Grado RS1 vs. RS2

[Kevin Brown]

If you believe this:
 

 
Then the RS1(i) is brighter than the RS2(i).
 

 

[WhiteCrow]

interesting...... I have learned not to trust graphes implicitly but that can give you a fairly good idea of the sound you will be getting. 
 

 

[TwoTrack]

Stopped by Audio Alternative today to compare my RS-1i to the RS-2i. Alan set me up with the Peachtree Audio Nova and used a Sonos to capture wave files from a store iTouch. Very good sound overall. I then compared both cans to each other on the Nova and then on my 5G iPod. I learned three things today:

1. The RS1i is a considerable improvement over the RS2i but I can safely recommend both. The 1i has more bass that is better defined. The bass is good on the 2i but not as defined. The 2i seems more "tilted up" because of this so from a clarity/detail standpoint some may prefer but the 1i seems to offer similar detail and clarity but is better balanced. I also auditioned the 325is for like the 8th time and I still really like it but the bass and treble are not in the same league but still a great value at $300.

2. These cans, despite my need for a simple portable system like cans+iPod, really do benefit well from a quality hp amp. The Nova really sounded good but I need to find something more portable. They also sound good on the Grado RA-1 of course but I may want something even smaller. I am open to suggestions.

3. The RS1is really need a lot of break-in, even after cooking nightly on the DAC1 hp amp for a few evenings, they are still breaking in and getting better every day.

Audio Alternative really has a great selection of the Grado line so if you are local and need to do some auditioning I can recommend Alan's store heartily.

So I will keep the RS-1is for now but also look forward to hearing the PS500s.

 

[willmax]

Quote:

2. These cans, despite my need for a simple portable system like cans+iPod, really do benefit well from a quality hp amp. The Nova really sounded good but I need to find something more portable. They also sound good on the Grado RA-1 of course but I may want something even smaller. I am open to suggestions. 

 

 
You could try a RA1 Clone amp, I think they are a good option as a portable amp to use with Grado headphones. 
Try a search in eBay and you find lots of it, they come in Altoids mint tins.
 
Here is one for example, this guys is also on Head-Fi and I find his stuff to be pretty good.
 

 

[TwoTrack]

Thanks Willmax, thinking about getting an RA1 and some other amps as well.
 
Do you think the ALO portable amp will work well with the RS1i?
 
I am also noticing that my iPod on a full charge sounds better than a weaker charge.

 

[WhiteCrow]

yea I been thinking of getting a CMOY for my traveling set up,  headphones really benefit from an amp.

 

[willmax]

Quote:

Thanks Willmax, thinking about getting an RA1 and some other amps as well.
 
Do you think the ALO portable amp will work well with the RS1i?
 
I am also noticing that my iPod on a full charge sounds better than a weaker charge.

I haven't tried the ALO amp so can't comment on that.
Before my RA1 CMoy I was looking to buy a Fiio E7 but it had some mixed reviews and some people really unhappy with its performance, than I ended up getting a iBasso T3 brand new but again poor performance, so I returned it to the manufacture and got my money back.
 
The RA1 clone Cmoy had good reviews all round and for half the price of a Fiio E7 or iBasso T3 I figured I could not go wrong, and this little CMoy amp does wonders to my Grado headphones, specially the 18V because Grado benefit from the high current amp.

 

haven't 
 

 

[WhiteCrow]

Quote:

Thanks Willmax, thinking about getting an RA1 and some other amps as well.
 
Do you think the ALO portable amp will work well with the RS1i?
 
I am also noticing that my iPod on a full charge sounds better than a weaker charge.

I used the ALO amp DAC pair with the rs2's for a bit, it sounded great but at the same time...not $1000
 great.

 

[Kiddomike]

Thank you very much for all who posted sharing their knowledge regarding the two headphones. I already have the iGrado and SR-125i and thinking of selling the 125i. I think I'm going for the RS-1 since both of them are pricey for me, I might as well wait a little longer and save more money to get the higher model of the two.

 

[WordToWord]

Forget the graphs and the generic 'brighter' descriptions. The RS-1 is way better. Think big brother, little brother. They are related and sound similar but the RS-1 is bigger and fuller sounding. If you can't tell the difference between the two then you shouldn't be buying either one but a cheaper Grado like sr-80.

 

[dolgen]

Forget the graphs and the generic 'brighter' descriptions. The RS-1 is way better. Think big brother, little brother. They are related and sound similar but the RS-1 is bigger and fuller sounding. If you can't tell the difference between the two then you shouldn't be buying either one but a cheaper Grado like sr-80.

I just did an extensive back and forth comparison between the RS1 and RS2, both played simultaneously from the two headphone outputs on my Violectric V280. In a nutshell, the RS1 is, to my ears, a warmer fuller sounding phone with deeper, more impactful bass than the RS2. The RS2 excels in a sense of air and openness, and a more detailed bass. The treble on the RS2 was a bit brighter than on the RS1.
For me, the RS1's were more relaxing to listen to.