Grado RS1 eats AD2000 for breakfast! - Page 5

hehehe, ya i know him

While you guys are busy ambushing each other's wallets ... ... It seems that the AD2000 is cheaper than the RS1, for whereas RS1 is sold at no less than $625, you can get the AD2000 down into the 500's (OK, it's eBay, but not used; shipped direct from Japan): $545 $582

had the chance to listen to both ad2k and rs1 before settling on the rs1. I like the RS1s better compared to the ad2k. Otherwise i would have bought the ad2k with a few hundreds dollars cheaper. However i can see some people liking the ad2k. To each his own.

Happy Camper, i'm based in Cebu, Philippines. I know domunus well.
I'm really loving the RS1 + SP Extreme Plat. For now am really done with cans, just so pleased w/ the combo of rs1 + SP Extreme Plat.

I prefer the rs1 over the HD600 by a large margin. But again its my taste.

RS-1 are hands down the prettiest. But aside from that, what did you think were the relative strengths of each, and which setup did you listen to them on?

Currently USD$538 from PriceJapan.com

at the time of comparson i heard both the rs1 and ad2k with the RSA Hornet using Ipod as source.

The RS1 had a very intimate, detailed sound. The bass I felt was tight and I felt it was right. The ad2k had a very funny midrange which i feel if to relate it to speakers was sounding similar to single drivers (fostex). The mids very fairly flat. For sure, it was not my type of sound and its something one can get accustomed to in fairly longer listening periods to appreciate its virtues. Since i did not have that luxury of time, i bought what i felt sounded to my preference.
If i had a chance to listen to the ad2k again i probably would give them that chance.
I know people swear by them so there must be something special in them.
That was about 2-3 months ago. I still have the rs1s and i still like them since the day i bought them. At this point, i really have no desires to upgrade esp i just upgraded by cd player to an accuphase.

I know people complained about soundstage of the rs1s to be narrow. It doesnt really bother me. I felt that my soundstage has improved quite a bit after playing with different powercords, interconnects and isolation devices under the amp, power supply, cd player, etc.

Even though I am an ad2k owner, I definitely understand the grados appeal. There is a certain correctness to its sound that instantly clicks. Senns for example take more time to adjust to.

Definitely!

re the price:

In the uk, the price difference is almost double, when you consider ive seen the rs1 for sale for £600 and to get the ad200 imported would be closer to £350

It isn't "that" suprising the grado would come out on top, but aain, it has to be about personal preference as opposed making absolute objective statements?

Received my ATH AD2000 last night from Pricejapan.

Well, I've managed to give them 30 min burnin, while warming up my rig, fed dog and birds, took unnecessary long shower, and then with trembling hands (not quite really, but you know the feeling, don't you) put them on and hit the Riverside Second Life Syndrome.

My GF couldn't resist to hang around and watch the reaction... Later, she reported approving head nods and allegedly big grin permanently residing on my face.

There's something about these cans boys and girls!

And the first impressions:

Build quality is top notch, materials reek of good quality. For the size (boy, these drivers scream " we mean serious business pal") they are surprisingly light.

In certain position my ears will touch the drivers, but if worn with headband right on top of my head (normally I wear phones with headband moved slightly forward) I could find some comfortable position.

They are not as comfortable as Denons, the clamp force is much higher, but not quite like Sennheiser vice grip. I'll experiment a bit more, might stretch them over pillow. See how it goes first, they may give a little. Overall, not uncomfortable, but being used to Denons, I feel them, whereas Denons tend to "disappear" after while.

My only gripe is with the cable, it is rather thin and cheap "rubbery" looking and I don't dig that small plug and adapter. That'll be fixed easily with some good Neutrik and possibly D5000 cable available now from markl.

I will not comment on sound quality and compare them to Denons without letting them burn-in for at least 100 hours, but I can tell you now, these (if they get bit smoother in upper midrange, still a bit gritty there) will be keepers.

Not much comparison can be done with Darths, they are totally different sounding cans altogether (old syrupy port vs chilled shot of clear vodka comes to mind .

Cheers.

ad2ks don't change much with burn in compared to many other cans but the highs do get a creaminess after burn in

I found that they stabilized after 2 days or so of music. They're so polite and concise.

^
Oh, that's good news. I was prepared for a week of hiatus from them. I've read in one of these AD2K threads about 100 hours minimum, or maybe I'm mistaken with some other cans.

Wouldn't like to go thru that torture a new Ed9 owners have to go.

Just got my RS1 a few minutes ago.

First impressions:
"HOLY **** these sound good". But so does AD2000 and MS2i also. My first impression is that the RS1 does not kill AD2000 or MS2i without a fight, I'm not even sure how the fight is going to end up.

* Refinement. First impression is that they sound extremely refined. Something they share with AD2000. MS2i is not far behind at all though.
* I haven't yet heard anything from the supposed fatiguing treble. The DT990 05 32ohm is my reference for fatiguing treble, and so far no other headphone I've heard come close.
* Nice bass weight and depth. The amount of bass seems to be very similar to the MS2i, but with much greater tightness.
* I don't think they are as colored as I though they would be.
* They were much much closer to the MS2i in sound than what I would have though. I can instantly hear that they are from the same family.