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HearWiki

Grado PS500e

62/ 100
Good
HearWiki score

Priced about right

$600
typical price, USD
Discontinuedupdated
Manufacturer pageBuy now onAmazon

At a glance

Brand
Grado
Type
Over-Ear
Fit
-
Connection
Wired
Noise cancelling
No
Released
2020

Score breakdowngood overall

Sound7.8
Value4.2

The Grado PS500e is an open-back, over-ear headphone from the Professional Series, featuring a hand-crafted mahogany inner sleeve with a non-resonant aluminium outer housing and custom-matched drivers. It delivers detailed, un-hyped sound across genres, with a 32-ohm impedance suitable for portable players, though its open design makes it leaky and not ideal for commuting.

The HearWiki takeAI-condensed

The Grado PS500e is an open-back, wired over-ear headphone known for its clear, lively, and well-balanced sound signature. It offers strong technical performance and a studio-leaning character that prioritizes realism and engagement, though its design focuses on audio quality rather than comfort or portability. This model delivers a refined, old-school presentation with modern finesse, making it a solid choice for critical listening at home or in the studio.

What works

  • Detailed and balanced audio reproduction
  • Open, dynamic sound with strong realism
  • Good technical performance for its price
  • Studio-friendly character for critical listening
  • Lightweight build typical of Grado design

What doesn't

  • No active noise cancellation or controls
  • Comfort and ergonomics are weaker than sound quality
  • Open-back design offers no isolation
  • Requires a 6.35 mm jack or adapter

Paraphrased from published reviews & specs - not an original hands-on test. Our AI disclosure.

Specifications

Audio - Grado PS500e
Driver44 mm dynamic
Driver typedynamic
Driver size44 mm
Drivers per side1
Frequency response14 Hz - 29 kHz
Impedance32 Ω

What the reviews said

4 source(s) feeding this product's score.

on-mag.fr

80

ON-mag describes the PS500e as a successful old-school open headphone with modern finesse. It scores the model positively for sound quality and overall interest, while noting that comfort and ergonomics are weaker than its sonic performance.

Read the full review

hifichicken.com

This review highlights the PS500e’s open, dynamic sound and its studio-leaning character. It frames the model as a high-end Grado with a focus on realism and engagement rather than isolation or portability.

Read the full review

majorhifi.com

The PS500e is presented as a detailed, open-air headphone with a lively and refined presentation. The review’s emphasis is on its clarity, balance, and strong technical performance for the price.

Read the full review

sonicscoop.com

The PS500 is portrayed as a strong professional headphone with a vented diaphragm and hybrid air chamber. The review is highly favorable, emphasizing its impressive sound and value at its original price point.

Read the full review

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Where it sits in our rankings

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