GRADO RS-1 & GS1000 [compare & contrast]

As we all probably know by now, the GS1000 were unveiled only days ago at the first National Head-Fi Meet. Before last Saturday, the RS-1 had held the top position for more than a decade (besides the short run of the PS-1). Now based on the positive meet impressions the GS1000 have garnered a lot of excitement and good and growing word of mouth. It is inevitable that the RS-1 and GS1000 will be compared and contrasted more and more within the coming weeks and months, especially after GS1000 owners have had an opportunity to burn them in and those that also own the RS-1 give us their feedback impressions.

Well, let’s get the ball rolling since I assume I am not that only one that didn’t make it to the meet and would like to know how the RS-1 and GS1000 stack up against one another. I know meet conditions aren't ideal, but let's work with what we got so far because it has been suggested that some Head-Fiers are already gravitating towards the GS1000 by selling their RS-1s or other equipment to finance this new acquisition.

Obviously, GS1000 is $300 more than the RS-1.

The GS1000 has new foam pads that have been reported to be the most comfortable ever produced by Grado Labs. Those lucky enough to try on the GS1000 have indicated that they feel extremely light too, possibly lighter and more comfortable than the RS-1. Beside better comfort the most important thing is sonically how would one compare and contrast the RS-1 with the GS1000?

The GS1000 soundstage has been reported as unbelievably huge and one can imply seemingly much larger than the RS-1. It is generally accepted that the RS-1 is known for an upfront and aggressive presentation is the GS1000 similar or at least come close? So would it be a safe assumption the RS-1 puts you between the musicians and the GS1000 puts you dead center in the first or second row. Is the GS1000 as detailed as the RS-1? How does RS-1’s soundstage compare? At the benefit of seemingly getting a larger soundstage than the RS-1 does the GS1000 scarifies anything while making that gain?

Any other questions or concerns are welcome in relation to how the RS-1 and the GS1000 could be compared and contrasted against one another.

I know that some of these questions or concerns might be addressed in the National meet impressions thread or some of the other few GS1000 threads post so far, but it would more convenient and concise to see all the information centralized in one thread pertaining to specifically how the RS-1 and GS1000 compare against one another, at least in IMO.

Thanks for your input; and I do agree that it is early, but the game has begun. So it wouldn’t hurt to work with what limited information we already have and gather those impressions in one place where interested Head-Fiers can look about the two top offerings from Grado. This isn't meant to be the be all and end all, but an initial starting point upon which to build.

John will clearly pick the better sounding prototype.

I kid, I kid, but seriously I read most, if not all, of the threads and posts about the GS1000; and even though, I know there were two proto GS1000s at the meet I didn’t know they sounded different. How much of a difference and what was particularly noticeable to your ears between the two protos? And which one did Todd take with him? I think that might be a good indication of the final direction John will take with the GS1000.