Grado SR225 > RS1 -- anybody prefer the SR225?

[jerikl]

After a few months of changing out various Grado headphones in search of an upgrade from my SR225 (RS1 buttonless, HF1, RS2 vintage, RS1 vintage), I think I'm just gonna keep the SR225 (with TTVJ flats), sell the RS1 and call it a day. Does anybody else prefer the SR225 over the RS1?
 

 

[TwoTrack]

I prefer the RS1i.  I had some 225s with wooden cups and they sounded great...but it led me to wonder what the RS1i would be like.  I hear more detail and more natural highs.

 

[idletime1213]

What aspects of the SR225i did you prefer? Or was it simply a case of "not worth the money" upgrade?

 

[Elysian]

I could live with both the SR225i and RS1i, but I don't think the RS1i is worth $500 more.  The RS1i sounds more relaxed and I think it probably has better presentation with more acoustic music, but I like the SR225i's high-strung nature, particularly with fast, loud, and busy music.
 
I think the GS1000i is a much better headphone than the RS1i (has more of the strengths of both models, and is actually fairly comfortable to wear), but there are other dynamic options I'd buy if I was shelling that much out.  If the GS1000i was the RS1i's price, then I'd say it's a more fair deal.  If you're not going GS1000i, just stick with the SR225i.

 

[Hifianddrumming]

 I only have the 125is, but I tried the RS1is, and would definitely pay the money if I could.

 

[jerikl]

I can't speak for the new versions (i), but I feel like the SR225 with TTVJ flats is just more ... intimate ... more fun. Maybe I have a really nice copy of the SR225, I don't know. The RS1 is a fantastic headphone -- yes, better details, wider soundstage, clearer separation of instruments, better bass extension, BUT, it hasn't been as fun to listen to lately. And yes, there is a price concern there too -- especially when you have a pair of $700 headphones just sitting on the desk unused most of the time.
 
I usually listen straight out of my iPhone or MacBook Pro, even though I have a decent DAC / MAD Ear+ at home. Maybe I'll have to sit down and compare the SR225 and RS1 further hooked up to the amp.

 

[eucariote]

I love SR225 and think that they are probably the best bargain for fun, high quality headphones.  Over time, and after owning and hearing a lot of other headphones, their bright signature became more and more salient.  To my ears, HF-1 and to a greater extent, RS-1 directly address the shortcomings of the SR225.  They have a warmer signature, more powerful bass and go a long way toward softening the sharp treble of SR225.  After becoming accustomed to RS-1, HD600, and LCD-2, the SR225 are intolerably bright, even with a MAD amp and warm tubes.

 

[robm321]

I prefer the RS-1 by quite a bit. Sorry. 

 

[colgatetotal]

At the latest Toronto meet (detailed at http://www.head-fi.org/t/566221/toronto-meet-sunday-august-7th#post_7664365), I surprisingly preferred my SR225i with 7-hole vent mod over the HF2, which I felt had far too much midbass and weighed too much. The SR80 and HF1 sounded significantly worse. And the LCD-2? I won't even start on that one...
 
So yeah, sometimes the more expensive option isn't always the better one. (But I did like the K1000 the best, so it's up to your ears to decide!)

 

[KneelJung]

Quote:

After a few months of changing out various Grado headphones in search of an upgrade from my SR225 (RS1 buttonless, HF1, RS2 vintage, RS1 vintage), I think I'm just gonna keep the SR225 (with TTVJ flats), sell the RS1 and call it a day. Does anybody else prefer the SR225 over the RS1?

I spent some time with an MS Pro not to long ago, not real sure how similar or dissimilar they are from the RS1 but that's my benchmark. Anyway I dont know that I would say I prefer a stock 225 to an RS! based on how good I think the MS Pro was. I will say though that after an A&B comparison of my woodied 225 to the MS Pro, that the MS Pro was nowhere near worth $400 more than my 225. $160 B stock from Headroom and $150 for the wood cups. The 225 drivers are awesome and when removed from their plastic housing and reseated in some wood you gat a lot of bang for your buck.
 

 

[MacedonianHero]

Quote:

I prefer the RS-1 by quite a bit. Sorry. 

Me too.

 

 

[daerron]

The differences might not be that substantial, but definitely noticeable, in my case I can compare it to a SR325is. The RS1i is more refined and more detailed, but I can imagine someone missing the edginess a bit. I definitely would not trade down on the RS1i

 Currently rocking out on the Black Keys 

 

[jerikl]

While I still say the SR225s w/flats are more fun, I couldn't bear to get rid of the RS1s -- I have a vintage pair that actually took quite a while to come by, so it makes them that much more special. That said, I still listen to my SR225s more ... maybe because they're just more convenient and I usually have them with me in my bag (I work from my laptop around the city most of the time), but I really do love their sound.