ScubaSteve87
1000+ Head-Fier
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I recieved my Audio Technica AD2000 in the mail today, so I took them to the local audio shop to compare them to the RS-1. I will also provide comparison to the HF-1 which I sold about a week ago. I wanted to compare the AD2000 to the RS-1 because I have read they have similar sounds. The Ad2000 isn't burned in at all, so take that in to consideration. All listening was done straight out of an ipod with most of the songs at 320 and some at 120 (bummer I sold my g-lite so I couldn't use it). Most of the songs were Guster, specifically Parachute, Careful, Deamons, Amsterdam. Also used was various rap artists, (Zion I, Deltron 3030, The Grits), hawthore heights, and Nirvana- Smells like Teen Spirit.
Appearence/Build Quality: This has to go to the RS-1 or the Ad2. The AD2 looks great and is made out of sturdy metal materials. The RS-1's wood just looks awesome too. HF-1, black plastic is not so hot
Comfort: All the way to the AD2. I love the wings that support the phone. Part of the reason I sold the HF-1 was because of the mahor comfort issues. I could listen to them for a while, but still it would begin to bother me ever so slightly.
Bass: RS-1 is the best. Great control, goes deep, hits hard. HF-1 hits just as hard, maybe even more, but is ever so slightly less controlled and also does not go as low. The AD200 has nice tightly controlled bass, very detailed too, it really shows how bad the headphone out is and how bad 128kbps is. I think it also goes lower than the RS-1. My "test" track for low bass is Binary Star- KGB and it could take it no problem. Not as much impact as the RS-1 though. The RS-1 also has more bass quantity.
Mids/Vocals: Tie between the RS-1 and Ad2000. Both of these have awesom mids, just nice and smooth, also incredibly detailed. HF-1 lacks compared to both of these
Highs: AD2 takes the cake. The attack on high notes on these is just awesome. Its hard to explain, but it seems brighter than the RS-1, but the sound is not as fatiguing. The plucks and guitar strings and cymbal hits are just soo quick and right on. Very quick decay. I also think that is is because the AD200 is more detailed than the RS-1 or HF-1.
Detail: Ad2, I think this just is more detailed than the RS-1, plain and simple
Soundstage: AD2. The RS-1 is just such a small soundstage. The AD2's sound stage seems to have a lot more air around it. It seems a much more speaker like than any of the Grado's, I never really feel too much like the singer is camped inside my brain.
Conclusion:
This is a very early review with a lackluster source, but I really like the AD2000 so far. I also loved the sound of the RS-1. The RS-1 has a warmer sound, but for some reason the small sound stage and closesnes of it make it more fatiguing to my ears. The nice airy space of the AD200 makes it nice and easy to listen too. And the HF-1.....I thiink that the HF-1 is really good, but the RS-1 is just better. It basically takes everything of the HF-1 and takes it one step further. The only thing I found maybe a little better about the HF-1 is that it had more impact. I think that it will be interesting to see how the Ad200 improves with burn in and proper ampage (Millet, and DAC-AH soon to be
). Hopefully in a few weeks I will be able to write a proper review.
EDIT: Here are a few quick pics, sorry for the horrible camera skillz, the camera is broken too. The AD2000 also sounds HORRIBLE out of the headphone jack on my comp, just horrible
See pics in post #5 below. Wmcmanus
Appearence/Build Quality: This has to go to the RS-1 or the Ad2. The AD2 looks great and is made out of sturdy metal materials. The RS-1's wood just looks awesome too. HF-1, black plastic is not so hot
Comfort: All the way to the AD2. I love the wings that support the phone. Part of the reason I sold the HF-1 was because of the mahor comfort issues. I could listen to them for a while, but still it would begin to bother me ever so slightly.
Bass: RS-1 is the best. Great control, goes deep, hits hard. HF-1 hits just as hard, maybe even more, but is ever so slightly less controlled and also does not go as low. The AD200 has nice tightly controlled bass, very detailed too, it really shows how bad the headphone out is and how bad 128kbps is. I think it also goes lower than the RS-1. My "test" track for low bass is Binary Star- KGB and it could take it no problem. Not as much impact as the RS-1 though. The RS-1 also has more bass quantity.
Mids/Vocals: Tie between the RS-1 and Ad2000. Both of these have awesom mids, just nice and smooth, also incredibly detailed. HF-1 lacks compared to both of these
Highs: AD2 takes the cake. The attack on high notes on these is just awesome. Its hard to explain, but it seems brighter than the RS-1, but the sound is not as fatiguing. The plucks and guitar strings and cymbal hits are just soo quick and right on. Very quick decay. I also think that is is because the AD200 is more detailed than the RS-1 or HF-1.
Detail: Ad2, I think this just is more detailed than the RS-1, plain and simple
Soundstage: AD2. The RS-1 is just such a small soundstage. The AD2's sound stage seems to have a lot more air around it. It seems a much more speaker like than any of the Grado's, I never really feel too much like the singer is camped inside my brain.
Conclusion:
This is a very early review with a lackluster source, but I really like the AD2000 so far. I also loved the sound of the RS-1. The RS-1 has a warmer sound, but for some reason the small sound stage and closesnes of it make it more fatiguing to my ears. The nice airy space of the AD200 makes it nice and easy to listen too. And the HF-1.....I thiink that the HF-1 is really good, but the RS-1 is just better. It basically takes everything of the HF-1 and takes it one step further. The only thing I found maybe a little better about the HF-1 is that it had more impact. I think that it will be interesting to see how the Ad200 improves with burn in and proper ampage (Millet, and DAC-AH soon to be

EDIT: Here are a few quick pics, sorry for the horrible camera skillz, the camera is broken too. The AD2000 also sounds HORRIBLE out of the headphone jack on my comp, just horrible
See pics in post #5 below. Wmcmanus