GRADO GW100x Wireless Open-Back Headphones – Bluetooth 5.2, 40-Hour Battery, 44mm Drivers – Audiophile Over-Ear Headphones with Mic – Lightweight, Retro Design – for Home, Studio & Travel

Over the years I have built up a collection of headphones from the likes of Sennheiser, Bose, Koss, Parrot, Philips, Apple, and Sony. I've been aware of Grado headphones for a while, but this is the first pair I've owned. These have quickly become one of my favorites, but they are best for specific use cases.If you are going to use headphones in a noisy environment, in close proximity (i.e. within 6 ft) of another person who would be disturbed by sound leakage, or while exercising, these are not the headphones you want. They do not have noise cancellation and are open back, meaning sound leaks both in and out.They are a larger on-ear, rather than over-ear, design. The clamping force is not too strong, but can get a bit uncomfortable after a few hours, especially for glasses wearers. They support Bluetooth 5.2 and the latest AAC/AptX codecs so the sound quality is the best available over Bluetooth. The open-back design and the efficient 44mm drivers provide a truly wonderful soundstage for a wide variety of music. Compared to most closed-back noise canceling headphones these sound like someone turned on spatial audio -- voices and instruments are clearly distinguishable, almost directional. The mids are clearly defined, revealing details that are muddy in other headphones. The highs sparkle, but are never harsh or sibilant. The bass is quite good for an open-back design, but it's a controlled rumble rather than a rattling thump. They play loud without need to crank the volume up and the sound is less processed and fatiguing than many of my other headphones. I'm not aware of any other open-back, wireless headphones on the market.The batteries last forever, USB-C charging is fast, and the physical buttons work exactly as you'd expect. The plastic-y construction and light weight mean these definitely don't have the high quality feel you'd like at this price point. They don't even come with a case.But if you are willing to pay up for sound quality and can handle all the other limitations, these are great headphones with nothing else quite like them out there. However, I would not recommend them as your only pair.

I wanted a pair of open-back bluetooth headphones so I wouldn't be isolated from my surroundings. These are excellent in that regard. I can hear everything around me, unattenuated. Bluetooth works perfectly. I can even connect to two bluetooth sources simultaneously. Good battery life. Sound quality is good but not what I expected for this price. Cheap plastic build quality. They're lightweight and fairly comfortable unless you wear glasses, in which case the way they press against your ears will cause sore spots. Still I use them often, because they're lightweight, they stay on securely, and I can listen to podcasts or quiet music while moving around the house. BTW I'm told they sound ok at the other end when I answer a phone call.

It's been a decade or more since my last pair of Grados when I had the SR-80 and I absolutely loved those headphones (they've since been stolen).Between then and now I mostly used earbuds for the convenience but decided to get back into more intentional listening and so I went down a gear rabbit hole again and saw Grado is now on gen 2 of their wireless headphones and got these headphones.I listen to this headphone in two ways:1) Wired Setup- Apple Lossless files ran through a Fiio KA1 DAC AMP and wired into these headphones (as pictured). This is the best way for me to listen and appreciate the sound of these headphones and the sound of the music. I can't get into the audiophile jargons to describe it, but It sounds spacious and I hear instruments and vocals distinctly with good separation. For me, this is the ideal setup in cost, weight, and sound quality.2) Wireless Setup- I have a Fluance RT80 turntable connected to a Fiio BTA30 Pro Bluetooth transmitter, which takes advantage of the AptX HD codecs. I know the sound quality isn't as good as if it were wired, but it still punches well above what Spotify can output in their highest setting. Still, I enjoy the wireless sound quality and the immersion of vinyl paired with it.What I'd love to see in the future in the third generation of these headphones is support for the new AptX Lossless and for Fiio to release a BTA30 Bluetooth transmitter that also supports AptX Lossless as well.But today, I can't complain, I absolutely love re-listening to albums in their entirety on these. I still use my Sony WF-1000XM4 headphones for travel and workouts, but for intentional listening at home or walking around outside, these Grados fit those use cases well.

"The new super fast 5.2 will astonish you!"Just don't get scammed my friends, they have a huge delay even on a stupid youtube video.An official GRADO reseller said to me that these headphones are also great for gaming (which was also one of my many purposes to buy them), but other than that cringe delay there is also a continuous and constant background static noise that will not even let you ear the enemies footsteps (and btw they are also on-ear so they are just not suiteable for gaming anyway...)The sounds btw seems great but they are really too small (then so poory confortable) and have so many issues to really enjoy them....

Bought for running, because I wanted them to have bluetooth, be open back, lightweight, and shoving things inside my ear causes me to develop chronic cough (Arnold’s reflex). So there were no alternatives that would be better than Porta Pro and I paid 2x more than I intended.I am very impressed with their sound. Noticeably better than SENNHEISER HD 380 PRO.The foam feels slightly unpleasant on my ears and I would prefer something that goes around them. But the options I saw are heavier.