Grado GW100x review 2024: great battery life

If you are fortunate enough to obtain a set of Grado’s open-back GW100x headphones, you will find a message on the inner of the box lid notifying you that the company has been “family run for sixty decades in Brooklyn, New York.” This message will be waiting for you when you open the box.

There is something about Grado’s products that represents this proud tradition from its roots in the center of the most famous city in the United States. The straightforward appearance of the headphones, together with their massive circular grills and sleek black leather headband, are all characteristics that are indicative of a product developed by a family-owned and operated business in Brooklyn. There are no tricks to be found here; rather, there is only a dedication to presenting audio of a very high quality.

Grado GW100x Specifications

Design and Functionality

Grado isn’t a business that goes overboard with new designs. The company’s other products, like the award-winning Grado SR325x, follow the same basic rules of functionality and thrift over frills and fancy touches. This means that the GW100x has the same simple, useful design as the GW100.

That is in no way a bad thing to say. Even though they only come in a few colors, the GW100x look like they mean business. Their simple design gives them an industrial, hard-edged look. Think of Charles Bronson instead of Liberace. You can buy this headphone from its official website

Grado GW100x: Sound Quality

The sound quality is the most important thing about the Grado GW100X. We’re glad to say that they don’t let us down at all in this area. It sounds clearly like a Grado, with an airy openness, great detail, and a wide soundstage.

We were worried that the addition of Bluetooth hardware and the work done to stop sound from leaking out would hurt the sound quality. On the contrary, these could be the best Grados we’ve heard so far. Compared to passive types, there is a lot more warmth, which is great and doesn’t hurt the mid-range performance. It makes a beautiful sound.

Grado GW100x: Performance

The soundstage of Grado’s over-ear headphones is tight and small. That’s not to say that the GW100x don’t sound big compared to other wireless over-ear headphones, but the work Grado has done to reduce sound loss has made it clear that this has changed the size and clarity of the soundstage these headphones can create.

Still, there isn’t a lack of leg room or width on the stage, and as far as sound quality goes, this is about as big a problem as the GW100x shows. In every other way, it’s business as usual at Grado. Which is a good thing, in case you weren’t sure.

Grado GW100x: Battery Life

In addition to the new drivers, these headphones are different from their peers because they have Bluetooth 5.2 and a longer battery life. The estimated playback time is now an amazing 46 hours at 50% volume, which is probably where you’ll end up since these can get pretty loud.

We charged the headphones when we got there, and we still haven’t used them all the way down. We can’t imagine anyone being unhappy with how long they last. The GW100X doesn’t have any fancy fast-charging technology, but it still only takes 2 hours to charge up from empty.

Final Words

If this was just about sound, the Grado GW100x would get top marks, but it’s not, not by a long shot, when it comes to items like this. If “great sound” is the only thing you need, Grado has you covered. However, if you want active noise cancellation, a control app, or just a little bit of luxury in terms of material and finish, you may need to look elsewhere.

Grado GW100x review: The good and The bad

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