Grado e Series

[whirlwind]

  Just received my RS1e this afternoon and enjoying some Black Keys, Zeppelin, Beck and Hendrix.  I'll give some impressions after some extended listening and burn in.  But for now here's some pics.
 
  

Congrats....interested in hearing your impressions....also, nice list of music.
 
 
Also, anybody that can tell mow how to get the spoiler tags working on these forums.
Thanks!

 

[Oracle]

sweet cans. congrats man.

Thanks up late.
 

I'm anxiously awaiting your comparison to the PS500e's which I just received. I've read every comparison that I could find between the previous models and it seems like 50/50 as to which one people prefer. I'm very impressed by the PS500e's so far.

I'll be sure to include this comparison when I review the RS1e, because I already own the PS500 and am trying to decide if I like the newer PS500e or RS1e for my second Grado in my collection.
 

Congratulations on the new RS1e. Have you had the RS1i in the past?

I have owned the RS1i for about 30 days before returning them but that was a while ago so I don't think I would be the best person to try and compare them.
 

Congratulations on your new RS1e's
Enjoy!

Thanks joseph69.

 

[up late]

Not always...many times existing stock (whatever it may be) is sold at a discount.

no not always but usually. sure there are discounts to clear existing stock and introductory offers for new products, but prices tend to go up not down - just like the cost of living. so it's not surprising that the new e series comes with a price increase.

 

[Oracle]

   
Cool! Can you give us a shot or two of the front of the drivers (with the pads removed)?

Yeah, there's already some pictures out there but here's a few more.  

 
    

 

[up late]

thanks for posting the pics oracle. those drivers definitely look larger than the ones in the rs1i that i have.

 

[Beagle]

I kind of read it as a sign that I shouldn't be buying from a company that won't give a straight answer about what has and has not been updated.

 
Maybe their manufacturer doesn't give them any straight answers

 

[JES]

Yeah, there's already some pictures out there but here's a few more.  

    

Beautiful headphones. Thanks for the pics.

 

[Beagle]

  Yeah, there's already some pictures out there but here's a few more.  

 
    

 
Thank you. It is obvious that it is the original driver size with a plastic ring around it. You can see how the inner part of the pads have been stretched around the outer plastic ring. And there are still 25 holes on the driver cap. Note that Grado did not say it was a larger driver, just a 50mm driver, which is true if you include the outer ring. But I still feel it is kind of misleading. To some, 50mm would instinctively indicate a larger "new "driver. So it must be a different diaphragm material or shape of the diaphragm that accounts for the change in sound?

 

[up late]

well it's not obvious to me. just going by the pics the surface area of the drivers look larger than the rs1i's that i'm holding. the only way to know for sure would be to compare an rs1i and rs1e side by side. should be able to do that in the next couple of weeks.

 

[LCfiner]

yeah… These pics are the same as the unbranded RS1e pic with red magnet drivers from a few months ago. I didn’t expect much else, really, but wanted to wait.
 
Like Beagle said, it’s clear that the open part of the driver is the same 40mm as it is now. the pad inside diameter is bigger to go around the black plastic. 
 
It’s a new driver, I don’t doubt (refined, more efficient, etc), but any claim of a 50mm driver isn’t accurate if one looks at the actual moving portion and not the surrounding frame.
 
and then keep in mind that the grado PS500e page still says the PS500e uses a 44mm driver when both our own measurements and John Grado himself (over the phone to a member here) said that the PS500e didn’t get a newly sized driver and it seems clear to me that there’s some differences in opinion or confusion over there as to how to label the size of these drivers in their promotional material.
 
Now, I don’t want to have to go over this again. Sure, I’m a little bummed out that Grado couldn’t be more accurate describing the physical size of the driver but the only reason we have so many posts about this in this thread is because of the ridiculously dismissive and aggressive attitude of some posters here when this was first brought up. I would think people wouldn’t be so quick to aggressively defend and apologize for a manufacturer in the future when there’s actual pictorial evidence to back up a claim.
 
personally, despite the size issue, I’m still very anxious to hear more reviews on the RS1e (as I have the RS1i). Heck, maybe a few months form now, I bite the bullet and spring for one so I can hear for myself. 
 
 
edit:we don’t need a comparison to an RS1i. we already have pics of the RS1e with a PS500 and the drivers were the same size. And Oracle can just measure the portions of the RS1e directly. inside portion, outside plastic and wood sleeve OD for reference. However, that said, I am at this point much more interested in more listening impressions than size measurements as the size question is answered.

 

[jaywillin]

  Just received my RS1e this afternoon and enjoying some Black Keys, Zeppelin, Beck and Hendrix.  I'll give some impressions after some extended listening and burn in.  But for now here's some pics.

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

 
  

 

 
 

 
Congrats....interested in hearing your impressions....also, nice list of music.
 
 
Also, anybody that can tell mow how to get the spoiler tags working on these forums.
Thanks!

 
like that ?? it took me a while(a looooooong while) to figure it out lol
 

in the reply window make sure you've got your "more" options opened
click the quote button as normal, when you have  the quote you are referring to in the reply window
highlight what you want as your spoiler , the old left click and drag.
while you have the portion highlighted, go up to the editing bar options  and select the icon for a quote, or message, its in between " and </>
an "enter spoiler window" will open with the part you wanted "spoiled" in the content part
if thats right, hit submit, and the part you want spoiled should be highlighted within the quote box
then move cursor out of the quote box, into where you normally reply, and proceed on !!

 

[joseph69]

You guys are just obsessed with the driver size…relax, no matter the size of the driver, I'm sure there going to sound like a Grado. Most everyone on this thread is complaining/turning it into a debate, and I would like to continue reading impressions on the new (e) models, but its getting ridiculous with all this petty bullxxxx about a difference of 6mm or what ever. If you feel you are being mislead, then don't buy them, or if you want a 50mm driver buy a different brand if its that important too you. It has already been explained that the driver itself (not including the housing) is the same dam size, come on now! 

 

[LCfiner]

I’m pretty chill, dude. My previous post was the last post on it since we finally got pics of a branded RS1e and not the surprise unbranded RS1i model.
 
I know some people think it doesn’t matter... but it does. I’m sorry but these are basic things that shouldn’t even be up for questioning. Especially since so many people browse head-fi for purchase advice and use it to determine where to spend their money. A company being clear as to what they are offering is important. And considering that there’s nowhere else on the forum to even ask these questions (the fan club thread is off limits for any questions or critiques) of course we’re gonna ask here.
 
Anyway, I’m just waiting for more listening impressions just like everyone else.

 

[HPiper]

Apparently no one owns a ruler.

 

[Beagle]

  You guys are just obsessed with the driver size…relax, no matter the size of the driver, I'm sure there going to sound like a Grado. Most everyone on this thread is complaining/turning it into a debate, and I would like to continue reading impressions on the new (e) models, but its getting ridiculous with all this petty bullxxxx about a difference of 6mm or what ever. If you feel you are being mislead, then don't buy them, or if you want a 50mm driver buy a different brand if its that important too you. It has already been explained that the driver itself (not including the housing) is the same dam size, come on now! 

 
Geez, relax man. Just pointing out a few observations. You don't have to read everything if you don't want to.