My GH1 has arrived! I was disappointed to find the workmanship to be poor; the drivers are recessed a millimeter, and the lip that holds the pads on is covered in large burrs, literally being unsanded (it looks the the wood was hastily cut and never finished). I will post pictures when I follow up with a more comprehensive review. These findings put a damper on my first impressions, and unfortunately, as I am not the original owner, it is unlikely that Grado will have any interest in helping me. More than the fit and finish, is my concern that the recessed drivers will have a negative impact on the sound.
All that said, I have a few quick notes on the sonic presentation of the headphones. And they are very positive! I couldn't help but smile right away when I started listening to them. The main characteristic of the GH1, to my ears, is that they maintain their composure at all times. The bass is very punchy and quick, and the overall frequency response is balanced and not excessive or lacking in any way. Vocals are very present, but are rendered more naturally than on the RS2e, which has a tendency to emphasize the higher frequencies of voices, making them sound slightly nasally at times. The GH1 does not demonstrate this, but in exchange, I do feel that female vocals are slightly less ethereal and transparent. That said, I do think the tonality is more on point with the GH1, though the RS2e is also very beautiful in this respect.
The GH1 manages to sound weighty and dark on tracks like Nine Inch Nails' "The Wretched", while still bringing clarity and focus to the presentation. The RS2e doesn't quite carry the same sense of dread, as it emphasizes the higher frequencies in the song, rendering it more "rock" sounding. Separation and soundstage are very similar to the PS500e, which is to say, excellent for a Grado using the L-cush (bowls). I feel that its bass acts to insulate and definite the the backdrop behind the other frequencies, which contributes to a sense of depth and definition. This is the main area I find the RS2e to be lacking, as its lean and forward presentation, along with its noticeably more narrow soundstage just doesn't have the foundation (read: bass) to layer the rest of the frequencies on top of.
If using this analogy, the sound of the RS2e is somewhat "ungrounded". This lends to its greatest strength, which is its ultimate transparency and liveliness. But it simply is not capable of the same authority and cavernous rumble that the GH1 is. I also found that for the vast majority of tracks, the GH1 just sounded better to my ears. I did not terribly miss the RS2e more ethereal presentation, as the GH1 is remarkably transparent and fast for a headphone with its bass.
Finally, to wrap things up for this post, I did spend some time swapping pads on the GH1 with the G-cush. At first, it sounded a little strange; the sound definitely became brighter, but the midrange and bass retained their exellence. Soundstage and imaging also improved significantly, but the sound remained forward and intimate, which is impressive. It wasn't until I switched back to the L-cush that I realized that there was some magic going on with the G-cush. I am not declaring a winner yet, but both pads do the GH1 justice so far. My main issue with the G-cush is the excessive sibilance I'm getting from them, regardless of source, amp, or tubes. If anyone has experience with this, please do share!
I'll be back (read in Arnold's voice)
