Bose SoundLink On-Ear vs Grado GW100 Wireless: Which Headphones Are Better? - RTINGS.com

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Bose SoundLink On-Ear Wireless

Grado GW100 Wireless

Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated Apr 21, 2025 02:46 PM

Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated Apr 08, 2022 08:18 PM

Bose SoundLink On-Ear Wireless Picture

Grado GW100 Wireless Picture

TypeOn-ear

EnclosureClosed-Back

Noise CancellingNo

WirelessYes

TransducerDynamic

MicYes

TypeOn-ear

EnclosureOpen-Back

Noise CancellingNo

WirelessYes

TransducerDynamic

MicYes

Our Verdict

Bose SoundLink On-Ear Wireless

Grado GW100 Wireless

The Bose SoundLink On-Ear are better headphones than the Grado GW100 Wireless. They are more neutral sounding and don’t feel as flimsy as the Grado. The Bose closed-back design isolates more noise and leaks less, but you won’t get the openness of the Grado. Also, the Bose have bass delivery inconsistencies, especially if you wear glasses, which you shouldn’t get with the Grado. The Grado have better wireless range and also support aptX-LL for low latency.

Variants

SoundLink On-Ear (Black)
SoundLink On-Ear (White)

GW100

Review

See Bose SoundLink On-Ear Wireless Review

See Grado GW100 Wireless Review

Check Price

Black

SoundLink On-Ear

Standard

GW100

White

SoundLink On-Ear

Standard

GW100

Standard

GW100

Standard

GW100

Standard

GW100

Main Differences for

Mixed Usage

Threshold

0.10

Mixed Usage

0.0

0.0

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Full Comparison

Mixed Usage

0.0

0.0

Neutral Sound

0.0

0.0

Commute/Travel

0.0

0.0

Sports/Fitness

0.0

0.0

Office

0.0

0.0

Wireless Gaming

0.0

0.0

Wired Gaming

0.0

0.0

Phone Call

0.0

0.0

Design

Style

Design Picture 2

Bose SoundLink On-Ear Wireless Design Picture 2 Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Grado GW100 Wireless Design Picture 2 Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Type

Locked

Locked

Enclosure

Locked

Locked

Wireless

Locked

Locked

Transducer

Locked

Locked

Show Text

Comfort

N/A

N/A

Comfort Picture

Bose SoundLink On-Ear Wireless Comfort Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Grado GW100 Wireless Comfort Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Weight

Lock lbs

Lock lbs

Clamping Force

Lock lbs

Lock lbs

Show Text

Controls

N/A

N/A

Controls Picture

Bose SoundLink On-Ear Wireless Controls Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Grado GW100 Wireless Controls Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

OS Compatibility

Locked

Locked

Ease Of Use

Locked

Locked

Feedback

Locked

Locked

Call/Music Control

Locked

Locked

Volume Control

Locked

Locked

Microphone Control

Locked

Locked

Channel Mixing

Locked

N/A

Noise Cancelling Control

N/A

N/A

Talk-Through

N/A

N/A

Additional Buttons

Locked

Locked

Show Text

Breathability

N/A

N/A

Breathability After Picture

Bose SoundLink On-Ear Wireless Breathability After Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Grado GW100 Wireless Breathability After Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Avg.Temp.Difference

Lock °C

Lock °C

Show Text

Portability

N/A

N/A

Portability Picture

Bose SoundLink On-Ear Wireless Portability Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Grado GW100 Wireless Portability Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

L

Lock"

Lock"

W

Lock"

Lock"

H

Lock"

Lock"

Volume

Lock in³

Lock in³

Transmitter Required

N/A

N/A

Show Text

Case

N/A

N/A

Case Picture

Bose SoundLink On-Ear Wireless Case Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Grado GW100 Wireless Case Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Type

Locked

Locked

L

Lock"

N/A

W

Lock"

N/A

H

Lock"

N/A

Volume

Lock in³

N/A

Show Text

Build Quality

N/A

N/A

Build Quality Picture

Bose SoundLink On-Ear Wireless Build Quality Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Grado GW100 Wireless Build Quality Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Show Text

Stability

N/A

N/A

Stability Picture

Bose SoundLink On-Ear Wireless Stability Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Grado GW100 Wireless Stability Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Show Text

Headshots 1

Angled Picture

Bose SoundLink On-Ear Wireless Angled Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Grado GW100 Wireless Angled Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Side Picture

Bose SoundLink On-Ear Wireless Side Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Grado GW100 Wireless Side Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Headshots 2

Front Picture

Bose SoundLink On-Ear Wireless Front Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Grado GW100 Wireless Front Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Rear Picture

Bose SoundLink On-Ear Wireless Rear Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Grado GW100 Wireless Rear Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Top

Top Picture

Bose SoundLink On-Ear Wireless Top Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Grado GW100 Wireless Top Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

In The Box

In the box Picture

Bose SoundLink On-Ear Wireless In the box Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Grado GW100 Wireless In the box Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Show Text

Sound

Sound Profile

Frequency Response

Bose SoundLink On-Ear Wireless Frequency Response Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Grado GW100 Wireless Frequency Response Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Bass Amount

Lock dB

Lock dB

Treble Amount

Lock dB

Lock dB

Frequency Response Consistency

N/A

N/A

Consistency L

Bose SoundLink On-Ear Wireless Consistency L Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Grado GW100 Wireless Consistency L Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Consistency R

Bose SoundLink On-Ear Wireless Consistency R Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Grado GW100 Wireless Consistency R Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Avg. Std. Deviation

Lock dB

Lock dB

Show Text

Raw Frequency Response

Raw FR L

Bose SoundLink On-Ear Wireless Raw FR L Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Grado GW100 Wireless Raw FR L Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Raw FR R

Bose SoundLink On-Ear Wireless Raw FR R Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Grado GW100 Wireless Raw FR R Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Bass Accuracy

N/A

N/A

Bass

Bose SoundLink On-Ear Wireless Bass Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Grado GW100 Wireless Bass Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Std. Err.

Lock dB

Lock dB

Low-Frequency Extension

Lock Hz

Lock Hz

Low-Bass

Lock dB

Lock dB

Mid-Bass

Lock dB

Lock dB

High-Bass

Lock dB

Lock dB

Show Text

Mid Accuracy

N/A

N/A

Mid

Bose SoundLink On-Ear Wireless Mid Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Grado GW100 Wireless Mid Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Std. Err.

Lock dB

Lock dB

Low-Mid

Lock dB

Lock dB

Mid-Mid

Lock dB

Lock dB

High-Mid

Lock dB

Lock dB

Show Text

Treble Accuracy

N/A

N/A

Treble

Bose SoundLink On-Ear Wireless Treble Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Grado GW100 Wireless Treble Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Std. Err.

Lock dB

Lock dB

Low-Treble

Lock dB

Lock dB

Mid-Treble

Lock dB

Lock dB

High-Treble

Lock dB

Lock dB

Show Text

Peaks/Dips

N/A

N/A

Peaks/Dips Graph

Bose SoundLink On-Ear Wireless Peaks/Dips Graph Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Grado GW100 Wireless Peaks/Dips Graph Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Peaks

Lock dB

Lock dB

Dips

Lock dB

Lock dB

Imaging

N/A

N/A

Group Delay

Bose SoundLink On-Ear Wireless Group Delay Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Grado GW100 Wireless Group Delay Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Phase Response

Bose SoundLink On-Ear Wireless Phase Response Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Grado GW100 Wireless Phase Response Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Weighted Group Delay

Lock

Lock

Weighted Amplitude Mismatch

Lock

Lock

Weighted Frequency Mismatch

Lock

Lock

Weighted Phase Mismatch

Lock

Lock

Show Text

Soundstage

N/A

N/A

PRTF

Bose SoundLink On-Ear Wireless PRTF Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Grado GW100 Wireless PRTF Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

PRTF Accuracy (Std. Dev.)

Lock dB

Lock dB

PRTF Size (Avg.)

Lock dB

Lock dB

PRTF Distance

Lock dB

Lock dB

Openness

0.0

0.0

Acoustic Space Excitation

0.0

0.0

Show Text

Weighted Harmonic Distortion

N/A

N/A

Weighted Harmonic Distortion

Bose SoundLink On-Ear Wireless Weighted Harmonic Distortion Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Grado GW100 Wireless Weighted Harmonic Distortion Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

WHD @ 90

Lock

Lock

WHD @ 100

Lock

Lock

Isolation

Noise Isolation

N/A

N/A

Noise Isolation

Bose SoundLink On-Ear Wireless Noise Isolation Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Grado GW100 Wireless Noise Isolation Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Isolation Audio

Overall Attenuation

Lock dB

Lock dB

Noise Cancelling

Locked

Locked

Bass

Lock dB

Lock dB

Mid

Lock dB

Lock dB

Treble

Lock dB

Lock dB

Show Text

Leakage

N/A

N/A

Leakage

Bose SoundLink On-Ear Wireless Leakage Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Grado GW100 Wireless Leakage Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Leakage Audio

Overall Leakage @ 1ft

Lock dB

Lock dB

Show Text

Microphone

Microphone Style

Integrated

Locked

Locked

In-line

Locked

Locked

Boom

Locked

Locked

Detachable Boom

N/A

N/A

Mic

Locked

Locked

Show Text

Recording Quality

N/A

N/A

Microphone Frequency Response

Bose SoundLink On-Ear Wireless Microphone Frequency Response Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Grado GW100 Wireless Microphone Frequency Response Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Recorded Speech

LFE

Lock Hz

Lock Hz

FR Std. Dev.

Lock dB

Lock dB

HFE

Lock Hz

Lock Hz

Weighted THD

Lock

Lock

Gain

Lock dB

Lock dB

Show Text

Noise Handling

N/A

N/A

SpNR

Bose SoundLink On-Ear Wireless SpNR Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Grado GW100 Wireless SpNR Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Speech + Pink Noise

Speech + Subway Noise

SpNR

Lock dB

Lock dB

Show Text

Active Features

Battery

N/A

N/A

Battery Type

Locked

Locked

Continuous Battery Life

Lock hrs

Lock hrs

Additional Charges

Lock

Lock

Total Battery Life

Lock hrs

Lock hrs

Charge Time

Lock hrs

Lock hrs

Power Saving Feature

Locked

Locked

Audio While Charging

Locked

Locked

Passive Playback

Locked

Locked

Charging Port

Locked

Locked

Show Text

App Support

N/A

N/A

App Picture

Bose SoundLink On-Ear Wireless App Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Grado GW100 Wireless App Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

App Name

N/A

N/A

iOS

N/A

N/A

Android

N/A

N/A

macOS

N/A

N/A

Windows

N/A

N/A

Equalizer

N/A

N/A

ANC Control

N/A

N/A

Mic Control

N/A

N/A

Room effects

N/A

N/A

Playback Control

N/A

N/A

Button Mapping

N/A

N/A

Surround Sound

N/A

N/A

Show Text

Connectivity

Bluetooth

N/A

N/A

Bluetooth Version

Locked

Locked

Multi-Device Pairing

Locked

Locked

NFC Pairing

Locked

Locked

Line of Sight Range

Lock ft

Lock ft

Default Latency

Lock ms

Lock ms

aptX Latency

N/A

Lock ms

aptX(LL) Latency

N/A

Lock ms

Show Text

Non-Bluetooth Wireless

N/A

N/A

Non-BT Line of Sight Range

N/A

N/A

Non-BT Latency

N/A

N/A

Wired

N/A

N/A

Cable Picture

Bose SoundLink On-Ear Wireless Cable Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Grado GW100 Wireless Cable Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Analog Audio

Locked

Locked

USB Audio

Locked

Locked

Detachable

Locked

Locked

Length

Lock ft

Lock ft

Connection

Locked

Locked

Wired Latency

Lock ms

Lock ms

Show Text

PC / PS4 Compatibility

PC / PS4 Analog

Locked

Locked

PC / PS4 Wired USB

Locked

Locked

PC / PS4 Non-BT Wireless

Locked

Locked

Xbox One Compatibility

Xbox One Analog

Locked

Locked

Xbox One Wired USB

Locked

Locked

Xbox One Wireless

Locked

Locked

Base/Dock

N/A

N/A

Type

N/A

N/A

USB Input

N/A

N/A

Line In

N/A

N/A

Line Out

N/A

N/A

Optical Input

N/A

N/A

RCA Input

N/A

N/A

Dock Charging

N/A

N/A

Power Supply

N/A

N/A

Show Text

Check Price

Black

SoundLink On-Ear

Standard

GW100

White

SoundLink On-Ear

Standard

GW100

Standard

GW100

Standard

GW100

Standard

GW100

Bose SoundLink On-Ear Wireless

Grado GW100 Wireless

Comments

Comparison

• Posted 4 years ago

Bose SoundLink On-Ear Wireless vs Grado GW100 Wireless: Main Discussion

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