My Short Impressions: RS-1 vs. SA5000

[btcomm]

Patu, what kind of setup are you using the SA5000's on?

gsferrari, what setup do you listen to your SA5000's on?

 

[Blitzula]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iron_Dreamer People who say metal shouldn't be listened to on hi-fi are nuts if you ask me, put most metal on a cheap car stereo and it becomes nearly unlistenable distortion (perhaps the folks who've only heard it this way just assume it could never sound any better).

I may be nuts,heh...I have yet to find a hi-fi system that makes metal sound more enjoyable than my car's stock cd player (1995 Lexus ES-300).

I think Dark Tranquility's Character is an excellent cd, btw. I was just listening to it again today.

 

[GoRedwings19]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blitzula I may be nuts,heh...I have yet to find a hi-fi system that makes metal sound more enjoyable than my car's stock cd player (1995 Lexus ES-300). I think Dark Tranquility's Character is an excellent cd, btw. I was just listening to it again today.

I drive a lexus as well on my lazy free days and I still prefer listening to the manic street preachers in the car as well.

 

[Bosch]

Perhaps Patu's Rudistor has something to do with the SA5000s performing well, especially at the bottom end. Could be some very good synergy there.

 

[Trogdor]

Quote:

Originally Posted by EdipisReks RS-1 with wider soundstage and SA5000 with punchier bass? what planet am i on?

Considering I had the RS-1 for over a year and half and the SA5K for three weeks, I can saw WITHOUT a doubt in my mind the SA5K has a wider soundstage. The RS-1 and every Grado I have ever listened to has a very compressed soundstage which is very apparent with symphonic music.

As everyone states, the SA5K has great bass. Tight and deep.

The RS-1's have magic mids and a bright treble. Bass is great but not as tight as it could be (but still very very solid). The SA5K and RS-1's are a tough comparo since depending on the music you listen to (vocals, definitely the RS-1's, rock, either, heavy metal, SA5K's, techno/dance/electronica, SA5K's, classical, SA5K's) and what amp you own, either are top notch options. Certainly for the price, the SA5K's are king in my book.

 

[Iron_Dreamer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blitzula I may be nuts,heh...I have yet to find a hi-fi system that makes metal sound more enjoyable than my car's stock cd player (1995 Lexus ES-300).

Hmmm, that's interesting. Well considering my family's never owned a car with a CD player, I don't think we're comparing on a very common ground

I was in town yesterday, and Metallica's "Battery" came on the radio, man, it was soo garbled (this is with good reception mind you) I could hardly make out the riffs. it was just one big ball of distortion.

Anyway Blitz, if you have the slightest interest, you really should hear the SA5000, it really got me off the headphone carousel.

 

[Blitzula]

I've been tempted to listen to it. I just had so many ear problems with headphones (which prompted the sale of my PS-1). If I ever did give headphones another go, it'd be on the list of phones to listen to.

 

[NotJeffBuckley]

This is vying for my dollars alongside the A900Ltd. The difference is that I have no Sony cans, and I'm very interested in the sound ascribed to the SA5000 while I do have the A900 and know I like it.

Would you gents who've owned the SA5000 recommend it for someone who likes the HD650's handling of bass and midrange but wishes for more treble, and likes the A900's treble and bass handling but wishes it had better midrange?

 

[discord]

"It's brighter than SA5000"

I thought the SA5k was the king in that department.

Never tried it myself though, but it does seem like an interesting beast.

 

[Carl]

Quote:

Originally Posted by NotJeffBuckley Would you gents who've owned the SA5000 recommend it for someone who likes the HD650's handling of bass and midrange but wishes for more treble, and likes the A900's treble and bass handling but wishes it had better midrange?

Very, very different sonic signatures there.

IMO, the SAk hass less, but better bass. The 650 has less, but better, treble. Let the flames begin.

Quote:

Originally Posted by discord "It's brighter than SA5000" I thought the SA5k was the king in that department.

Depends a lot on source, cables, amp, etc. They're quite like Staxes in that regard. Set it up bad and you'll get a wall of treble, and well and it'll sound pretty neutral.

 

[overlunge]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carl Very, very different sonic signatures there. IMO, the SAk hass less, but better bass. The 650 has less, but better, treble. Let the flames begin. Depends a lot on source, cables, amp, etc. They're quite like Staxes in that regard. Set it up bad and you'll get a wall of treble, and well and it'll sound pretty neutral.

Agreed, based on my experience, the SA5000 seem to respond more readily to tweaking of the front end equipments. Their bass is indeed articulated and lean, compare with HD650's slight overkill, and RS-1's fuzziness.

No flames, Carl.

Overlunge

 

[herroyuihk]

May talk more about vocal between RS-1 and Sa5000
Our rock and Pop almost foucs on vocal.......
(My metal rock is very few)
....................................
Finally I choose AD2k.....

 

[fureshi]

i guess the rs1 has pretty decent soundstage when compared to others in the grado line up but not sure when compared to the sa5k.

 

[Patu]

Good morning and thanks for all the replies.

I forgot to mention that there's more energy in RS-1s sound and it's also livelier than SA5000s sound. You can hear Grado's 'fun factor' here when SA5000 is maybe more on the analytical side. I'd give points for Grado for this one.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blitzula A rare hard rock/heavy metal headphone review! Nice. Do you listen to any Finnish/Swedish melodic metal like Children of Bodom/In Flames/Arch Enemy etc.? Did you use any of that in your testing if so?

No not any of those bands. Nightwish is nice though.


Quote:

Originally Posted by btcomm Patu, what kind of setup are you using the SA5000's on?

Look at my signature.


Quote:

Originally Posted by EdipisReks RS-1 with wider soundstage and SA5000 with punchier bass? what planet am i on?

I already put them back in the box and was ready to return them in a couple of hours but with all these doubting comments I had to try them again. I also turned the crossfeed plugin off now!

Now the differencies in sounstage aren't so obvious anymore but still I can say without a doubt that RS-1 has wider soundstage. The best soundstage I've heard in Grado lineup.

What about the bass then. No change there. SA5000 is still better in this area. Right now I'm testing it with Daft Punk - One More Time which has nice punchy midbass going throught the whole track and the difference is clear. RS-1 sounds light in bass when compared to SA5000. SA5000's bass is stronger, hits you harder and goes deeper. The basses are quite similar in both of the cans but it feels like someone would've used EQ and turned RS-1 a few dB lower.


Quote:

Originally Posted by aerius Either the SA5000 was a ringer & the RS-1 is a dud in the setup, the crossfeed plugin is doing something weird, or Patu hears very differently from either of us.

If this Finnish head-fi meet comes true then I must demand people to compare these cans with my rig.


Quote:

Originally Posted by Bosch Perhaps Patu's Rudistor has something to do with the SA5000s performing well, especially at the bottom end. Could be some very good synergy there.

This might be true though Rudi has also listed RS-1 to pair up "Very good" with RP5.1 on Rudistor website.


Quote:

Originally Posted by discord "It's brighter than SA5000" I thought the SA5k was the king in that department.

The difference in brightness is almost too clear. RS-1 is just clearly brighter and the high-end extends 'better'. With some tracks it got even a bit too high/bright for my taste. If I'f had to guess I'd say that SA5000 is less fatiguing in long run.

 

[Patu]

Picture added!