Sound –
Tonality –
I’ve had my share of Grado headphones both as an enthusiast and as a reviewer. While changes are not huge between the generations, I did find myself surprised by the more radical retune on the new x-series SR headphones. The RS-1x, however, remains very much a classic Grado headphone so those returning to the brand will know what to expect for the most part. Bass has noticeable roll-off and takes a backseat to the bright, forward midrange and airy top-end, imbuing a highly revealing character. While these headphones are not renowned for their sheer driver speed and control, separation and definition are delivered in spades as a result. Where the RS-1x does deviate and where we can observe the effect of the larger driver is with regards to the mid-treble and soundstage. The RS-1x suffers from less glare than previous releases in addition to being noticeably more spacious. Overall, this makes them a unique proposition among the prestige and reference series headphones without losing an ounce of beloved Grado character.
Tape Mod
A very simple and fully reversible mod for Grado headphones using the L-cush pads. Simply wrap the perimeter of the pads with tape and enjoy. If you’re concerned about the adhesive or have worn pads, you can wrap the tape backwards so the sticky side is facing out and cover with another layer of tape so it isn’t sticky. This mod offers a modest but appreciable increase in bass presence and extension presence with minimal change to the rest of the sound. Of course, bringing up the bass makes them appear slightly fuller and warmer overall, however, to a small extent. Unlike the flat pads, their was no veil or over-warmth but an appreciable punch and subjectively improved balance. If you want the most authentic “Grado character” keep the headphones standard. This mod will appeal to those wanting greater versatility and balance without transforming the sound and presentation as a pad change may.
Pads
The stock L-cush pads offer a semi-over-ear fit but sit more like an on-ear. They have the brightest sound of the Grado pads I’ve tried and come installed on the RS-1x out of the box. The RS-1x is tuned, in part, to compensate for this so in my opinion, they don’t pair especially well with other pads. This is best demonstrated by switching to flat pads that are often considered to offer the most balanced sound and come installed on the new higher-end SR headphones like the SR3255X. Incidentally, I found them a poor fit for the RS-1x. They sounded over-warm and stuffy with the flat pads, with noticeable bloat and veil. I
Yaxi’s S-cush pads are a sound alternative for those wanting a more balanced, normal sound albeit at the cost of much of the airiness, energy and resolving power that the RS-1 is renowned for. They damp down the highs by a substantial amount and the midrange takes a step back too. Bass isn’t as warm nor explicitly congested like the flat pads but the presentation overall assumes a warmer leaning, smoother character. It seems to me, that the RS-1x was very much intended to be used with the L-cush pads, albeit I do not own the G-cush pads to test with. The L-cush pads with tape mod were my preference and will be used for the following analysis.
Bass –
When setting out to write this review, I found myself at a loss when describing the low-end as it really is a unique mix of qualities. Analogue appears to be the most apt descriptor despite the loathsome qualities it has come to represent in modern audio. However, there is certainly a charm here and some clever tuning on Grado’s behalf. So, while lows don’t inspire with huge presence or technical ability, they are a paragon of punch and responsiveness. Few would dub this a well-extending or assertive low-end, but one that commands a more than respectable amount of texture and a satisfying mid-bass impact that engages all the same.
Even compared to the SR325x, the RS-1x has paltry sub-bass extension and very noticeable roll-off. In turn, rumble and slam are both diminished and the headphone produces essentially zero pressure at the very bottom. The upside to this is top-class separation in the mid-bass which manages a small level of elevation whilst retaining superb cleanliness as a result. Though it is clear these are not the instrument for bass-heavy genres, they thereby retain a satisfying albeit never enhanced sense of fullness and fun-factor, especially with the tape mod. I also found myself impressed by the general tightness of the bass note presentation.
Though the rolled off sub-bass makes this difficult to appreciate, bass attack is relatively quick which contributes to the snappy, punchy character in the mid-bass. Notes then decay naturally, responsible for retaining ample note body and their surprisingly strong texture resolution. The tuning combined with the style of note presentation results in higher note definition though the RS-1x comes across as a deliberately coloured headphone as opposed to a perfectly flat, technically orientated one. It caters to those wanting a highly responsive mid-bass and an analogue-like note presentation rife with texture yet without a smidge of bloom or bloat.
Mids –
The highlight of the headphone as has been a recurring theme with Grado headphones for more than a decade. Without the tape mod, the RS-1x is a bit intense but once installed, I found them to offer sound balance and coherence whilst retaining outstanding clarity and intelligibility. As lows can’t be considered emphasized, only hints of warmth seep into the midrange which remains clear and clean for the most part. Contrary to many modern headphones, the RS-1x also peaks earlier at 2kHz rather than higher up. To my ears, this isn’t a bad thing as it gives vocals a bit more size and power in addition to offering more even-handed emphasis of both male and female vocals. Such sit at the forefront of the presentation, they are enlarged, intimate and gloriously well-defined. While small details aren’t quite flattered like the new crop of Planar headphones, the RS-1x’s tonality maximises the resolving power the listener can perceive from the driver. It, therefore, represents one of the better performers I’ve heard around this asking price in terms of raw resolution. Above, the headphones gradually taper off into the lower treble for added density that ensures the forward vocals never become strained or fatiguing – subjectively, to good effect.
Though a little glossy and clarity-enhanced, the RS-1x isn’t sharp or exceedingly breathy. The separation and layering ability of the RS-1x is also a key ability. With such a focused and well-defined foreground and neutral rather than reduced room, it offers an almost hyper-contrasted sense of layering that works exceptionally well for vocal-centric songs such as Adelle’s new “Easy on Me”. Vocals are flattered as is the space surrounding. With a good amount of pinna gain in the right location, the voicing is natural with few tonal oddities, simply forward with a vocal-centric character. Of course, those wanting warm, guttural male vocals or the most articulate female vocals may not enjoy the style of vocal boost. For my ears, this is the way to do it, being immensely clear yet never thin, strained or sharp. I feel this is equally owing to the low-end and treble tuning as that of the midrange itself. Overall, the RS-1x is certainly a headphone designed with a very specific style of presentation in mind, that being a focus on vocals and space, with which the team at Grado deserves high accolade.
Highs –
The top-end hasn’t been neglected in lieu of the boosted midrange, sitting just behind the vocal range. I found myself reasonably impressed with the linearity of the top-end and also its excellent extension, especially coming from past Grado headphones. While they still have 6, 8 and 10kHz peaks with a slight bias to the mid-treble, they are small and don’t exceed the midrange in presence. Accordingly, the RS-1x isn’t excessively bright or fatiguing. They do have a good amount of bite and crunch, that said, and will certainly appeal most to those desiring great energy and air augmenting strong raw resolving power. The style of tuning results in an energetic presentation yet without excessive over-sharpening. Similarly, note body is on the thinner side but hardly overtly so. The result is a coloured treble response but one that behaves consistently between tracks. Crispness is enhanced as is air though not at the expense of listenability or timbre.
Small details are brought slightly forward, and they have a hint of tizz from enhancements to the upper-treble. The transient response is very clean for a Grado headphone too, not quite on par with a similarly priced planar but certainly in the same ballpark. While the form factor isn’t ideal for resolving power, buyers also shouldn’t feel that they aren’t receiving a non-competitive piece of equipment from a resolution or extension point of view. At the same time, don’t expect the fastest, most defined leading edge nor huge micro-detail, but a natural amount with a slightly forward presentation that highlights these minutiae a little more than most. The airiness and delicacy of the RS-1x give it a sweet yet highly musical quality. Among the Grado’s I’ve tested, these are easily the most technically accomplished and it has sound listenability long-term. The leap in treble performance is also surely playing a large role in the soundstage experience provided by the RS-1x.
Soundstage –
While you shouldn’t expect HD800 levels of soundstage expansion here, the RS-1x is a huge step up from the past Grado headphones I’ve tried with a real sense of spaciousness and scale. The RS-1x is able to stretch well beyond the head in width but does have a more intimate sense of depth. This can mostly be attributed to its midrange tuning featuring a prominent vocal forwardness. As a result, though the headphone is capable of impressive scale, it does err on the more intimate side in most respects. Where this can truly be appreciated is with regards to layering. Background vocals and instruments stretch further than past models granting an involving sense of dimension and immersion alongside enhanced delineation between foreground and background. Altogether, the imaging performance is more nuanced than on past Grados.
To elucidate further, you retain the sharp directionality beloved on those headphones now with enhanced distance portrayal on top. Separation is to be enjoyed as well given the leaner nature of the tuning alongside the tight and nicely controlled note presentation. The RS-1x has no issue deconstructing complex passages once the listener has adjusted to its intimate style of presentation. The ether around each note is apparent which allows small details to be discerned with ease. It is for this reason that the RS-1x appears more resolving than many competitors on initial listen despite resolution being objectively more mid-pack. Nevertheless, this has always been a strength of Grado headphones and overall separation ability is among the highest on the market as the tuning is now complemented by higher raw driver quality.
Driveability –
A big part of the appeal of Grado headphones is their combination of being easy to drive in addition to having some level of tunability due to a “favourable” impedance curve. The dynamic drive has a 38 Ohm impedance and a 99.8 dB sensitivity making it one of the more efficient designs out there.
Output Impedance Sensitivity
Going by the 1/8th rule, the RS-1x sounds nigh identical from sources below 5 Ohms of impedance and relatively similar running off sources up to 10 Ohms too. As the impedance increases above that, which is relevant for OTL tube amplifiers, for instance, you do get a noticeable jump in bass quantity which has mirrored my experience with past headphones too.
For many listeners, this is likely to be favourable as you do receive a good bump in mid-bass quantity and a slight increase in top-octave air and headroom as well. Of course, the extent of which varies based on the output impedance of your source. Running off the xDuoo TA-26, I enjoyed the tasteful bump in warmth that subjectively provided greater balance. The RS-1x sings from tube amplifiers and plays nicely with solid-state amplifiers using the tape mod for those desiring a more technical sound.
Driving Power
The RS-1x is not at all a difficult headphone to drive given its efficient dynamic driver. I did notice a little more drive and punch from a proper desktop source compared to mobile sources. However, given that the RS-1x doesn’t have much sub-bass extension anyhow, power output shouldn’t be a huge priority for those considering overall setup synergy.
Suggested Pair Ups
The RS-1x can be enjoyed in multiple respects. For those wanting the most revealing sound, it sings stock from most solid-state sources – this can include portable DAPs and dongles too given its efficiency. However, should you want a warmer or more balanced sound this is easily achieved either by an elevated output impedance such as that found on a tube amp. This can be used in tandem with the tape mod to achieve a surprisingly punchy and bassy combo for those wanting a slightly more fun listen. As always, the beauty of these designs is their simplicity and responsiveness to user tuning which opens up more avenues for adjustment to individual preference.
