The Grado Labs Statement Series 3000x Headphones are musical masterpieces and killer cans. No matter whether I tried them with my phono source, A&K DAP, Paravicini HP4 Headphone Amp, or my restored McIntosh MR80 FM Tuner with a headphone jack, they performed with pure sophistication and high definition. More definition overall for any Grado Headphone I know of, they always communicated with a neutral and extremely linear presentation. Their sense of reality is state of the art. Their big surprise is their huge dynamic range and sub-woofer-like bass. What great fun! I happily give the new Grado Labs Statement Series 3000x my highest "buy" recommendation.

To sum up, the Grado GS3000x is the perfect reference dynamic headphone that is both affordable and versatile whether for use in your library or on the road. Full recommendation.

Even so, the sound envelope couldn’t be more different. The RS1x designs emphasise the upper frequencies and accentuate them for all they’re worth while the GS3000x headphones instead focus on a big, strong even cuddly sound output. What Grado has here are headphone designs to suit different ears and different musical bias and I’m glad that choice exists.

They’re not cheap, they could easily be considered a bit daft-looking, and they leak sound in the most anti-social manner. And yet these Grado GS3000x Statement are among the most straightforwardly satisfying ways to listen to music around.

Grado’s range-topping GS3000x are wonderfully musical and entertaining but aren’t particularly luxurious