Macworld - USA (2022-01)

94 MACWORLD JANUARY 2022

PLAYLIST REVIEW: GRADO GW100 V2 BLUETOOTH HEADPHONE

In addition to omitting ANC, this is the
only wireless headphone I’ve come across
that does not include a hard-shell carrying
case. You can buy one from Grado for
$39.95, which brings the cost to $288.95
for what you’d get with just about every
other comparable pair of headphones.

USER INTERFACE
All controls and connections are found in
the lower half of the left earpiece. The
power and volume up/down buttons are
physically distinct, making them easy to
find by feel. In addition to their primary
functions, they also perform other duties.
The power button also initiates Bluetooth

pairing, plays and

pauses music

playback, answers

and hangs up

phone calls, and

activates the

phone’s voice

assistant, while the

volume up/down

buttons also skip to

the next or previous

song.

As mentioned

earlier, a USB-C

port is used to

charge the battery,

and a 3.5mm jack

lets you connect

the GW100 v2 to an audio source with a

standard audio cable (which is included,

along with a charging cable). In that

case, the headphone presents a nominal

impedance of 32 ohms.

A bicolored LED next to the 3.5 mm

jack indicates charging and battery status

as well as Bluetooth pairing. Finally, a

hidden microphone captures your voice

for phone calls or voice commands.

PERFORMANCE

The GW100 v2 is supercomfortable—

very lightweight with low clamping

pressure. Being an on-ear design with

foam earpads, it offers no passive

The controls are found on the lower back of the left earpiece. The
power button also initiates Bluetooth pairing, plays and pauses music
playback, answers and hangs up phone calls, and activates the
phone’s voice assistant. The volume up/down buttons also skip to the
next or previous song.