Grado Classic GS1000 Open-Back Headphones

The Grado Classic GS1000 is an open-back over-ear headphone with a 50mm X2 driver in a mahogany housing.

In the Classic series, it sits directly below the GS3000 and shares its large G-cushions and Signature Gold headband – so it's not a stripped-down version, but its own take. Important for your search: the Classic GS1000 without an "x" is a different model from the Statement GS1000x, even though the ingredient list sounds similar.

Why the GS1000?

Mahogany is a different wood from cocobolo: lighter, more open, less austere. Combined with the 50mm X2 driver and the large housing volume, that adds up to the most relaxed big soundstage in Grado's lineup. The reworked X2 platform brings more matching and control than earlier generations, without cleaning up the character.

What you hear

Width instead of pressure. The GS1000 presents music large and airy, with plenty of space between instruments – a real pleasure for live recordings, jazz, and orchestral works especially. It's less forward than the smaller Grado models, but sounds more assured for it.

Who is the GS1000 for?

For listeners seeking space and calm, who listen for long stretches at a time. Honestly: the G-cushions hold the ear at a distance – if you like it intimate and direct, the Classic RS1 with L-cushions serves you better. And open stays open: this isn't for commuting or an open-plan office.

Our verdict

The GS1000 is the relaxed big one of the Classic series: grand in presentation, restrained in demeanor. If you've worried about the aggressiveness Grado is sometimes accused of, this is exactly where to start.

Technical Specifications

• Type: Open-back over-ear headphones (open air, dynamic)
• Series: Grado Classic
• Driver: 50mm X2 with Mylar diaphragm, copper voice coil, and rare-earth magnet system
• Frequency response: 8 – 35,000 Hz
• Sensitivity (1 mW): 99.8 dB
• Nominal impedance: 38 ohms
• Driver matching: 0.05 dB
• Housing: Mahogany, handcrafted in Brooklyn
• Ear cushions: G-cushion
• Headband: Signature Gold, genuine leather headband
• Cable: Signature Silver, permanently attached; XLR termination optional

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between the Classic GS1000 and the Statement GS1000x?

They're two models from two lines. The GS1000x belonged to the Statement x series; the Classic GS1000 is part of the new Classic series from the end of March 2026: a reworked X2 driver platform, a new Signature Silver cable, and a reworked headband. What remains are the 50mm driver, the mahogany housing, and the G-cushions.

Does the GS1000 need a headphone amplifier?

At 38 ohms and 99.8 dB, it runs decently even from good headphone outputs. But it only shows its full potential on a clean amplifier: bass becomes more defined, the soundstage more stable, and quiet passages stay calm. For headphones in this class, that's money well spent.

Why buy the Grado Classic GS1000 from HD Zürisee?

Because choosing between the GS1000, RS1, and GS3000 isn't a spec-sheet question, it's a matter of taste. HD Zürisee in Wädenswil is an authorized Grado dealer; we'll go through with you what suits your music, your system, and your head. A phone call, email, or WhatsApp message is all it takes.

Goes well with

The right headphone amplifier, cushions and stands in our headphone accessories, and more headphones.