Hey guys!
I left the headphone game for a good 5 years. It started back in grade 8, when I ate my way up the Grado food chain until I purchased a pair of RS1is new from the store. All my money-- gone! I eventually gave up on trying to find the perfect sound, and sold all my headphones in frustration.
Fast forward to a few months ago. I decided to get back into the game, now that I'm gainfully employed and have some disposable income (what are savings, anyway?). I picked up a pair of original PS500s used. I really liked them, but kept reading about how the midrange is recessed compared to other Grados. Then I noticed all the acclaim and praise for the RS2e. After reading through most of the discussions of Grado headphones on this forum, and elsewhere, a pair of RS2es popped up on kijiji. I end up boldly purchasing them without first selling my PS500s, as I decided that I'd own both for a while and determine which of the two I want to keep.
Problem is, even after a few months of owning them, and comparing them endlessly (along with my dad's PS500es), I'm torn; I love the energy and resolution of the RS2es, especially with vocals, but their lack of bass leaves them sounding brittle and thin with many tracks. It also hurts the dimensionality of them, resulting in a sound that's a little dispersed, undefined, and wispy. The PS500s are punchy and fun, but they have a "bass cloud" effect, where anything that could be considered bass is cranked way up on the frequency response, sometimes obscuring the mids. The PS500es are nice, but they lack the vocal presence and energy of the RS2es. I do adore their depth and dimensionality, though.
Enter the GH1s. Damn, it's hard to enjoy the RS2es when I read all this praise for Grado's limited edition wonder! And it sounds like the perfect marriage of the qualities I like in both of my headphones.
Anyway, I live in Canada and MacedonianHero bought the last pair of GH1s around (congrats on the headphones! Enjoy them in good health). I did manage to locate a few pairs in the US, but it's going to be expensive. At least $860 CAD, and it would involve driving across the border and picking them up from a remote mailbox, as they can't be shipping over the border due to Grado's policies. That said, I'm willing to do it. All I need to know:
Is it worth it? Hype aside, are the GH1s really that good? And do they lose any of the magic of the RS2es in terms of liveliness and vocal presentation?
Thanks!
Mark
Summary:
- I already own the PS500 and RS2e, having originally intended to sell one of them
- I like different things about both
- The GH1 is supposed to be mindblowingly good and the best of both. Is it worth the premium?
Addendum: I have a heavily upgraded LD1+, and my source is the Cambridge Audio DacMagic XS out of my Macbook.