Quote:
Originally Posted by robm321
I am curious about the PS-1. I've heard good things about it, but usually from people that don't own the GS-1000 or RS-1 which is usually not the best comparison. I'd rather hear from people that have lived with both to avoid any favoratism. I'm looking for an objective observation this time around.
I talked with a headfier at the last meet about the PS-1 and he said he wasn't as impressed as everyone esle seemed about the PS-1. After listening to a couple of headphones/equipment comparisons with him I realized he was dead on with what my impressions and tastes, so I definately feel we are on the same page (the comparisons weren't with Grado's btw).
I've heard the PS-1 has more bass than the GS-1000 (that's too much for me). I've heard the midrange is incredible (The best midrange I've heard was the RS-1/flats). Is the PS-1 soundstage like the RS series?
Thanks!
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I have owned the PS-1's, and currently own the Black Dragon GS1's and RS1's...and will try and offer some thoughts..
The bass on the PS-1's is more intense than the the RS1/GS1...and the MR is the most liquiid by itself out of the three...but the catch is,
the GS1 is more liquid across all Frequency ranges..and is more coherent and accurate to the recording, the imaging on the GS1 is superior to the RS1/PS1...as the headstaging is more accurate and evenly distributed, with a distinct 3D quality that the Reference/Professional phones can not compete with. The GS1 is affected by the source moreso than the other cans...and the amp seems to have a signigicant play into the projection of the MR and lower register..
On the Binaural field recording The Promise, the effect is so realistic on the GS1 that you get cold listening..
The thunder rolls and crashes are more realistic and bearing the nec overtones at the boom/crash on the GS1 because of this phone addressing the Lower band more accurately, and due to the imaging of this phone.The Black Dragon GS1000s make this rain storm a reality minus the wet clothes, really. A must hear.
On
For Duke, 24kt 20bit Gold CD, listening to Mood Indigo, song two, the realism in the standup bass or Oboe, is startling on the GS1000, and has so much natural thump and pitch to these stringed instruments, that it sounds like you are listening to them play, not music through headphones. The Black Dragon GS1's make me want to cry when I hear this passage..
The headstaging is a magor differentiator bt these 3 phones, and do not want to get carried away with anything, but just thought this may help.
The RS1 is the RS1, there is nothing that the PS1 or GS1 or BDGS1 can do that will match or emulate the raw intimacy, or aggressive MR shredding in your eye hole...this is clear. With some passages and material, these are still the go to cans for most I am sure.
The RS1 VS the stock GS1000 was a closer call than the RS1 VS PS1...where the PS1 was superior to my ears in the lower register and Mid Range compared to the RS1...although more refined than the RS2, the RS1 seems to fall short on tubes or SS in the sheer musicality sense if comparing directly to the PS1, as the Mid Range and bass on the PS1s are something to hear for any serious headphone listener. The RS1 VS the GS1000 stock, however, seemed to be a whole closer to eachother in terms of presentation and headstaging...although a larger image with the stock GS1, the RS1 seemed to everything better or as well as the GS1 stock did...the GS1 had more bass, yes, but was everywhere compared to the RS1s bass, in that it was not tight or focused in its placement in the music. To my ears, the vocals were more distant and lost somewhat in the headstage with the GS1, whereas, when listening to the RS1, you are right there, hearing every part of the song whether you want to or not..with a slight emphasis on the MR bass(hump) and Upper reg (obviously)..The soundstage on the GS1 helps the speed and overall PRAT of the music played and this is its biggest advantage in my opinion over the RS1..Where with complicated passages where the RS1 jockeys for space in the limited headstage, you lose/miss out on details and mechanics that drive supplemental material on the songs...where the GS1000 just plays the difficult passages smooth and clear, and with nice seperation...allowing the listener to concentrate on the music and and illusion of soundfield..instead of determining which instrument and beat goes or is played from where..
The Black Dragon GS1000 VS the PS1 is the tricky one for me to comment on.. I ownded the PS1 for almost a year, but do not have in my possession currently to do a direct AB comp...but have a wicked ill memory so will share nonetheless..the PS1 still has more bass to my recollection than the BDGS1, although not as focused or tight as the BDGS1...the BDGS1 has the same proportion of MR VS HR VS LR in its frequency response, and is truly the most balanced phone JohnG has come up with, this is clear. It is more balanced than the GS1000 stock by a good deal, and its signature is closer to neutral than any Grado phone still for sale currently. The MR compared to the stock GS1 is in your face with detail and volume, and the drivers seem to be opened up more with the BD cable...the bass is more realistic, and the phones' whole presentation is the "air'iest" and most spacious I have heard on dynamic phone..Its realism and speed is unmatched by the stock GS1 nor the PS1/RS1... the speed is behooved greatly by the headstaging capabilities of the BDGS1, in that the instrument placement and origin of vocals for example is accurate and maintained faithfully throughout the songs themselves, giving a true soundfield and audible experience typically associated with speaker listening or live music..
