Grado Signature HP100 SE vs RS1: Which Open-Back Headphone Is Right for You?

Quick Answer

Choose the Grado Signature HP100 SE if you want Grado's newest open-back flagship tuning, a hand-crafted Brazilian walnut shell, and the most refined build in the Signature line. Choose the RS1 if you prefer the classic Grado Reference Series voicing and a lighter, more traditional wood-cup feel. Both are open-back, both are wired, and both reward a quiet room and a decent amp.

Grado's open-back headphones share a family resemblance, but the Signature HP100 SE and the RS1 sit in different eras of the company's design thinking. The HP100 SE is the newer flagship, built around a hand-crafted Brazilian walnut shell and positioned as the top of the Signature line. The RS1 is the long-running Reference Series model that many listeners know as the classic Grado sound.

This comparison sticks to what Grado publishes about each model and what that means for daily use. You will not find guessed measurements or invented specs here. Instead, you get a clear read on tuning philosophy, materials, comfort, and the practical trade-offs that decide which one stays on your head longer.

Tuning and Sound Character

The Signature HP100 SE is described as Grado's newest open-back flagship, and Grado positions it as the second headphone in the new Signature line after the HP100 SE itself. The company frames it as a premium, hand-crafted design. What that means in practice is a voicing that aims for the immediacy and openness Grado is known for, with the extra refinement expected from a flagship. The RS1, by contrast, is the Reference Series model that established much of the modern Grado house sound. It is the reference point many listeners already know.

If you have heard a Grado before, the RS1 will feel familiar: forward mids, lively treble, and a sense of speed that suits acoustic, rock, and vocal music. The HP100 SE is the one to audition if you want that same energy with the additional control and polish Grado builds into its current top tier. Neither is a bass-heavy or laid-back headphone, and neither is designed for noisy environments.

• Bring music you know well to an audition; Grado's tuning differences show up most on familiar tracks.
• If you mostly listen to bass-heavy electronic music, neither model is the obvious first pick.

Materials, Build, and Long-Term Ownership

The HP100 SE uses a hand-crafted Brazilian walnut shell, which is a meaningful step up in materials and a visible part of what you are paying for. Walnut is a dense hardwood, and Grado treats the shell as part of the acoustic design rather than just decoration. The RS1 is also a wood-cup headphone, but it belongs to the older Reference Series generation. Grado does not publish a full materials breakdown for the RS1 in the supplied catalog data, so treat any specific wood claim you see elsewhere with caution.

Both models use replaceable ear cushions, which matters more than most buyers expect. Grado's B-Cushions are the standard equipment on the Signature S750 and Signature S550 and also fit all Signature, Classic, Statement, Reference, Prestige, Professional, and Limited Edition headphones. That means the same consumable part covers both the HP100 SE and the RS1, so long-term ownership costs stay predictable. Cushions compress and flake over time, and replacing them is the single easiest way to restore the sound and comfort you bought.

• Budget for a set of B-Cushions every year or two if you listen daily.
• Keep the original box and cable; it helps if you ever sell or ship the headphone for service.

Comfort, Fit, and Cable Options

Grado's open-back headphones are lightweight and use a simple headband with foam cushions. The on-ear fit is intentionally light, which keeps them comfortable for long sessions but also means they do not clamp hard. If you wear glasses, the thin arms of the frame can break the seal slightly, which affects bass more than treble. The HP100 SE and RS1 both share this basic fit philosophy, so the deciding factor is usually the weight of the cup and the cable you choose.

Both models offer Cable Length and Cable Amp Termination as configurable options at checkout. That is a real advantage: you can order a shorter cable for a desktop amp or a longer one for a listening chair across the room, and you can match the termination to your amplifier instead of using an adapter. Adapters add a connection point and a small risk of noise, so ordering the right termination up front is the cleaner path.

• Measure the distance from your amp to your seat before choosing cable length.
• Pick the termination your amp actually uses; avoid adapter chains where possible.

Price, Positioning, and What You Give Up

The HP100 SE sits at the top of Grado's open-back range and is priced accordingly. The RS1 is the more established Reference Series model and typically trades at a lower point, though availability and pricing for older models vary. The honest trade-off is straightforward: the HP100 SE buys you newer design, premium walnut materials, and flagship positioning. The RS1 buys you a known quantity, a long production history, and a voicing that many listeners consider the definitive Grado sound.

Neither headphone is a closed-back or noise-cancelling design, so both leak sound and let room noise in. If you need isolation for commuting, an office, or a shared room, you are looking at the wrong category entirely. Within the open-back Grado world, the decision comes down to whether you want the current flagship or the classic reference.

• Set a firm budget before auditioning; both are easy to justify once you hear them.
• If you need isolation, stop here and look at closed-back models instead.

Trade-Offs at a Glance

• Newer flagship vs. classic reference: The HP100 SE is Grado's newest open-back flagship with a hand-crafted Brazilian walnut shell. The RS1 is the long-running Reference Series model that defined the modern Grado house sound. Pick the HP100 SE for the current top tier; pick the RS1 for the sound you already know.
• Premium materials vs. proven design: Walnut and flagship positioning raise the HP100 SE's cost. The RS1's older design means fewer material upgrades but a lower entry point. Decide whether you are paying for materials and recency or for a known quantity.
• Shared consumables, shared limits: Both use the same B-Cushions and both are open-back, wired designs with no isolation. Cable length and amp termination are configurable on both. Maintenance is a wash; the real difference is tuning and price.

Product Facts

• Signature S950: Grado's Signature S950 is the second headphone in the new Signature line, following the HP100 SE, and uses a hand-crafted Brazilian walnut shell. It shows how Grado is positioning the Signature line and confirms the walnut-shell approach that defines the current flagship generation.
• Grado Headphone Replacement B-Cushions: These consumer-replaceable genuine Grado cushions are standard on the Signature S750 and S550 and fit all Signature, Classic, Statement, Reference, Prestige, Professional, and Limited Edition headphones. The same cushion fits both the HP100 SE and the RS1, so replacement costs and maintenance are identical across the two models.
• Stylus 8MZ: This user-replaceable stylus is from the Joseph Grado Signature 8MZ cartridge and is compatible with all Grado Prestige Series cartridges. If you also run a Grado cartridge, the same replaceable-parts philosophy applies to your turntable, which keeps your whole system serviceable.

Which One Should You Choose?

Best for

• Listeners who want Grado's newest flagship tuning and premium walnut build
• Buyers who value a hand-crafted, current-generation design and plan to keep it long term
• Anyone with a quiet room and a dedicated headphone amplifier

Not for

• Commuters or office users who need sound isolation
• Listeners who prefer a relaxed, bass-forward tuning
• Buyers who want the lowest possible entry point into Grado open-backs

The HP100 SE and RS1 are both true Grado open-backs, so the choice is less about capability and more about generation and budget. If you want the newest flagship with walnut materials, go HP100 SE. If you want the classic Reference Series sound at a lower cost, the RS1 remains a smart pick. Either way, order the right cable termination and keep a spare set of B-Cushions on hand.