Grado Labs has introduced the Signature S150, extending its Signature Line to a $295 price point with a newly developed 44mm dynamic driver, paper-composite diaphragm technology derived from its flagship headphones, and a new molded acoustic chamber. Designed and hand-assembled in Brooklyn, the 220g open-back headphones combine detachable Signature Bronze cables, revised headband mechanics, and interchangeable cushions.
Grado Labs has introduced the Signature S150, extending its Signature Line to a $295 price point with a newly developed 44mm dynamic driver, paper-composite diaphragm technology derived from its flagship headphones, and a new molded acoustic chamber. Designed and hand-assembled in Brooklyn, the 220g open-back headphones combine detachable Signature Bronze cables, revised headband mechanics, and interchangeable cushions.
The Grado S150 extends a development program that has progressively saw the brand introducing new transducers, housing materials, and mechanical assemblies across its range. As audioXpress reported when the Signature HP100 SE launched in October 2024, that model marked a new design direction, introducing detachable cables and a revised headband alongside a 52mm driver. Developed to commemorate founder Joseph Grado’s centenary, the HP100 SE combined a paper-composite diaphragm with a high-flux magnetic circuit using rare-earth alloys and a lightweight copper-plated aluminum voice coil.
Grado subsequently adapted that 52mm driver technology for the Signature S950, pairing it with Brazilian walnut housings rather than the flagship’s machined aluminum construction. The company selected the wood for its density and dimensional stability, while pursuing a different acoustic presentation. That approach established the Signature family as a platform for exploring the interaction between transducer design, enclosure materials, and tuning.
The S150 now applies the paper-composite diaphragm approach to a newly developed 44mm S driver. Grado describes its tuning objective as combining detail and clarity with sufficient low-frequency presence to retain a full musical presentation. Published specifications include a nominal impedance of 38Ω, sensitivity of 104dB SPL at 1mW, frequency response of 16Hz–34kHz, and THD below 0.3% at 100dB. Driver matching is specified at 0.05dB.
This smaller S driver follows another driver development: the 50mm S2 introduced with the Signature S750. Featuring a carbon-fiber and paper-composite diaphragm with a copper-plated aluminum voice coil, the S2 accompanied a new B cushion that changed driver-to-ear spacing and used eight slits to manage airflow. As detailed in audioXpress’s S750 coverage, the cushion was developed as an acoustic component as well as a comfort feature. The subsequent $995 Signature S550 brought a 50mm driver, B cushions, and detachable Signature Silver cable into a lighter, 335g package.
For the S150, Grado introduces a single-piece acoustic chamber molded from engineered ABS polymer, combining low weight with dimensional consistency. The matte-black housing is supported by polymer gimbals, stainless-steel height rods, and reinforced junction blocks. A flexible steel band inside the padded leather headband allows adjustment of clamping tension, while controlled housing rotation limits unnecessary movement. Grado also offers the new Signature headband assembly separately for compatible earlier headphones.
The S150 uses dual 3.5mm housing connections, whereas the preceding Signature models employ four-pin mini-XLR connectors. Its new Signature Bronze cable is designed for lower weight and greater flexibility, terminating in a 3.5mm source plug with a supplied 6.3mm adapter. Alternative source terminations can be selected when ordering. The supplied F cushions incorporate internal acoustic slits, and compatibility with Grado’s full cushion range provides further scope to adjust fit and acoustic presentation.
The Signature S150 is available for preorder at USD $295, with shipping expected to begin in early November 2026. Its introduction brings the Signature family’s ongoing work on diaphragm materials, detachable connections, and adjustable mechanics to a substantially broader price category.
www.gradolabs.com
