GRADO RS1X AND GRADO RS2X WOODEN HEADPHONES RELEASED

Made combining maple, cocobolo, and hemp wood, the Grado RS1x and Grado RS2x are now built with 4th gen X drivers.

Grado Labs is introducing the new Reference Series, which brings fourth-generation X Drivers to the Grado RS1x and Grado RS2x.

The Grado RS1x headphones with 4th gen X driver

GRADO RS1X AND GRADO RS2X WOODEN HEADPHONES

The Grado RS2x combines maple and hemp wood, while the Grado RS1x combines maple, cocobolo, and hemp wood. These newly built speakers are the fourth generation of drivers the Brooklyn company has designed since the introduction of the first Grado headphone in 1991. Along with the improved sound that Grado says these new drivers produce, the RS1x and RS2x are now built with a new durable cable and new headbands.

The RS1x in production

GRADO X DRIVERS

Leading the way for the new fourth-generation X Drivers, the redesigned RS1x combines a 50mm driver with three species of wood for the first time into an elegant headphone. The housing is made of a maple sleeve, hemp core, and cocobolo outer ring. Grado says it builds with wood for its warm and embracing tonal abilities, but finding the right balance of three separate kinds of wood is no simple task. Their little brother, the RS2x, focuses on maple and hemp wood to bring out the most they have to offer with a 44mm driver. This is the first time X Drivers are built into wooden housings and needed to be finely tuned for their specific environments.

The Grado headphones are made in Brooklyn, New York

“In 1994 my dad (John Grado) went downstairs in the middle of the night to build our first RS1 headphone”, says Jonathan Grado. “It’s kind of extraordinary that this middle-of-the-night idea is now evolving into an even greater headphone 27 years later.”

Grado RS2x Wooden Headphones

GRADO LABS HEADPHONES

In thirty years Grado Labs has only released four generations of drivers, the speaker inside the headphone. Avoiding yearly update cycles “just because”, Grado has made sure to only place new drivers inside their headphones when there is a significant upgrade. The X Drivers bring a completely redesigned speaker and new harmony to the inner workings of the RS1x and RS2x. Each one is specifically tuned for the wooden enclosure they’re built into. Grado has increased the magnetic power of the speaker while decreasing the effective mass of the voice coil. Along with the new X Drivers, the RS1x and RS2x are now built with new durable 8-conductor cables and white-stitched leather headbands.

The Grado RS2x

GRADO RS1X AND GRADO RS2X PRICE

Grado X Driver Reference Series

RS2x: $550/£599.95

RS1x: $750/£799.95

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HiFi Pig Says: With the launch of several hyper high-end headphones from other brands, the price of these new Grado’s does seem more ‘real world’, giving choices for a lower budget.

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