Grado RS1i vs Sennheiser HD 650 - Page 2

If you want music to sound alive and have great versatility at the same time, I'd consider the AD2000 if I were you. I've heard all headphones in question, and they are all very nice headphones. I would choose the RS1i, but the AD2000s have amazing speed, detail and clarity, and is amazing with every genre you throw at it. Great sound stage, detailed and controlled bass (maybe would like a TINY bit more quantity). Just another idea to throw into your head :)

Being a Grado fan, I really love my RS1i for its detail and it has just the right amount of aggressiveness with the HF (less than the 325 while maintaining the Grado signature highs). But truthfully, running the HD650 through my Minimax is something that I REALLY enjoy as well. I don't hear any veil with my setup and find them to be incredibly smooth. I think because the HD650 doesn't have the aggressive peaky highs as many other popular cans do, people use the word "veil" to describe its sound, which I think wrongfully gives people a less positive feeling about them. I think the correct way to describe them is that they are not bright phones, and to call them "veiled" is just not really accurate.

I own both, and I can't see myself getting rid of either.

I too would love to see what you could do with the 650's. Has no-one got an old pair that they dont use anymore? ha ha.

I would send you mine but I love them too much after my little bit modding.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bilavideo 

 Someday, when time and finances permit, it would be interesting to modify an HD650, to show how far it could go in bridging some of that gap.  Given the extreme differences in price tags, it may be worth a little effort.

 Well, you could always bore out the cylinders and fit an extractor. Wet weather earpads would help too on the corners.

Thanks for posting all those links but I'm an old fart who only listens to classical. (I did listen to the first song and it seemed quite nice even to these old ears). However, I can't advise which HP would suit you--that's my point. I would only be advising what suits me, and that would be the 650, but with you listening to a different genre of music and having different musical expectations there's no guarantee you wouldn't hate the 650s. The idea of reading comments and reviews is not to take someone's word as to which is the best, because that's just their opinion based on their music and equipment. The idea is to get an overall view of the character of the phones and thus an idea of what MIGHT suit you, and I say might because only extensive auditioning would settle the matter for good.

Do you generally like a bright sound?

Are you a bass head?

Do you like the sound really clear and sharp or would you rather a slightly mellower sound that would allow you to listen longer without ear fatigue.

One factor you might consider is that the 650s are very popular, which means if you buy them from the right source (probably Ebay) you can re-sell with little loss if they don't suit. The RS 1 is a more specialised product and might be harder to get rid of. The 650 is also very comfortable after a wear-in period. Also, the 650 is a reference for so many people that getting acquainted with them will allow you to sample where high-end sound is at, as it were, and where you might want to go from there, if anywhere--if you want something brighter maybe. At the very least it's a great reference point.

Sorry I can't give you a yes/no, this one/that one answer but it doesn't work like that.   

Both great. 

Mostly listen to my T1s though.

Yeah this is a really terrible way of proceeding.  What kind of music do you listen to?  What headphones do you have and what have you liked about them?

Honestly, I can't really recommend you go either route here.  Maybe some cheaper phones that let you figure out the kind of sound you're looking before you drop serious cash?  Try some SR60s or SR80s first?  They don't sound as good as the RS-1, but they've got that unique Grado sound signature.  You could luck out, but I guarantee if you choose one you'll constantly wonder what the other sounds like and if you made the wrong choice.

I'm actually going to go out to the only local audio place around me soon and check out both of these headphones as well as the 325i's, 225i's, HD600's and the HD800. I'm pretty excited. 

Or... you could get the ATH AD2000's and have the best of both the RS-1's and HD650's... which, also, sound a whole lot like the Stax 507's (95%+).  I think, if I could have just one set of phones for <$1,000... it would likely be the AD2000's. 

The AD2000's and the RS-1's (Grados, in general) are the easiest to drive (more efficient). 

Though... the SR225's... will give you 95% of the RS-1's sound, for a lot less money - "the bargain of the bunch."  And... you can use them for portable phones, as well - which, you really can't do with the others.

There are several RS-1's and SR-225's for sale on the FS Forum - you may just want to "start your journey" there - I did.  Will save you money, and you won't take a loss when you "trade up." 

RS1i is too colored. Yes it will make music sound alive, but it will also make it sound unrealistic. With the right amp, the HD650s can sound very engaging, it just isn't an in-your-face sound. Another reason I would go against the Grados is that at that price point I would expect headphones that make music sound as true to the source as possible.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gradofan2 

There are several RS-1's and SR-225's for sale on the FS Forum - you may just want to "start your journey" there - I did.  Will save you money, and you won't take a loss when you "trade up." 

^ Totally agree with buying used.  Grados and Senns pop up all the time on the classifieds.  Buy one, if you don't like it, sell it for little or no loss and buy the other.

Great idea!!!

My feeling is many people want  other opinions about sounds without attempting to try themselves.Granted,some people lack access to these phones but others.....

Regarding other folks' tastes:How often would you trust strangers' tastes or opinions in the other areas of your life?Do you really think that because someone(you don't know) posts on this website they will agree with you in real life?

I am willing to bet that many people who post here (often even) have very little experience with sound at all besides their personal "headfi" life.This is great but they are not experts.Read only a short time and you too will discover that even the "experts" here often don't agree.Sometimes these same "experts" will change their mind or contradict themselves as well.

TRY,LISTEN TRY!!

And .....If you search for 5 minutes on this site you will find that it's probably impossible to say anything new about the HD600 in comparison to the RS1.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Connnorrr 

I'm actually going to go out to the only local audio place around me soon and check out both of these headphones as well as the 325i's, 225i's, HD600's and the HD800. I'm pretty excited.