The GS1000x sits at the heart of Grado’s Statement series — the Brooklyn manufacturer’s flagship line of wood-bodied headphones, positioned above the Reference series RS1x and below the range-topping GS3000x. With over two decades of engineering development behind it, the GS1000x pairs mahogany and ipê wood for the first time in a Grado headphone, combining the tonal warmth of mahogany with the structural rigidity of ipê to shape the acoustic character of the ear cup chamber.
X Series Driver Technology
At the core of the GS1000x are Grado’s 50mm X Series drivers, each pair matched to within 0.05 dB. The X driver platform introduces a more powerful magnetic circuit, a voice coil with decreased effective mass wound from UHPLC (Ultra High Purity Long Crystal) copper, and a reconfigured diaphragm. Together, these changes improve efficiency, reduce distortion, and preserve harmonic integrity across the 8 Hz to 35 kHz frequency response.
Construction and Materials
The open-air housing is hand-assembled from mahogany and ipê wood — mahogany contributing warm tonal characteristics while ipê provides a dense, stable foundation for the sound passing through its grain. The 12-conductor super-annealed copper cable delivers improved signal purity over previous generations, and the redesigned black leather headband features a white-stitched accent. Each GS1000x is hand-built by Grado’s team in Brooklyn, moving from workbench to workbench until complete.
Soundstage and Performance
The combination of the large 50mm driver, open-air operating principle, oversized ear cushions, and generous wooden housing works in unison to produce the expansive soundstage that defines the GS1000 line. The open-back design allows air to move freely around the driver, creating a spacious audio field with distinct instrument separation. At 99.8 dB SPL per milliwatt and a nominal impedance of 32–38 ohms, the GS1000x is efficient enough to be driven by portable sources whilst scaling well with dedicated headphone amplifiers.
| Transducer Type | Dynamic |
|---|
| Operating Principle | Open Air |
|---|
| Driver Size | 50mm |
|---|
| Driver Matched | 0.05 dB |
|---|
| Frequency Response | 8 Hz – 35 kHz |
|---|
| SPL (1 mW) | 99.8 dB |
|---|
| Nominal Impedance | 32–38 ohms |
|---|
| Voice Coil Wire | UHPLC copper |
|---|
| Cable | 12-conductor super-annealed copper |
|---|
| Ear Cup Material | Mahogany & ipê wood |
|---|
| Headband | Black leather with white-stitched accent |
|---|
| Connector | 6.3mm |
|---|
| Weight | 333g |
|---|
