Grado Labs

Grado Labs is an American audio manufacturer known for hand building high-end dynamic open-back headphones and cartridges in Brooklyn, New York.
Grado Labs was founded in 1953, by master watchmaker Joseph Grado. The Brooklyn company is currently run by President and CEO John Grado, who bought the company in 1990 after running day-to-day operations since the 1970s. John’s son, Jonathan Grado, recently entered the company as the third generation of Grado.Grado specializes in dynamic open-air, supra-aural, high-fidelity headphones. In its over 60-year history, Grado has kept a very low profile by relying on word-of-mouth among audio dealers and consumers instead of mass advertising campaigns. Nearly all of Grado’s products are hand-crafted in Brooklyn, New York.
In 2014, Grado released their new line of headphones, The e Series, and was named in the Top Eight Most Social Small Companies in America by Mashable and American Express. In 2015 JetBlue partnered with Grado to bring their headphones to their Mint Flights.In June 2020, Grado Labs introduced a limited edition model utilising hemp, a world’s first. The fibre, used in conjunction with maple. is said to create a damping effect. “We had no clue how they’d turn out, but they ended up sounding pretty amazing,” declared Jonathan Grado.