The friction-pole mechanism for headband adjustment is no less agricultural, for all its familiarity where Grado headphone designs are concerned. And while the detachable cable is a fair bit more flexible than some older Grado models, that\u2019s not the same as saying it\u2019s meaningfully flexible. If there\u2019s a more willfully unhelpful length of cable in all of headphone-land, I\u2019ve yet to encounter it.<\/p>\n
On the subject of the cable: Grado provides 180-ish centimeters of it with a 6.3-mm termination at the end. When you\u2019re charging this sort of money for headphones, it\u2019s not outlandish to imagine your customer might have a device that accepts a balanced connection. Frankly, why there isn\u2019t a choice of cables in the packaging is, frankly, beyond me. It\u2019s something that the overwhelming majority of Grado\u2019s rivals provide as a matter of course, and though the company\u2019s website suggests there are forthcoming cable options \u201cincluding a variety of lengths, as well as balanced terminations such as 4-pin XLR and 4.4mm,\u201d these have been \u201cforthcoming\u201d for quite some time now, and will have a cost attached.<\/p>\n Photograph: Simon Lucas<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n I\u2019m in no position to doubt the effectiveness of the \u201cB\u201d ear cushions where sound quality is concerned. After all, the Signature S750 sound superb, and Grado suggests the cushion design is a contributing factor. What I do feel qualified to say, though, is that the raw-feeling foam of the ear cushions is not especially comfortable, and that it retains and returns the wearer\u2019s body heat with something approaching glee. \u201cPremium\u201d and \u201cluxurious\u201d are not words that apply.<\/p>\n Ultimately, it depends on what your priorities are. There\u2019s certainly no arguing with the way the Signature S750 sound. They\u2019re uncomplicatedly impressive and periodically quite thrilling to listen to, depending on the mix. But unless you\u2019re one of those hair-shirt hi-fi fundamentalists from back in the day, one of those listeners who somehow doesn\u2019t believe outstanding sound quality is valid unless there\u2019s some suffering attached, there may well be too many shortcomings to overlook when it comes to these Grados. \u201cHand-assembled in Brooklyn, USA\u201d notwithstanding.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n![\"Overhead](\"https:\/\/media.wired.com\/photos\/69483983d48543f494a81f10\/master\/w_1600%2Cc_limit\/Grado%2520Signature%2520S650%2520Audiophile%2520Headphones%2520cord%2520Reviewer%2520Photo%2520SOURCE%2520Simon%2520Lucas.jpg\"\/)
<\/picture><\/span><\/div>\n