I haven’t heard the 1i - but Nerrel’s
post #4395 looks like a good comparison...
I'm glad those RS2e/RS1i impressions turned out to be useful.
I should update by saying that I kept the RS2e.
They are slightly better than the RS1i
. There are two unfortunate sacrifices- the more limited soundstage width and the more limited frequency extension. The extension isn't that big a deal, but the soundstaging is tough to give up since that's one of the most critical upgrades you get as you get into the higher models.
But the RS2e makes up for it by simply having a better sound. It's fuller, clearer, more realistic, and has more presence and life. The sound signature is the most important thing, everything else comes second. In a lot of ways, the RS1e was better than the RS1i- it had better soundstaging, separation, less grain, and tighter bass- but none of it mattered because the general sound was simply bad on its face. The RS2e is the polar opposite in that regard. It's got the best sound signature I've ever heard from a Grado, even if it's not the most technically proficient model. They're a total joy to listen to.
While I was comparing them, I found a few tracks that stood out for each model.
The RS1i had the clearest advantage with
Autechre's os veix3. There's an ambient synth that hangs in the background the entire track, and the airiness of the RS1i suited it really well. The RS2e's tighter, smaller sound left the synth lower in the mix and really killed the open, ethereal quality that the RS1i had delivered. This is the only track I found where the RS2e was at a decisive disadvantage, but it still sounded good.
The RS2e sounded particularly great with Grizzly Bear's Half Gate. Vocal harmonies emerge from the mix like holograms with these headphones, and the low descending backup vocals at the end are strikingly clear considering how much is going on in the mix. I never even heard this vocal part with the RS1i; it was buried and muddled. I wish I could find a studio clip to post, but the label has that **** locked down. On the album,
the part I mentioned starts here.
Another real strength of the RS2e is the realism of recorded sounds. The rain at the end of
The Smith's Well I Wonder sounds so convincing that I feel like I'm actually sitting in it with drops landing all around. On the RS1i, it just sounded like a flat recording of rain, pushed back in the mix. I imagine binaural recordings would be a landslide victory for the RS2e.
Again, I don't think it's worth it for RS1i owners to go out and upgrade to the RS2e, but for those who don't have either model, the RS2e is the way to go. I imagine the RS1i may become very expensive and desired over the next few years, so that makes it even easier. I'm going to try to hold onto them as long as I can before selling...
. Just picked up Onteil's PS1000 that I absolutely loved at the Nashville Meet, thanks Fred!!!! Cannot wait to hook them up to the Lyr 2 and Meier!!!!!
