M Rael
500+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Aug 19, 2001
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Because of a bizarre turn of events I wound up with two pairs of Grado RS1's; both in their original cases. I thought I'd post the differences between them, and there are differences, most of them small, but it might help you date a pair.
Starting with the case, it is not made of mahogany; I dont know where that rumor got started but its certainly not true. Its a relatively soft and common looking wood.. perhaps pine, maybe ash. The cases were more than likely sourced from an outside vendor. I say that because the corner joining technique is totally different between cases:
That seems to indicate a different vendor was used; you usually wouldnt see such variation from a single source. The older case is on the left, the newer on the right. The older case uses a more expensive construction. The hardware on the cases is different too. The front latches:
The older case is on the left. And even the rear hinges are different:
The older hinge is on the left. I've been speaking about older -vs- newer, and the reason is that the RS1 originally came with a brown headband and the case, later a black headband and the case, and finally a black headband and no case. I have no idea what the production numbers were like but the older brown headband RS1's seem something more rare to come by. Just less common, thats all.
Other than the color of the leather there doesnt seem to be any difference in the way the headbands were assembled.
Heres the headbands side by side:
There is a small difference between the way the ident buttons are finished. The older model has a taller profile RS1 button and has rounded edges. A small variation that I'm sure has no effect on sound.
................................................
I hear no reliable audible difference in sound between the two examples. I thought the earlier brown headband example might be showing me more treble, but decided later that it wasnt. The RS1 is supposed to have closely matched drivers in any case so I'm not surprised that they sound basically identical.
I dont know what it is about the RS1.. maybe its the wood or the price, but they make me happy in a way my ex-325 never really did. Something about them makes it a pleasure to listen to. Dont ask me about subtleties, thats not my area of expertise, but hey I'll agree they arent as neutral as my HP2's. No biggie. My subconscious mind really seems to like them though, on a day to day listening basis. Thats why 'it' arranged for me to have 2 pairs I guess. Like I said it was rather bizarre the way it came about.
(Subconscious response: "bizarre to the bizarre")
Hey!!
Starting with the case, it is not made of mahogany; I dont know where that rumor got started but its certainly not true. Its a relatively soft and common looking wood.. perhaps pine, maybe ash. The cases were more than likely sourced from an outside vendor. I say that because the corner joining technique is totally different between cases:
That seems to indicate a different vendor was used; you usually wouldnt see such variation from a single source. The older case is on the left, the newer on the right. The older case uses a more expensive construction. The hardware on the cases is different too. The front latches:
The older case is on the left. And even the rear hinges are different:
The older hinge is on the left. I've been speaking about older -vs- newer, and the reason is that the RS1 originally came with a brown headband and the case, later a black headband and the case, and finally a black headband and no case. I have no idea what the production numbers were like but the older brown headband RS1's seem something more rare to come by. Just less common, thats all.
Other than the color of the leather there doesnt seem to be any difference in the way the headbands were assembled.
Heres the headbands side by side:
There is a small difference between the way the ident buttons are finished. The older model has a taller profile RS1 button and has rounded edges. A small variation that I'm sure has no effect on sound.
................................................
I hear no reliable audible difference in sound between the two examples. I thought the earlier brown headband example might be showing me more treble, but decided later that it wasnt. The RS1 is supposed to have closely matched drivers in any case so I'm not surprised that they sound basically identical.
I dont know what it is about the RS1.. maybe its the wood or the price, but they make me happy in a way my ex-325 never really did. Something about them makes it a pleasure to listen to. Dont ask me about subtleties, thats not my area of expertise, but hey I'll agree they arent as neutral as my HP2's. No biggie. My subconscious mind really seems to like them though, on a day to day listening basis. Thats why 'it' arranged for me to have 2 pairs I guess. Like I said it was rather bizarre the way it came about.
(Subconscious response: "bizarre to the bizarre")
Hey!!