Grado GT220 true wireless earbuds
The earbuds weigh just 5g each, and feel supremely comfortable once you’ve managed to fit them in your ear: this was something that we had an initial struggle with, due to their length, but managed to get used to pretty quickly. A final “twist and lock”, indicated by an audible pop, closes the seal, and once you’ve twiddled with the earbuds, the fit is airtight, giving you great passive noise cancellation.
The GT220s seem to now have an IPX rating, meaning that it’s not worth taking the chance of getting them wet. We’re sure they’d be fine in a quick rain burst, but besides that, it’s probably a good idea to open an umbrella.
Its capacitive touch system is the most straightforward we’ve tested, with the back of the buds wide enough for even the most cumbersome fingers (ours) to control play/pause, skip and call commands. The G logo on each earbud flashes blue and red at various speeds, depending on what you’re doing with them, which is fine for the listener, but could potentially be a nuisance for your neighbour on a long haul flight.
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The case is about as tall as earphones from Panasonic and Technics, and slightly chunkier, but it works, thanks to its matte black finish, soft lines and lightweight feel.
Wireless charging is on offer via any Qi certified wireless charger, but a cable is provided, too, taking around two hours for a full charge. The battery life is huge: a very respectable six hours from the earbuds themselves, with an extra 30 hours of life via the case. This comfortably outstrips its rivals, giving you a seriously impressive amount of juice.
SoundOnce you’ve managed to fit the earbuds in your ears properly, the sound coming out of them is outstanding. The earbuds don’t have much about them in terms of options: there’s no partner app to tweak EQ, and no ANC.
However, in lieu of extra features is a superior sound. For true wireless earphones, Grado’s signature audio is class-leading, rattling your brain with booming bass, balanced with clear trebles and warm, wide mids.
Songs like Billie Eilish’s Bury a Friend or Bastille’s Doom Days are almost overpowering when the GT220s get their hands on it, while podcast clarity is second to none. The immediacy of the sound is refreshing compared to the rest of the market – it somehow feels like you’re within the music, with an intensity that you just don’t get from other earphones. In fact, the sound is as good as many over-ear headphones, something exceedingly rare for in-ear examples. Grado really understands sound.
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Bluetooth connection is via aptX, great for high-fidelity listening and consistent wireless connection, while also dealing with video well – although aptX adaptive Bluetooth for even better connection would have been a nice bonus, considering the GT220s’ price.
Call quality is great thanks to some noise reduction on the microphone system, with both input and output working ably. We’d be comfortable using the GT220s for work calls, and our classic call test (aka talking to mum) was passed with flying colours.