Greetings friend and Welcome aboard!!
Before we get into the Grado GS1000i vs. GS1000e comparison, grab a snack, sit back and relax because..
You’ve come to the right place!!
What I will bring you in this review
Today I will provide a no non sense comparison of these two buddies, and then give a recommendation towards the end. ?
- Similarities & Differences
- Final Word
Now without further ado, let’s get rolling!!
Similarities & Differences
Similarities
- Frequency response. Both have an 8Hz – 35kHz frequency response.
- Weight. Both are 312g.
- Impedance. Both have a 32 Ohm Impedance. What is Headphone Impedance?
- Sensitivity. Both have a 99.8dB/mW SPL. What is Sensitivity in Headphones?
- Design. Both have a similar look and feel
- Wood. Both have the mahogany wood ear-cups.
- Pads. Both have the foam G-cushions, which are circumaural and go around your ear.
- Type. Both are open back. Closed back vs. Open back headphones.
- Detachable. Neither have a detachable cable.
Differences
- Driver size. The GS1000e’s have 50mm drivers while the GS1000i’s have 40mm. What is a Headphone Driver?
- Cable Length. The GS1000e’s have a 2m cable length vs. 4.5m for the 1000i.
- Termination. The GS1000i terminates in the standard 3.5mm jack, while the GS1000e actually terminates in a 1/4″. It will need a 3.5mm adapter, which can prove to be cumbersome.
- Overall sound. I would say the sound is very similar, and in particular this Grado offering kind of deviates from the normal, very bright and in your face sound signature. In demoing the GS1000e at my local Audio Advice, I noticed an immense difference in sound vs. pretty much every other model. The majority of Grado headphones are very bright, and definitely sibilant to an extent. What does Sibilant mean? I found that the GS1000e goes against the grain and breaks the mold. I can crank up the volume on it without worrying about sibilance, but the sound seems a lot more refined. It’s as if they decided to sacrifice loudness for more clarity, and realized that just because a headphone is super loud doesn’t make it necessarily good. Because the 1000 series is more toned down, I’m actually able to enjoy them even more so than ______ (insert any model here). The sense of articulation, clarity, open space, and detail is even more heightened.
- In all honesty, this may have something to do with the fact that the 1000 series uses G-cushions, as opposed to the L-cushions in other models. Regardless, I was able to enjoy the sound of the 1000’s a lot more than the other more in your face types, which can come off as kind of confined if you can believe it!
Final Word
The only reason I can’t make a full fledged, without a doubt recommendation for the GS1000e is because of it’s price. As good as it sounds (and it sounds absolutely fantastic), I still wouldn’t pay the asking price for it.
Why you ask?
Well the reason is simple. I can get around 90-95% of the Grado sound with a headphone like the SR80e, which costs a fraction of the price. Unfortunately, the law of diminishing returns is especially apparent in Grado headphones, and the SR80e provides most of what you’re looking for right off the bat, without you sacrificing your arm and leg to get it. Interested in learning all about my favorite headphone for all things rock, metal, and guitar?
CHECK OUT MY GRADO LABS SR80e REVIEW!!
Do you have money to throw around? Then the 1000e is absolutely phenomenal and may be worth it to you. It’s a ridiculously good sound for sure (in my opinion). Just make sure you get the mini adapter for use with your mobile devices!
SEE IT FOR YOURSELF ON AMAZON!!
Well that’s about it for today my friend! I hope you’ve enjoyed this Grado GS1000i vs. GS1000e comparison.
Questions? Comments? Requests? Did I miss the mark on something? Please let me know down below or Contact me!!
What do you think about these? Do you think the 1000e is worth it? What about the 80e? Until next time..
All the best and God bless,
-Stu
