Finally! Bluetooth IEM monitors that present real music in real space without wires! Grado has done it and I am mightily impressed. Surpassing the performance of all other Bluetooth IEMs I have heard or auditioned, the new awesome GT220 Headphones are more authoritative, realistic, smoother, offer a more extended top and bottom end, and present an organic midrange second to none at any price. Coming in at $249, they sell for a bit less than the Bose and one or two other brands, but leave them in the musical dust bin. Stylish and full-featured, they last a full six hours on a charge playing high-resolution tracks while easily handling unlimited dynamics. Congratulations Grado!
The single closed-in dynamic Grado driver has been carefully tuned by Grado's best ears to yield maximum definition, with true musical energy so that the original presentation recorded by the composer is faithfully reproduced. What else could you ask for? Grado's high-quality sensibilities give the consumer a window into the performance that’s nothing short of astounding, and totally unexpected for the price.
Tips for maximum enjoyment include the following:
- Run them with bombastic full-range music at high volume from your DAP for 15 hours before critical listening.
- Turn off any equalization currently engaged in your DAP. I used the A&K380, and turned off the Pro EQ setting for the flattest frequency response.
- Keep the manual handy to access the many, many features accessible for your DAP or phone by merely tapping the IEM's exterior.
State of the Art Frequency Response
With dynamics galore, the Reference Recordings album of Saint-Saens Symphony No.3, Michael Stern and the Kansas City Symphony, at 44.1kHz/24-bit, amazed my senses. I felt the organ notes in my knees! No lumpy sound here: smooth, deep, powerful notes exploded in my ears. Ambience and imaging were perfection. The mids were open and organic. The violins were sweet and attractive. The hall yielded mountains of air. I boosted the volume to maximum ear-popping levels with no distortion whatsoever. Only my best and biggest cans can replicate the authority and evenness of tone I heard with the new Grado GT220.
With the Brahms Piano Concert Number 1, Curzon, Szell, London Symphony Orchestra, DSD/5.6 MHz (DSD128), the smooth elegant presentation of this venerable piano concerto is fresh once again. The Steinway has great power and beauty while the orchestra is both enormous in scale and conducted to perfection. What marvelous realism and energy! The general presentation is on the sweet side of neutral with complete freedom from fatigue.
John Coltrane’s Blue Train at 192kHz/24-bit offers a rare glimpse into the very nature of the studio environment and the power of a tenor sax. I have rarely heard such imaging and soundstaging with total stability. Not quite LP performance, but oh so close and super quiet. Outstanding.
With Bizet’s Carmen, with Callas as the vocalist and Pretre conducting, at 96kHz/24-bit, Callas performing the "Habanera" is orgasmic. In brilliant voice with a superb orchestra and chorus, Callas is real and alive. Her unique tonality is obvious and her elegant style is overwhelming. The chorus sounds like a flock of angels (I imagine), and the overall tonality is obviously analog extraordinaire.
Tchaikovsky, 1812 Overture, Fritz Reiner and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, DSD/5.6 MHz (DSD128 or Double DSD), with violins to die for massed to perfection opening the gem of a tone poem, the Grado GT220s transport you to the CSO Hall and engulf you in the sonority of the enormous orchestra. You know this was recorded with 100% tubes, but it sounds fresh anyway. Suspend reality and just immerse yourself in the performance. I still cannot get over the linearity of the GT220 transducers.
Come Away with Me by Norah Jones at 192kHz/24-bit: Wow! Not sure I have heard this album as intimately and naturally as I do with the GT220. You will feel like you are there in the studio while the recording was recorded as you just drift with the singing. The awesome stability of the imaging is mind-blowing...oh so real and organic. What wonderful acoustic bass!
Specifications and details
- Bluetooth: 5.0
- Battery Life: 36 hours
- Headphone Battery: 6 hours; 50mAH
- Case Battery: full charges; 500mAH
- Charging: USB-C, Wireless; 2 Hours
- Codec: aptX, AAC, SBC
- Frequency Response: 20Hz-20KHz
- Nominal Impedance: 32ohms
- Playback Battery: Life based on 50% volume throughout playtime. Battery varies due to volume, musical genre, and Bluetooth connectivity strength.
- Total Battery: 36-hour battery playback life is based on fully charged headphones (6 hours) combined with a fully charged case, which can charge the headphones back to full capacity 5x over.
- Capabilities: Phone calls, voice assistant, music playback, and volume are dependent on the device they’re connected to. Capabilities may vary based on device hardware, software, and manufacturer.
- Fit: Every ear is a different size and shape. The GT220 may not fit the same for everyone. Wireless Charging: Charge pad not included. Wireless charging case is Qi capable, but may not work with every wireless charger. Please check with your charger’s manufacturer.
Summary
Grado GT220 Bluetooth Wireless IEM Universal Fit Headphone is a stunning achievement. With the best definition, linearity, realism, and nearly unlimited dynamic range, you will be thoroughly entertained no matter where you may find yourself on the planet. At home with classical, jazz, whatever, they will give you that you-are-there presentation you crave. Listening fatigue was nonexistent. Grado has accomplished what I believed was impossible...wireless organic sound. Better get yours before the price goes up.
Most highly recommended.
GT220
Retail: $259
Grado Labs, John Chen, GSM
4614 7th Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11220
USA
718.435.5340
https://gradolabs.com/headphones
