Grado Headphones

Headphones are also called earphones, stereo-phones, headsets, hands-free phones as well and in casual lingo, referred to as cans and even face plugs. Headphones are nothing but tiny little loudspeakers built to fit either in the ears, on the ears or encompassing the entire outer ear.

The telephone earpiece was universal at the end of the 20th century. Moreover, it inspired the creation of headphones by Brandes in 1919 using moving iron drivers for its speakers. Headphones were then mainly used for radio signals. However, these headphones lacked the finesse, the padding comfort of contemporary headphones. Moreover, it pressed down on the user’s head causing discomfort.

Today, headphones can be attached and linked by wire to a stereo, home audio system, computer, portable audio systems like a CD player, laptop or ipod to cater exclusively to an individual’s listening pleasure or requirement.

Used mainly by music buffs anywhere and everywhere; they became a hit when the world’s first "Walkman" was introduced. Headphones enable one to listen to music without disturbing anyone else especially neighbours or maybe colleagues at work or even a child studying in the next room. Headphones are also used by journalists when transcribing recorded interviews. A DJ at radio studios uses headphones as part of his equipment to cut off sound and supervise his own voice when the speakers are switched off. Also used by recording artists in music studios to enable them to listen to a backing track while recording. And the military uses headphones as well to decipher various audio signals.

Grado Laboratories is one of the world’s finest headphones manufacturers with 48 patents in headphone and phono cartridges. It is a 50-year old family business and the company founder himself, Mr. Joseph Grado being a self-starter and inventor of the stereo moving coil phono cartridge. Mr. Grado with his attention to detailing in sound reproduction was inducted in the Audio Hall of Fame in 1982 for his contribution to the industry. His products always inspiring with perfect pitch control, bass sound and vocal precision have received rave reviews and have won many awards across the globe. Awards like the Golden Note Award, the Critics’ Choice Award, Editor’s Choice Award, Positive Feedback Online Writers’ Choice Award 2006, The HiFi Choice Gold Award 2007, Grand Prix Award in the Audio world to name just a few.

And the Grado headphones are surprisingly fair-priced as compared to other headphone manufacturers like Bose, Beyerdynamic, Sony or Sennheiser.

On offer by Grado Laboratories are the Statement series comprising GS 1000; an opulent headphone for extended listening bliss, the wooden mahogany, handcrafted Reference series (RS 1 (which was the only product to be nominated, "Product of the Year" for 2 consecutive years by Stereophile magazine) and RS 2 ó (a mini adaptation of the RS 1) and there’s the Prestige series of headphones -SR 325, SR 325i, SR 225, SR 125, SR 80 and the SR 60. The iGRADO, also a part of the Prestige series is an outdoor use headphone planned for the portable market, classy, light and snug on the ears.