MS2 or MS2i,...Hmmmmm.......I wonder.

[F107plus5]

Actually, my first"socket test" was flawed!

In the "Uncle Martin antenna" mode the weight on top of the height adjusters caused the pads to be forced inward causing a headache.

In the "ear-rings" test where the sockets were hung under the housings the pads remained vertical and no headache insued!

The headaches went away but the extra weight didn't.

And even with 414s the brightness while listening to classical didn't either. Phooie!

Seriously though, the test ended up taking over six hours at one sitting, the majority with the weights installed! And I only stopped the test cause it was way passed bedtime!

I actually think that if weight were the "only" criteria, that the MS2s "could" be OK!!

 

[F107plus5]

Quote:

Originally Posted by drlee27 Another grado worth saving money for is the headphile ms2i...............

Now there is another of the initial thoughts I had!

Not to go with new MS2s with a new wooden suit, but my beloved MS-1s!

One thought was to go with a warmer set of phones for the majority of my listening, and have the MS-1s salvaged by having them modded with a knock-out set of Larrys housings exclusively for rock!! I had seen a thread where MS-1s had successfully been modded with excelent results!

And by the way.....this is a thought that just doesn't seem to want to go away!!

 

[fureshi]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zorander Ha! I can tell you I do not find the MS-2 any subjectively heavier than the SR-80 I used to own. Your "11/16" 12 point sockets" test must be flawed!

give them back to me right now!!!

i always found that they put too much pressure on the top of my head due to the weight. that also translated to sore ears as they struggled to keep the cans on my head. that all went away after i got used to it.

 

[augustwest]

The weight of the MS2/MS2i isn't an issue. The only reason I replaced them was for a move to the PS1's, and I see no need for more than one representative headphone from any manufacture.

 

[Zorander]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fureshi i always found that they put too much pressure on the top of my head due to the weight. that also translated to sore ears as they struggled to keep the cans on my head. that all went away after i got used to it.

The only possibility I can think of is probably because you were using the bowls with them? In addition to the (bright) sound, I have always found bowls terribly uncomfortable too with the MS-2. They seem to be sitting at an angle on my ears. The flats solved it all.

 

[F107plus5]

After serious consideration; even though I would certainly rather have the RS-2 as my next set of cans; if my wallet decided to be unfriendly at the most inopportune time, I think I could probably settle for the MS2i.

I'd rather have the lighter weight and slightly warmer characteristics of the RS-2, but the MS2i could do, if it came to that.

Yeah; I think it really could!!

 

[fureshi]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zorander The only possibility I can think of is probably because you were using the bowls with them? In addition to the (bright) sound, I have always found bowls terribly uncomfortable too with the MS-2. They seem to be sitting at an angle on my ears. The flats solved it all.

you are quite right. i was using the bowls in the beginning. i ended up switching to reversed senn414 pads, which soundwise was somewhere between the normal senn414 pads and bowls. better fuller bass and nearly the same highs as bowls. i couldn't stand them with the flats. bass was too boomy and the high end was too dull.

 

[Dash]

I have spend a little more time with my new MS2s and I love them. Crossfeed from the H5 plus MS2 is awesome. I have the VWAP pads on mine that are very worn in. The accuracy they have is uncanny. I can see myself enjoying these then looking on up the ladder(Alessandro). I do know that based of my experiance, I prefer the Alessandro rework to the Grado. Im enjoying the MS2 immensely. After a slight adjustment period, I find the weight not a problem. I act like the weight...its like a gentle tap reminding me..."I like my MS2s." More to come.

 

[Pete7]

Quote:

Originally Posted by F107plus5 After serious consideration; even though I would certainly rather have the RS-2 as my next set of cans; if my wallet decided to be unfriendly at the most inopportune time, I think I could probably settle for the MS2i. I'd rather have the lighter weight and slightly warmer characteristics of the RS-2, but the MS2i could do, if it came to that. Yeah; I think it really could!!

You've been on the fence waaaaayyyy too long,buddy. Get the RS-2's already and don't look back.

 

[F107plus5]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete7 You've been on the fence waaaaayyyy too long,buddy. Get the RS-2's already and don't look back.

Yeah; being on the fence isn't much fun. But unfortunately the gate through the fence won't be open til after the first of next year.

So I'm afraid I'll be sittin' up here on the top-o'-the-fence, lookin' at the MS2i on one side and the RS-2 on the other til the day that my wallet relinquishes the key to that reluctant gate.

One good thing! At least I won't have to kick myself later for making a hasty impulse buy!!

And what the heck; sometimes the hunt is as much as the kill!! And there's still lots of good data to digest about both sets of cans.......and more good stuff coming in each day!

 

[F107plus5]

Speaking of the hunt; a couple of other interesting points come to mind.

The RS-2s are a bit warmer than the MS2s.

It was mentioned that John Grado may have a bit of hearing loss, so that's why he makes his cans a bit brighter here lately.

....yeah; just a rumor.

But maybe it's something "I" should be thinking about! My ears are about the same age as his, and I find the sound of my MS-1s to be(generally)just about right for most of the music I listen to except the most classical of the classical.

....the RS-1 is out of the picture, expense wize; plus I WON'T be running an amp out of my reasonably good sources, and the RS-1 would bring my guilt phobia to the surface. I'd almost feel guilty running RS-2 without an amp already!!

Yeah; and MS two too.

So many points to ponder; so few months to resolve them.

 

[Mercuttio]

Quote:

Originally Posted by F107plus5 Speaking of the hunt; a couple of other interesting points come to mind. The RS-2s are a bit warmer than the MS2s. It was mentioned that John Grado may have a bit of hearing loss, so that's why he makes his cans a bit brighter here lately. ....yeah; just a rumor. But maybe it's something "I" should be thinking about! My ears are about the same age as his, and I find the sound of my MS-1s to be(generally)just about right for most of the music I listen to except the most classical of the classical. ....the RS-1 is out of the picture, expense wize; plus I WON'T be running an amp out of my reasonably good sources, and the RS-1 would bring my guilt phobia to the surface. I'd almost feel guilty running RS-2 without an amp already!! Yeah; and MS two too. So many points to ponder; so few months to resolve them.

I don't think John Grado's got hearing loss apart from what comes normally with age. I'm still pretty convinced he's got golden ears. If anything, the HF1 was the darkest Grado I've heard. The RS1 is more tipped to the top than the GS1000 as well, which has more bass. Seems like he's making headphones bassier lately.

 

[augustwest]

"Seems like he's making headphones bassier lately."

And that's a good thing too. I wish he'd re-vamp the entire line, and give them all some additional bass.


- augustwest

 

[Mercuttio]

Quote:

Originally Posted by augustwest "Seems like he's making headphones bassier lately." And that's a good thing too. I wish he'd re-vamp the entire line, and give them all some additional bass. - augustwest

I'm willing to bet that anything new coming from Grado Labs is going to be bassier, and it looks like he's in the headphone designing kick now. I'll bet he'll put out a new middle of the range headphone soon.

Most recently re-designed were the 325i, PS1, HF1, and GS1000... three of those are bassier.

 

[F107plus5]

Perhaps "somebody" reminded him that his hearing(like mine, probably)is losing some of its' HF stuff, and he's compensating!!

Whatever the reason....cool!!