Grado GT220

Grado goes wire-free

I've had a chance to try out the Grado GT220 true-wireless earbuds — the company's first 100% wire-free in-ears. By default, that makes them most technically advanced set of headphones from the Brooklyn-based shop. But I can report that the sound they deliver is classic, old-school Grado.

I heard crystal clear vocals and mids, textured highs, and realistic bass without bloat. All within a soundstage that manages to feel immediate and urgent, while also revealing an extra layer of depth. 

Strong, reliable Bluetooth

Music plays wirelessly via Bluetooth version 5.0, a newer version of the popular wireless technology that's stronger and more reliable. The earbuds turned on automatically when I put them in, and paired up immediately to my phone when it was in Bluetooth mode. I could also get a good distance away from my phone without audio dropout — I walked from one end of my basement to the other.

Secure, comfortable fit

These earbuds slipped right into place with a slight twist and remained stable when I moved my head. Grado includes three sizes of silicone ear tips for finding the right fit. That helps for comfort and also ensures you have a tight seal for proper imaging and bass reinforcement. 

Responsive touch controls

You can control music and calls by touching or tapping the left or right earbud. I found the controls snappy and intuitive, and the touch panel wasn't overly sensitive or finnicky. It took me a little while to learn all the different controls, but picked them up rather quickly.

Charging case banks hours of power

You get about six hours of listening on a single charge, which is decent for this category. But the included charging case banks enough power to recharge the earbuds five times while you're on the move, which is above average. You snap the earbuds into the case and they charge as you go, so no mess of wires to worry about when you pull them out.