I've just bought an RS1i...the difference were subtle at first. For aggressive rock/metal, I'm not sure the upgrade makes sense. For me, it smooths things out a bit for sibilant strident metal recordings-as we know a lot of metal is highly compressed/loud w/ exaggerated treble.
And, it's more refined for jazz. I definitely appreciate the RS1i for audiophile, complex recordings whether their heavy and complex like Tool, or indie stuff, for sure acoustic folk and jazz. Something like well recorded Vampire Weekend, Swans or St Vincent or complex like any prog you can throw at it, the details are amazing.
In jazz I can really pick up the sound of the bass, the piano runs in a different way than the 225i. It's the closest thing I've heard to live music. You can identify the soundspace that one instrument is playing-separation of instruments in a way that the 225i hints at but doesn't quite get. I think you'd get that if you were listening to some real proggy Opeth with all those blues runs, piano/keys, etc. But if you're listening to a lot of "core" metal and extreme go for the jugular DM-or old school AC/DC Iron Maiden, Motorhead-I think the 225.
That said, the 225, of course is really good with acoustic, blues, etc. It comes down (for me to) audiophile level attention to details and refinement and a little more of a musical smoothness. also, a little more controlled bass. But, it took me a couple of hours of listening to even hear the difference-it was that subtle. Now I can, tho.
That's my week later comparison :wink_face:
Now if I had $1,ooo or I was paying retail for the RS1i, I might just keep my 225 add an ortho like the LCD-2 as a change of pase especially for more bass oriented music like electronic and hip hop. But, I'm a rock/metal/blues/jazz guy mostly.
