RS1 current status

These are two completely different sounding headphones.. and the RS1 was never on top to be "toppled." It's always been a headphone some love and some hate. Quite an odd question.. If you want in-your-face aggressive and toe tapping music, then go with the RS1. If you want a more detailed, natural, relaxed (in comparison to the RS1) and very musical headphone then go with the LCD-2.

I love my RS1s...and have so for a few years. But (and this is a big BUT), they are NOWHERE in the same league as my LCD-2s. The Audeze cans are simply one of the top 2 or 3 headphones I've ever heard. Mated with a good silver aftermarket cable, they just slightly come in at #1.

 

I'm keeping my Grados for a few reasons: there's always room in my collection for a Grado (and the RS1s are my favourite Grado) and they match incredibly well with my MAD tube amp...a match made in heaven. But as good as that pairing is...my LCD-2/Silver Dragon cable/Concerto gets the lion's share of my listening time.

 

Well, except for when my out of town in-laws stay with me...then its the Edition 8s exclusively (my favourite closed headphones ).

Haha!

The RS-1 is the RS-1. King of the fun, rock headphones. The new überheadphones, while technically better, don't have that groovy coloration. I might have to pick up another pair oneof these days.

And the RS-1 remains the best in production Grado, too.

 

And that's exactly why I refuse to part with my RS1s. Couldn't have said it better myself!

 

If you can only own one, I'd recommend the LCD-2s, but man if you can get both...magic!
 

I'd really love to see some side by side comparisons with the HP1000 vs. the HD800/LCD-2/the other new dynamic "uberphones", seeing as how a lot of people seem to think they're better than the currently produced Grados.

When I bought my T1s, I just kind of assumed I'd soon be saying goodbye to my RS1s. Several months later, not only do I still have the RS1s, but I'm the proud new owner of a pair of HF2s. :-)

 

As good as the Beyers are -- and they are, by every objective measure, superior to the others -- I just as often find myself reaching for the Grados. They're too damned much fun to leave on the stand for too long.

The RS1i has been superseded by the PS1000, and now enjoys the status of an also-ran. I am switching between them right now, and literally cannot comprehend the person in possesion of both opting to keep the RS1i over the PS1000, putting aside issues of cost. To me there is no comparison. Which isn't to say that I'm necessarily going to keep the PS1000. I didn't hold onto the HD 800 either, but not because I thought the HD 650 is in the same league.

I haven't done much A/B comparison between the HP-2 and the HD-800, but am happy to keep both. The HP-2 doesn't have the resolution of the HD-800, but it's tonal accuracy, ease and transparency is remarkable. I really enjoy the neutrality of both, as well.

The RS-1 isn't accurate at all, but that's part of the charm. If you have to have colored headphones, you might as well have some that are fun tolisten to. The RS-1 does that.

I found the PS-1000 unremarkable, other than its pricetag. They weren't bad, but I didn't find them to excel in any way. It costs the same as a pair of Magnepan 1.7s, which are, incidentally, cheaper to buy an amp for. I'd take the Maggies, though I've gotten much better sound for less. I find the Sennheiser HD-600 superior to the PS-1000, even, when amped correctly. Given that a HD-600 and a good amp costs far less than a PS-1000 by itself, I don't see any reason to buy a PS-1000. You might as well buy a good amp, a HD-600 and a RS-1 for less. At least the RS-1 is a good time.

 

I like Grado's and would love to hear the PS1000 but I think that its $1695 USD price tag is outrageous. Why did you offload your HD800?
 

My experiences are the exact opposite of yours...let's leave it at that.

 

I thought the $1400 price tag was outrageous.

^ $1400?! That's audacious!   

Edited by MrSpenkelink - 11/19/10 at 12:41am

 

...And some of us think the HD800s are worth every penny and then some and.....I'll leave it at that, mate!