presentation with the means to keep less than stellar mastering sounding listenable. Even a keen blast through As I Try Not To Fall Apart by White Lies fails to trigger any unwanted forwardness.
The timing concept
Like it’s ancestors, this is still not a bass monster. There is enough low end to convince though and it is superbly articulate. The superb reimagining of various hip hop classics by Jules Buckley and the Heritage Orchestra on The Breaks sees the S750 deliver the articulate and complex basslines with a dexterity that actively encourages you to engage with what you’re hearing and not simply be a spectator to it. Timing is as thorny a concept as it’s always been but listening to the Grado for any length of time should leave you more open to the concept than you might have been before.
The S750 isn’t done there either. The tightening of the relationship between the driver and ear seems to have ensured that the S750 responds better to external processing and EQ than some Grado models have in the past. This is not an area I tend to invest too much time in; beyond implementing some crossfeed I tend to leave EQ alone but some tweaking to Roon’s adjustment software was able to gently augment the low end that the S750 was generating in a way that didn’t impinge on the speed or articulation of the performance as a whole.
Usually
So it’s all good news and you should simply get accustomed to wearing them because they sound peerless? Unfortunately, the answer to this is ‘usually.’ The main test duo for headphones is a Chord Electronics Hugo Mscaler and TT2. They are a formidable partnership for headphone work and the Mscaler’s natural ability to add more space and scale to a performance is to the lasting benefit of all headphones. Their performance with the Grado was exceptional and this was mirrored when I broke out a smaller and more price comparative Hugo2 as well.
When I decided to make use of a Bluesound Node Icon; a device that uses the THX AAA headphone amp system and that has put in some superb performances with other headphones, the results were less satisfactory though. It’s not a question of power; the Bluesound has plenty and the Grado is usefully sensitive. Some of the clarity and definition that was so prominent in what it does is lost and it sounds rather more closed in and constrained. Given this duo would not be an outlandish real world partnership, it’s a slight shame that the Grado doesn’t sound as good used this way and it points to some care being needed in how you partner it.
Must audition
In fact, the mantra ‘be careful’ is something that applies to quite a bit of what the S750 is and does. As Jason’s experiences will bear testimony to, there are going to be more than few people reading this who simply won’t get anything approaching a comfortable fit from them. For others, they might not form a happy relationship with your partnering electronics. This is very much a must audition headphone.
But… there are things that the S750 can do that make it very much something you should audition. The S750 can enthral in a way that even some sublimely talented rivals cannot and do it in a way that price comparative rivals cannot get near. It represents some small steps towards Grado broadening the appeal of what they do and for some of the people that pick them up, it’ll be the start of a relationship they will continue for years.
Pros
Exceptional soundstage and spatial presentation: creates an unusually open, expansive sound that extends far beyond the earcups.
Superb vocal realism and presence: Voices sound tangible and lifelike without exaggeration.
Highly revealing yet forgiving: Combines strong detail retrieval with the ability to keep poorer recordings listenable.
Outstanding timing and musical engagement: Delivers rhythm and flow in a way that draws the listener into the performance.
Articulate and controlled bass: Not overly heavy, but precise, agile, and musically convincing.
Improved driver design (S2): Carbon fibre/paper composite diaphragm offers clarity and responsiveness.
Better compatibility with EQ than past Grados: Responds well to subtle tuning without degrading performance.
Detachable cable (a first for many Grados): Adds flexibility for cable length and balanced options.
Strong performance with high-quality sources: Scales impressively with premium DAC/amp pairings.
Cons
Comfort remains divisive: “Good for a Grado” but need to try before you buy on this front.
Not suitable for long sessions for all users: Fit and pressure may limit extended listening.
System matching is critical: Performance varies noticeably depending on partnering equipment.
Bass lacks outright weight: May disappoint listeners seeking strong low-end impact.
No carry case included.
Cable length supplied may not suit all setups
Quirky, utilitarian adjustment mechanism: Functional but visually crude compared to competitors.
Open-back design limits usability: Not suitable for portable use or noisy environments.