Grado Headphone Replacement Cushions: W-Cushions vs F-Cushions Explained

Quick answer

W-Cushions and F-Cushions are not interchangeable across every Grado model. The Grado Headphone Replacement W-Cushions are standard equipment on the GW100 and fit only that headphone, while the Grado Headphone Replacement L-Cushions are standard on the RS1, RS2, and PS500 and also fit all Prestige, Reference, Statement, Professional, and Limited Edition headphones. If you own a GW100, buy W-Cushions; if you own almost any other Grado, the L-Cushions are the safer replacement.

Grado sells more than one replacement cushion, and the names are easy to mix up. The two you will see most often are the W-Cushions and the L-Cushions, and the difference is not just foam density or color. One is a model-specific part, and the other is a broad-fit part that covers most of the Grado lineup.

This comparison uses the catalog facts Grado publishes for each cushion so you can match the right pair to your headphones the first time. We will cover fit, what each cushion is designed for, and the trade-offs you accept when you choose one over the other.

What each Grado cushion is actually for

The Grado Headphone Replacement W-Cushions are standard equipment on the GW100. That is the whole fit list: these cushions only fit the GW100. They are not a universal Grado cushion, and Grado does not list them as compatible with Prestige, Reference, Statement, or Professional models. If you try to stretch them onto another headphone, you are outside the supported fit.

The Grado Headphone Replacement L-Cushions are standard equipment on the RS1, RS2, and PS500. Grado also states they fit all Prestige, Reference, Statement, Professional, and Limited Edition headphones. That makes the L-Cushions the broad-fit option in this comparison and the one most Grado owners will need when their original cushions wear out.

• Check your model name first. GW100 points to W-Cushions; almost everything else points to L-Cushions.
• If your model is not listed for a cushion, do not assume it fits. Grado publishes fit lists for a reason.

Fit is the deciding factor, not sound tuning

Because the W-Cushions only fit the GW100, there is no real A/B listening choice between W and L on the same headphone. You either own a GW100 and use W-Cushions, or you own a different Grado and use L-Cushions. Treat this as a fit decision first and a sound decision second.

That is also why you will not find a published Grado claim that one cushion sounds warmer, wider, or more detailed than the other. The catalog facts describe standard equipment and compatibility, not a tuning profile. Any honest comparison has to respect that limit rather than invent a sound difference.

• Write down your exact model before ordering. The model name is the only reliable fit guide here.
• Do not buy W-Cushions as a backup for a non-GW100 headphone. They are not listed to fit.

Comfort, wear, and replacement timing

Both cushions are wear items. Foam flattens, edges soften, and the fit against your ears changes over time. When that happens, replacing the cushions is the cheapest way to restore the headphone you already own rather than shopping for a new pair.

The L-Cushions cover a much wider range of Grado headphones, including the larger Professional and Statement Series models. The W-Cushions are a single-model part for the GW100. If you own one Grado headphone, this is simple. If you own several, the L-Cushions are the part more likely to be useful across your collection.

• Replace cushions when they no longer hold their shape or sit evenly against your ears.
• Keep a spare pair of the cushion your model uses so you are not stuck waiting on a replacement.

Other Grado accessories worth pairing with new cushions

New cushions are a maintenance purchase, and a few other Grado accessories make sense at the same time. The Wood Headphone Stand - Cherry is a real-wood Sieveking Sound Omega stand that Grado notes is large enough to accommodate larger headphones from the Professional and Statement Series. If you own a GS1000 or another large Grado, that size note matters.

If you also run a Grado cartridge, the Stylus 8MZ is a user-replaceable stylus from the Joseph Grado Signature 8MZ cartridge and is compatible with all Grado Prestige Series cartridges. It is a separate system from your headphones, but it is the same kind of wear-part decision: replace the consumable, keep the gear.

• Match the stand to your headphone size if you own a Professional or Statement Series model.
• Keep headphone cushions and phono stylus replacements as separate purchases. They serve different systems.

Trade-offs at a glance

• W-Cushions: exact fit, narrow use: They are the standard cushion for the GW100 and only fit the GW100. Correct and simple if you own a GW100, useless if you do not.
• L-Cushions: broad fit, wider ownership: Standard on the RS1, RS2, and PS500, and listed to fit all Prestige, Reference, Statement, Professional, and Limited Edition headphones. The practical choice for most Grado owners replacing worn cushions.
• No published sound-tuning difference: The catalog facts describe standard equipment and compatibility, not a sound profile for either cushion. Choose by model fit, not by a claimed sound upgrade.

Grado product facts

• Grado Headphone Replacement W-Cushions: Standard equipment on the GW100. These cushions only fit the GW100. This is a model-specific part. Buy it only if you own a GW100.
• Grado Headphone Replacement L-Cushions: Standard equipment on the RS1, RS2, and PS500. Also fits all Prestige, Reference, Statement, Professional and Limited Edition Headphones. This is the broad-fit cushion for most Grado headphones and the safer replacement choice for non-GW100 owners.
• Wood Headphone Stand - Cherry: The Sieveking Sound Omega Headphone Stand made its debut at the 2009 Munich High End Show. Made from real wood, these stands are sturdy and stable, and large enough to accommodate larger headphones from the Professional and Statement Series. A useful storage pairing if you own a larger Grado and want the headphone off the desk between sessions.

Which Grado cushion should you buy?

Best for

• GW100 owners who need the exact standard replacement cushion
• Anyone replacing a worn cushion on a headphone Grado lists as compatible with L-Cushions, including Prestige, Reference, Statement, Professional, and Limited Edition models

Not for

• GW100 owners looking at L-Cushions, since L-Cushions are not listed as the GW100 standard cushion
• Owners of non-GW100 Grado headphones looking at W-Cushions, because W-Cushions only fit the GW100

Match the cushion to the model you actually own. GW100 gets W-Cushions; the RS1, RS2, PS500, and the broader Prestige, Reference, Statement, Professional, and Limited Edition ranges get L-Cushions. Everything else is preference, and Grado does not publish a sound-tuning difference between the two.