[Duncan]

Hi all...

Just thought i'd say that I picked up the RS1s today... Initial impressions are semi-favorable... but before I say anything conclusive, i'm going to allow myself to forget what the SR325s sound like...

...I don't know if my ears are messed up but I could hear virtually no difference between the SR325 and RS2 when listening on a Trichord modded Sony 555 SACD player -> META42, just a little cleaner at the top end - Does that sound right???

...more later

 

[NotoriousBIG_PJ]

Why, oh why, did you go back to the grado shop?

Biggie.

 

[Duncan]

lol Biggie!

After just an hour or so, i'm already getting the sound vibe... and it is (as can only be expected

) VERY favorable

Yay!

[Edit]

The sound is TOO good... I was supposed to be going to a wedding reception this evening.. but listening to the music, I missed my lift

Oops

 

[mclaren20]

the old title was better.

 

[Duncan]

Quote:

Originally posted by mclaren20 the old title was better.

It was... until I thought that people might mis-interpret it, and think I was getting a little TOO excited about the 'phones

...if you know what I mean

 

[MusicLover]

Do you think the RS-1's are worth the price, in terms of comparing them with the sr-325's?

 

[Duncan]

Quote:

Originally posted by MusicLover Do you think the RS-1's are worth the price, in terms of comparing them with the sr-325's?

This is with only 2 hours head-time, so i'm probably not quite the right person to ask...

But, Yes! - going back to the SR325s, they sound very distant... cloudy ~ the RS1s just have so much more information to hand, extra especially in the midrange... and the bass isn't to be sniffed at either, being imo slightly more prenounced than that of the 325s...

This is the first time I can definetly say that I am in awe of the way a headphone sounds...

I'm strangely disappointed in the RS2 sound... albeit it was only a five minute audition, on a source that i'm unfamilar with... but they really didn't impress me any more than the SR325s already did... not enough to justify the cost difference...

 

[bangraman]

Hope you like them after the initial 'Discovery Of Dynamics' stage.
They are good phones, but I'm spoilt with the W2002. The RS-1's just began to annoy me with the relatively crappy sound every time I went back to them.

 

[Guyferd]

to me, rs-1 is clearly better, but not worth the big amt of money spent.. esp brand new.
They are just too ex.. and the improvement is not very big from rs-2 or sr325. It's just a bit of more details and different tonal character.

 

[Duncan]

Quote:

Originally posted by Guyferd It's just a bit of more details and different tonal character.

Thats true... but, to me it makes the 325s sound a little incoherent... of course that isn't saying that the 325s are bad... they're damned great... but the RS1s to me just seem so much more together...

Both are great... 325s for those on a budget, or the RS1s for those that truly love the Grado sound

(all imo of course

)

 

[Duncan]

Quote:

Originally posted by bangraman Hope you like them after the initial 'Discovery Of Dynamics' stage.

I can tell already that they don't suit every music genré... not at all... but the compromises are a lot less than with any other 'phone that i've heard so far...

With your praise of the W2002... at the next meet-up, i'd love to catch a listen... you give me the impression that they are real winners

 

[bangraman]

Quote:

Originally posted by Duncan I can tell already that they don't suit every music genré... not at all... but the compromises are a lot less than with any other 'phone that i've heard so far... With your praise of the W2002... at the next meet-up, i'd love to catch a listen... you give me the impression that they are real winners

They are to me. Required about the same tuning as the RS-1 to make the most of it, but clearly superior in detail, nuance... But not dynamics, especially the pumping bass. But pumping bass is not what I'm after in a high-end listening experience. And lots of other phones do the bass thing better (the HD25 as an example... Sorry you didn't catch a taste of it but mine developed a faulty driver. Next meet I will have them).


The RS-1 is a good phone for those who haven't heard or tried to get acquainted with better phones. As with most higher-end phones, you do need to spend some time with it to get the most out of it, although it's better than many for initial impressions. It's definitely a dynamic move sideways (but not necessarily up) from the CD3000, and W1000 owners will be astonished when rock is on the menu. I can't be and don't need to be as diplomatic as carlo in his report since I buy all the phones I evaluate... And in giving the W2002/RS-1 comparison no handicaps since they are effectively the same price (when you consider aluminium v cardboard case) the RS-1 lost out. When you consider what goes in the W2002 for construction, the RS-1 loses out even more.


But there's no denying the RS-1 are good phones... Just not £695's worth (or even $695).

 

[inthused]

Would you give a little more definition on the comparison vs. the Sony CD3000? I haven't listened to either phone,as there aren't any local shops that handle high-end equipment,and I am ready to pull the trigger(as Ltucci is suggesting after he recieved his) on the CD3000's. I will search the forum on this issue,but if your opinion isn't already posted,I would appreciate hearing it. I'm sure others would also since Lou has started us salivating on the Sony's. Thanks,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[Duncan]

I'll leave that one to Bangraman...

I haven't heard the CD3000s

 

[Sentral Dogma]

Quote:

Originally posted by Duncan I can tell already that they don't suit every music genré... not at all...

what music have you been listening to on the RS-1's? they sure are real pretty from the pictures. man, i love the look.