When you snag your pair of Grado’s open-back GW100x headphones, you’ll discover a message on the box interior proudly proclaiming the company’s six-decade legacy as a family-run business in Brooklyn. The design of these headphones echoes our heritage, boasting a no-frills aesthetic with circular grills, a smooth black-leather headband, and a commitment to delivering exceptional sound.
Grado has introduced 44mm drivers, redesigned speaker housings, and support for the aptX Adaptive codec, enhancing the overall performance. However, the design philosophy for the GW100x prioritizes functionality over flamboyance, and we've maintained a stripped-back aesthetic that exudes an industrial, hard-edged feel. The lightweight design offers practical features like an in-built microphone for voice calls and robust up-and-down slider mechanism for easy adjustments, a choice between wired and wireless connections, and an impressive 46-hour battery life at 50% volume.
Perfect for at home listening, the GW100x delivers as expected from Grado, offering a rich and detailed audio experience. Whether used wirelessly or with the 3.5mm jack-equipped cable, the headphones excel in reproducing diverse musical genres with clarity and precision. If you prioritize top-notch audio in a quiet environment, the GW100x is worth considering, despite its unconventional design and features.
With a more efficient battery and Bluetooth 5.2, the GW100x can now play music for nearly two days straight. Matching our GT220, USB-C is now included, bringing the GW100x in line with global charging standards. The upgraded chipset allows more information to flow from your device to the GW100x, all while maintaining a strong connection.
Features
- Wireless Bluetooth 5.2
- Mic and voice control
- 46 hour battery
- Drivers matched .1db
- Touch controls
- Voice assistant
- De-stressed drivers
- WS cushions
4th Generation Grado drivers are here. Specifically tuned for the wireless GW100x, this new speaker design features a more powerful magnetic circuit, a voice coil with decreased effective mass, and a reconfigured diaphragm. Reengineering these components for our 44mm drivers improve efficiency, reduces distortion, and preserves the harmonic integrity of your music.
Customer Reviews
I have to admit I’m a bit disappointed. Based on the reviews and opinions I read online, I expected a truly high-end product with top-notch finishing and materials. What I received is a pair of headphones that deliver superb sound quality - no doubt about that - but in my opinion, the materials and overall finishing fall short of the price point.
The plastics feel somewhat cheap and not perfectly aligned, especially when I compare them to my Bowers & Wilkins, where the craftsmanship is clearly superior. Comfort is another drawback: the fit on my head isn’t great (which may be a personal thing), and they don’t feel particularly comfortable for longer listening sessions.
Overall, while the sound quality is excellent, the design, materials, and comfort are significantly below my expectations for a product in this range.
Quite a lot like the SR80s that were my mainstay, but without the absurdly long and heavy cable. The phones are actually lighter, I think, and out of the box they were immediately comfortable, also an improvement over the SR80. Quite pricey but the sound quality is excellent and I figure I’m paying for development time more than parts!
If you're looking for bluetooth wireless open-back headphones that are not earbuds, then the Grado GW100x are the only game in town. They are affordable and great for listening to music or youtube while doing chores around the house and you can still hear what's going on around you or when spouse starts talking to you.
That said, the little plastic buttons rattle against the case when you are moving around, which is very distracting and unfortunate. Hopefully Gradon can solve this design problem and have an even better product!
GW100x
As is stated throughout Grado's marketing, I have genuinely heard things in various compositions that I have not heard before. The sound stage has been good for aggressive/loud music like metal and punk; and has been absolutely fantastic for live performance recordings.
The microphone is good, and the headset has been comfortable for 4+ hour listening sessions while working around the house. The "power on" and "connected" messages are absolutely adorable, love the headset overall!