Grado GS1000e Statement Series Open-Air Stereo Headphone

I’ve had the great privilege of owning both the GS1000e and PS1000e. Interesting that some listeners and dealers say they prefer the sound of the GS1000e - after “loaning” - probably forever - the PS1000e, I had to decide whether to max my card on another pair or try the Statements, which some people seem to absolutely love, taking the chance that I would regret not putting aside a few more bucks for a few weeks and getting my own permanent pair of Professionals - after all, Grado themselves made it clear that I would not be really satisfied with the Statements after getting to know the P’s. Guess what? The simpler, less-exorbitant Statements lack NOTHING after 50 hours of burn-in, might get better, and while they are not as sparklingly analytical as the Professionals in absolute terms, they are, first of all, HUGELY detailed, with great transient attack, harmonically fuller - both subtly much and revealing in a way that is both revelatory and delicious, making the P-e’s feel dry by comparison. There is nothing to complain about with the more expensive cans, unless you just don’t like Grados; it is more a matter of a signature that is independent of the extent of technology that went into the design. Like a perfectly balanced musical instrument, or an expensive vs mega-buck designer shoe, the extra techno-bang does not necessarily translate into a more satisfying user experience. One day, I would love to own both - questionable, as I am not dripping in cash and can’t usually surround myself in luxury items. I just know that after the equivalent, early stages of break in - when things definitely got a chance to open up - I am ENJOYING THE MUSIC more with Statements while admiring their considerable virtues secondarily, while my experience of the Professionals was admiration first and enjoyment second. Highly “subjective”, but I am a jaded audiophile, having listened at length to pretty much every approach to high-end out there, and the distinction is clear to me, as it will be to plenty of you. For record, I am listening to lossless as well as ultra-high-res digital files through Schiit Bifrost-Uber and Lyr2 electronics, via un-eq’d iTunes and Audirvana Plus software. Unfortunately, I have no suitable analog source at present, but this ain’t chopped liver. My point is, you will not be sacrificing anything musically with the Statements, even though you might reach a little higher to own the ultra-tweaked Professionals. The extra money does NOT equate to better performance, except as judged through a set of criteria that might not matter to your musical needs. Oh, by the way - there is no lack of bass, either quantity or quality, contrary to some of the anti-grado propaganda spread by some listeners with strange needs. The bass is highly realistic, and if it is on the recording, from properly recorded bass instruments, you will feel and taste it, as well as hear the pitch without the slightest degree of smearing or boom. Nothing more I need from headphones.

After testing Grado RS2e I was expecting all the good stuff (detail, clarity, separation) and hoping for improvement in weaker areas (such as the amount of bass or space, or not a great reproduction of certain genres). These headphones left me very disappointed. RS2e actually are way better cans in every respect (and cost half the price). Another great candidate for way better headphones are Shure SRH1840 (also at half of the price).

They are very, very bass light out of the box. They say you should "break" them by playing music and that somehow that this will address it. For almost $1000, they should be ready to rock and roll out of the box.Also, no carrying case.The headphones did sound beautiful aside from the bass being missing.

These may be some of the worst sounding headphones I have ever purchased. I played them with my m15 dap, and my demon receiver listening to a sacd. They are too bright and the low end is seriously lacking and the surround around the headphones feels cheap. For $1200.00 a set of jbl’s for 200.00 shouldn’t sound better.

Updated: 13-4-2019I've listened to the GS-1000 for at least 100 hours. The music I listened to was compressed in Apple Lossless format. I used my MacBook Pro with iTunes for playback. The differences in sound quality noted in this review were also heard on my iPod Classic with music compressed in AAC format at 256kbps VBR quality (iTunes Plus).A headphone amplifier is required. I use the JDS Labs Objective2 as my reference. I've compared it against the Fiio E12 and the Denon DA-10 and the Objective2 provided the best performance. You can check out my reviews for the E12 and DA-10 if you need more specifics.*Note that a Gain of 1x (or 0dB) is perfect for Grado headphones and the Line Out of an iPod Classic (6G). However, this is different for Media Players without a line out, such as the iPod Touch (6G). In this case, I set the Headphone Out to 75% volume and use a Gain of 2.5x (or 7.5dB). With the efficient GR10e, a Gain of 2.5x gives me use of 50% of the headphone amplifier's volume knob for songs with a dynamic range of 14 dB. With the less efficient GS1000e, it gives me use of 75% of the volume knob.*Note that headphones have to be broken-in to see the maximum benefit of a headphone amplifier.Decision Making===================Having enjoyed the sound quality of the SR-325 for months, I wondered how much more pleasurable listening to music could be. However, I didn't want another gradual upgrade because it is much cheaper to just buy the most expensive headphone I wanted. The following points lead me to purchase the GS-1000.- I was afraid of paying so much for the PS-1000 and not enjoying it. I had read in a few places that their sound was very unforgiving and they were too heavy to be worn for long periods. In addition, I was skeptical about how much better it could be than the GS-1000; and how much I would appreciate that difference. *Knowing the importance of calibration when it comes to video; the PS-1000, having the most neutral sound, would be the ultimate headphone. But I'm not rich enough to feel comfortable with the price of almost twice that of the GS-1000 (it might as well be twice, as far as I'm concerned).- I was looking for improvements to the things I loved about the SR-325: separation of sounds; liquid smooth, airy bass. Amongst the claims of "masterpiece" and "very likely the best sounding headphones ever made", I had read that the GS-1000's improvements were: Bigger Soundstage, 3D-like Separation of Sounds, and Airy Presentation.- When looking at the headphones below the GS-1000, I had reservations of going there as well. I've read at goodcans.com that the difference between the SR-325 and the RS-1 is not as significant as the price. I also didn't want to go with the PS-500 because I was limiting myself to comparing the top headphones of each line.Sound Quality (SR-325e vs GS-1000e)============================Since I am coming from the SR-325, I will be comparing the sound quality of the GS-1000 to it.When I first listened to the GS-1000, I listened to songs that I found most enjoyable on the SR-325. The first thing I noticed was how vocals sounded more vivid. I felt a sense of space around the vocals. It presents an image that is not intimate, yet more satisfying; whispers are not as conspicuous, yet vocals are easier to understand.As impressed as I was with the quality of the voices, I was not impressed with the other qualities of the sound. Guitars and drums were no longer up front, which changed the excitement and emotion of songs. However, after about 10 hours of listening, things improved. I wasn't sure I believed in burn-in before this, but now I think that there's something to it.The GS-1000 is the first model after the SR-125 to provide a much more natural sounding soundstage. When I upgraded from the SR-80's narrow soundstage to the SR-125's wide soundstage, I initially found it difficult to focus on the music as a whole because I felt bombarded with what seemed like stereo sources 180° apart. With the GS-1000, the soundstage feels seamless from left to right, which makes the stereo sources sound like the share the same space, instead of isolated by 180°.The GS-1000's bigger soundstage also introduces the perception of layering. Layering is possible when you perceive sufficient space around sounds. This effect can be so powerful, that you can sense the space between a sound and the sound behind it. It is now significantly easier to isolate one sound in a group. The prominence of this effect is recording dependent.An improvement not related to Soundstage is the warmth of the GS-1000. I never thought the SR-325 sounded too bright, but the GS-1000 can be played louder without resulting in fatigue.I feel like there hasn't been an upgrade this significant since I upgraded from the SR-80 to the SR-125. The GS-1000's presentation of vocals is awesome, the 3D spatial experience is very impressive, and the reproduction of binaural recordings is convincing. Is it worth 3 times the price of an SR-325? Probably not; but If you want to hear the final frontier of sound quality, I recommend it.Update 4/28/15:Another improvement I noticed is the smoothness of classical music on the GS-1000. Going back and forth, it can be easily noticed with cymbals. The SR-325 almost seemed too gritty in comparison. This improvement is probably what contributes to the life-like sound I've noticed when listening to this type of music.Sound Quality (RS-2e vs PS-500e vs GS-1000e)=====================================I went to a headphone store and tried the PS-500e and RS-2e for about 30 minutes. I brought my GS-1000e for comparison.The PS-500e and the RS-2e were store demos. I assume that they have many hours on them and there is also the possibility of worn cushions. The sound of the GS1000e was affected by worn cushions, which I didn't realize at the time.Although the GS1000 is a tad on the bright side and could use a bit more bass, it was my preferred headphone. The space made all the nuances of the instruments come alive. The instruments hit just the right tone and I could feel the music more.PS500- Not bright- Fat vocals- Small soundstage- Bass was punchy and prominent- Precise – reveals recording issues hidden by RS2- Sounds smoothRS2- Not bright- Better soundstage than PS500- Bass is not lacking, but it doesn’t extend (feels capped)- It sounds like the GS1000, except less soundstage, more bass, and less bright. There is too much focus on vocals and not enough on the nuance of instruments.I came away preferring the RS2 over the PS500. The guy at the store says that the RS2 is preferred over the RS1 by many at the store. They say it is more pleasant sounding and it is easier to feel the groove of the music. However, they prefer the PS500 over the RS2.GS-1000e vs GS-2000e====================I was able to borrow a demo set of the GS2000e (non-balanced) from a store, which I was assured had more than 100 hours on it already. For a fair comparison, new G-cushions were procured for both headphones because sound quality is heavily affected by old cushions.GS1K - light brown headband with matching mahogany cups; Drivers not flush (red driver)GS2K - beige headband with matching mahogany cups; Drivers flush (blue driver)GS2K feels heavier. The mahogany cups of the GS2K have a smoother finish, then it transitions seamlessly to the maple section, which feels smooth. The colors look muted compared to the GS1K, lacking the beautiful contrast of dark color and light shine. The darker color on the GS1K's headband makes it easier to see creases in the leather, which are nearly invisible on the GS2K. Overall, the GS1K feels more raw and has more character, whereas the GS2K has a more polished look.Mids - The midrange is more present, more natural sounding and a bit smoother (vocals are more detailed) with an aggressive edge on upper mids. The aggressive upper edge can make some songs fatiguing - I found the tambourine in Get Me Bodied by Beyonce to be too piercing.Bass - The bass is punchier and tighter.Soundstage - The GS1K seems to lay out sounds around me with plenty of space between them and no emphasis on any one. This makes it easy for me to pick out sounds and follow them. But with the GS2K, some sounds are much more emphasized than others, especially those in the midrange. Sounds can still be picked out, but it is much more difficult because the space between them seems less and therefore feels busier. This distracts me from the other sounds that I could hear.Overall, the GS2K sounded warmer and more natural with a focus on midrange, but busier and more assaulting on the ears. I don’t think it is a better headphone. It’s just different.The scissor headphone test sounded more convincing with the GS2K, which is because its midrange has more presence.Look and Feel==========When I first opened the box, I was surprised by how enormous the headphones were. Then I picked them up and I was surprised yet again by how lightweight they were. If you are looking to feel the price in its weight, you will be disappointed.When I put them on, the G-pads felt very roomy. Initially, my ears rubbed against the driver, causing discomfort. Then, I read somewhere that it's best to position them down and forward, so that the top and back of your ears just touch the foam. Once I did this, I was able to listen to them on and off again for hours without any discomfort.When I looked at myself in the mirror, I thought, "they are ridiculously huge"; "they can dwarf medium sized heads in a single bound". I can easily see some of each G-pad out of the corner of my eyes.Similar to the SR-325, the headband is made of stitched leather with a rigid paperboard inside to support its shape, and lightly padded on the underside. However, the GS-1000's headband is more luxurious. The leather is not grainy and tight like the SR-325; it is thick, soft and smooth with a creased, delicate underside. It is colored brown to match the mahogany and is stitched with white thread. It has a pleasant leathery smell when brought to my nose. The paperboard support looks more durable and wood-like.At first glance, the mahogany wood looked and felt very cheap. After a few days, I realized that it was a work of art. Photos do not do it justice.The mahogany wood pattern has spots that remind me of a cheetah. From one direction, the wood looks dark; but from the other, it looks light. In addition, when light reflects off it, the wood emits a light golden shimmer that reveals a beautifully vivid brown.The mahogany doesn't feel as smooth as I expected. At some spots, it feels rough like it's not properly finished.The mahogany wood emits a semi-strong smell that can be playfully light from about 3 feet away. This is how they tease me. If they are nearby, the smell calls me to them. It also leaves its smell on my ears after a listening session. This is how they mark their territory. If the smell is on my ears, I am reminded of their sound afterwards.The headphones are numbered in two places. It is written on the Chamber side of each driver with permanent marker. It is also carved (facing inward) on the plastic pieces that attach the headband to the metal rings that hold each driver.Unlike the SR-325's plastic ring, the GS-1000 uses a metal ring of more consistent quality to hold each driver. It has a matte finish with small vertical ridges that I can hear when I run my nail across them. Although it looks more elegant than the plastic ring, it isn't as impressive as I thought it would be. Also, I am concerned that the metal ring can clamp on the driver's cable and damage the insulation over time.Finally, the single cable (after the joint) has a slightly more matte look (less plasticky) and smoother feel on the GS-1000 than on the SR-325.Update 4/28/15:Unfortunately, the mahogany smell eventually goes away. I can still smell it when I bring it up to my nose, but it's just a shadow of its former self.Other Considerations================The box that they arrive in is made of cardboard with a sticker identifying the headphones on top. It feels more luxurious than the paper version that come with the cheaper headphones, but I think it has less character. It actually makes more sense that the cardboard was required because of the heavy extension cable packed with the headphones.Since the headphones are open back, music can be easily heard by others and external sounds can be easily heard by you. External sounds will interfere with your perception of bass performance. This is typical of other sound sources open to the environment, such as car speakers.The phone plug is 1/4". It comes with a 1/8" adapter so that they can be used with an iPod. If required, there is also an extension cord."The headphone cable is very thick, but sturdy. I feel like I need to be careful not to put too much stress on a 1/8" phone port." That's what I said about the cable for the SR-325. The cable for the GS-1000 is even thicker and about a foot longer (over 1.5' long with the 1/8" adapter). It's starting to become unwieldy.I don't think these headphones are meant to go outside the home. The size and cost are big factors, but I would also worry about moisture ruining the mahogany or leather.Update 7/17/15:Grado doesn’t provide or offer a case for their headphones. The Official Grado Store, 4ourears.net, has previously offered expensive Mahogany boxes that were always out of stock. Recently, these boxes were made available along with a 25% price increase. Before this, I had to shop for some kind of headphone protection. I hate shopping for headphone cases because none ever seems to match the vision I have in my head for fit-and-finish. Most designs seem cheap and uninspired. It’s even worse trying to find a case that will fit the GS1000.I first settled on the Goodcans Headphone Bag. This bag met my expectations for quality: the outside is a waterproof nylon layer; the inside is a thick super soft layer. It’s almost like a sleeping bag for the headphones. The only possible improvement might be the addition of a thick zipper instead of the hook-and-loop seal. Sometimes, the hooks can catch the headphone cushions. While this bag is great for basic protection, one obvious problem is that it isn’t a hard case.When the Mahogany boxes became available from the Grado Store, I purchased one for my GS-1000. The box didn’t exactly meet my expectations, but it has potential. (1) It’s much bigger than I expected. I measured the following dimensions: 14-3/8” x 11-3/16” x 4-7/8”. It’s like a light-weight briefcase, without a handle, which doesn’t make it very portable. There are definitely areas that could have been trimmed. I wonder if this was made primarily for showcasing. (2) Taking the headphones in and out could be more convenient. The foam should have cable guides so it can be more easily tucked away. I can’t get the cable from obstructing the view of the headphones like the picture in the Official Grado Store. (3) The interior smells like glue. The headphones cushions will start to smell like glue as well.The box was built by vanandcompany.com. I hope the Official Grado Store will improve on the points above.PS==Songs that sound exceptionally well with these headphones. Examples:Cindy Lauper - Time after TimeDanny Elfman - Waltz to the Death [Batman Soundtrack]Hole - MalibuGlossary======- Accurate - A more accurate sound means a better balance of all frequencies, resulting in conspicuous details.- Brighter - A brighter sound is one with more treble.- Intimate - A more intimate sound is one that sounds closer to your ears. This usually feels like the artist is playing for just you, rather than for an audience.- Muddy - A muddy sound is one that does not have clarity. This can be caused by inaccurate sound reproduction or narrow soundstage.- Soundstage - A soundstage is the amount of 3-dimensional space available for sound sources. A bigger soundstage will provide more separation between the track recordings of a song, which helps a listener to focus on each one individually. In addition, a bigger soundstage also increases the amount of perceived space around the listener.- Soundstage Width - Imagine a sector of a circle whose central point is at the back of the listener's head and the arc length is at the front. This area illustrates the space for sources of sound. The central angle would determine the soundstage width.- Soundstage Depth - This relates to Soundstage Width in that the radius of the sector would determine the soundstage depth. However, because of headphone design, the final shape may not resemble that of a sector.- Warmer - A warmer sound is one with less treble and/or more bass. Warmer sound can be easily detected when listening to female vocals. Other sounds that are usually bright, such as cymbals are also a good point of detection.

i am not an audiofile, but my friend who recommended these to me is. the quality is without a doubt unbelievable. i was very tentative buying headphones without testing them out first, ESPECIALLY for this price... but when i got them and tested them out i was completely blown away. i am used to $100 headphones and usually get Logitech, but after i bought this there is no way i could ever go back. if you have the money i would strongly recommend these headphones. i am hearing sounds and instruments i never even knew were in my favourite songs, and these dont say they are meant for gaming, but the 3D sound is so much better than i ever thought possible. i can hear exactly where enemies are and other sounds with pinpoint accuracy. i know im gushing a bit on them, but im serious when i say im a very cheep when it comes to money and these headphones are worth every penny. 11/10, surpassed my expectations, would by again in hindsight.

In der Preisklasse in der der gs1000e angesiedelt ist erwartet man einen Kopfhörer mit dem Gewissen „Wow Effekt“ er ist meiner Meinung nach der Beste.Ein warmer sehr Detailtreuer Klang zeichnen ihn aus mit einer riesigen Bühne die er aufbaut wer ein Bassgewitter erwartet ist hier falsch.Der Tragekomfort sucht seines gleichen und man kann ewig Musik hören ohne warme Ohren zu bekommen.Das Gewicht ist für diese Größe bemerkenswert gering was auf die hölzernen Ohrmuscheln zurück zu führen ist,die Verarbeitung mit dem farblich passenden braunen Leder ist perfekt.Fazit:Dieser Kophörer ist bis auf eine Hanvoll anderer Konkurrenzlos und das Geld wert.

Manque de bass et de dynamique à mon goût... cela malgré un ampli casque Oppo. Peut-être le casque a t il besoin d'être rode d'avantage, mais sans les bass, c'est pas l'extase...