MS-2 versus MS-Pro?

[HiGHFLYiN9]

I was wondering if anyone has owned or auditioned both of these headphones at one point and could offer me their impressions of the differences in sonic characteristics. Right now I'm considering the MS-2, not because it's the current FOTM, but because I LOVE my Grado SR-225s, and find them much more enjoyable to listen to than all my other phones listed in my sig. Basically I'm curious as to whether the MS-Pros are worth the $400 jump in price over the MS-2s. I'm sure others are sitting on the fence on this issue as well, waiting for some good opinions.

 

[Imyourzero]

Quote:

Originally Posted by highflyin9 I was wondering if anyone has owned or auditioned both of these headphones at one point and could offer me their impressions of the differences in sonic characteristics. Right now I'm considering the MS-2, not because it's the current FOTM, but because I LOVE my Grado SR-225s, and find them much more enjoyable to listen to than all my other phones listed in my sig. Basically I'm curious as to whether the MS-Pros are worth the $400 jump in price over the MS-2s. I'm sure others are sitting on the fence on this issue as well, waiting for some good opinions.

Whether the MSPro's are going to be worth the $400 difference from the MS2's will definitely be a matter of opinion, just as whether a $3000+ Blockhead is going to be worth the price difference from a $200 Airhead.

I'm sure the MS Pro is better, but is it $400 better? Many people agree that the RS1 is better than the SR225, but you have to decide whether the $500 retail price difference is worth the upgrade in sound quality.

It's too bad you aren't able to audition both 'phones and make your decision. I'm seeing more and more often on this site how more expensive doesn't always mean better, just because everyone hears and prefers different things. Three prime examples are the people that prefer the $100 E-MU 0404 sound card over the $200 E-MU 1212M, the people that prefer a $60 set of Grados to a $300 set of Sennheisers, and the people that prefer Grado SR225 to any other headphone in the Grado lineup just because of its particular sound characteristics.

In short, you can gather opinions from those that have used & heard the MS2 and MS Pro but in the end, your ears have to be the ultimate judge. That's a lot of money to play with based solely on someone else's opinion...and I'd hate for you to pay the $400 extra for the MS Pro and be disappointed if you ever heard an MS2 and it was 95% as good (which happens with audio equipment all the time!)

My $0.02...which is probably not even worth that much.

 

[kunwar]

TonyTripleA thinks that the MS-2's are kinda like 95% of the MS Pro
I will let him chime in when he does
You can always PM him and find out.
I think the choice between the 2 would be sort of based on which signature you like.
Out of the RS-1 and the SR325 I personally preferred the RS-1
It could be similar but I am not sure until I get to hear the MS-2

Kunwar

 

[Edwood]

What's the difference between the MS Pro and the RS-1? Other than the Grado "button"?

Are they the same housing, driver, and headband/hanger?

-Ed

 

[Kirosia]

They use difference casings (different wood). The MSPro is a pro phone so it's more accurate and neutral.

 

[kunwar]

the mspros compared to the rs-1 are tuned differently.
more accurate and more resolving
a phone that is worthy of use with almost any genre of music.
Unlike the RS-1 on which the violin would burst your eardrum.

 

[elnero]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kunwar the mspros compared to the rs-1 are tuned differently. more accurate and more resolving a phone that is worthy of use with almost any genre of music. Unlike the RS-1 on which the violin would burst your eardrum.

I don't know what the heck kind of system you heard the RS-1's on??? I use my RS-1s for every genre I listen to and violin certainly doesn't "burst my ear drum", in fact I'm consistently amazed at how realistic they sound. Now I'm sure the Alessandro's are tuned differently and possibly less "colored" but to speak of the RS-1's in such a manner is just blasphemy.

 

[HiGHFLYiN9]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Imyourzero In short, you can gather opinions from those that have used & heard the MS2 and MS Pro but in the end, your ears have to be the ultimate judge.

Does Alessandro go through a dealer network or are they mail order only? It would be nice to hear them both at a dealer before purchasing one.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Imyourzero That's a lot of money to play with based solely on someone else's opinion...and I'd hate for you to pay the $400 extra for the MS Pro and be disappointed...

Wow someone here at HeadFi cares about my wallet, thats a first!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Imyourzero ...MS2 and it was 95% as good (which happens with audio equipment all the time!)

I would actually guess it would be 90-95%, but sometimes that extra little bit really is worth the money.

 

[kunwar]

Quote:

Originally Posted by elnero I don't know what the heck kind of system you heard the RS-1's on??? I use my RS-1s for every genre I listen to and violin certainly doesn't "burst my ear drum", in fact I'm consistently amazed at how realistic they sound. Now I'm sure the Alessandro's are tuned differently and possibly less "colored" but to speak of the RS-1's in such a manner is just blasphemy.

I can't help it if they sounded a bit shrill because after hearing the MS Pros I constantly get this feeling when listening to Grados that they are tuned a bit on the more aggressive side.
The system in use was an Accuphase redbook player through one of the accuphase integrated amps.
the amps made by accuphase are pretty good. although lacking lower end clarity at times with electronica and lower bass and treble heavy tracks.

The RS-1 is a superb headphone, IMHO one of the best, the MS Pro just takes it a step or two further with their tuning.

Kunwar

 

[elnero]

Kunwar, I'm just kidding around with you. Everyone's entitled to their own opinion, I was just having a bit of fun.

 

[kunwar]

Quote:

Originally Posted by elnero Kunwar, I'm just kidding around with you. Everyone's entitled to their own opinion, I was just having a bit of fun.

no offense taken mate
I guess it is a good idea to tell one's experiences via different setups
who knows when someone might be looking for this exact setup

Kunwar

 

[jazpresso]

hi, kunwar

before u purchased the ms-pro, have u tried to listen the rs-1?

 

[Permonic]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edwood What's the difference between the MS Pro and the RS-1? Other than the Grado "button"? Are they the same housing, driver, and headband/hanger? -Ed

Kuma's review: http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=44488
Old thread about Grado drivers (warning: mertonism there

): http://www5.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=38025

 

[Permonic]

Quote:

Originally Posted by highflyin9 Does Alessandro go through a dealer network or are they mail order only? It would be nice to hear them both at a dealer before purchasing one.

Since Alessandro has its dealer in Taiwan and Australian, I bet there should be more around the world, incl. US. The best way is to email to Alessandro and ask them about it.

 

[Shang-Ti Chen]

I'm currently having my second pair of Music Series Pro. It was purchased in May this year and I have not been using it much until recently. In the current state with little amount of burn-in, listening to the well recorded Krystian Zimerman's Chopin Piano Concertos, it's already "just like" being REALLY in the concert hall. It's so shocking. I can hear all of the details such like the orchestra members' foot tapping the stage, turning over the music sheet pages, Zimerman's breathing and stepping the pedals. Although it's said Grado/Alessandro's are lesser in soundstage, I must say that to me I feel the sense of space of a concert hall is really realistic: broad and dimensional. It's not like listening on the audience seat, but rather like on the stage with the orchestra. The sense of airness is tremendous, music flowing in the air, just the same as being really in a concert hall. Sometimes I keep getting distracted off the main music by the constant details. And all these is just from my old and cheap Pioneer CD player.