wharfrat1
100+ Head-Fier
Back in December, I decided to upgrade my Grado experience from the 325i's. I always like to keep at least one Grado can in the family since they have a pretty unique sound sig, and they are really the only top notch full size can made in the US. Heck, call me a homer.
Let me state that my HD-650's are by far my favorite can that I own. I listen to them 90% of the time. My main change of pace can has been my DT-880's for a while. I liked the 325i's, but they were just too fatiguing with those uber detailed highs. So I decide to make the big jump and go straight to the RS-1's.
I get the RS-1's and right out of the box I like them, a lot. I say, wow, these may even challenge my 650's for some head time. They are punchy and fun. You get that nice front row Grado sound, but with a more detailed and puncy bass than I was expecting (especially in the mid and upper bass). I love the sound of snare drums on these. Throw in that up front midrange, and I was pretty happy. Really, they just are fun, engaging headphones. Would they replace my 650's at the top of the heap, no, but they would get a fair amount of headtime.
Than, that damn Sennheiser has to come out with the 800. Now, with my love for the 650's, I have to get a pair of 800's. So I'm still within the 30 day return period with HR, and sending back my RS-1's will almost cut the 800's price in half.
I try to be dipolomatic, and compare my RS-1's to my DT-880's. Whichever one I prefer will have to go. Now this is not a fair comparison, where the RS-1's add some color to the midrange, the Beyers are far more neutral, and with their design have a much better soundstage. Throw in their great comfort, and the DT-880's won out (plus by sending the 1's in the return period made me more money).
Right after I send my RS-1's back I come into a little money. Being that I sold my 325i's, I still needed the Grado hole in my lineup fixed. So I decide to give the RS-2's a try. I order the 2's and when I get them, I pull them out of the box and fire them up and...well, I can't help but compare them to the 1's in my mind and the 2's are rather boring.
Now, I have read just about every thread on both the 1's and 2's on Head-fi. I know that the 2's are more neutral than the 1's, no arguement there, but that added color in the ones just gives them more snap and fun. I'd read that the 2's are better for rock, which is what I predominantly listen to, and yes the 2's are more forward, especially in the treble, but this also makes them more harsh. The treble can get on the grainy side. The bass extends almost as deep as the 1's, but not quite as much. This is not a huge complaint as they are pretty close, but the 2's have nowhere near the bass detail the 1's have, especially in the upper and mid-bass. The midrange is not nearly as fun or creamy sounding as with the RS-1's For the people that recommend these for rock, in my opinion, just because it is brighter in the treble does not make it a better rock can.
I say to myself, what did I do? I've lost a lot of fun and excitement, and I need to get the RS-1's back. So that is just what I do, I reordered them from HR. Bonus: the HR price has dropped to $595. I just got them in today. No comparison. The fun, puncy sound is back. Throw in the slightly improved soundstage, and it is clear to me the RS-1's clearly surpass the RS-2's. I know some claim that these two headphones are extremely close in sound, but to these ears there is a big difference between the two. The RS-1's have much more refined highs, without any of the grain that the RS-2's have. Don't worry, still plenty of detail and that you are on stage Grado sound. The midrange, not even close. You get so much more detail and creamy, warm goodness with the 1's. The bass, again, the 1's provide much better detail and impact.
The 2's are nice cans, but in my mind, not really worth the upgrade over the 325i's. If you can get the extra dough, the RS-1's are well worth the money. Out of the Grados I have heard (SR-60's, SR-125's, SR-225's, SR-325i's, and the RS-2's), the RS-1's easily blow all of them away. So in my long winded, story, kind of way, what I'm saying is don't be cheap. Spend the extra money and get the RS-1's. You won't regret it!
Let me state that my HD-650's are by far my favorite can that I own. I listen to them 90% of the time. My main change of pace can has been my DT-880's for a while. I liked the 325i's, but they were just too fatiguing with those uber detailed highs. So I decide to make the big jump and go straight to the RS-1's.
I get the RS-1's and right out of the box I like them, a lot. I say, wow, these may even challenge my 650's for some head time. They are punchy and fun. You get that nice front row Grado sound, but with a more detailed and puncy bass than I was expecting (especially in the mid and upper bass). I love the sound of snare drums on these. Throw in that up front midrange, and I was pretty happy. Really, they just are fun, engaging headphones. Would they replace my 650's at the top of the heap, no, but they would get a fair amount of headtime.
Than, that damn Sennheiser has to come out with the 800. Now, with my love for the 650's, I have to get a pair of 800's. So I'm still within the 30 day return period with HR, and sending back my RS-1's will almost cut the 800's price in half.
I try to be dipolomatic, and compare my RS-1's to my DT-880's. Whichever one I prefer will have to go. Now this is not a fair comparison, where the RS-1's add some color to the midrange, the Beyers are far more neutral, and with their design have a much better soundstage. Throw in their great comfort, and the DT-880's won out (plus by sending the 1's in the return period made me more money).
Right after I send my RS-1's back I come into a little money. Being that I sold my 325i's, I still needed the Grado hole in my lineup fixed. So I decide to give the RS-2's a try. I order the 2's and when I get them, I pull them out of the box and fire them up and...well, I can't help but compare them to the 1's in my mind and the 2's are rather boring.
Now, I have read just about every thread on both the 1's and 2's on Head-fi. I know that the 2's are more neutral than the 1's, no arguement there, but that added color in the ones just gives them more snap and fun. I'd read that the 2's are better for rock, which is what I predominantly listen to, and yes the 2's are more forward, especially in the treble, but this also makes them more harsh. The treble can get on the grainy side. The bass extends almost as deep as the 1's, but not quite as much. This is not a huge complaint as they are pretty close, but the 2's have nowhere near the bass detail the 1's have, especially in the upper and mid-bass. The midrange is not nearly as fun or creamy sounding as with the RS-1's For the people that recommend these for rock, in my opinion, just because it is brighter in the treble does not make it a better rock can.
I say to myself, what did I do? I've lost a lot of fun and excitement, and I need to get the RS-1's back. So that is just what I do, I reordered them from HR. Bonus: the HR price has dropped to $595. I just got them in today. No comparison. The fun, puncy sound is back. Throw in the slightly improved soundstage, and it is clear to me the RS-1's clearly surpass the RS-2's. I know some claim that these two headphones are extremely close in sound, but to these ears there is a big difference between the two. The RS-1's have much more refined highs, without any of the grain that the RS-2's have. Don't worry, still plenty of detail and that you are on stage Grado sound. The midrange, not even close. You get so much more detail and creamy, warm goodness with the 1's. The bass, again, the 1's provide much better detail and impact.
The 2's are nice cans, but in my mind, not really worth the upgrade over the 325i's. If you can get the extra dough, the RS-1's are well worth the money. Out of the Grados I have heard (SR-60's, SR-125's, SR-225's, SR-325i's, and the RS-2's), the RS-1's easily blow all of them away. So in my long winded, story, kind of way, what I'm saying is don't be cheap. Spend the extra money and get the RS-1's. You won't regret it!
