I hear a lot about "the Grado sound" and what it means to me, is fidelity. The artist's intent. The director's vision. That is what is brought here with a pair of RS2x's. Discovering something new in a song you have heard more than a hundred times prior, is what Grado will deliver. That is joy.

I wear hearing aids. . .and enjoy classical music. These RS-2X headphones certainly sound superb - and they solve an annoying problem I've had with other headphones. Over the ear headphones with a tight seal cause my hearing aids to whine with a feedback loop. However, these headphones, with the open foam cover, avoid that feedback loop. I've tried many alternatives over the years, and Voila - these RS-2X solve the feedback problem, and give exceptional sound. Bravo!

The RS-2X headphones are beautiful to look at and even better sounding. The first time you pick them up you are amazed at the crafsmanship of the real wood and leather. Secondly, I was surprised at how light weight they are. However, good looks wouldn't mean much if the sound wasn't great. The sound of these headphones is awesome no matter what kind of music you listen to. The real test of any audio gear is if you sit down to listen and the next thing you know 2 hours have gone by. The Grado sound draws you in and I keep wanting to hear another recording to see what I've missed in the past with my other headphones or speakers.

The customer service is outstanding, as well. Rich Grado does a great job of taking care of the customer.

The RS-2x is a must-have for enjoying acoustic, classical, and instrumental music, and punch above their weight for most everything else.

In particular, they sound absolutely gorgeous with acoustic instruments. There's a sense of space and physical presence I can't quite describe but could never give up now that I have it. Is it the wood, or is the wood just a gimmick? I couldn't tell you, but I can say nothing else that has ever graced my ears was quite like this. I reach for them in preference to my loudspeakers* every time I've a hankering for classic rock, folk, or the handful of orchestral albums I like.

One big caveat: heavy electronic base, especially of the sort designed to make your subwoofer go wub-wub, is a little awkward. It'll kick in your ears for sure, but I've noticed the actual /sound/ this creates, as opposed to the more physical sensation produced by a standalone subwoofer, with greater clarity than ever before.

If you're like me you're likely to find that clarity a bit unpleasant, like the buzz of an IC fixing to give up its magic smoke or the obnoxious hum of an old refrigerator.

So maybe consider other options if EDM is your jam. Incidentally, EDM sounds great on my old SR-80e headphones, if a little lacking in bass, and I'd bet it sounds great on the rest of the SR line too.

*a restored pair of late-60s Sansuis, which IMO have a similar sound to Grado headphones. I guess I have a type.

I have an SR-125X that I love, and bought the RS-2X to see what Grado can do at a slightly higher price point.
I consider the RS-2X to be a worthy upgrade. It retains the signature Grado treble clarity and responsiveness, but adds some pretty substantial bass. It retains the airy openness, but the bass drum now kicks like a mule. It's become my favorite way to listen.
Oh, and it does look pretty cool, so that's nice.