Grado Signature S550: open-back wooden headphones for immersive listening

The Grado Signature S550 is an open-back headphone designed for listeners who value warmth, space and musical involvement without losing detail. As part of Grado’s Signature line, it combines the brand’s handcrafted approach with a refined construction aimed at long, focused listening sessions. It is especially well suited to home listening, where its open presentation, comfortable build and natural tonal balance can help bring acoustic recordings, vocals, orchestral music and carefully produced albums closer to the listener.

At the heart of the Grado Signature S550 is a 50 mm S2 driver, tuned specifically for the fully wooden housing. The solid Brazilian walnut earcups are chosen for both their acoustic role and their visual character, with natural grain patterns that make each headphone distinct. The S550 is designed to deliver a warmer, wider and more natural sound while retaining Grado’s familiar sense of speed, clarity and imaging. Its 38-ohm impedance makes it approachable for quality portable players, yet it can gain extra authority from a dedicated headphone amplifier.

The Grado Signature S550 fits well in a serious hi-fi headphone system with a DAC, streamer or standalone amplifier, particularly in quiet rooms where its open-back design can perform at its best. The detachable Grado Signature Silver cable system uses 4-pin mini-XLR connectors on each earcup, offering flexibility for both single-ended and balanced connections when paired with suitable equipment. Stainless-steel height rods, metal gimbals and a premium leather headband support long-term use. Explore the S550 if you want a refined, musical open-back headphone with a handcrafted wooden character.