Grado Labs Signature S550 audiophile headphones launch for $995
The Grado Labs Signature S550 connect via 4-pin Balanced Mini XLRs.
- Grado Labs has released a new pair of audiophile-grade open-back headphones named Signature S550.
- These feature Grado’s 50mm S2 dynamic driver and a new Brazilian Walnut housing.
- The cans are now available in the US through the company’s website for $995.
Five months after announcing its Signature S750, Grado Labs has launched an affordable Signature S550 follow-up. These high-end, open-back headphones are hand assembled in Brooklyn, weigh 335g, and feature a new Brazilian Walnut housing. The Signature S550 include Grado’s new B cushions for a comfortable fit, although they’re compatible with the company’s full cushion lineup. The headband is composed of leather and features a metal support for long-lasting durability. The S550 also feature the narrower leather headband strap of the S750, incorporating engraved metal gimbals, stainless-steel height rods, reinforced junction blocks, and controlled housing rotation.
The headphones ship with Grado’s Silver detachable cable. This is designed to be lighter, softer, and more flexible than previous iterations. Each housing terminates with a 4-pin balanced mini XLR, and the included cable terminates with a 3.5mm mini plug. You also receive a 6.3mm adapter to connect the headphones to heritage audio gear.
The headphones weigh 335g and feature an open-back design.
What’s interesting about these headphones is that they house the same 50mm S2 dynamic driver as the S750. However, Grado Labs states that the headphones are tuned specifically for their all-wood enclosure. Commenting on the new design, the company says that the cans are “designed for listeners seeking warmth, openness, and clarity without fatigue…” promising a “more relaxed presentation while preserving the speed, detail, and immediacy that have long defined the Grado sound.”
The Grado Labs Signature S550 are now available from the company’s website for $995. This marks an almost 50% reduction from their predecessor’s retail launch price of $1,695 in October 2025. That isn’t bad going, considering they house the same driver system with a refreshed tuning.
