Jensway Posted September 5, 2018 Share Posted September 5, 2018 https://www.stereo.net.au/news/grado-embraces-modern-tech-with-gw100-headphones Not going to lie, I'm pretty excited about these. I was tempted when Koss released a wireless PortaPro, but I'm even more keen on these. Not for public transport or travel use, but just around the house and in the office. I've always wanted a decent quality Bluetooth open-back set of cans, hopefully this is it. APT-X as well, which doesn't hurt. Thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digitalhome Posted September 5, 2018 Share Posted September 5, 2018 I have been waiting for these as well! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalethorn Posted October 3, 2018 Share Posted October 3, 2018 I finally got one - it's on youtube. Well worth the wait - excellent Grado sound. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalethorn Posted October 7, 2018 Share Posted October 7, 2018 I finally configured my best-guess EQ curve for the GW-100, based as usual on reducing peaks and recesses, toward achieving a real-world natural sound. This is a better result than what I got with the SR325e, and much better than my GH1 (although the wood for the GH1 naturally varies from sample to sample). The actual settings are in the HiFi Misc./EqAppReview document. Although I haven't been able to determine the comparative fidelity vis-a-vis the other Grados (I don't have those on hand), I was able to get a pretty good handle on the deep bass quality after boosting 35 hz by 3 db. Playing the Kellogg Auditorium 16 hz sample organ pedal track, I was surprised at the amount of fundamental (including 32.7 hz doubling I'd guess) as well as the detail of the 16 hz 'beats'. http://dalethorn.com/Photos/Audioforge/Grado_Gw100.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalethorn Posted October 9, 2018 Share Posted October 9, 2018 Tonight, 7-1/2 days after receiving the GW100, the factory battery charge finally ran out. While I did quite a bit of listening in wired mode at home (and the sound is excellent), I'd guess my Bluetooth use amounted to far more than the rated 15 hours during these 7-1/2 days. The first few days were pretty intense doing various tests, with lots of outdoor listening in areas with moderate to low noise levels. As best I remember, the low-power voice warnings started about 45 minutes before the "power off" notice occurred, as the headphone shut off -- out of power. The good news is there was no distortion or interruption (other than the voice warnings at ~5 min. intervals) to compromise the sound as the power wound down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalethorn Posted October 9, 2018 Share Posted October 9, 2018 I came across this interesting review on the 'MajorHiFi' site, and thought it would be worth highlighting here, because of the unique design of the GW100 as an open-back wireless headphone. Here are a few excerpts and a link: "As an open-back wireless headphone, this model has almost no competitors." "Compared to models from Audio Technica, Sony, Sennheiser, Marshall, Bowers and Wilkins, and Bose, nothing at this price point can even compete with the GW100 in terms of sheer sound quality." "For those seeking isolation, choose any of the above and enjoy what you can. For the rest of ya, this Grado is everything you could want in a headphone." http://majorhifi.com/grado-gw100-review/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalethorn Posted October 14, 2018 Share Posted October 14, 2018 I added a new video to address additional questions: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalethorn Posted October 20, 2018 Share Posted October 20, 2018 A new question about the GW100's replacement earpads came up on a large headphone forum, and I thought the answer given was for the wrong earpads, so since these earpads are easy to lose when they fall off unexpectedly, I thought it would be good to post the correct replacements here and elsewhere. Replacing any headphone's stock earpads with a different design is likely to make a major change in the sound, and the change is more likely to be negative than otherwise. https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1434308-REG/grado_w_cush_replacement_foam_ear.html/?c3api=3679%2Cbing%2C81638766845622%2C4585238367528178&msclkid=790f7bcdba9d16cccb6a200730f9f6df Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalethorn Posted October 22, 2018 Share Posted October 22, 2018 Well, I tooted my horn enough - here's a guy with a 20-minute review -- 20 minutes is a stretch, but his presentation is pretty good and informative. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalethorn Posted November 4, 2018 Share Posted November 4, 2018 The great Steve Guttenberg has opined on the GW100, saying that it's OK but not quite like a real Grado (quote approximate). The user comments are interesting, and I answered a few: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QdQpQ9N1-s 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalethorn Posted November 13, 2018 Share Posted November 13, 2018 Today, 13 November marks 42 days since I received my Grado GW-100 headphone. The third charge has finally been depleted (original factory charge plus two charges by me), so it appears I'm getting about 14 days per charge, using it in Bluetooth mode at least 2 hours per day. I remember something in the specification about volume levels affecting battery life, and since my usage is walking around in relatively noisy areas with light street traffic, my volume levels are about 5-6 db above where I listen at home. My home headphone use is at "audiophile volume levels", or just enough to hear very small details without blasting my ears on the loud parts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalethorn Posted November 20, 2018 Share Posted November 20, 2018 Two items today: One, I leaned over the railing at my local pier today and watched one of my GW100 earpads tumble into the ocean. I've temporarily lost a GW100 earpad a few times already, but this time it was permanent. Fortunately I had a backup set on hand. They do fall off very easily. The other item concerns my quandary regarding the benefits of a closed back design for portable and outdoor use, versus the sonic advantages of an open back design, albeit I have to find a low-noise place to enjoy those sonic advantages. I took one day away from the GW100 to use a good closed-back headphone for walkabouts, and went right back to the GW100. It seems to me that I never would have gotten to this point of preferring an open-back portable headphone, if I hadn't talked myself into going against instinct and giving it a 6-week tryout first. The trick is finding those low--noise listening places, if it's even possible for a lot of people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalethorn Posted November 30, 2018 Share Posted November 30, 2018 Last night the 4th charge for my GW100 ran out - 4 full charges (3 plus the original factory charge) powered me for 58 days, or about 2 weeks per charge. I'd guess I'm getting about 22-23 hours per charge at a little less than maximum volume. I let it run all the way down each time, since I carry the backup cord. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digitalhome Posted December 3, 2018 Share Posted December 3, 2018 I had a listen to the GW100's at A2A and what a piece of crap they are! I chose a song from Bassotronics, bass I love you to check sub bass response. Well even at a low volume it was a blubbering, full of distortion mess that I have never experienced before. It was basically in-audible, no joke! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalethorn Posted December 3, 2018 Share Posted December 3, 2018 12 hours ago, digitalhome said: I had a listen to the GW100's at A2A and what a piece of crap they are! I chose a song from Bassotronics, bass I love you to check sub bass response. Well even at a low volume it was a blubbering, full of distortion mess that I have never experienced before. It was basically in-audible, no joke! Sounds like a defective unit. Who knows? I use the EQ curve I posted here to reduce tubiness and increase the deep bass around 35 hz. The test notes I have from 16 hz up aren't nearly as detailed as the better planars, but they're far better and tighter than the Beats Studio3 and Solo3 I compared to. I also have a v-moda M100 and Wireless2, and when comparably equalized, the v-modas might be slightly better, but the GW100 stands up pretty well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalethorn Posted December 3, 2018 Share Posted December 3, 2018 (edited) So just for fun I went out and got the latest Bassotronics album in FLAC format from 2 different sources (just to make sure) and played it loudly on my GW100 using the DragonFly Red and Oppo HA-2 DAC/amps. Playing it flat (no EQ) or with the bass boosted, all I get is nice clean (but heavy) bass thumps. Edit: On the odd chance that the Bluetooth mode might have an issue, I repeated the tracks a couple times while at my local park having coffee. Still clean. Checking the reviews at Amazon US and UK, no problems noted there, although there are only 7 user reviews total. I've been following the youtube reviews, and other than mine, there are only 3 serious reviews posted. I check the comments on those, and other than complaints about the design and purpose, no comments about defective units. Edited December 3, 2018 by dalethorn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digitalhome Posted December 4, 2018 Share Posted December 4, 2018 Could well be a defective unit, but the salesperson also had a listen for a few seconds, placed them back on the shelf and said, yes they are Sh**! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalethorn Posted December 4, 2018 Share Posted December 4, 2018 3 hours ago, digitalhome said: Could well be a defective unit, but the salesperson also had a listen for a few seconds, placed them back on the shelf and said, yes they are Sh**! The odd thing about the GW100 is, while the overall sound isn't as good as other Grados at that price and above, the bass detail is much better than I expected based on owning a dozen or more Bluetooth headphones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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