Grado Signature S750 Open-Back Headphones

The Grado Signature S750 is an open-back over-ear headphone with a newly developed 50mm S2 driver in a hand-crafted aluminium housing.

It's the third model in the Signature line and sits below the S950 and HP100 SE – the same handwriting, but a driver Grado has redesigned from scratch.

Why the S750?

The S2 driver isn't a revision, it's a new design: a carbon-paper composite diaphragm and a copper-clad aluminium voice coil. Add to that the new B-cushion, which shortens the distance between driver and ear and features eight finely worked slots for airflow. And the cable is detachable – for Grado, that was never a given for decades.

What you hear

Grado pace with better manners: fast transients, an open soundstage, plenty of midrange presence – but less pointed treble than earlier Grado generations. The 0.05 dB driver matching keeps the stereo image cleanly centred, and the frequency response of 4 Hz to 48 kHz reaches well beyond what you consciously hear – but you feel it anyway, because the driver works correspondingly relaxed within the audible range.

Who is the S750 for?

For anyone who listens open at home and likes the Grado character without it becoming tiring after two hours. Straight talk: open means open – your surroundings hear along with you, and you hear them. On the train, in the office or in an open-plan space, this is simply the wrong headphone. At 460 g it's also no lightweight; if you prefer something noticeably lighter, take a look at the 335 g S550. If you want the ultimate level of resolution, you'll end up at the S950 or the HP100 SE.

Our verdict

The S750 is the most accessible route to Grado's new S2 driver in an aluminium housing – without it feeling like a budget version. New driver, new cushion, detachable cable: technically the most modern Grado currently available.

Technical data

• Type: Open-back over-ear headphone (Open Air, dynamic)
• Series: Grado Signature
• Driver: 50mm S2, carbon-paper composite diaphragm, copper-clad aluminium voice coil
• Frequency response: 4 Hz – 48 kHz
• Total harmonic distortion: < 0.2% at 100 dB
• Sensitivity: 115 dB (1 mW)
• Impedance: 38 ohms
• Driver matching: 0.05 dB
• Housing: Aluminium, hand-crafted in Brooklyn
• Ear cushions: B-cushion (fitted)
• Cable: Signature Gold, 12-conductor, detachable, 1.8 m (6 ft)
• Headphone-side connector: 4-pin mini-XLR (balanced)
• Source-side connector: 6.3 mm jack
• Weight: 460 g
• What's included: Headphones with B-cushions, detachable Signature Gold cable (mini-XLR to 6.3 mm jack)

Frequently asked questions

Does the Grado S750 need a headphone amplifier?

Not strictly, but it's still recommended. At 38 ohms and 115 dB per milliwatt, the S750 already plays loud enough from a good headphone output. On a clean amplifier, though, it audibly gains in calm, bass weight and space – especially because the new driver responds so quickly.

What does the new B-cushion offer?

It moves the driver closer to the ear, changing the tuning as a result. Eight worked-in slots improve airflow, opening up the soundstage without blurring detail. The flatter contact area spreads pressure more evenly – for long listening sessions, that's the most noticeable improvement over older Grado cushions.

Why buy the Grado Signature S750 from HD Zürisee?

Because we don't just sell headphones, we've used them ourselves for decades. At HD Zürisee in Wädenswil we'll work out with you which amplifier suits the S750, which cushion suits your ear – and whether the lighter S550 might actually be the smarter choice. A call, an email or WhatsApp is all it takes.

Goes well with

A matching headphone amplifier, replacement and additional cushions in our headphone accessories, and more headphones.