Grado Signature HP100 SE

The Grado Signature HP100 SE is the company's flagship headphone, created to mark the 100th birthday of Grado Labs founder Joseph Grado. The HP100 SE is a direct tribute to the Signature HP1 — the model Joseph Grado introduced in the early 1990s that many credit with establishing the modern high-end headphone category. Sitting at the very top of the current Grado range, above the GS3000x, the HP100 SE combines five decades of driver and acoustic research with new engineering designed specifically for this commemorative edition. “Although Uncle Joe left us 10 years ago, he will always be a presence at Grado Labs,” says John Grado, Joseph’s nephew and CEO of Grado Labs.

Construction

The HP100 SE housings are individually hand-machined from specially treated aluminium in a space grey finish. The model name is engraved directly into each cup. Height adjustment rods are fabricated from stainless steel rather than the plastic used in earlier Grado designs, providing greater rigidity and reducing the gradual slipping that can occur with extended use. Cup rotation is mechanically limited to 105 degrees, reducing wear at pivot points and extending the working life of the mechanism. The entire headphone is hand-assembled at Grado’s factory in Brooklyn, New York, continuing the family workshop tradition maintained since the 1950s.

Driver

The HP100 SE uses a newly engineered 52mm dynamic driver — the largest Grado has produced. The operating principle is open-air, with a measured frequency response of 3.5 Hz to 51.5 kHz. Nominal impedance is 38 ohms and sensitivity is 117 dB at 1mW, making the headphone compatible with portable sources as well as dedicated amplifiers. Total harmonic distortion is below 0.1% at 100 dB SPL. Each driver is matched to within 0.04 dB of its pair to ensure consistent channel balance across every unit.

Cable and Connectivity

The HP100 SE is the first Grado headphone to feature a fully detachable cable. The cable is a 12-conductor braided design, terminating at the headphone end via 4-pin mini XLR sockets at each housing and at the source end with a 6.3mm stereo jack. The detachable design allows the cable to be replaced independently if damaged, and makes alternative terminations possible — the headphone is also available factory-terminated with a 4.4mm balanced connector or a 4-pin balanced XLR.

Earpads

Each HP100 SE ships with two sets of earpads: G-cushions, which place the driver slightly further from the ear, and F-style cushions, which sit closer for a more direct presentation. Both sets are included in the box.