RS-1 or GS-1k?

[Wil]

Ok, here's the thing, ive got my MS2is and my AKG701s and love both of them, but i've always wanted to get the RS-1. Now with the GS1ks in the market im a little confused.

I know there are quite a few who perfer the RS-1 over the GS1k, because they sound somewhat warmer and perhaps more punchy. ( i did my search! )

I listen to essentially all genres of music, from tech/death metal to Jazz trios/quartet to electronica.

Im thinking of going for the RS-1 for it supposedly being warmer and more musical as compared to the neutrality of the GS1ks ( i mean, Grados were built to be musical, right! )

But i would like to hear your opinions first.

Im using ->
G&W TA 2.1 tube amp *auricaps and internal silver wiring.
CEC TL51x CD player
Almarro Silver interconnects.

 

[b0dhi]

The main difference between the 2 is that the GS has a large soundstage while the RS is up close/intimate. Jazz/classical/acoustic/electronic tends to shine on the GS while rock/metal tends to shine on the RS. The GS is far from neutral.

 

[silverrain]

My research on this choice, seems to show (according to many posts) that they are similar SQ, but the GS1000 is designed for lower-volume listening, and gets unhappy at higher volumes, compared to the RS-1, which is a factor for some peeps.

The HeadRoom FR graph bears this out, too, plus they say as much.

I have RS-1, and wondering whether to get a GS1000, too.

Tough decision....

 

[Gradofan2]

I tried the GS-1000's compared to my RS-1's with my PinkFloyd XCAN v3, and DV 332.

The pair I had were simply beautiful - best wood grain I've seen. And the sound was great... but, for me, a bit too distant, unless I pressed the front edges closer to my ears - which made them sound more like "refined RS-1's, but less strident. Pressed closer to my ears they were great, but I wasn't "up for / down wit" constantly pressing them closer to my ears. I also wasn't sufficiently impressed with them over the RS-1's (or other headphones), to try other ear pads.

And... as noted previously, they did seem to have "issues" with higher volume listening.

And... their fit on my head was too loose... and... I didn't want to bend them around a lot to try and get them to fit more tightly.

Ultimately the combination of those issues... for me... was a "deal breaker." Just way too costly for a modest improvement in sound "with issues."

 

[braillediver]

Add to the mix RS-1's with Flat Pads. I can only listen to the RS-1's with Flat Pads.


Mitch

 

[Wil]

Seems like its the RS-1 leading the race so far.. hmm.

 

[19lexicon78]

well, i would choose the rs-2. reading threads about those. they seem more fun than the rs-1. i have the rs-1 and regret.
for jazz, classical i would buy stax omega. those are just expensive as a grado gs1.

in all; you already have a grado, buy stax.

 

[xenithon]

I have heard both, and the RS-1 I thoroughly enjoyed. It is so alive, punchy, dynamic - yet not excessively in your face or aggresive. The only caveat was the comfort which I could never get around. I tried the GS-1000 with such hope, as it was just a few weeks after the release of this "statement" product. I could have fallen asleep within a few minutes. I found it rather sterile and two dimensional.

 

[Wil]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 19lexicon78 /img/forum/go_quote.gif well, i would choose the rs-2. reading threads about those. they seem more fun than the rs-1. i have the rs-1 and regret. for jazz, classical i would buy stax omega. those are just expensive as a grado gs1. in all; you already have a grado, buy stax.

Interesting proposition but the only stax that interests me is the Omega and with that i need a new amp and that would make me go poor! ):

 

[Wil]

Quote:

Originally Posted by xenithon /img/forum/go_quote.gif I have heard both, and the RS-1 I thoroughly enjoyed. It is so alive, punchy, dynamic - yet not excessively in your face or aggresive. The only caveat was the comfort which I could never get around. I tried the GS-1000 with such hope, as it was just a few weeks after the release of this "statement" product. I could have fallen asleep within a few minutes. I found it rather sterile and two dimensional.

Sterile eh...hmm. not what i want!

 

[19lexicon78]

nah..

omega 160.000 yen
the amp 120.000 yen

sell the akg

 

[xenithon]

Disclaimer......sterile in comparison to the RS-1

 

[gz76]

Quote:

And... their fit on my head was too loose

I found that with the GS-1000 too, whereas the RS-1 is much more comfortably fitted. I can throw my head around without fear of losing the music!

 

[hentai]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wil /img/forum/go_quote.gif Ok, here's the thing, ive got my MS2is and my AKG701s and love both of them, but i've always wanted to get the RS-1. Now with the GS1ks in the market im a little confused. I know there are quite a few who perfer the RS-1 over the GS1k, because they sound somewhat warmer and perhaps more punchy. ( i did my search! ) I listen to essentially all genres of music, from tech/death metal to Jazz trios/quartet to electronica. Im thinking of going for the RS-1 for it supposedly being warmer and more musical as compared to the neutrality of the GS1ks ( i mean, Grados were built to be musical, right! ) But i would like to hear your opinions first. Im using -> G&W TA 2.1 tube amp *auricaps and internal silver wiring. CEC TL51x CD player Almarro Silver interconnects.

i dunno if you were the one who sms me regarding the RS1. I have heard GS1000 for a couple of times and had the cash for that but i chose to get a budget speaker setup instead. GS1000 is a great headphone but somehow i still prefer rs1 and i know GS1000 has more bass and wider soundstage ( am i weird?) Or prob more bass and wider soundstage are not the improvements i want in the grado house sound. When i heard the Ed 9 headphones , i like them better than GS1000 ( the ed9 is still not my prefered type of sound) and its just cost S$500 more ( when talking about headphones costing thousand , S$500 is nothing) but spending S$2100 on a headphone? What if you find that AKG k1000 is a better choice to suit your taste? ( i wanna try the akg k1000).

Death metal may prob sound better with rs1, jazz better with gs1000 but before spending the cash on GS1000 , consider other alternatives as well.

 

[Mindless]

Gradofan2: The gear associated with either cans in your test is hardly reference class. The Music Hall MMF CD25 is quite a cheap CDP if I'm not entierly mistaken and the Darkvoice is about as entrylevel tube amplifier as it gets. The X-Can is a different story though, but that dosen't change the source...

The headphones are more expensive than the amplifier and CDP together and the GS1000 has been deemed a very gear-dependant headphone.'

And thoes who complained about fit: That's entierly subjective. If you have a small head, they will rest loosely on your head. If you have a big head, they won't. Again, like other Grados, I believe you can bend the headband into shape so they fit you better. I haven't tried myself as they fit me perfectly out of the box.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wil /img/forum/go_quote.gif I know there are quite a few who perfer the RS-1 over the GS1k, because they sound somewhat warmer and perhaps more punchy. ( i did my search! ) I listen to essentially all genres of music, from tech/death metal to Jazz trios/quartet to electronica. Im thinking of going for the RS-1 for it supposedly being warmer and more musical as compared to the neutrality of the GS1ks ( i mean, Grados were built to be musical, right! ) But i would like to hear your opinions first.

Indeed, there are quite a few who prefer RS1 over GS1000. Since I haven't had the chance to hear the RS1 (been thinking about buying them, but I think electrostats take priority) or the stock GS1000 for that matter. My pair is recabled with a Black Dragon, so my experiences may differ from others who have not had them recabled. GS1000 isn't a very warm (as you say) or colored can. Very neutral in my opinion in it's musical reproduction. Punch however is something they don't lack. They have bass in both quality and quantity and musicality in masses. Gets my feet tapping every single time.

I too am somewhat of an all-eater when it comes to music. They preform classical music with more authority than any other headphone I've had. String and bow instruments sound superb with them, so they are an unparalelled can when it comes to classical for me.

When you say tech do you mean techno? If so, they are definately a great techno can. Bass impact and response is fenomenal so none of that "techno feel" is lost. As techno is a part of electronica, I guess you can expect the same from most genres in "collective name". I'm not really a big electronica fan myself, but it's a nice change to listen to some from time to time, and when I do, I enjoy it just as much as my other music.

As for metal, which I listen to quite a bit myself. I can't say it's their strong part. Definately lacking if you compare it to classical. They don't sound bad with it but there are better cans, and I'm quite sure the RS1 will deliver better music for this particular genre.

And if you're interested, they are great for melodical rock too (Asia, Boston, etc.). Well, I guess you could say string instruments in general is GS1000's forte, so any music with alot of strings in it will sound good. Unless of course you have a bad recording.

Again, I'd like to point out that their preformance lies solely on the recording, source and amplifier because crap in -> crap out. If you source material sucks, expect the headphones to suck. They are very unforgiving in this aspect.

You seem to have a somewhat higher-end CDP ($1500++) so I don't think the souce will be anything to worry about. Then again I have no idea what it's characteristics are. All I know is how my rig sounds.