[oicdn]

I've been talking to somebody here on the boards who is local that doesn't post much (well, he's had one post for a long time). He was complaining about the SQ from his RS2's, but he didn't have an amp. Actually, the reason he bought RS2's was because of their ease of driveability. He remembers back when he bought his FIRST set of higher end cans when he put them on, he was blown away by the increase in SQ. So he was thinking he would be getting the same effect, but maybe increased seeng as how these cans are higher on the pyramid in terms of "superiority".

So, I had a chance to briefly listen to some RS2's today coming out of a LisaIII, and frankly, I wasn't impressed. From hearing so many people saying the RS1 was "such a difference from the other models" I personally could BARELY differentiate between them. He listened to them on the Lisa, and although he noticed an increase in SQ, he still wasn't impressed, considering the cans.

I could hear that the RS2 had SLIGHTLY if ever so subtley sparkly highs, but otherwise, the tape mod evened out the bass on a non-taped RS2. The only benefit to getting RS2's over SR80's was the pretty wood, in which the owner even said the difference wasn't noticeable or probably even worth the upgrade. The aesthetics of it though alone are ALMOST worth the upgrade in my eyes...well, if I had the spare cash in my pocket (which as of lately, has been quite the opposite).

But is it all head-fi hype? I was REALLY expecting an increase, especially considering I was REALLY looking to hearing what the upper echelon of the Grado Family had to offer. I mean, honestly, the differences were so minute, the changes I saw from the tape-mod was more apparent than the differences between going from the SR80 to the RS2 in a much larger quantity...so is the RS1 a HUGE jump from the RS2, or is it another "HFH" (Head-Fi Hype)?

 

[goober-george]

Hmm.. regardless if the rs1 is a huge step up from rs2, it should still be a huge step from the sr80. I've read that the 225's are a big jump from the 60's. This is an interesting find and shocking. Maybe the amp distorted the sound signature of the rs2s or made it worse somehow.

 

[enjoiflobees]

I was at a store the other weekend and I was testing the difference between the grados (even though I dont really like grados much). Though I was going out of a NAD receivers headphone jack, I also thought there was going to be alot greater difference between the SR60s and the RS2. I am going to go back soon and bring my portable rig there and see if it is any better, which I doubt, but at least I'll know the music a little better.

I agree with you on the looks though.

 

[Jon118]

Honestly, I can tell a difference between the 60s and the 80s, so I would hope there would be a difference between the RS2s and the 80s. Maybe I just need to go back and listen to the 80s again, but the 60s didn't blow me away like the 80s did, of course I hadn't really had anything worth calling good at that point to compare to either, since this was shortly after getting my first good pair of headphones.

 

[HeadphoneAddict]

I'd say the SR-80 are 90% of the RS-2, if both are well burned in. The SR-80 is a great headphone, and the only reason I have the SR-60 and MS-1 instead are I got better deals on them at the time. But I prefer the SR-80 to either of those by a small margin.

The SR-225 head more in the direction of a fun headphone, with PRaT, and the RS-2 head more in the direction of refinement. That means they can initially fail to impress, until you have spent some time getting to know what they can do.

I think I posted before that when I first got my RS-2 they were close enough to the MS-1 that I already had, that I was a little disappointed. Further listening told me a few things - the harmonics and sound signature of the RS-2 is a little more tonally correct and accurate, and highs are very present yet smooth. Initially they lack that brightness in a way that might fool you into thinking they are a little rolled off. I think the mids are richer by a small degree too - pianos and female vocals benefit more from this. They kinda reminded me a little of my HD600 more than Grados, but with a little more excitement. In other words, with good recordings and source/amp, there is more transparency through the headphone into the music, than with the SR-80.

My disappointment with my RS-2 (used and well burned in) was enough that within 24 hours my were on their way to Alex at APureSound.com to be re-cabled. They came back and everything that was good about them was better. The highs are smooth but crisp, the bass is quick and tight (still not as much as I would like), and the mids are warm and rich, and do justice with a passion to female vocals like Diana Krall. Other than the bass, they sound almost like my fabled HP-1000 with signature cable, for less than 40% of the cost.

Aside from the RS-2, I think the HF-1 with APS cable may be better, and being able to switch between bowls and flats depending on the genre makes the HF-1 more versatile.

See the rest of my impressions here REVIEW: Grado HF-1 and RS-2 both re-cabled with APureSound v3 cable, with stock HP-2 sprinkled in for good measure...

 

[BigSurSpoon]

The SR-80's were my first set of "higher end" cans and the quality jump from what I was using before (MDR-V6) to the Grado was shocking to me. I had the SR-80's for about a year before I decided to splurge and get the RS-2's. From the moment I heard a brand new pair, I was shocked by how much more I liked them than the SR-80's. The only thing I could think of was how much more refined the RS-2s were than the 80's. Comparing the two in all sorts of equipment from high end headphone-amps to amps in high-end integrated amps to straight out of the ipod, I did not regret my $500 purchase for even one second.

 

[number1sixerfan]

The rs-2's have been known for a long time not to be a great value in the lineup. It is often said, and for good reason, to try and stretch for the rs1 if possible. They are not that much of a step up from some of the lower models. Additionally, it takes extremely careful listening to decipher the differences in the some of the grado cans. They have such a distinct house sound that the differences between most models are subtle at best.

 

[senns&nonsense]

I have had SR60s, SR80s, recabled SR80s, MS1s, SR225s, and RS2s with the Silver Dragon. Bang for buck my choice would be (and is) the MS1s. But the RS2s are leagues ahead of the others in terms of SQ and refinement. When A/B ing against the RS2, the others sound relatively grainy and rather congested (though they are all quite good at their price points, especially those under 3 digits).

I will be selling the RS2s because I mostly rely on Grados for portability and the RS2s are too pretty to be outside too much. The MS1s are a worthy substitue for hundreds less but they are definitely a BIG compromise in quality away from the RS2s. If Grados were my choice at home, I would not hesitate to keep my investment in the RS2s - they really are some of the finest and most clear and accurate headphones I have ever heard.

 

[daveDerek]

Quote:

Originally Posted by goober-george /img/forum/go_quote.gif Hmm.. regardless if the rs1 is a huge step up from rs2, it should still be a huge step from the sr80. I've read that the 225's are a big jump from the 60's. This is an interesting find and shocking. Maybe the amp distorted the sound signature of the rs2s or made it worse somehow.

Quote:

Originally Posted by number1sixerfan /img/forum/go_quote.gif The rs-2's have been known for a long time not to be a great value in the lineup. It is often said, and for good reason, to try and stretch for the rs1 if possible. They are not that much of a step up from some of the lower models. Additionally, it takes extremely careful listening to decipher the differences in the some of the grado cans. They have such a distinct house sound that the differences between most models are subtle at best.

hmmm, there's a bunch of us out there that prefer the rs-2 to the rs-1 for it's more tonally balanced sound. i've had 2 vintage sets of each and the rs-2s remain while the rs-1s have found other homes. i also have vintage alessandro ms-pros, which are a more neutral phone than the rs-1 and the rs-2s are more akin to these than they are to the rs-1.

 

[Blackmore]

What HIGH END Grado need is an tube amplification, imo. When I bought RS2, still having SR225, the differences between two were very noticiable. Like already been said, RS2 are much refined, having overall cristal clear and very detailed sound. RS1 are more creamy. I would say, talking about RS2 is talking about very good and tasteful cup of black coffee. Talking about RS1 is talking about very good and smooth cup of capucino, where coffee still enough present, but only with a nice creamy touch, grrrr....

Bit out of topic, sorry cant stop myself. But the best of all is when I smell fresh burned coffee beans, thats it. I always smell food before I eat, becuase its so powerfull sense, which gives you the possibility to taste the food without having a single bite yet. But when the smell and the first bite are on the same level, your enjoyement becomes totally complete then. So, everything we humans do, based on senses, which I think is a bless, if you have it.
The bottom line is, when I talking about coffee beans, I think of GS1000. If you can not read between the lines, tell you this. When you can not hear the differences between SR80 and RS2 your senses are probably dead, frozen or simply blocked.

 

[PhaedrusX]

i think what the op is experiencing is the point of diminishing returns.
when i first heard the SR60 -- going from stock buds -- i was floored by the jump in SQ, hearing details in recordings i'd never noticed before. it really was a revelation, more so when factoring in the price.
going to the RS-2 from the SR60 was another step up, but wasn't nearly as dramatic as my first session with the SR60. for me, the improvement is not subtle, but nor is it the giant leap you might expect in terms of pure dollar for sound value.
i'm at a point where i have a strong feeling this applies to most good entry level gear. spending a lot more money for incremental improvements is going to be worth it for some, not so for others.

 

[Akathisia]

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhaedrusX /img/forum/go_quote.gif i think what the op is experiencing is the point of diminishing returns. when i first heard the SR60 -- going from stock buds -- i was floored by the jump in SQ, hearing details in recordings i'd never noticed before. it really was a revelation, more so when factoring in the price. going to the RS-2 from the SR60 was another step up, but wasn't nearly as dramatic as my first session with the SR60. for me, the improvement is not subtle, but nor is it the giant leap you might expect in terms of pure dollar for sound value. i'm at a point where i have a strong feeling this applies to most good entry level gear. spending a lot more money for incremental improvements is going to be worth it for some, not so for others.

Well said.

 

[Zanth]

I've often pointed folks to the Good Cans website (Goodcans.com) wherein there is a review of the SR60's and they indicate they are very very close to the RS-1's.

I've often stated that most headphones will get you 80% of the way there, sometimes more sometimes less but often times you get a whole lotta sounds even from earbuds. What the better and usually more expensive headphones provide is that last bit of percentage points, the subtleties and nuances of the music that the lower end stuff can't match, retrieve present undistorted etc.

Finesse, extra power, tightness, transient attack, decay, micro and macro dynamics, extension.

These are some of the aspects of sound that the better headphones do more often than not while the lower end cans struggle to get out there let alone get it done right.

what happens then is that a chain must exist. Good source, good amplification, good cans. Then listen. One will ideally be exposed to a world of sound they never dreamed could exist. This was my experience from going with a PCDP/SR60 setup to a PCDP/RA1/SR60 setup then to the PCDP/RA1/RS1 setup and then finally to the Shanling/RA1/RS1 setup. It was years until I heard another amp, Melos SHA-X with HP1s then the EAR and Sugden, Headamp GS1, Gilmore V2, Glite along with a slew of others.

What I encountered was the need for a system rather than some pricey item at one point in the chain. Far better to have a 1000 well conceived setup, balanced throughout than say 700 RS1s out of a 300 source with no amp.

The RS1s and RS2s have major improvements over the SR60s but those improvements fall within the last 15-20% of what is possible. Some might go so far as to say only the last 5-10%. Even still, music seems to really come alive when it gets into the 90% range and that 95% which for arguments sake is likely the best we have now from any company, that 91-95 is worth the big big bucks.

Yes the SR60's sound like the RS-1's. No the RS-1's do not sound like the SR60's

Same with RS2's and SR80's. ARe they similar? Yes. Are there differences? Most definitely. Are they large enough to warrant the added cost? To some, without a doubt. For others, they would rather sell both and get the remarkable Koss KSC35's, the best value in all of headphones.

 

[HeadphoneAddict]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zanth /img/forum/go_quote.gif I've often pointed folks to the Good Cans website (Goodcans.com) wherein there is a review of the SR60's and they indicate they are very very close to the RS-1's. I've often stated that most headphones will get you 80% of the way there, sometimes more sometimes less but often times you get a whole lotta sounds even from earbuds. What the better and usually more expensive headphones provide is that last bit of percentage points, the subtleties and nuances of the music that the lower end stuff can't match, retrieve present undistorted etc. Finesse, extra power, tightness, transient attack, decay, micro and macro dynamics, extension. These are some of the aspects of sound that the better headphones do more often than not while the lower end cans struggle to get out there let alone get it done right. what happens then is that a chain must exist. Good source, good amplification, good cans. Then listen. One will ideally be exposed to a world of sound they never dreamed could exist. This was my experience from going with a PCDP/SR60 setup to a PCDP/RA1/SR60 setup then to the PCDP/RA1/RS1 setup and then finally to the Shanling/RA1/RS1 setup. It was years until I heard another amp, Melos SHA-X with HP1s then the EAR and Sugden, Headamp GS1, Gilmore V2, Glite along with a slew of others. What I encountered was the need for a system rather than some pricey item at one point in the chain. Far better to have a 1000 well conceived setup, balanced throughout than say 700 RS1s out of a 300 source with no amp. The RS1s and RS2s have major improvements over the SR60s but those improvements fall within the last 15-20% of what is possible. Some might go so far as to say only the last 5-10%. Even still, music seems to really come alive when it gets into the 90% range and that 95% which for arguments sake is likely the best we have now from any company, that 91-95 is worth the big big bucks. Yes the SR60's sound like the RS-1's. No the RS-1's do not sound like the SR60's Same with RS2's and SR80's. ARe they similar? Yes. Are there differences? Most definitely. Are they large enough to warrant the added cost? To some, without a doubt. For others, they would rather sell both and get the remarkable Koss KSC35's, the best value in all of headphones.

I love my KSC35 (and SR-60 too), for which both replaced my iGrado as my in-car headphones. There's enough love to go around for even the lowliest of headphones when they sound that good

 

[Al4x]

looks like I won't be saving up for the rs2! Think I'll look for something else!