[Kees]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mercuttio /img/forum/go_quote.gif Aren't RS-1s normally considered high end? I think most of us agree that they're better than the GS1000. EDIT: Just did a search, this is one of the only threads in here with RS1 in the title line. Odd.

I don't think a lot of people that have heard the GS1000 will say the RS1 are better. I heard of a few, but I think that is only really a few (and I suspect some of them also count the price you have to pay for GS1000).
I personally think there are only an handfull of headphones that could qualify as High-End: the top electrostats, K1000, PS-1, HP1000, L3000. Maybe GS1000, DX1000 and balanced HD650. But that is pure personal opinion of course.

 

[Mercuttio]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kees /img/forum/go_quote.gif I don't think a lot of people that have heard the GS1000 will say the RS1 are better. I heard of a few, but I think that is only really a few (and I suspect some of them also count the price you have to pay for GS1000). I personally think there are only an handfull of headphones that could qualify as High-End: the top electrostats, K1000, PS-1, HP1000, L3000. Maybe GS1000, DX1000 and balanced HD650. But that is pure personal opinion of course.

I've owned both, and I came back to the RS1 after not much time had passed. I couldn't get what I wanted out of it and missed the midrange. At the time, I had my GS1000 paired with a Melos SHA-1 and some really really nice tubes with a Zhaolu 2.0 that had been modded quite a bit by Lan. So, I dunno... maybe I just like that the RS1 is more flexible and can be plugged into a wider range of things without sounding harsh.

I don't really include pricing into the high-end equation though I guess. Qualias can cost as much as they want... I'd still rather tie them to a hobo than listen to them for a few hours.

 

[jp11801]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kees /img/forum/go_quote.gif I don't think a lot of people that have heard the GS1000 will say the RS1 are better. I heard of a few, but I think that is only really a few (and I suspect some of them also count the price you have to pay for GS1000).

I would place the vintage RS1s above the GS1000 for sure, owned both and the RS1 played better with more realistic tone and transparency although the GS1000 did have the edge in soundstage.

Congrats on the find I know you were looking for a while, any chance you can get a closer pic of the driver and screen. There are two-three variations of sound in the early production of RS1s that I have heard all are good but the ones that Foo me and Voltron have are the best I have heard.

 

[Kees]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mercuttio /img/forum/go_quote.gif I've owned both, and I came back to the RS1 after not much time had passed. I couldn't get what I wanted out of it and missed the midrange. At the time, I had my GS1000 paired with a Melos SHA-1 and some really really nice tubes with a Zhaolu 2.0 that had been modded quite a bit by Lan. So, I dunno... maybe I just like that the RS1 is more flexible and can be plugged into a wider range of things without sounding harsh.

I found it difficult to find the right amp for the GS1000. It was not after I had the X-CAN v8 that I bought the GS1000 because I suspected they would match well. They do match very well. GS1000 and X-CAN v8 with Mullards give you no harshness whatsoever.
But there is no arguing personal preference, the GS1000 don't become better than the RS1 because I happen to like them more...

 

[vcoheda]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mercuttio /img/forum/go_quote.gif Just did a search, this is one of the only threads in here with RS1 in the title line. Odd.

the should be a few RS1 vintage threads in this part of the forum.

 

[Mercuttio]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jp11801 /img/forum/go_quote.gif I would place the vintage RS1s above the GS1000 for sure, owned both and the RS1 played better with more realistic tone and transparency although the GS1000 did have the edge in soundstage. Congrats on the find I know you were looking for a while, any chance you can get a closer pic of the driver and screen. There are two-three variations of sound in the early production of RS1s that I have heard all are good but the ones that Foo me and Voltron have are the best I have heard.

Here's as close as I can get to the driver. It's actually redder in person, but I had to shoot the flash nearly right inside to get past the black mesh.

EDIT: Actually, that pink in this picture on this monitor is pretty close. Only a little lighter than in person. My Macbook's monitor is where color correct images go to die.

If possible, can anyone else take a picture of some RS1 drivers? Vintage and current, I'd like to see the differences...

 

[Mercuttio]

So the grattle in the right can comes back occasionally, to visit. Here are the conditions in which it says "hello:"

The headphones haven't been listened to in a while. 12+ hours or so. It occurs in super deep bass, a little bit of a rattle that suggests something somewhere is loose.

If I put the headphones on and slightly push them into my head, it goes away. Until the next 12 hours of unwearing (is that a word?) take place. I don't think it's the driver... they both sound amazing after a slight press into my head from the back. Even super low bass sounds awesome and un-rattled after a light press.

I think I'll call up Grado on Monday for the screw, and see what they say. It might need to be re-glued or a wire is hitting the side of the cup... 10 years of non-use might have taken a slight toll.

Even if I have to press them on lightly each time, it's entirely worth it. I can't get enough of this sound. So smooth.

 

[nikongod]

My RS-1's are slightly "loose" on the pegs too. They move freely back and forth about 1/8"

I would give them some time to ungrattle. The last word was that Grado simply replaced vintage drivers with new ones when they come back for repair. Grado maintains that they are all EXACTLY the same

after all.

 

[vvanrij]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kees /img/forum/go_quote.gif I don't think a lot of people that have heard the GS1000 will say the RS1 are better. I heard of a few, but I think that is only really a few (and I suspect some of them also count the price you have to pay for GS1000). I personally think there are only an handfull of headphones that could qualify as High-End: the top electrostats, K1000, PS-1, HP1000, L3000. Maybe GS1000, DX1000 and balanced HD650. But that is pure personal opinion of course.

Well I guess I'm one of those handfull then. I prefer the GS1000 for very different styles of music than the RS-1. The RS-1 is just king for acoustic / guitar / latin (I love merengue on it) music.

 

[Mercuttio]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nikongod /img/forum/go_quote.gif My RS-1's are slightly "loose" on the pegs too. They move freely back and forth about 1/8" I would give them some time to ungrattle. The last word was that Grado simply replaced vintage drivers with new ones when they come back for repair. Grado maintains that they are all EXACTLY the same after all.

Heh, I dunno. I know John and he'd be open with me about what he'd do before he'd do it. He's a good guy... I'll see what he says on Monday I suppose.

At the very least, I need to get a new screw for the holding mechanism... the one in there now is stripped. Holds, but it could be more secure if it were like the others.

 

[Mercuttio]

Two bits of good news.

First, Grado's sending me a new screw, and they wouldn't even take my money for it. Apparently, it IS a different screw than the one that the versions with the square cable cutout use.

Second, grattle's been gone for days. I'm still nervous that it will come back, but whatever was causing the issue may have shook loose or just gone back into place. Woohoo!

These are indeed superior to the 2005 RS1 I had a while ago. I've been going through songs that I remember being astringent or too bright on the newer RS1, and there's just no problem here.

 

[vcoheda]

using flats or bowls?

 

[Mercuttio]

Quote:

Originally Posted by vcoheda /img/forum/go_quote.gif using flats or bowls?

Flats. These sound sort of muddled and I lose the "layering" effect when I use bowls. I used flats before to attenuate the upper register on the 2005 RS1, but it wasn't as smooth.

 

[Hardflip]

You may have found the long lost missing link. Let's dissect it and find where it belongs in the Grado genus

Nice find. I love the old school wooden box green foam with the cardboard box. Don't sell those ever, they seem to truly be one-of-a-kind. Enjoy!

 

[Mercuttio]

I also think I discovered the source of the mysterious Grattle! I used a flashlight to look into the mesh of the right can... little wood bits on the back of the drivers! I carefully took them out through the mesh. I think they were from when the phones were made.

There are little "vents" underneath the fabric they were sitting on. If one was over the vent and had been knocked on and off... my moving air over the cups had dislodged them from the place where they were rattling. I cross my fingers and pray this was the source when they had it a few days ago!