Grado RS1x Review | 93 Data compared

Design and Practicality The Grado RS-1x open-back headphones feature a unique, visually stunning "tri-wood" shell design that seamlessly sandwiches a maple sleeve, a hemp core, and a cocobolo outer ring into each cup. Setting itself apart from other models in the x-series refresh, it integrates a larger 50mm dynamic driver specifically tuned for these multi-wood housings. Upgrades include a black leather headband with white stitched accents and a harder-wearing, 8-conductor cable with a tough outer sheath to prevent twisting. However, long-term wearing comfort leaves much to be desired. The standard L-cush pads have a scratchy feel and their open centers expose the plastic drivers, causing physical hotspots on the outer ear that require readjustment every hour or so. Sonic Characteristics and Performance The RS-1x delivers a unique, highly revealing, yet naturally voiced tuning with a reduced treble intensity and a very spacious soundstage for a Grado headphone. The headphones offer a major advantage to enthusiasts due to being highly moddable with excellent community support for aftermarket pads and headbands. On the downside, the sound signature is quite lean out of...

The Grado RS1x Reference Series is an open-backed, hand-assembled headphone from Brooklyn that introduces a unique tri-wood housing blend of a maple sleeve, hemp core, and cocobolo outer ring, priced at $750 USD. It is the first Grado model to feature larger, re-engineered 50mm X Drivers that offer a flatter frequency response and improved harmonic integrity across the sound spectrum. Reviewer Gary Alan Barker notes that the headphones are exceptionally lightweight at roughly 8.5 ounces and highly efficient, allowing them to deliver an open, highly musical, and deeply immersive three-dimensional soundstage even when driven by basic sources like a smartphone. The primary pros highlighted in the review include the headphones' stunning aesthetics, linear yet non-sterile tonality, organic vocal texture, and surprisingly deep, flat sub-bass extension that avoids the typical low-end bloat found in other open-air designs. On the downside, the cons include a lack of common stock accessories like a carrying case or headphone stand, which must be purchased separately at an additional cost. Furthermore, because the heavy-duty 8-conductor copper cables are hard-wired directly into the drivers, any configuration for...

The SuperBestAudioFriends review of the Grado RS1X highlights a 4th-generation 50mm X Driver that retains a punchy, energetic, and "lean" sound characteristic of older models while improving technical performance. Key improvements over the RS1E include smoother treble response and enhanced upper-octave air. However, the stock configuration lacks deep sub-bass and features a somewhat rolled-off, linear low-end, along with a notoriously rigid, non-detachable cable. The review indicates that applying a "tape mod" to the stock L-cushion pads successfully increases bass extension and warmth without sacrificing midrange clarity.

The Grado RS1x Reference Series (£799) features matched 50mm dynamic drivers within a unique chassis built from maple, hemp, and cocobolo wood. In sound testing, it delivers an open, airy soundstage, detailed midrange separation, and a bouncy, responsive bass with impressive impact. However, it suffers from overly forward, aggressive upper midranges that can create a reedy, claustrophobic presentation on certain recordings. From a design standpoint, its on-ear fit can feel awkwardly perched on top of the ear, and it is limited by a frustratingly short cable. The premium Grado GS3000x Statement Series (£2,195) upgrades to 52mm drivers housed in an all-cocobolo wood chassis, offering a wider 4-51kHz dynamic range. Reviewer Paul Rigby praises its beautifully balanced performance, highlighted by a smooth, naturalistic midrange and a massy, heavy bass that creates a warm, "cuddly" sonic profile. It provides superior comfort over the RS1x because its larger ear pads sit fully around the ears rather than on top of them. On the downside, this model also shares the drawback of a short cable, and its overall warming sound signature might not appeal...

The Grado RS-1x is a radically redesigned open-back dynamic headphone handcrafted in Brooklyn that retails for $920 USD. Setting itself apart from previous iterations, it features a unique tri-wood shell composed of a maple sleeve, hemp core, and cocobolo outer ring, which houses a larger, specially tuned 50mm 4th-generation x-series driver. It also introduces a more durable 8-conductor braided cable with a tough sheathed exterior to prevent twisting, alongside a padded black leather headband with white stitching for improved weight distribution. Performance-wise, the headphone provides a highly revealing yet naturally voiced tuning with reduced treble intensity compared to past models, creating an exceptionally spacious soundstage for a Grado headphone that excels within its niche. Key Pros & Cons Pros: Beautiful tri-wood design, a highly revealing yet natural tuning, reduced treble peakiness, wide soundstage, and great community modding support. Cons: Sub-optimal long-term comfort due to scratchy L-cush pads that can cause ear hot spots, a lean sound profile out of the box, a non-replaceable cable, and lower sonic versatility than competitors.

The Grado RS1X is an open-back, over-ear reference headphone that combines traditional styling with a multi-wood design to achieve outstanding audio performance. Priced at £799, its distinctive physical housing utilizes a blend of maple, hemp, and cocobolo wood to effectively control resonance while remaining lightweight at 325 grams. By packing a new, larger 50mm dynamic driver into this optimized enclosure, Grado creates a highly open listening experience where the headphone's structural elements effectively "disappear". Sonically, it is praised for its exceptional tonal accuracy, a vibrant and dynamic signature, and a breathtaking bass response speed that outpaces most competitors. Additionally, it is impressively easy to drive, meaning it does not require powerful partnering hardware to sound its best. However, the reviewer highlights several notable drawbacks, particularly regarding its physical build and usage limitations. The overall aesthetic and construction can look minimalist or "crude" due to its unpadded headband, though it remains surprisingly comfortable for long periods because of low clamping force. Because it is an open-back model with high noise leakage, it is strictly intended for home use rather than commuting....

The AVForums review awards the Grado RS1x open-back headphonesGo a "Highly Recommended" title, highlighting their artisanal, three-wood construction (maple, hemp, cocobolo) and 4th-generation 50mm X Drivers. Pros include a natural, slightly bright tonality, an open, airy soundstage with agile transient response, and high sensitivity that makes them easy to drive. Cons identified include the persistent, non-detachable, and awkward 68-inch cable, along with the lack of a protective carry case. Additionally, the open-back design allows for significant sound leakage, and the highly revealing nature of the drivers demands high-quality source material.

The fourth-generation Grado RS1x Reference Series headphones are the brand's first "tri-wood" model, expertly crafted using a striking combination of maple sleeve, hemp core, and cocobolo wood enclosures. Designed primarily for home listening, these hand-built, open-back headphones feature a new 50mm "X Driver" specifically tuned to work in harmony with the wooden housing. Reviewers highly praise the RS1x for being clean, clear, punchy, and naturally musical performers. They boast excellent dynamic insight, transparency, and a fast, lively presentation that accurately pinpoints instruments across a wide soundstage. However, the headphones do have a few notable limitations. The primary disadvantage is their leaky open-back design, which lets sound escape and allows ambient noise in, making them impractical for public environments. Additionally, they exhibit a noticeable out-of-the-box sonic leanness and requires a multi-day "run-in" period of playback to shed initial harshness and settle the sound. Because of their open nature, they also lack the deep bass punch found in rival closed-back models, though the low-end frequencies they do provide remain exceptionally agile and highly textured.