Grado RS1e matters (and impressions)

[Amictus]

Congratulations on the GH-1.
You know what I'm going to say next, right? 

Would it involve the letters 'P' and 'S', by any chance?

 

[joseph69]

Would it involve the letters 'P' and 'S', by any chance?

No, just the letter G after burning-in with the L 

.
The P and S ins't a bad idea either!

 

[stacker45]

  No, just the letter G after burning-in with the L 

.
The P and S ins't a bad idea either!

 
I second that.

 

[Spirulina780]

Ok, so today i received my beautiful looking "RS1 something" with the drivers sticking out. I´m not sure if i should return them, since there seems to be something not right with them.
 

 

[joseph69]

  Ok, so today i received my beautiful looking "RS1 something" with the drivers sticking out. I´m not sure if i should return them, since there seems to be something not right with them.
 

Are the backs of the drivers red?
Do you mean "something not right with them" sound wise or because the drivers protrude past the cups?

 

[Spirulina780]

 

  Ok, so today i received my beautiful looking "RS1 something" with the drivers sticking out. I´m not sure if i should return them, since there seems to be something not right with them.
 

Are the backs of the drivers red?
Do you mean "something not right with them" sound wise or because the drivers protrude past the cups?

Yes, the back of the driver is red. "Not right", meaning the driver protruding from the wooden cups. I have not listened to them yet 

 

[joseph69]

  Yes, the back of the driver is red. "Not right", meaning the driver protruding from the wooden cups. I have not listened to them yet 

Those are the transition (e) series RS1e which Grado slipped in before announcing the (e) series and before sting it on the cups/box.
Sorry to say that most found the sound not to their liking, but this doesn't mean you will feel the same way. At one point Grado recessed the drivers to sit flush with the cups on the RS1e and people have had more positive results in SQ with them, but do claim they need plenty of burn-in time.

 

[Oracle]

  Yes, the back of the driver is red. "Not right", meaning the driver protruding from the wooden cups. I have not listened to them yet 

I had a pair like these back when the "e" series first came out and I didn't like those protruding drivers resting on my ears. I wonder if you could contact Grado and ask if they would recess them like the later versions. I would be curious to know their response.

 

[Amictus]

Those are the transition (e) series RS1e which Grado slipped in before announcing the (e) series and before sting it on the cups/box.
Sorry to say that most found the sound not to their liking, but this doesn't mean you will feel the same way. At one point Grado recessed the drivers to sit flush with the cups on the RS1e and people have had more positive results in SQ with them, but do claim they need plenty of burn-in time.

Great summary, joseph69!. Personally, if you can return them, I would do so, Spirulina780, even if the workmanship isn't as slapdash as the one I bought pictured at the beginning of the thread. The sound is flawed, although good for brightening dour historical recordings. If you can get a revised model (with tan headband), you will have a more settled and reliable product which you will be able to sell on at a better price. Of course, the Frankenstein may suddenly become a collector's item of high value to joseph69 et al... I wish. I am bound to buy the 'revised' 1e eventually, but it is a long way down the list, so I can't help you with a direct comparison yet... sorry.

 

[Spirulina780]

 

  Yes, the back of the driver is red. "Not right", meaning the driver protruding from the wooden cups. I have not listened to them yet 

Those are the transition (e) series RS1e which Grado slipped in before announcing the (e) series and before sting it on the cups/box.
Sorry to say that most found the sound not to their liking, but this doesn't mean you will feel the same way. At one point Grado recessed the drivers to sit flush with the cups on the RS1e and people have had more positive results in SQ with them, but do claim they need plenty of burn-in time.

 
Yeah, i bought these hoping it would be the ones without the protruding drivers
 

 

  Yes, the back of the driver is red. "Not right", meaning the driver protruding from the wooden cups. I have not listened to them yet 

I had a pair like these back when the "e" series first came out and I didn't like those protruding drivers resting on my ears. I wonder if you could contact Grado and ask if they would recess them like the later versions. I would be curious to know their response.

 
I contacted Grado, and they basically told me to just return them, and by that i feel they finally admitted that there is a problem with these headphones. I also tried them on, and they are really uncomfortable,even by Grado standards 

 

[pickerdd]

I'm curious as to serial numbers on the RS-1e's that have the recessed or correctly placed drivers in the cup with proper frequency response. I bought one in March of 2015 with extended drivers and no bass and terrible trebles. I sold it in June of 2015. Terrible sounding thing.
 
- David

 

[Spirulina780]

 
I just noticed. The cable from the headphones is a 3,5mm jack, but still they included a 6,3 to 3,5mm adapter. 

 

[joseph69]

 

  I just noticed. The cable from the headphones is a 3,5mm jack, but still they included a 6,3 to 3,5mm adapter. 

 
Originally Posted by Oracle /img/forum/go_quote.gif
 
I had a pair like these back when the "e" series first came out and I didn't like those protruding drivers resting on my ears. I wonder if you could contact Grado and ask if they would recess them like the later versions. I would be curious to know their response.

Thats because the GS/PS1Ke are the only (e) series with 1/4" termination.
 
My PS1Ke drivers protrude about 1/8" but they don't touch my ears…and I'm thinking about slightly heating the aluminum cups with a blow dryer and making the drivers flush just to hear the results???

 

[GreenBow]

   
Yeah, i bought these hoping it would be the ones without the protruding drivers
 
 
I contacted Grado, and they basically told me to just return them, and by that i feel they finally admitted that there is a problem with these headphones. I also tried them on, and they are really uncomfortable,even by Grado standards 

I would go with the return, just based on what I have read in Grado threads. I know how you must be feeling though, like confused. I have a terrible time getting round to accepting something has to go back. I think you should bite the bullet and let it go. ..... I know how it feels when you go to the effort of choosing, make the buy, wait patiently. Then you're prepared for running-in time, and all in all it's an emotional investment. It makes it difficult for me if I think there was even a glimmer of a chance I might love the item. However those early RS1e, are for the most part hated.
 
Good luck with the return. If you intend to follow with another go at the RS1e, ask if you can view them first and check driver seating.

 

[Amictus]

  I'm curious as to serial numbers on the RS-1e's that have the recessed or correctly placed drivers in the cup with proper frequency response. I bought one in March of 2015 with extended drivers and no bass and terrible trebles. I sold it in June of 2015. Terrible sounding thing.
 
- David

That's exactly how mine sounds... although there is more bass after burn-in.
 

 
 
I just noticed. The cable from the headphones is a 3,5mm jack, but still they included a 6,3 to 3,5mm adapter. 

Mine still had the 6.3 mm jack.
 


Serial number 31578