GRADO GW100x Bluetooth Open-Back Wireless On-Ear Headphones

After initially having the Gradio SR-80s about ten years ago I have some background to the Grado sound, build and general outlook on prioritising audio quality over anything else. I always hated the long (albeit well-built and rugged) cable… it was far too long to not be removable (2m) and it would just get tangled and annoy me. Getting the GW-1000x was an interesting choice for me and it took a decent amount of reviews to convince me. When it comes to Bluetooth headphones I’ve only ever previously gone for over-ear closed-back or true wireless headphones and to be honest there’s usually something missing or lost. I also hate that encapsulating tunnel-like sound from a seal. The same cannot be said for these headphones which in my opinion are 5-star cans and the best-sounding Bluetooth headphones I’ve ever heard by quite some distance…. but only for the right person and under the right circumstances. Grado initially released the first version of these a few years ago and I was interested in them, but the micro-USB, wireless codec and the battery life put me off. The second version answered some things such as upgrading the input to USB-C and updating the battery life significantly. These are the third generation and they go one step further. They add a host of different features (such as better DSP processing; making the Bluetooth output sound better than the wired output, paradoxically) that are typically hidden away in the Grado direct and to-the-point unboxing experience. You would struggle to tell the three versions of these apart simply from looking at them. These headphones are loud and leak a lot of noise; they are suited to people who don’t need to maintain a quiet space with other people around them. They’re also suited to people such as myself who want a passive audio sound for games or to listen to background music. They also work when you need a good awareness around you such as looking after children or something similar. What I can say from the start is the sound will impress you straight out of the box. It’s not a myth to say that Grado products also benefit heavily from a decent burn-in session of 40 hours or so. I’m looking forward to how these cans sound in 6 months as my SR-80s just got better and better. The highs are detailed and slightly more subdued than the typical wired Grado, the mids are still prominent and most surprisingly of all the bass is full and present; a very well-rounded, great-sounding set of cans. These headphones sound like you’re sitting directly in front of a circa-£4000 analogue music system built in the 70s and it really can’t be compared to any other wireless offering out there; they truly are brilliant. On-ear will put a lot of people off, but I think that you can benefit from this type of design if it is executed as well as it is on these Grados. It’s a non-invasive introduction of sound and it’s genius. The Bluetooth stays connected. The battery life is quoted as over 40 hours and that is absolutely spot on. Highly recommended if you can look past the cheap-feeling build quality; the sound, comfort and lightness will thank you for it.

Firstly, this is an open back wireless headphone; so, it will not suit you if you want a headphone for listening in a noisy environment or if you simply want to keep your music to yourself and not be intruding upon others who share the same space as you. Secondly, these aren’t active noise canceling headphones so they wont shut you off from the world around you. Those two points made so that you can readily determine whether these Grado GW100X headphones are for you or not, these headphones sound absolutely fantastic. If you find the sound of Sony wireless headphones to be a little muddy and occluded in the midrange then you are going to love these…as long as you dont need the isolation from your environment provided by passive closed back wireless headphones like the Edifier Stax Spirit 3 or the active noose cancelling of Sony’s Wh-100XM4/5. Battery life is very good, I charged them when they arrived and have been listening for 9 days and I have not had to recharge them. Grado claim 45 hours at half volume and that seems more than reasonable to me as I work from home and have been listening during the Christmas holidays. Most wireless headphones that I use get set at half volume for pop, rock and jazz, and 3/4 or higher for large scale classical works such as symphonies and opera but with the GW100X I find that 1/4 volume is more than exciting with pop, rock, metal and half volume for most classical recordings, so that battery life of 45 hours use on one charge should be easily achievable for most people. Being open back headphones you will hear sounds in your proximity clearly; this can be a positive, such as wanting to hear someone telling you they are going to collect the children or reminding you to pick up the shopping. The sound benefit of the headphones being open back is that you get a better soundstage than with most closed back headphones, although the DSP correction used by Bluetooth headphones does skew this slightly. The GW100X are a very light headphone and very comfortable. Grado are a well established audiophile brand based in Brooklyn and their headphones share a very distinctive design language which will either speak to you soothingly in terms of nostalgic endearment, or make you think that they look odd and old fashioned. I am of the former opinion, but prepare yourself for the fact that the GW100X sit on your ear with a foam ear pad in the way that anyone not old enough to have grown up in the 80’s with a Sony Walkman and a pair of Koss’ Porta-Pro may be unfamiliar with. My ears project outward at a 90 degree angle and I only need to adjust these headphones after many hours use; those of you who have neat little ears that follow the contours of your skull will find these even more comfortable as the clamping force is as light as the headphones themselves while remaining entirely secure on your head. There is no travel case with these (its a Grado thing, spend £2K on their top of the range wired headphones and you still only get the cardboard pizzabox packaging with a foam cutout) but they aren’t a portable headphone but rather one that lets you enjoy your music in a highly entertaining way in the privacy of your own home. Compared to another brilliant sounding wireless headphone of a comparable price, the Edifier Stax Spirit 3 has a more detailed and resolving midrange compared to this Grado. However, the Grado while being a generally balanced and neutral sounding headphone (certainly in comparison to many bass heavy ANC wireless headphones) has more bass energy and a greater vim and vigour to it than the Edifier Stax Spirit 3 and I think that the Grado will satisfy more listeners. If you mainly listen to acoustic music such as Jazz and Classical then the Edifier headphone might be the better one for you (which isn’t to say that it is anything less than wonderful with other genres, rather it is splitting hairs in a comparison between to enormously satisfying and enjoyable wireless headphones) and to everyone else who doe not need to be isolated from their listening environment these Grado GW100X will supply you with endless hours of musical enjoyment. For those of us who grew up in the 80’s and have spent small fortunes on high end hifi equipment and headphones, it is amazing to discover how much musical satisfaction is to be had from a £250 pair of wireless headphones and a Tidal or Applemusic subscription.

Overall a good pair of headphones, they are what you usually can expect from Grado. They have good battery life and great sound but be prepared to buy third party ear pads if you don't want your ears to melt and fall down after the first 20 minutes of listening. The build feels a bit cheap and buttons are wobbly, definitely not what you'd expect from £200+ headphones. I really want to like this pair of headphones but the price point and cheap vibe doesn't cut it for me

It sounds great, both wired and wireless. I can tell the DSP used inside is very effective. Soundwise, almost perfect, though you may want a littel bit of more bass for some songs. Unfortunately, the volume down button is rattling upon unboxing, and it failed after a few days --either it refused to work totally, or it INCREASED the volume instead of decreasing! A couple of times I need to put off my headphones and stop the music immediately to avoid damaging my hears and the headphones. It left me no choice but to return it. Great sound, but poor QC. Wish it worked perfectly so that I could keep it.

The Grado GW100x headphones look great, are reasonably comfortable and the sound is superb. The plus /minus (+ -) toggle switch (which doesn't toggle) and the on/off switch are flawed. I payed £235 for these Bluetooth headphones but the switches would be unacceptable on a child's toy. There is no excuse for making a potentially excellent product this badly. The only way to show companies that they cannot foist their poorly designed, substandard products on customers is to boycott them.

This is my first go having non-noise cancelling phones. Up until now I've had a pair of Bose QC35s, which I've used for music and TV. But I've been lured away to these Grados with the promise of their transparent and accurate sound. As I only listen indoors and on my own the issue of sound leakage isn't a problem. So far so good. The presentation is neutral, and the phones extract a good level of detail. I listen mostly to a small DAP with most tracks in flac format, and I've been very impressed with their musicality. Louder, bouncier tracks reproduce with satisfying volume, and the phones handle acoustic stuff sensitively. I've had no issue with them pairing with various options, and have had no problems with them dropping out. These phones aren't as techie as many others at this price point, but then there aren't many that replicate what they offer. If no noise cancellation isn't a deal-breaker, then I'd recommend the Grados purely for their ability to reproduce music accurately and entertainingly.

Special. I thought they’d be very good based on reviews but they’ve smashed my expectations. Absolutely stunning. The famous Grado Midrange excellence is better than ever; an unusually good low end for a pair of Grados and of course the beautiful treble. They might be the best I’ve ever heard. Can anything beat this Grado with DSP….at any price range… Don’t use the supplied cable for wired listening - these sound far better via Bluetooth!

The best sounding headphones I've ever had. Open, dynamic and clear. Great comfort in warmer conditions and the ability to hear what's happening in the environment. Build quality is so-so. Cheap plastic, cosmetic bits that fall off and have to be glued back on and I'm not sure how long the open cell pads will last before they disintegrate from UV decay as most of this type usually do. Battery life is outstanding and I just wear them for days and generally blu tooth pickup is great. I appreciate they are cheaper than other great sounding headphones but you do lose out on construction quality.