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A900 not rocking enough for me - recommend me another headphone - Page 4

post #46 of 65
7/9/07 at 7:48pm
Mmm interesting. This discussion is really informative and is helping me decide whether or not to get a pair of grados for rock. Thanks guys!
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post #47 of 65
7/9/07 at 7:49pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by judas391 View Post
^^ Haha, the official Alessandro patrol has hit this thread.

LOL
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post #48 of 65
7/9/07 at 8:20pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by F107plus5 View Post
There really is a surprisingly large amount of information available for RS-2. Unfortunately, of the three million posts so far in Head-Fi there are only about a hundred or two on the RS-2 and to locate them all does take a fair amount of searching and comparing one can to another to yet another one to actually dig out any useful data.
Quoted for truth! I consider myself quite an ninja searcher, and the amount of RS2 posts, while still significant, just isn't as much as the popular cans. Add to that contradictory statements by different head-fiers (with different ears), and I think I ended up pretty confused. However, I feel that the RS2 being so misunderstood would be a good thing for me to try out. If I don't like it, I have a feeling that once I've managed to get it to Europe, I can sell it for not much less than I've bought it.

I would *love* to get the RS1. However, I have a pretty strict amount in which I will not go over for non-important goods. Since I am only starting out in my career, spending huge amount of money without saving would just be stupid of me.

penger: I have to say I feel this community is a breath of fresh air. Usually when I go to a web forum, any recommendation request would either degrade into a fanboy war, or would result in flaming the original poster. That's why I felt I had to include as much info as possible in my beginning post. I have a feeling now that it's not necessary, and you guys would just have been helpful if I missed one or two bits of information out.

Atm my plans is: Get a second hand pair of RS2, if that falls though get a first hand pair, or get the MS2i.
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post #49 of 65
7/10/07 at 2:46am
Quote:
Originally Posted by judas391 View Post
Haha, exactly. I want to try the SR80s before I buy them (local deal), but the only hi-fi store in vancouver that stocks them prices them at $179.. what a crime. I don't want to demo them in-store, because I'd know automatically that they are not getting any business from me.

I'll let you know about the SR80s either tomorrow or Monday.
Is that at the Hi-Fi Centre? I'm looking for a pair of Grados myself to contrast my A950LTDs. I was thinking of getting the sr80s too or the 225s. I thought the prices seemed steep. What do the sr80s go for normally?
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post #50 of 65
7/10/07 at 4:21am
Yeah that's it. Normal price for the SR80s is 95USD, except at ttvj you could get it for 85. The Hi-Fi Centre is a pure rip off, 179 for only the 80s (normal 225 price)
and apparently they don't do demos so
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post #51 of 65
7/10/07 at 6:38am
FWIW, I'm a rockhead and I own a pair of Stax Nova basic electrostatics which I bought mostly by accident (it's a long story) many years ago. I find that I'm going to be listening more on headphones and less on speakers, so I've been looking into other cans. Last week I went to a London dealer (Grahams) and demmed Grado 225s (the best they had) driven by Naim Headline/Hi-Cap against Stax 3030 and a transistor energiser of similar overall value.

The Staxes were refined and detailed and fairly neutral, while the Grados were sonically all over the place. But I found the Grados were much more what I was looking for from music -- they played tunes, they knew the difference between a rhythm and a beat, they made climaxes climactic. On Built To Spill's "Goin' Against Your Mind" (indie art rock), the song gradually gathered steam and had some changes of pace and cadence on the Grados, with a climactic final minute; but the Staxes made the whole song seem the same. One could accuse the Staxes of droning, if one were putting the boot in.

To put it another way: the Staxes (and most high end headphones I've heard at hi-fi shows etc) are very good at reproducing individual sounds. But music is not just sounds, it's patterns of sounds and relationships between sounds (melody, beat, rhythm, volume), and also longer term changes in those patterns (e.g. a speed-up going into the bridge on a pop song). Furthermore, IMHO it's often these structural patterns and changes that separate interesting music (Built to Spill) from bland music (Blink 182). The Grados were very good at this structural side of music.

Unfortunately, I also found the 225s hot and uncomfortable and itchy, and they were maybe a little too colored to ignore. So I've been looking for "better Grados", and like you I've found that (a) you can't dem anything and (b) the UK prices can be pretty steep.

[It reaches to point of parody with the Grado GS1000, which I'm considering. In the US they're USD 995 nominal, in Britain it's GBP 995. What's more the distributor does not loan stock to dealers for dems, so you're expected to pay twice the US price without hearing them or trying them for comfort. I think it might be cheaper to book a return flight across the Atlantic, buy a pair, and bring them home...]
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post #52 of 65
7/10/07 at 7:32am
i think its more fun and you learn to appreciate the differences within the Grado lineup if you take incremental steps.

im moving from the 60s to the 225s this week. damn you head-fi. so if you end up getting the 225s id like to know what theyre like.

also grados have a wicked resale value on ebay especially if youre willing to ship overseas if you live in the states like i do.
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post #53 of 65
7/10/07 at 11:26am
If u still like the sound character from the ATH, AD1000 is a gd choice........
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post #54 of 65
7/10/07 at 4:24pm
Thread Starter 
Morte: The UK grado price is just amazingly expensive. The same RS2 I am looking at usually sells at £495. The US price is $445. That 50 less if exchange rate is one to one! Everybody I've talked headphones about call the Grados the ultimate reference headphone from hearsay, even tho that's very far away from the truth.

If I do press on with the RS2, and if you live anywhere near Cambridge, you are more than welcome to come demo them for yourself.

Chris Himself: I would love to do that for the Grados. However, I know that after my friend comes back to the UK, that would be the last chance I can buy the Grado at an reasonable price. Therefore, I am hoping to get the unit that's most suitable for me judging by words and descriptions. I know I will lose out half of the fun of the audiophile process, but I will try out a couple of European headphones (the DT770 and DT990 are very cheap here).

CDC471: I actually don't think I like the ATH sound signature. The wide sound stage leads to a seperation of sound, while is very novel, and fun to listen to at first, ultimate doesn't engage me in the music as much. Also, I find my A900 to be quite bad a high volumes - it sounds too harsh and artificial. Ultimately however, I know that I will need to try out different headphones to get "my sound". I have heard that the AD series is a lot better than the A series. If I am going for the AD series, I will most likely head for the sweet spot: the AD2000.
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post #55 of 65
7/11/07 at 7:58pm
Thread Starter 
I finally bought the RS2 second hand from a fellow Head-Fiers. My friend is bring them back to the UK with him so hopefully I will have something to report around August!

Please just let this month fly by
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post #56 of 65
7/11/07 at 10:06pm
GL HF, the SR80 seller flaked on me
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post #57 of 65
7/12/07 at 6:04am
Prepare to fall in Love

Also if you find that you want more bass and more inpact don't forget a flat pad from TTVJ, even is there then

Quote:
Originally Posted by Progenitor View Post
I finally bought the RS2 second hand from a fellow Head-Fiers. My friend is bring them back to the UK with him so hopefully I will have something to report around August!

Please just let this month fly by
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post #58 of 65
7/12/07 at 10:57am
For an even more comfy Grado, consider the Headphile.com Grado pads. Expensive, but also adds a bit of soundstage.
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post #59 of 65
7/12/07 at 1:17pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by judas391 View Post
GL HF, the SR80 seller flaked on me
I am sorry to hear that In that case, let me test the water with my grados first, and I let you know what I think!

Quote:
Originally Posted by lerio
Also if you find that you want more bass and more inpact don't forget a flat pad from TTVJ, even is there then
Yep, got them together in one order I am spending way too much on this...I bet I'll get a tube in a couple of month's time.

Quote:
Originally Posted by tbooner1
For an even more comfy Grado, consider the Headphile.com Grado pads. Expensive, but also adds a bit of soundstage.
They look really good, but expensive as hell. The pads are around 1/3 of the price of my RS2. If I was a rich man...
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post #60 of 65
7/12/07 at 2:45pm
Be warned that the flat pads may cause the bass to become really bloated .

But I don't really understand how you have overlooked the Denon D2000, especially considering the praise they have received on this forum? If you don't like the RS2 I definitely suggest you check them out, you owe it to yourself .

Good luck and happy listening
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