Grado RS-1x Review – Fortified

Comparisons –

Grado SR325x ($295): The SR325x is the equivalent 4th generation flagship of the Grado Prestige Series and sports a metal over wood cup design. The new generation driver brings a more robust and balanced sound than past Grados making it a more versatile proposition with an equally modifiable form factor as before. The SR325x is immediately bassier and this helps to balance out its similarly forward midrange. It has more weight and a bit more extension into the deep-bass alongside being generally more elevated through the low-end yielding a fuller, thicker note. The RS-1x is cleaner and a bit more responsive, sounding more separated and slightly more defined if at the expense of presence and impact. Above, both have that signature Grado vocal focus with a good 2k bump. The SR325x has greater body and warmth but retains admirable clarity and a lack of veil. The RS-1x takes this one step further.

Its tone has noticeably less warmth and the note body is a step below neutral and into lean. This instigates a more revealing character and a slightly more forward character. Besides this, the RS-1x does layer and resolve better befitting of its greater asking price. The treble tells a similar story. The SR325x has more lower-treble bite giving it a more grounded, focused detail delivery with a sharper leading edge. Meanwhile, the RS-1x has a bit more mid-treble giving it an airier and more delicate response. However, above that, the RS-1x takes the win easily for headroom and extension boasting a good jump in background detail retrieval. The RS-1x also has a substantially larger soundstage aided by its superior layering and separation.

Grado RS-1e ($695): Incidentally, the RS-1x is brighter and more revealing than its predecessor. However, it is also immediately more controlled with a very respectable bump to technical performance. The RS-1e strikes as the warmer headphone. It has more mid-bass presence giving it a fuller, warmer low-end and this character continues to the midrange too. The RS-1x, meanwhile, retains a similar style of tuning but dials it back one step in favour of a cleaner tonality in the midrange especially. Within the bass itself, the new x model is immediately more refined, providing a good jump in note definition and responsiveness throughout. The midrange also appears more forward by comparison on the RS-1x despite both measuring reasonably similarly in this regard.

The RS-1x has less warmth and this gives it a more focused, revealing character. It is simply cleaner and more resolving overall. Where some felt the e model suffered from veil, the x handily alleviates this without steering into sterility or excessive leanness. The treble also sees a good step forward in technical performance. The e has a bit more mid-treble presence giving it more air and a more coloured sound. The x has immediately greater note definition and noticeably greater extension with higher resolution of fine details. Despite not being as bright, it sounds a bit more balanced and accurate here with a more even approach to tuning. The x has also received a good bump to soundstage expansion which is further exacerbated by its increased separation.

Hifiman Ananda ($699-999): The Ananda is a beloved planar magnetic headphone that can commonly be found for a similar sum when on sale. It represents a good foil to the RS-1x as more of an all-rounder. While both headphones have dips and bumps in similar areas, the end result is still quite different if still natural sounding and easy to acclimatize to. The Ananda immediately has more sub-bass extension and slam if not a boosted amount. The Ananda also has a slightly more defined mid-bass to my ears while the RS-1x has a slightly nicer and more natural texture. The RS-1x also has a bit more mid-bass punch and this is especially apparent with the tape mod. Above, the RS-1x is notably more vocal-forward whereas the Ananda pursues a more balanced presentation.

Both carry a light warmth, the Hifiman has a bit more lower-midrange which helps fill in body a little more whilst the Grado is leaner and more revealing. Both have a good amount of zing in the treble, the Ananda actually strikes me as a slightly brighter headphone, especially with the x model’s tamer mid-treble. The Ananda does have a slightly sharper leading edge which aids fine detail retrieval. Both are surprisingly matched when it comes to overall headroom, the Ananda having a slight edge on raw detail retrieval exacerbated by its brighter tuning. The Ananda definitely provides the deeper, more multi-dimensional stage while the RS-1x is more up-front and contrasted with similar width only when called for by the track.

Verdict –

Grado headphones were once quite an easy sell in a sea of bass-centric entry-level headphones. However, in the modern day with an abundance of well-tuned planars available for a pittance, they have become a more niche proposition. Still, within this niche, Grado headphones remain essentially unchallenged – here, the RS-1x is the most Grado, Grado headphone yet. The new driver and housing combo produce a tighter, faster sound with a very noticeable jump in resolving power. While many competitors do edge it out still from a technical point of view, it is no longer to the extent that one may be disappointed by comparison. In return, you receive a unique and beautifully coloured tuning that feels authentically Grado in nature with the same highly moddable form factor. The wood shells are more beautiful than ever and produce a unique timbre that makes them an absolute delight for anything vocal or acoustic focused. While the RS-1x’s ergonomic and tonal idiosyncracies mean it isn’t the ideal all-rounder at its asking price, I can confidently recommend this headphone for collectors or enthusiasts wanting a unique headphone that excels with select genres of music.

The RS-1x is available from Addicted to Audio (AU) and Grado (International) for $999 AUD and $920 USD at the time of writing. The padded headband is available from Turbulent Labs for $50/60 for the standard and XL models respectively. I am not affiliated with any of the aforementioned companies and receive no earnings from purchases through this link.