RS-2, SR-125, 225, 325 Questions

[patman657]

Hello,
I love the Grado SR-80's, but it is time for me to upgrade. So here is my question: I like mostly Rock, some Jazz, and some Classical, and I can afford up to an RS-2. So what is the best one to get for my musical tastes? I hear the 225 is the best for rock, but I'm sure that the RS-2 is the best for Jazz/Classical, and I want something that will do all of them well. Don't bother recommending any other brands, because I really want another pair of Grados. Thanks!

 

[Ebonyks]

I realize that you don't want to hear this, but grado's are hardly designed for classical music. A HD-600 would be more suited for classical. As for jazz, while i've never tried out them, the RS-1's are supposed to be an ideal set of phones. For the price of the RS-2's, you can get RS-1's slightly used on audiogon. Overall, other than the HP series, those will probably re-create the most different types of music well.

No headphone will do every time of music well. Every set of phones have flaws, even the orpheous.

 

[NotoriousBIG_PJ]

Rs-1s

Biggie.

 

[patman657]

My budget is going to allow me to buy a used pair of RS-2s, not a new one, so the RS-1 is definitely out of the question. What I really want to know is what the best one for rock music is.

 

[JaZZ]

SR-225. I don't think they're specialized in rock. They're great with everything, even and especially with classical – and clearly more neutral and smooth than the SR-325. But over-all I prefer the HD 600 because of its better resolution and its more realistic soundstage.

 

[sacd lover]

I have both the grado sr225 and rs2. I dont think there is a huge difference between the two. The rs2 has more bass extension and slightly smoother highs. The sr225 has more speed and sounds nicely balanced. Changing pads on the grados makes more difference than changing the model to me. One of the older grados like the sr200 are more neutral, and would probably be best for both rock and classical, if you can find one. Another point, none of the grados like the sr225 or rs2 will seem that much better than than the sr80 if you have a poor source,cheap cables etc., so an upgrade there may be the best place to start. If your source etc is good either of these are great phones. Some people like the sr325; they are similar to the rs2 in bass extension and are more detailed, but slightly to harsh for me. I seem to listen to these two, the sr225/rs2, the most of any of my six grado headphones.

 

[sacd lover]

I was posting while you asked the last question,"best for rock"? I vote for the sr225 with modded senn h-19545 earpad. Still the rs2 with the same pad is an excellent rock phone, just less forgiving with poor recordings. The latest grado pad mod ; turning the h-19545 pad backwards will give you a more distant and relaxed presentation vs the standard orientation. As a new level of obcessiveness, now we can turn our grado earpads around for each different genre of music.

 

[patman657]

And also, I am interested in buying an entry-level amp, if there is such a thing. It must be portable. My rig will ultimately be an Laptop w/ Echo Indigo card -> Amp (Maybe) -> Probably 225s or 325s. Thanks for the help, guys!

 

[patman657]

Maybe I should be going with another brand. There are so many types. I need something similar to the Grado sound, with some good bass and good treble and midrange, I guess I want something that is pretty balanced on all ends. Anyway, I need something that will be good for rock. Any recommendations are appreciated. Remember, I like the Grado sound, but I find Senns to be kind of dull, so I guess I don't really like the closed-type headphone. BTW, I have a quite narrow head, so don't recommend anything that will enclose my head like a motorcycle helmet.

 

[Beagle]

Quote:

Originally posted by Ebonyks I realize that you don't want to hear this, but grado's are hardly designed for classical music. A HD-600 would be more suited for classical

HD600? Not unless you want to keep falling asleep after the first minute.

I have the SR80, 125, 225, 325 and RS-1. I highly recommend the SR125 as a great overall performer for all types of music.

 

[scrypt]

Quote:

Originally posted by Ebonyks I realize that you don't want to hear this, but grado's are hardly designed for classical music. A HD-600 would be more suited for classical.

I don't mean to be all up in Ebonyks's binness, since he's way closer than I to the fillin's of most on Head-fi. But my opinion counts for something, praise St. Urethra. After all, I'm a part-time (formerly full-time) studio musician with a degree in classical composition who writes string arrangements for clients: To my ears, the RS-1 sounds as sweet with classical as everything else, as I'm sure the RS-2 must.

Personally, I don't perceive classical music as particularly restful or calming. Some of my favorite classical composers happened to get used in The Shining (Bartok, Penderecki, Henze). And I hate headphones that are "forgiving" -- I prefer the harsh truth. So I'm not going to pretend that listening to IDM through the Grados and my EAR 4+ is a restful experience: There are stratospheric, shear-your-skull-open highs. But that's fine with me because that's how the music sounds.

I was talking to a fellow IDM enthusiast who put it succinctly: "Aesthetically, I prefer treble to bass."

Yet listening to Pole 3, one of the most bass-heavy albums ever, I can tell there's also enough bass. The bass lines don't even register on bass-deficient speakers and you can feel them swimmingly on the RS-1, thengyoobirrahmooch.

Still, there's a reason music stores tend to pair the RS-1/2 with the most recent Musical Fidelity upsampling CD player. The brash RS-1 is a perfect match for the rounder sound of that particular player, as it probably will be for the upsampling Phillips 963SA.

Yeah, I like the 600/580 quite a bit. But truthfully, I only use it for classical when I'm feeling, how-you-say, fatigued. The rest of the time, I use the V6, 831 (and from now on RS-1).

 

[mecano]

for Rock 325 is the best hands down.i own the 225 for years they are rather good but 325 have a powerfull sound more detail more bass slam -but don t use a poor harsh source on them! you also get the cool aluminum housings.i also think that 225 with bowl have no bass at all
but for classical hd600 is the best dynamic phone around

 

[patman657]

Thanks everyone. I think I will go with the 325s unless someone can make a more convincing case for another pair. Also looking for an amp, remember.

 

[JaZZ]

IMO the SR-325 is a pure rock headphone. It's (a bit) more powerful than the SR-225 and has (a bit) more bass slam, but its upper midrange is severely colored – it's unusable for classical for that reason. And it's somewhat harsh, too, without appearing extremely treble-friendly to me.

If you primarily listen to rock, go for it if you can stand its coloration! Otherwise I recommend the SR-225, which is quite neutral and has a powerful, extended bass with flat pads.

 

[patman657]

@Jazz, what do you mean by coloured exactly? Kind of new to some of these audio terms.