Stereophile "Recommended Component"
Improved from Top to Bottom End
Ever wonder what hardcore audiophiles are hearing, and that you might be missing? The Grado RS1e is the point of no return so be warned, cross this threshold and you’ll never enjoy mass-market headphones again. Once you've experienced this elegant audio masterpiece you won't want to stop listening.
The new e-Series version of the Grado RS1 Reference Series headphone continues the evolution from the original model RS1 through the award-winning RS1i to the latest enhanced version, the RS1e.
"Class A Recommended"
The original RS1 has been a Stereophile Class A "Recommended Component." According to the magazine's Jack English, "It's rare that any audio product can come along and simply bowl me over. In this case, I yield."
Stereophile's Wes Philips raves, "If you value headphone listening enough to consider buying a reference dynamic, then you should audition the RS1's."
In his review for the Robb Report magazine, audiophile guru Steve Guttenberg reports, "Even in the heady group of contenders, the Grado RS1’s luscious sound scores an immediate 'wow' response. But over the months living with the three headphones, I gravitate to the RS1 more than the others. I love these headphones."
"The chassis on these audiophile classics are handcrafted from cured mahogany, making them both light and dynamic," reports a Test issue of Wired magazine, which selected the RS-1 as its Editors Pick for the headphone's "amazing sonic detail."
A Refined Masterpiece
The new RS1e from Grado uses a different species of handcrafted mahogany from the previous previous models. The earpieces utilize an intricate curing process that optimizes the tonal quality while giving them a new look.
The RS1e places a 50mm dynamic transducer and an eight-conductor cable design in an open-air configuration. The result is a smooth, controlled, and coherent sound with detailed dynamics. Frequency response ranges from 12-30 kHz and the drivers are matched to 0.05dB.
Weighing only nine ounces, these headphones are an example of the wonders of Mother Nature with a gorgeous light mahogany look. The RS1e is a refined masterpiece in the Grado collection.
New 'e' Version Enhancements
These classic mahogany favorites have been improved from top to bottom end. Every single component and material used in the 'e' version of Grado's Reference Series headphones has been upgraded and optimized for sensational sound.
The mahogany wood now undergoes a new proprietary curing process that enhances its natural tone properties. Wood, being a product of nature, is subject to variations in density and other properties. The curing process ensures consistency of the signature Grado sound.
Rhodium, the most expensive precious metal on earth, is employed in The e-Series headphones to prevent corrosion on connectors and unwanted graininess in your music. The new driver cone geometry tracks frequencies with unequaled precision, and the coil has been fine-tuned for symmetry throughout the full range.
One thing Grado didn't change is the traditional appearance that Grado fans cherish. The open-back form factor of the RS-series headphones produces a cleaner, more authentic sonic experience.
