great with rock. not so great with? im planning on purchasing these.

as for rock music being my #1 music priority. they seem to make sense for me. but im curious how they handle in other areas(i.e. hiphop, jazz, idm)? any specifc sound qualities these headphones may lack in?


and also, are they as uncomfortable as the other grado headphones (ive never actually used a pair yet, but have heard about)?



my source is a terratec 24/92 dmx6fire, but im currently in the process of buying a shiny dac.

Generally their weak point is usually listed as Classical (especially when contrasting with Senns). I think they handle it better than some of the competitors do their weak genre, though.

The RS-1's are potentially more uncomfortable than some of the lighter line. It may be good to test them, the aluminum chamber 325's, and the plastic 225's to see what you think of the weight and its affect on the pressure of the pads.

The RS-1 is light enough that pressure should not be a problem. Otherwise, I'd recommend a lower Grado model if you're using a soundcard. You'll want decent a CDP and good amp to get what you can out of the RS-1. Forget the DAC and go for a better source and an amp, or just grab a pair of SR225s or SR325s, which may turn out to be even more suited for rock anyway. The RS-1 is a bit smoother and less crisp, which is better for some types of music, but for rock, this could be taken as less excitement.

FrostyMMB isn't the external DAC in essence his/her step to a better source (a clean path to a great DAC can sound great)? I may have a higher opinion of computer setups than many here, but I definitely agree iluvvgwar needs the right equipment to find a significant difference between the 225's and RS1's (the 325's were very different to me). Unless on a spending spree, money may be better spent on 225's and a nice amp.

Hmm, it is more a flavour thing than a what music type it's compatible with. The RS-1 provides tons of bass, comparatively small soundstage (especially for an open phone), excellent dynamics and a warmish sound. Minus points: it's not very accurate and is not capable of conveying very subtle nuances in the music.


It's very possible to listen to classical with the RS-1, however a HD600 + Cardas would undoubtedly resolve better, although if it's some huge orchestral piece where the double bass and cellos are scratching away like some flea-infested dog the RS-1 may be somewhat more involving.


So it is entirely a matter of what sort of listening experience you want. Analytical the RS-1 is not. Fun it is. It's also featherweight for a premium phone and provided you get yourself sorted out with pads, it can be quite comfortable.


If you were to ask me, I would buy a CD3000 and call it quits. I would too, only the CD3000 was a little too small for my head. Those with a CD3000 may well wonder "what the screw is bangraman's head like?"

haha yo. just curious though. why cd3000 over rs-1s? and if i was going for rs-1s it would most definitily be followed up by a grado amp.


what are exactly are the rs-1s good at?

im not so sure how this will turn out, but.

terratec 24/92 dmx6fire, coax to cambridge dacmagic3(purchased from pbirkett, and still waiting on, since across seas). i chose this over art di/o in hopes of being a step up from it.


well if i was to choose cd3000s over rs-1s, would they be suitable for a not as good source, and show big improvements for future upgrades?



so many variations. must learn more. i was trying to make things simple /w rs-1+grado amp.

Even though I'm currently in the throes of a renewed love affair with the RS-1s, I would have to say that, at least for versatility, the CD3000s would be preferable. They are easily driven by many portables, and it's my feeling that they can more readily handle a greater variety of musical genres. And although I find the RS-1s to be very lightweight and comfy, the overall comfort nod also goes to the Sonys......like resting your ears between two soft pillows. I don't think you would go wrong with either one, but for your needs, I would lean toward the Sonys. Both 'phones will show marked improvement as other items in the chain are upgraded. Hope this helps.

Dear Iluvvgwar:

Welcome to Head-Fi! I hope you do not go into debt while perusing these forums.

I will offer some ideas that are a bit out of the box. Focus on the fundamentals. Sit down and ask yourself exactly what kind of sonic reproduction of your favorite music you want. Write that down. Think long and hard about the answer to that question. Ask yourself what it is going to take to achieve that kind of sound reproduction. Research like hell. Start doing a lot of research from a variety of audio-related websites, magazines, and even books; do not rely solely upon Head-Fi members' advice alone. Find out more about components that might do the trick for you and their costs both new and used.

Breathe. Ask yourself if it is all worth it. Answer that question.

Do not focus on one specific type of headphone without considering the other components that will have a mitigating factor on that specific kind of sound reproduction quality you wrote down. In my opinion, these are my audio-related priorities: 1. Source component (35 percent of total budget), 2. Amplifier (25 percent of total budget), 3. Headphones (20 percent of total budget), 4. Power Conditioning (10 percent of total budget), 5. Cables (10 percent of total budget).

Pertaining to the Grado RS-1s, they sound great for every genre of music that I listen to daily. My RS-1 cans ended my search for better headphones...period. Like these cans, my opinions are colored too. You will probably need to adapt to the initial discomfortable feelings you will feel if you get any Grado headphone. After a couple of weeks, the discomfort will disappear because you have adapted to the fit and feel. I did. Do yourself a favor and get the Sennheiser HD414 yellow pads and dye them black. I have to do that myself too (soon).

I hope that this all helps you. More importantly, I hope that I did not offend your level of intelligence.

Lastly, keep the volume down! Research tinnitus ASAP!

im waaay too impulsive. especially when it comes to purchasing things. i really suck at it horribly. buttt.. im going to buy around alittle and abuse some 30 day warrantees. and see how that works out. i have 30 days before i move to find something that fits my listening. maybe this will help speed up the process.







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haha nah i dont get offended easily.

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and im mad paranoid when it comes to ear damage. so im alright there. haha thnx for the warning though ^^

Well, I can't say that I am not guitly of impulsive buying habits myself! I actually dove head first into the world of headphones myself on impulse without enough research. And I liked what I heard so much that I keep buying. However, don't do yourself the disservice of researching components. The thing with the RS-1s is that they demand excellent components to make them sound their best just like other top cans such as the AKG K1000, HD600, Etymotic ER-4S...etc. Why don't you try the Grado SR-225 or 325s. Or the Alessandro MS-1 or MS-2 instead? The resale value of these Grados are pretty high. It's just that the RS-1s need excellent components to go with it. And watch out for impulses telling you to buy things. Kills your credit history.

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Erm you purchased my DAC off me??

Thats news to me matey...

Iluvvgwar, I am going to post my opinion (it is only my opinion) and I may be blunt but it may help you save some money. I do not know your location but mine (Greece) does not allow me to try a number of things out before I buy them.

Like you I like various kinds of music and prefer rock. I also have a terratec and a 250 MB disk full of music. I came across Grado phones about 5 years ago. It was the SR-125. I was impressed and thought that it would be very hard to improve on them. Two years later I learned that there were another 4 models higher and above them. I immediately upgraded to the top of the line the RS-1 and also got the RA-1 amp. The amp was an improvement but the phone was definitely not. Over the last three years I tried a lot of things.

I purchased the Sennheiser HD 600 ( the other “perhaps …best dynamic…” phone but with totally different personality), the SR-325, the Corda Prehead amp and the RKV amp, the Dan Wright level II modified Perpetual Techonologies P3-A modified DAC, the JISCO and UPCI anti-jitter devices. And borrowed a number of expensive CD players such as the Merridian, Classe, Tag McClaren, Art and Teac P2 D2 in the 2500 to 4500 $ range.

Although the sound of the RS-1 does improve with the better amps I bought and it also improves a bit with different ear pads that move the drivers away I still prefer the SR-125 and I listen to it almost exclusively. The first year I purchased the RS-1 I kept listening to them to try and find the better sound. Well I never did. Then came the HD 600 and the RS-325 to prove my initial opinion “it is very hard to improve on the SR125”. I liked the HD600 and I listen to it when I am very tired and want to relax. But if I am in the mood for rock I like the Grado sound and prefer the RS-1 to the HD600.

The problem with the RS1 is that the main theme of the music comes out loud and strong and covers up the details both of the main theme and of the supporting instruments. The supporting instruments are covered up and the timbre of the main instrument or voice is veiled underlining the fact that you are listening canned music and giving you the old radio effect. The sound is bitter dry as opposed to liquid sweet. However the RS1 is better at some things such as efficiency, over enthusiastic bass, midrange texture, full body depth. But the lack of treble and musicality is decisive against it. After a 4 hour session on my favourite music with the RS-1 I get home sick for the SR-125 and go back to them and rediscover the music.
I am an electrostatics guy. But Grado rivals electrostatics by providing what electrostatics lack that is punch, bite, loudness, being there amongst the musicians. The SR-125 delivers this while maintaining enough of the fast transient response associated with electrostatics whereas the SR-325 and RS-1 are slow, dark, dry sounding, old radio. The HD 600 offers the details like the SR-125 but lacks the punch, bite, front seat effect, it is a good set for a relaxing effect.

Now on the source again I can save you money. CD players under 3500$ do not improve on a good 500$ player and that easily beats the terratec. The P-3A DAC does not improve the terratec or my AMC CD player or even a 100$ super-market brand. Except for Teac P2D2 but it is a monster in size and weight and the improvement is relatively small.

Now my opinions may be different from a lot of those in the forum but that is what a forum is for. If your taste happens to be like mine you are going to save money and be happy.
I have taken a lot of my friends through test session to see if they hear different and did not find that the majority disagrees with me. Do not let the top of the line model thing of the RS-1 lead you to believe it is the best. A lot of people say the older Grados HP-1 HP-2 were better, a lot say the RS-1 is pathetic and there is a thinner more detailed version of the RS-1 by Alessandro. And a lot of people prefer the 500$ Stax Lamda to the 2000$ Stax Omega.

You are going to have to try them to decide.

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True. More money does not guarantee audio nirvana.
Ultimately, the listener needs to happy with their systems in spite the general consensus.

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Can I get an AMEN! Ultimately it is the user who decides what they are happy with and not the masses. If I like how it sounds to me then that is all that matters.