GS-1 or RSA HR-2?

[DennyL]

I'm interested in buying a good SS amp, and these two amps are in the same price bracket and they are both by builders who have a lot of respect on these forums. I read a lot here about the GS-1 but it's hard to find much about the HR-2, and I don't remember seeing a direct comparison of these two amps. Does anyone have any idea why the HR-2 is so little discussed, or is there anyone who can give me an idea how these amps compare in sound quality? I have an SR-71 and I think it's very good, so I have an idea of what the RSA sound signature is like, and I think it complements well the K701 and DT880. I like the K701, although it has a rather dry, analytical sound which benefits from the RSA warmth. I wonder whether the GS-1 would accentuate the the analytical quality and the treble, and sound cold. And anyway, how much are the GS-1 or HR-2 a step up from the SQ of SR-71?

Thanks for any replies.

 

[Gradofan2]

There used to be some threads comparing the two - they may have "disappeared" with the recent server crash. Anyway... from what I recall... the HR2 is a warmer, tubier sounding amp than the GS-1. I would guess it would sound better with the 701s. Whereas, the GS-1 might sound better with the HD650s.

 

[achristilaw]

You really can't go wrong with either. I think Ray has some reviews up on his site. From various web sources. Positive Feedback and others. Of his HR-2. It has been out a while. And no, It's sound is not dated. The GS-1 is a fave here also. I'm a fan of Justin's work. I own more of his stuff than any other. Good choices both.

 

[DennyL]

Quote:

Originally Posted by achristilaw /img/forum/go_quote.gif You really can't go wrong with either. I think Ray has some reviews up on his site. From various web sources. Positive Feedback and others. Of his HR-2. It has been out a while. And no, It's sound is not dated. The GS-1 is a fave here also. I'm a fan of Justin's work. I own more of his stuff than any other. Good choices both.

Thanks for that suggestion, although it seems that the review links to Head-fi on the RSA site don't work, perhaps as result of Head-fi's down time. There's a 6 Moons review of The Raptor, that compares it with the HR-2, and says The Raptor is better, and two reviews on Positive Feedback, one by someone who's listened to only one other headphone amp, and the other by someone who prefers tubes. I have a tube amp and want to try some SS accuracy and airiness; or maybe I need a better tube amp (I have a DarkVoice 336).

 

[Welly Wu]

I am listening to my RSA HR-2 and AKG K 701 now. I definitely hear the voicing of headphone amplifier as well as all of the upstream components. It is really a mismatch. Try going with the Grado Reference Series headphones with the HR-2 such as the RS-1 or GS-1000. I owned the RS-1 and HR-2 together for a period of time. The combination was wonderful, but the RS-1 cracked because I purchased it used from a notoriously shady Head-Fi member who has since been long banned.