GRADO Signature S750 Open Air Dynamic Headphones

At CanJam SoCal 2025, Grado introduced a new headphone to round out their reference quality Signature series with an entry-level offering, the GRADO Signature S750 Open Air Dynamic Headphones. I was completely floored by the performance of this relatively inexpensive reference headphone and made arrangements to get a hold of a review sample to test in my personal environment. Unfortunately, they arrived at the beginning of December after the deadline for reviews for the year, but the performance garnered them a Product of the Year Award anyway, so here is the much-anticipated review.

The GRADO Signature S750 Open Air Dynamic Headphones

Making up the core of the GRADO Signature S750 Open Air Dynamic Headphones is a brand new ground-up reengineered S2 50mm driver, featuring a carbon fiber and paper composite diaphragm, paired with a lightweight copper-plated aluminum voice coil designed to deliver a natural musical presentation with definition and dynamic range. Continuing the Signature Line tradition of detachable cables, first introduced with the HP100 SE, the S750 is supplied with a 6-foot cable terminated in a 6.3mm single-ended plug, boasting a new Signature Gold braided design which is softer, more durable, and lighter than before, with improved insulation that enhances its flexibility. Each cable connects to the headphone housing via a 4-pin balanced mini XLR, providing compatibility with present and future detachable Grado cables. Accessory cable options include additional lengths, as well as source terminations such as 4-pin balanced XLR and 4.4mm balanced single-ended, enabling users to tailor setups to their personal preference and source equipment.

Debuting with the S750 is the new Grado B cushion, a new approach to comfort and acoustic performance which shortens the distance between the driver and the ear and introduces a smaller interior pocket that redefines the acoustic balance. Eight precisely engineered slits improve airflow, increasing the soundstage while maintaining detail. The flat surface distributes pressure more evenly across the ear, reducing fatigue and creating a distinct new feel for long listening sessions. Standard on the S750, the B cushion will soon be available as an accessory, compatible with all current Grado wired headphones.

Each headphone handcrafted in Brooklyn, NY. the housing of the S750 is an all-aluminum construction, and weighs just 460 grams, making it over 10% lighter than the HP100 SE, though the headband assembly of the S750 mirrors that of the Signature HP100 SE and S950, with a few subtle refinements. Though slightly narrower, the leather headband retains 50% more padding than earlier Grado models, ensuring long-lasting comfort.  Engineered for reliability, the assembly incorporates engraved aluminum alloy gimbals, stainless-steel height rods, and reinforced aluminum junction blocks. The limited 105-degree rotation reduces wear while maintaining flexibility, improving both stability and long-term durability. All black, the S750 has an attractive retro industrial design that speaks of elegance, precision, and sturdiness.

Living with the GRADO Signature S750 Open Air Dynamic Headphones

I burned in the GRADO Signature S750 Open Air Dynamic Headphones using the HIFIMAN GOLDENWAVE SERENADE DAC/Headphone Amplifier and performed my initial listening tests with that set up, but for the review tests I switched to my reference system consisting of the dCS Bartók APEX DAC with Headphone Amplifier, Black Dragon USB Cable, Black Dragon Power Cables, and Core Power Technologies A/V Equi=Core 1000.

Going into Qobuz, I selected “New Threats From The Soul” (16-bit/44.1kHz – Qobuz) by Ryan Davis & the Roadhouse Band, and my first impression was of the heavy, solid bass, which contrasted with the neutral, clear vocal, percussion, piano, slide guitar, and violin in a massive soundstage. Though billed as Alternative/Indie, the overall sound was Modern Country.

Flipping over to “Steve Reich: Jacob’s Ladder/Traveler’s Prayer” (24-bit/96kHz – Qobuz) performed by Steve Reich, the New York Philharmonic, Jaap van Zweden, the Colin Currie Group, Colin Currie, and Synergy Vocals, which was well served by the S750’s extreme dynamic range,  vast soundstage, and precise timbre of instruments, with a laser image and plenty of air between the musicians rendering a box seat experience. The piano was powerful, rich, and resonant.

Selecting The London Suede’s latest offering, “Antidepressants” (24-bit/96kHz – Qobuz), the S750’s deep bass extension gave an arena-sized live music presentation. The instruments blended together to create a cohesive sound while the clarity laid the character of each bare.

Moving to my regular play list for bar which to read from I cued up “Sunny Came Home” by Shawn Colvin from her album “A Few Small Repairs” (16-bit/44.1kHz) I was totally entranced by the musicality, and the natural tones, leading me to follow it up with a similar song, “Polyester Bride” by Liz Phair (“Whitechocolatespaceegg” 16-bit/44.1kHz), the deep tight bass and dynamic range drowning me in pleasure.

Dusty Springfield’s rendition of “The Look of Love” (“Casino Royale” – Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass/Burt Bacharach-24-bit/192kHz) came across sultry and intimate in a huge empty nightclub. The concert grand piano, upright bass, percussion, saxophone, trumpet, horn, and string sections each having a personality all their own with a realism and musicality that places you in the moment.

The S750’s deep, dark bass only became prominent when appropriate, as evidenced by listening to Dean Martin’s “Everybody Loves Somebody” (24-bit/96kHz). Again, coming across as a in person escapade rather than a bland studio recording.

Next up was John Coltrane and “Locomotion” (”Blue Train” – 24-bit/352.8kHz), the piano and saxophone were on the left, while the upright bass and drums were on the right set about ten feet away from the listener in a cavernous room, while the trumpet came in on the left slightly to the right and forward of the piano. You could easily picture the placement of each drum during the solo, and the trumpet was clearly to the right of the sax when they performed together. The pre-multi-track nature of this early stereo recording was plain to hear, blossoming in a fantastically realistic soundstage.

All of my previous impressions were confirmed in a final listening to Reference Recordings DSD track capturing Eiji Oue and the Minnesota Orchestra’s performance of “The Firebird Suite” (“Stravinsky” – DSD), the tonal balance was fantastic, the timbre of the instruments chill-inducing in its accuracy, the sense of space awe-inspiring.

Conclusions on the GRADO Signature S750 Open Air Dynamic Headphones

Grado has once again proven themselves the master of the audiophile dynamic headphone with the GRADO Signature S750 Open Air Dynamic Headphones. While I admit that my skin is extremely tactile sensitive and therefore I usually don’t care for on-ear designs, the new Grado B cushion made the S750 very comfortable and was only fatigued after several hours of listening, proving the advantages clearly outweighed the disadvantages of the design. Offering exceptionally neutral tonal balance and natural timbre of instruments, yet able to provide copious amounts of tight subsonic bass when demanded, and unparalleled dynamic range, the S750 is a standing beacon in the foggy market of reference headphones. They not only worked well with all genres of music, they appeared to be purpose-built for each song I listened to.

Grado’s latest reengineered S2 50mm driver reaches speed rivaling the best in planar headphone, offering up a huge soundstage and precision imaging, with a sonic accuracy that I thought was not possible from a dynamic headphone.

With the S750 Grado has well earned their Product of the Year Award and I’ll repeat my comment of then; representing the entry level for Grado’s Signature series of headphones, with the audiophile timbre, extreme efficiency, and dynamic range that denotes the Grado sound, the Grado Signature S750 has a unique subsonic heavy tonal balance that resonates with old Delta-Blues recordings, giving them a more modern feel. Jazz fans will love the liquid mid-range vocal reproduction, and Progressive Rock and Pipe Organ fans will adore the pulsating subsonics. And let’s not forget speed that is a rarity in dynamic headphones. Simply another gem from Grado, congrats.

Price: $1,695.00

https://gradolabs.com/products/s750

Transducer Type: Dynamic

Operating Principle: Open Air

Frequency Response: 4Hz – 48kHz

THD: <0.2% @100dB

SPL 1mW: 115dB

Nominal Impedance: 38ohms

Driver Size: 50mm

Driver Matched dB: 0.05 dB

Cable Type: Signature Gold Detachable

Headphone Connection: 4pin Balanced Mini XLR

Source Connection: 6.3mm

Cushions: NEW B Style