[FlavioWolff]

Hi guys!
I have a $400-450 budget, and I want to purchase the best for personal music listening.. that means, no speakers. Thats why im here at head.fi

Anyways, I thought this week about purchasing a $200 SR-225 plus a $180-200 Super.Fi 5 Pro, and maybe a Westone ES cable to tweak it.
This would be nice for personal home listening (80% of my music time) and I would have a very good portable set, for school and gym use.

The other option... is a $445 Grado RS-2, and that is it.

I will not use an amp, because Grados don't trully need an amp to sound good (I have a nice soundcard), and I wouldn't want an amp for portable use...

The second option (RS-2) would be something like: Better home listening than SR225, but no Super.Fi (keep my EX90 for portable, they are quite nice).

What would suit me better?
I listen mostly to rock, is RS-2 a nice option? Worth that price difference from SR-225(which would ruin my Super.Fi joy) for my listening?
That is like... RS-2 + EX90, or SR225 + Super.Fi 5 Pro?

Thank you!

PS: feel free to suggest anything around $400!

 

[donunus]

You might want to give the audio technica ad900s a try besides grado 225s. then spend the rest on the gym cans. Dont know if the higher grados will be worth the money just for unamped use.

 

[TimmyMac]

If you're going to drop $445 on RS2s, get a used pair and add a cheap amp (millett hybrid maybe).

 

[Duggeh]

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlavioWolff /img/forum/go_quote.gif I will not use an amp, because Grados don't trully [sic] need an amp to sound good (I have a nice soundcard), and I wouldn't want an amp for portable use...

Sorry to burst your bubble mate, but they certainly do.

 

[Suntory_Times]

Hmm, they do still sound good. Just not nearly as good as they can sound. For that price maybe look at the Etymotic E4-4P.

 

[donunus]

the grados wont sound good considering the price when used unamped. The 225s might be the sweet spot for the best sounding grado without an amp where upgrading will give very insignificant differences unamped for the price.

For someone not considering the budget though. rs1 unamped all the way

 

[FlavioWolff]

all right, so RS2 is out of question
How about comparing 225 to 325i? 100 dollars of difference, I'll run unamped.
325i is still fine for me to add an ATH-CK7 IEM and still be $380, which is a fine price
225 would be $100 cheaper.
Thanks

 

[TSi]

get 300 pairs of 1$ headphones, best deal

 

[donunus]

some prefer the 225s to the 325s and vice versa. I havent heard both side by side but from the comments of people that have had both, the 225s are a smoother more midrange balanced can than the 325s which are supposedly brighter a and a little bassier. In the end they are both grados, so just think of it as do i want smooth? or do i want the extra boom and sizzle. Also I hear the 325s are capable of some great sound(balanced sound) when matched with tubes. But thats another story since you want unamped.
Comfortwise, no contest 225s win because they are light

 

[-=Germania=-]

Why not some MS2i? or MS1 turned to MS1000?

i looked at that - and might be getting an MS1 for that purpose.

 

[donunus]

ya that looks good also if youre up for custom cans

 

[exe163]

Where do you get a distancer?

 

[donunus]

PM nickchen for info on the ms1000s

 

[FlavioWolff]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TSi /img/forum/go_quote.gif get 300 pairs of 1$ headphones, best deal

I can't figure out the need for such a stupid comment.

 

[donunus]

hahaha if you analyze it being serious whats the value in that. Its like throwing 300 bucks in the garbage