[dissembled]

What's the better value for UNAMPED, portable usage?

What headphone will provide a more livelier, more detailed listening experience? And how does the soundstage fare for both?

I want opinions from users with experiences with BOTH headphones. They're exactly the same price and unfortunately, I can't decide what to choose.

I'm leaning more towards the MS1s because I love the KSC75 sound signature w. its sparkly highs. However, I've read opinions here complaining of its 'lackluster'' soundstage despite of its open structure.

Or is there something better than these in the < $150 pricerange?

To sum it up, I want something with:

- KSC75 similar sound signature (sparkly highs)
- Moderate-->Large soundstage
- Fares well without AMPS
- Less than $150

----------
LASTLY, (just in case I'll change my mind

)would you recommend a $50-$100 Portable headphone amp for me pwease?

All I found so far were the GO-VIBES. (Which model would be best?) Any OTHER good brands in this price range?

Thanks.

 

[senny-ftw]

I ordered both MS1 and RP21 at the same time but the RP21 order fell through. Otherwise, I'd have posted a detailed comparison!

All I can say is that the MS1s are IMO surprisingly good unamped, extremely pleasant to listen to and tolerant of poor quality recordings and sources.

I used to own Sennheiser HD555s which are in your price range and are pretty fun, but I prefer the MS1.

 

[BigAmish]

These cans (both MS-1 & RP-21) happen to be the only full sized models that I own, but I just received the RP-21s. I'm burning in the RP-21s, will give them a good listen & report back my findings. Keep in mind though that closed & open cans are very different, so this could end up turning into an apples vs. oranges comparison! Give me a few days & I'll report back.

 

[episiarch]

I didn't vote in your poll because my answer is, "it depends."

Both run very nicely unamped. As for portability it depends which you value higher, isolation or non-dorky appearance. The MS-1 provides essentially no isolation, while the RP-21 provides some isolation but is really pretty strange looking on your head.

It's a toss-up which I'd rather listen to. Both are awfully nice $100 headphones. For bass impact I'd choose the RP-21 (not exaggerated bass, but when there's bass you're supposed to feel, you feel it). For sparkly highs I'd probably lean towards the MS-1. The RP-21's highs start to fade towards the percussion-and-cymbal end of the range, and suffer a bit in both volume and (most noticeably) realism. But that's only at the very top end; I would say the sound stays pretty decent up through nearly all of a piano's range.

I'm not the best judge of soundstage, but I'd put the RP21 ahead in that category.

As for amps, I'm very fond of the Go-Vibes myself, and own both the V5 and V6. If sparkly highs are your thing I would recommend the V6 over the V5, but both are pretty good. Be warned, though, that IMO an amp does little to cure the RP-21's imperfections in the top end. An amp does give some extra clarity to the MS-1, IMO, though the MS-1 does run very nicely without one.

Addendum: I should have addressed your interest in something with a signature like the KSC-75. I'm one of the apparently rare deviants who doesn't think the KSC-75 (or -35) sounds listenably good without an amp. IMO either of these headphones considerably exceeds the KSC-75 in clarity of mids and highs, particularly unamped. But since I'm a deviant, YMMV.

 

[dissembled]

Thanks for the informative comparison. What's curious is that the RP21, a semi-closed model seemingly has more soundstage than the open MS1s!

As for size goes, I'm guessing the MS1s are a lot smaller than the 21s? Smaller size in this matter equates to more portability.

I'm leaning more towards the MS1s now despite its rather dissapointing soundstage. Though I guess the better decision would be to wait until even more comparisons are made. I'm countin on you BigAmish, sir.

Anywho, thanks again for that enlightening post.

 

[episiarch]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dissembled /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'm guessing the MS1s are a lot smaller than the 21s?

Yeah, the RP21's are way more huge.

 

[MaZa]

Quote:

amp does little to cure the RP-21's imperfections in the top end.

I guess the problems with treble of RP-21 is due to closed design? Meaning, lack of airyness?

 

[dandi]

sparkly highs = RP21

Soundstage = RP21/MS1

un-Amped= the RP-21

both cost the same with the RP-21 offering more performance to price ratio. IMHO

I have owned the MS-1 and currently am listening to the RP-21. The RP-21 stays on my head a lot longer than the MS-1 ever did. The soundstage is similar in that both provide a close up presentation. The MS-1 gives more warmth/color to the soundstage the 21 is more neutral and accurate. I found the MS1 to have some slight sibilance in the very upper range. Un-amped both do well. There is more of an amped quality to the RP-21 when un-amped. Meaning the 21 sounds more open and powered than the MS1 when un-amped. They are both well done headphones offering tremendous price to performance. The MS1 is built around a classic design. The RP-21 is a hot-rod

 

[dissembled]

The only thing worrying me about the RP21 is its rather awkwardly large appearance. If anyone would be willing to post their mug shots with the headphones...Side views would be especially awesome, thanks.

 

[umcloud]

The soundstage on the MS-1 does sound a bit compressed with the stock comfies on, but using bowls does help quite a bit.

I am in love with the MS-1's highs. Cymbals sound completely fantastic - much more real sounding than on my other headphones. Unless you really need the isolation or big soundstage, I'd probably go with the MS-1. Though I haven't heard the Equation, I'm just not sure a closed phone can sound as natural as an open one, especially in the highs department.

 

[lt.milo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dissembled /img/forum/go_quote.gif The only thing worrying me about the RP21 is its rather awkwardly large appearance. If anyone would be willing to post their mug shots with the headphones...Side views would be especially awesome, thanks.

same here!

 

[ricmat]

Quote:

Originally Posted by umcloud /img/forum/go_quote.gif The soundstage on the MS-1 does sound a bit compressed with the stock comfies on, but using bowls does help quite a bit. I am in love with the MS-1's highs. Cymbals sound completely fantastic - much more real sounding than on my other headphones. Unless you really need the isolation or big soundstage, I'd probably go with the MS-1. Though I haven't heard the Equation, I'm just not sure a closed phone can sound as natural as an open one, especially in the highs department.

totally agree!

 

[episiarch]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dissembled /img/forum/go_quote.gif If anyone would be willing to post their mug shots with the headphones...Side views would be especially awesome, thanks.

Did you check out the side view at the top of this page (after the Flash loads)? It's not the whole thing, but it does give some indication how big they are on your head.

 

[dissembled]

Any good amps less than $50??

So far I've only found the

Go Vibe 5s (horrible mid-range; sibilant; produces good detail)

&

Xtra X1 (little detail but smooth sounding)

Anything else worth $50 or less??


EDIT: How 'orange' are the 21's? Pics imply it to be a dim--->bright lookin orange. Which one is it? Thanks!

 

[12thgear]

My wife and I actually had a listening test last night. MS-1 (with modified HD414 pads) vs RP-21 vs RP-22X. Listened to Queens of the Stone Age, Primal Scream, Squarepusher, David Bowie, Lucinda Williams, the Shins.

Overall we both preferred the Alessandro MS-1. Its midrange sound just sucks you in, and we found the highs to be pretty nice, without being harsh. I've never had thoroughbred Grado headphones, but they get knocked for being harsh and sibilant. I can't say that about my Alessandro MS-1. Bass has impact, but doesn't extend super low. Kick drums have impact but not large amounts of body. Dynamic range is excellent, but the soundstage doesn't have a whole lot of depth.

I've only had the Equation Audio headphones for a couple of days. The RP-21 sounds great. Tonally pretty balanced, maybe a bit extra in the bass, but it's not boomy and has impressive bass extension. Midrange is very good, but not as engaging as the MS-1. The highs seem a little harsh. Depending on the recording cymbals and high hats may not sound very authentic with the RP-21 while the MS-1 will still offer decent high end detail and a little more "sparkle". Sort of what I imagine people mean when they discuss Grado harshness. Soundstage is a little better than the MS-1, but not by a large margin.

The RP-22X is very much like the RP-21, but Equation claims it's hyped in the 5-200Hz range. The RP-22X still isn't boomy, but I just can't listen to it for as long as the RP-21. It's good, but not as balanced as the the RP-21, and therefore not as enjoyable to me. I think if the base enhancement cut off around 100Hz I'd enjoy it a lot more. It was just hard for me to relax with the RP-22X. It was intended as a gift for a friend who enjoys lots of electronic music. I thought the bass bias would help with electronic music, but the RP-21 already has plenty of bass presence, so he'll get the RP-21 instead.

If I never heard the MS-1 I'd love the RP-21. Love. These are both headphones that are way better than they have any right to be for $100. The MS-1 will remain my favorite headphone, but I'm keeping an RP-21 when I need closed headphones (these seal very well) or want deeper bass extension.

As for the orange color, it's a metallic orange, sort of like copper. It reminds me a lot of the Solar Orange Nissan 350Z. It's nice, it just has no place on headphones. I now have two sets of really janky looking cans. At least I can make a (weak) argument that the MS-1 looks retro and cool. The RP-21 will get the wrong kind of attention.