The Grado family have been hand building in Brooklyn for over six decades, carrying down tradition & heritage through three generations.

After Joseph Grado's hand-built cartridge production exceeds the limits of his kitchen table, he closes Grado Fruit around the corner from him and Grado Laboratories is founded.

1964

With word-of-mouth stronger than expected, Grado decides to forgo paid advertising and put more focus on their end product. Grado has still not paid for advertisements or endorsements to this day. Grado starts to exclusively build phono cartridges.

1965

John Grado's first day at Grado at the age of 12 sweeping the floors. Joseph takes his nephew John under his wing to teach him about everything from sound to electrical engineering.

1974

The Grado Signature Series is created to discover what is possible with working with metal.

1975

John Grado graduates and joins Grado full time.

1977

John starts running day-to-day operations. The phono cartridge business continues to grow. 

1984

Cartridge production hits its highest peak with each being hand-built in Brooklyn.  

1988

With global turntable sales slowing due to more portable options becoming prevalent, Joseph plans on retiring.

John decides to buy the whole company from his uncle, becoming President and CEO. Joseph retires.

John builds the first Grado headphone. John, Loretta (his wife), and one more employee are all that make up the 3 person company. Jonathan Grado is born. 

1993

The first Grado built from metal is released in the SR325.

1994

The newly released SR60 receives a review that puts it on the map. John and Loretta continue to build each pair as Grado starts once again growing. Sisters Lorina and Isela are hired; they continue to oversee the headphone production to this day. In the middle of the night, John Grado wakes up with the thought to build a headphone out of wood. He goes downstairs to carve and build the first wooden Grado, the RS1.

1995

A line of wooden speakers using a unique driver formation is designed and completed by John Grado. With the SR60s sudden popularity at the same time though, all focus is kept on the headphone line. The speakers remain at Grado unreleased to the public.

1997

The first wooden cartridges are built, the Reference Series. The first Grado headphone amp is built from a single block of wood.

Forbes profiles John Grado, calling him "one of the world’s finest names in stereo headphones."