[ESL-1]

Opinion is unchanged. Still the best of the Reference Series, regardless of vintage:

The Woo looks cleaner than new and those RS1 Vintage Button look just beautiful.

 

[Philimon]

I'm looking to do the same thing. I enjoy my SR225x's and want to step up to the RS2x's. I use the Magni 3+ and Vali 2++ with a WE396A tube. I want to be told to do it and you will absolutely love it. So come on.

do it and you will absolutely love it

Did you buy it yet?

Open-box RS2x from Music Direct nearly $410 shipped after 10% coupon, see link for details.

 

[daveya]

Purchased these pads. They look like S-pads but with a full-sized hole unlike the Geekria version.



I forgot which user recommend to me S-pads with holes cut, sorry but thanks. Shipping is slow so will comment in some weeks.

I did, i made my own, but it's not new, think it's called the quarter mod, quarter sized hole cut out. What I did was turn them upside down

 

[bmichels]

The GS3000x is also on my "next purchase" list. I wonder if someone has tested the Beautiful Audio pads on the GS3000x ?

 

[carboncopy]

The GS3000x is also on my "next purchase" list. I wonder if someone has tested the Beautiful Audio pads on the GS3000x ?

I do. Stick with the original.

 

[HWB3]

Did you buy it yet?

Open-box RS2x from Music Direct nearly $410 shipped after 10% coupon, see link for details.

The link said that it's no longer available but thanks. I thought my day was going to get off to a great start. Lol.

 

[Philimon]

The link said that it's no longer available but thanks. I thought my day was going to get off to a great start. Lol.

Forget about going to work and life, just stay alert for audio deals. Like this one from TMR Audio, RS2x $427

 

[HWB3]

Looks to be a good buy. For that kind of money, I would rather buy new and get a warranty. It's going to be a Christmas present, so the extra cash won't be a problem. I'm going to try to snag a deal around Black Friday. Thanks for your help with this.

 

[Philimon]

Grado RS2x, used, $375 shipped
Selling because PS500e has more bass.

 

[plakat]

Having recently ignored an offer of a RS-1 button for 500€ I now came across a Bushmills for 700€… worth it? And where do they both stand sonically (relative to GH2 of Hemp)? The S-pads on the Bushmill turn me off somewhat, those were always the most uncomfortable to me. The RS-1 has L-pads — but those were not the default I guess…

Still thinking about the possibility of a third Grado…

 

[jonathan c]

Grado RS2x, used, $375 shipped
Selling because PS500e has more bass…

…. and deeper bass ….

 

[przem]

The GS3000x is also on my "next purchase" list. I wonder if someone has tested the Beautiful Audio pads on the GS3000x ?

@bmichels for GS3000x you'd have to go for his bigger pads, which are available only as hybrids. Due to the use of perforated leather on the outside they tend to alter the frequency response by quite a lot, audibly boosting the bass and damping the highs.
Smaller Full Merino pads are more versatile, especially that Silvian offers them with different foams inside to fine tune the sound, but they're very difficult to put on the Grado's with larger drivers, like GS3000x. I've managed to put them on PS1000e and White and test them, but since PS1000e are very heavy headphones they felt weird on the head and there wasn't much benefit to it. It was a bit better with White as they're lighter, but they still felt weird on the head and it was clear to me that they weren't designed for the larger Grado's. As @carboncopy said, I've found that the stock G-cush works best for Grado's with bigger drivers.
However if you still fancy to experiment with the pads, the alternatives to Beautiful Audio are Dekoni Velour pads and Nyczaj earpads. I've attached frequency response graphs of PS1000e and White from my tests, they should give you an idea of what to expect in terms of changes in the sound signature when using aftermarket pads, compared to various stock pads from Grado.

 

[Philimon]

…. and deeper bass ….

Spoiler: sorta

 

[Tazio]

Well thanks for all the replies ..it seems there is a lot of love for the RS2X , but not much mention of either the GS1000X or RS1X I guess the laws of hifi diminishing returns comes into play at the RS2X level upwards … so that maybe the one to get as I am a great believer in the sweet spot as regards VFM …

 

[daveya]

Well thanks for all the replies ..it seems there is a lot of love for the RS2X , but not much mention of either the GS1000X or RS1X I guess the laws of hifi diminishing returns comes into play at the RS2X level upwards … so that maybe the one to get as I am a great believer in the sweet spot as regards VFM …

The RS2x responds well to both EQ and pad rolling so I use them for all genres of music