Grado Signature S150 Headphones: New Driver, Detachable Cables, and a Rare Brooklyn Bargain

Finding anything affordable in Brooklyn these days is becoming increasingly difficult, especially if you’re looking for an apartment, a decent sandwich, or somewhere to park without collecting three tickets. Grado Labs, however, is moving in the opposite direction with the $295 Signature S150, a new open-back headphone that brings some of the company’s most important recent design improvements to a considerably more accessible price.

We’ve covered Grado’s expanding Signature Line extensively at eCoustics, including the HP100 SE, S950, S750, and more recent S550. Those headphones introduced new driver technologies, improved comfort, and detachable cables, but the previous entry point was $995. The S150 changes that equation considerably, and it doesn’t look like Grado simply slapped a different badge on an existing Prestige Series model.

A New 44mm Driver and Updated Brooklyn Design

The Signature S150 introduces an entirely new 44mm S dynamic driver, featuring a paper-composite diaphragm derived from the larger 52mm drivers used in the HP100 SE and S950. Grado developed the smaller driver specifically for this model, with the goal of delivering improved clarity, controlled bass, and a fuller presentation without losing the immediacy that has characterized its headphones for decades.

Instead of the more expensive wood or machined metal housings found on other Signature models, the S150 uses a single-piece acoustic chamber made from engineered ABS polymer. The matte-black finish retains Grado’s familiar industrial design, but the updated construction helps keep the weight to just 220 grams (7.8 ounces).

Grado has also incorporated a padded leather headband with adjustable clamping force, redesigned polymer gimbals, stainless-steel height rods, and reinforced junction blocks. The supplied F cushions feature acoustic slits intended to manage airflow, while compatibility with Grado’s other cushions allows owners to experiment with comfort and tonal balance.

Detachable Cables Without the Four-Figure Admission Fee

One of the most welcome changes introduced by the Signature HP100 SE was the arrival of detachable cables, ending decades of complaints about permanently attached wiring that could develop a personality of its own. The S150 continues that improvement with Grado’s new Signature Bronze cable, designed to be softer, lighter, and more flexible than previous constructions.

Unlike the more expensive Signature models that use four-pin mini-XLR connectors, the S150 features dual 3.5mm connections at the earcups. The included cable terminates in a 3.5mm plug with a 6.3mm adapter, while alternative terminations are available when ordering.

It’s a practical improvement for listeners who use different DACs, headphone amplifiers, and digital audio players. Brooklyn stubbornness has its place, but permanently attached headphone cables didn’t need to remain part of the family tradition.

Grado Signature S150 Specifications

• Type: Wired, open-back dynamic headphones
• Driver: Newly developed 44mm S driver
• Diaphragm: Paper-composite
• Frequency response: 16Hz–34kHz
• Impedance: 38 ohms
• Sensitivity: 104dB SPL at 1mW
• THD: Less than 0.3% at 100dB
• Driver matching: 0.05dB
• Weight: 220 grams (7.8 ounces)
• Housing: Single-piece ABS polymer
• Headband: Padded leather with adjustable steel band
• Cable: Detachable Signature Bronze
• Earcup connections: Dual 3.5mm
• Source connection: 3.5mm plug with 6.3mm adapter
• Supplied ear cushions: Grado F cushions
• Price: $295 USD
• Availability: Pre-orders October 22; shipping expected in early November 2026

The Competition: FiiO and Sennheiser Have Something to Say

At $295, the S150 faces considerably tougher competition than its premium Signature siblings, particularly from manufacturers that have spent years refining affordable open-back headphones. Two models we’ve previously covered deserve serious consideration.

FiiO FT3 32Ω Edition — $299

FiiO’s FT3 32Ω uses a considerably larger 60mm dynamic driver with an aluminum-plated composite diaphragm, housed in a substantial aluminum-alloy enclosure. At 391 grams, it’s significantly heavier than the Grado, but offers a conventional circumaural fit, interchangeable suede and synthetic-leather earpads, and detachable cables with both balanced and unbalanced connection options.

In our previous listening coverage, the FT3 32Ω impressed us with its spacious presentation, precise imaging, and ability to work effectively with relatively modest desktop amplifiers and dongle DACs. The Grado offers a lighter, less cumbersome alternative, although the new 44mm driver will need to demonstrate that it can compete with FiiO’s resolution and sense of scale.

Sennheiser HD 550 — $299.95

The HD 550 uses a 38mm dynamic driver, open-back circumaural construction, and a 150-ohm impedance, with Sennheiser emphasizing accurate imaging, low listening fatigue, and a relatively neutral tonal balance. Its 237-gram weight makes it almost as light as the S150, and the conventional over-ear cushions may prove more comfortable for listeners who dislike Grado’s on-ear approach.

Sennheiser currently lists the HD 550 at $349.95 before promotions, putting its regular price above the Grado. The HD 550 offers a more conventional reference-listening proposition, while the S150 promises the immediacy and lively presentation associated with Brooklyn’s most recognizable headphone manufacturer.

The Bottom Line

The Signature S150 is an important release because Grado has made its latest design improvements accessible to listeners who don’t have four figures to spend on headphones. The new driver, lightweight housing, improved headband, and detachable cables address several longstanding complaints about traditional Grado models, while the price puts it directly against some formidable competition.

We’ve heard meaningful improvements from the HP100 SE and S950, but it would be premature to assume the S150 delivers the same level of refinement simply because it shares some of their engineering philosophy. The real test will be whether Grado can translate those advances into a genuinely competitive $295 headphone.

Brooklyn hasn’t become any cheaper, and nobody at Grado is handing out free bagels. But a new Signature headphone with detachable cables for $295? That’s the kind of neighborhood improvement I can get behind.

My review drops next week.

Where to buy: $295 at Grado

Related Reading:

• Are Wired Headphones Hot Again? Grado Signature S550 Launch At CanJam NYC 2026 Says Yes
• Grado Signature HP100 SE Review: Does A World Class Headphone Grow In Brooklyn?
• Grado Labs Unveils Signature S750 Headphones: Brooklyn-Born With All-New Drivers
• Grado Signature S950 Headphones: The Cabin Audiophiler