amazon Grado GW100 reviews
Hands-on sound players will certainly not forget the name Grado Labs, a US audio company founded in 1953. The company is known for its classic, but sound quality, but also the price of the pair of high-priced headphones should be humble. The SR125i, SR225i or SE325i / IS or Reference RS1i.
But that’s not always the case. Referring to Grado, we mention paper-based containers that people call dearly, ‘pizza boxes.’ The headphones are nostalgic, and the quality of the finish is always nostalgic, with the low-end product line being too ‘plastic’. The strings of these headsets are well designed … strange, they are as thick as a wire, making it difficult to use.
In addition, almost all of Grado’s earphones are designed in the form of an on-ear, accompanied by too much pressure, which creates discomfort and heat for the user during the summer. But overcoming all these drawbacks, Grado enthusiasts continue to buy, continue to use its products to enjoy the Audiophile sound that they bring. There are people who love the sound quality of the Grado headphones to the point that they can only hear the earpieces of the company, and never be able to switch to other models.
After Apple decided to abandon the 3.5mm music port, and then the other Android phone companies that have since ‘copy’, the music companies have to ‘change’ into wireless products to response. Leading-edge audio companies are continuing to produce high-quality wired headsets, but they certainly can not afford to miss out on the wireless market. Grado also saw this opportunity to refresh, change and launch his first pair of Bluetooth headsets, the Grado GW100.
Even without opening the box, one could recognize that this was a pair of Grado headphones with a familiar pizza box. But in contrast to the older models, the GW100 has a smaller box and less texture.
Even before opening the box, the company reminded the user that Grado was a longtime company, ‘tradition still stands’!
Open the box, we are again … once again reminded that the company has been in the production of audio equipment since 1953!
GW100’s ‘360 degree’ strings compared to previous Prestige straps looked slimmer and more comfortable, but were not as strong. This is a weakness, but the weakness is because 99.99% of users buy this pair of headphones to listen to wireless music!
In the box, in addition to the headset we have a ‘cordial’ letter, thanks to the user who bought Grado’s product with the signature of all three generations of Grado family has run the company for 65 years, a Micro USB cable and 3.5mm cable to listen to music at the battery.
Developing a pair of wireless headsets, Grado can completely refresh himself using a new design, but the company continues to use the same design as the previous models. This is a double-edged sword, because its hardcore fans will love it, but it will be hard to attract new customers. When comparing the GW100 and the Sony WH-1000x pair, I bet most people will choose the pair of earphones from Sony, simply because it owns a modern design, sure and simply beautiful!
The overall design does not change, but when we hold on to the hand we still recognize the small upgrades that the company has equipped the headset. GW100 has better plastic quality, with the joints seem to be also casted more standard should have less ‘creaking’ than the SR60 or SR80.
The large and inherent weaknesses of Grado earphones in particular and Open-back earphones are generally poorly-sounding, as well as out-of-shape. If you listen to music, all the people around you are ‘okay’ (or ‘right’) listening to music with you. The sound quality of the GW100 is almost the same, this is still a pair of headphones used in the home or quiet place, but the ability to resist has improved somewhat because the company has taken measures to sound Better yet, reduce the amount of music to the ears of the people around you.
On the side of the body there are additional buttons to control, including the power button, volume control …
… along with 3.5mm music port and micro USB charging port. This micro USB charging port is shielded by a rubber door, but only for dust proofing, the GW100 does not have any water resistance standards. The battery life of this pair of handsets is about 14 to 15 hours depending on the volume, which is standard for an on-ear pair. In 2 weeks of experience, I only charge GW100 only once, so the battery is not a big problem during use, and of course when the battery is out users can still plug the 3.5mm cable to hear.
These headsets are still in the lead on the familiar On-ear design, which has made Grado’s name. But this is another small upgrade of the wireless earpiece: ear pads are made thicker, as well as the pressure has been reduced so much that wear felt more comfortable. But, of course, this type of wear will still make the wearer feel hot in the summer, so also will have to leave to rest after about half an hour use.
The most ‘luxury’ design of the headset is probably in the headband, which is padded with a soft leather case. As mentioned, the pressure of the headset is not too large so the company does not need to cover the head buffer too thick.
Read here, you will probably think that this is a mid-range headset, with an ‘ancient’ design and difficult to use because of the inability to soundproof, so why not buy the pair of earphones from the another? The answer is that users do not buy the GW100 to take advantage of the latest features, or to have a ‘fancy’ design, but because of the way the headphones reproduce sound.
Almost all of the wireless carriers that make wireless headsets nowadays are in exactly the same direction of sound: a noise-canceling sound, with all the smooth and smooth strings for easy mixing. This is a ‘safe’ sound, difficult to criticize but also difficult to find a highlight to compliment. Grado GW100 goes in a completely different direction, does not want to compromise any of the strips, thus creating a sound interesting, outstanding and not boring.
The bass of the GW100 is a bit more plentiful than the Prestige, as well as a higher volume than before, which is also said to have been ‘modernized’. But, this bass refining makes this headset stand out from other wireless products on the market. Trying Too hip to retire from Whiplash, drum down to sub-bass, balancing the soft and punchy so it feels good but not thrust. The detail of the bass strings is excellent, resulting in realistic, rounded beat and blown rhythms, and avoids the ‘flat’ effect of pairs of headphones.
Grado’s bass has been praised so far, but complimented for its fast shutter speed, which is good for high tempo music, but on the GW100, even with added volume and slower melodies, Highly technical range. The weakness of this bass is influenced by the background noise, where bass noise is weakened, again confirming this is a pair of earphones used to enjoy in quiet places.
where can you get a Grado GW100 online
Grado GW100 Bluetooth Headphones: Buy it now
The GW100 displaying the midrange will certainly be controversial among the listeners. During the experience of this pair of earphones, I had a friend who was a genuine Grado fan, and came to the conclusion that this medium was quite ‘weird’. It retracts slightly backwards, in contrast to the more aggressive tones, and even the ‘violence’ of the Prestige line. The strong and bold vocal style is one of the factors that make Grado headphones stand out from the crowd when listening to Rock and Metal. This guy finally dislikes GW100 because of this middle band.
But to me completely opposite, I think this is one of the most comprehensive presentation of the tone. The Cécile Corbel in Les Capitaines is slightly dark, warm and always intimate, though not as close to the listener as the same earrings. Up close to the high-mid, the GW100 does not ‘drown’ and still holds the volume, so it creates a bright spot for the singer’s voice. This ‘whole’ band is not just in brightness, or where it is placed, but also in good shape. Ottmar Liebert’s ‘Up Close’ soundtrack almost popped and hit the listener. This is a feature of high end earphones, and hard to find in wireless products.
The negative range is determined to create a distinct pair of Grado headphones on the GW100 that is high stripe. This is a great number, never missing the Rock Rock song like Paradise of Coldplay or the gentle Jazz like St Judy’s Comet through the performance of singer Alexis Cole. The GW100 achieves the highest frequencies, and displays them in full highs, always bright, highly metallic and even sibalance. It is this sibalance that makes the sound of the GW100 or, as opposed to the deep bass that creates a whole body of energy, has a high contrast that makes the music experience enjoyable.
The majority of the GW100’s sound is placed in the center of the head, but not so in the ears. In the songs with the sound at the edge, the headphone is still enough to bring the sound out to create a sense of space airy. This is a kind of sound field that does not ‘show off’, do not put everything away from the listener and then make everything become too vague and ‘virtual’. It is possible that many people will not fit into this type of sound, and want a more open sound, but with a moderate sound and a more intimate feel of the GW100.