Grado SR225 > RS1 -- anybody prefer the SR225?

I prefer the RS1i.  I had some 225s with wooden cups and they sounded great...but it led me to wonder what the RS1i would be like.  I hear more detail and more natural highs.

What aspects of the SR225i did you prefer? Or was it simply a case of "not worth the money" upgrade?

I could live with both the SR225i and RS1i, but I don't think the RS1i is worth $500 more.  The RS1i sounds more relaxed and I think it probably has better presentation with more acoustic music, but I like the SR225i's high-strung nature, particularly with fast, loud, and busy music.

I think the GS1000i is a much better headphone than the RS1i (has more of the strengths of both models, and is actually fairly comfortable to wear), but there are other dynamic options I'd buy if I was shelling that much out.  If the GS1000i was the RS1i's price, then I'd say it's a more fair deal.  If you're not going GS1000i, just stick with the SR225i.

 I only have the 125is, but I tried the RS1is, and would definitely pay the money if I could.

I love SR225 and think that they are probably the best bargain for fun, high quality headphones.  Over time, and after owning and hearing a lot of other headphones, their bright signature became more and more salient.  To my ears, HF-1 and to a greater extent, RS-1 directly address the shortcomings of the SR225.  They have a warmer signature, more powerful bass and go a long way toward softening the sharp treble of SR225.  After becoming accustomed to RS-1, HD600, and LCD-2, the SR225 are intolerably bright, even with a MAD amp and warm tubes.

I prefer the RS-1 by quite a bit. Sorry. 

At the latest Toronto meet (detailed at http://www.head-fi.org/t/566221/toronto-meet-sunday-august-7th#post_7664365), I surprisingly preferred my SR225i with 7-hole vent mod over the HF2, which I felt had far too much midbass and weighed too much. The SR80 and HF1 sounded significantly worse. And the LCD-2? I won't even start on that one...

So yeah, sometimes the more expensive option isn't always the better one. (But I did like the K1000 the best, so it's up to your ears to decide!)

Quote:

Originally Posted by jerikl 

After a few months of changing out various Grado headphones in search of an upgrade from my SR225 (RS1 buttonless, HF1, RS2 vintage, RS1 vintage), I think I'm just gonna keep the SR225 (with TTVJ flats), sell the RS1 and call it a day. Does anybody else prefer the SR225 over the RS1?

I spent some time with an MS Pro not to long ago, not real sure how similar or dissimilar they are from the RS1 but that's my benchmark. Anyway I dont know that I would say I prefer a stock 225 to an RS! based on how good I think the MS Pro was. I will say though that after an A&B comparison of my woodied 225 to the MS Pro, that the MS Pro was nowhere near worth $400 more than my 225. $160 B stock from Headroom and $150 for the wood cups. The 225 drivers are awesome and when removed from their plastic housing and reseated in some wood you gat a lot of bang for your buck.

Quote:

Originally Posted by robm321 

I prefer the RS-1 by quite a bit. Sorry. 

Me too.

The differences might not be that substantial, but definitely noticeable, in my case I can compare it to a SR325is. The RS1i is more refined and more detailed, but I can imagine someone missing the edginess a bit. I definitely would not trade down on the RS1i  Currently rocking out on the Black Keys