the RS2's place in grado's lineup

[jivetrain]

i've searched every thread about these headphones but still don't feel like i have a good grasp on them. they seem to occupy an obscure spot overshadowed between the 325i and RS1, treated as if they're not a legitimate headphone in their own right but instead a junior version of the RS1. i've read some reviewers claim otherwise, that the RS2 have a unique character and actually best the RS1 in some regards. is there anyone that's heard both and can elaborate on the differences and merits of the RS2 against the RS1?

also, for reference, i started with the 80's and now use the 225's, and i can definitely hear a lot of improvements between the two. how can i expect the 225's to compare to the RS2's? i've heard some people say they have a similar character, although i think i've heard that comparison made with every single grado headphone so i don't know if it's meaningless jabbering. if anyone can tell me specifically what separates these two phones it would be the most helpful to me of all the questions i have...

 

[DevilDog]

Yeah, the RS-2 is an elusive creature. I have the RS-1s and sometimes I read about the RS-2 and wonder if it might not suit me better, which is saying something because the RS-1 is a great headphone.
I'm not familiar with the RS-2, but like the other Grado headphones, they don't really compare sometimes all that well. For instance, the 60/80/125/225 seem to get better, but then you get the totally incongruous SR-325 stuck in there.
I'll be watching this thread to learn along with you.

 

[festivus528]

I am also interested in seeing how the 225s compare to the RS2s. It seems like everyone goes straight for the RS1s, skipping the RS2s completely.

 

[HeadphoneAddict]

I got my RS-2 in December, and my RS-1 in March, and had the RS-2 and the RS-1 at the same time for a few months, and I liked them both till the RS-2 were sold last month. I should say that they both had the APS V3 cable. But with the RS-2, I only had those stock for 24 hours before I sent them off to re-cable them, but I bought the RS-1 already re-cabled.

While still stock the RS-2 reminded me a bit of my MS-1 (not exactly just like them, but the sound signature reminded me of them) - with a fairly neutral tone, not too bright, not too much bass, with a forward midrange and good detail. They were in some indescribable ways better than the MS-1 (more detail, more depth and layering, richer). However, I thought the stock RS-2 were still a little bland for my tastes when compared to SR-80 or SR-225, and they strangely sounded similar to my APS V3 re-cabled HD-600. The RS-2 were fully burned in by the previous owner, so I didn't take more time to get to know them before I shipped them out the next day for the ApureSound cable.

With the APS V3 cable the RS-2 were more enjoyable, having picked up a little sparkle in the treble, and a boost in the bass, and the mids were just so rich and intimate. I loved them. My only complaint was that I wanted a more open soundstage that was less forward. I got that from the APS V3 re-cabled HF-1 that I bought, gaining a more open and distant sound stage that was less intimate. So I would use the HF-1 for classical, the RS-2 for rock, and both for jazz and electronic. Then I discovered that the HF-1 responded well to flat pads and could do rock well too, without a midrange suckout and with more bass. With bowls the HF-1 were too distant and thin sounding. The flats on HF-1 kinda rendered the RS-2 as redundant, but I kept them as spares because around that time Blutarsky sweet-talked me out of my HP-1000 and I needed a backup.

After being without the HP-1000 for a few weeks, I decided to take the plunge on a used pair of APS V3 re-cabled RS-1 that AK[zip] was selling. The RS-1 have the rich mids of the RS-2 with a little more open soundstage, and the bass of the HF-1 when those have flats. Sometimes I think they are the closest dynamic headphone to my electrostatics. However, while sounding a little different, I thought the RS-2 were close to the equal of the RS-1, except that they were not quite as versatile in ALL the genre of music like the RS-1 were. I tried the RS-2 with flats, and didn't like them as much, but the RS-1 also do well with flats.

At that point, since I needed to buy some equipment for my electrostatic headphones, I agreed to sell off the RS-2 to someone with a WTB post in the for sale forums.

That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

 

[feh1325]

i have the sr60. ms2i, and rs2
they're pretty different headphones
granted, these are the only grados i've heard

the sr60 lacks refinement, but still give you a nice punch
they're the most comfortable

ms2i is probably my favorite headphone. great clarity, detail, fun, and dynamics. the weight of the metal deters me from using these headphones exclusively.

rs2 is the most expensive headphone i have. i believe it is the most sennheiser-like. its very smooth.
i probably wouldn't have bought the rs2 knowing what it would sound like. but i've always wanted to try a woodie.
also because it was an older version with buttons, so...resale value?

 

[HeadphoneAddict]

Quote:

Originally Posted by feh1325 /img/forum/go_quote.gif i have the sr60. ms2i, and rs2 they're pretty different headphones granted, these are the only grados i've heard the sr60 lacks refinement, but still give you a nice punch they're the most comfortable ms2i is probably my favorite headphone. great clarity, detail, fun, and dynamics. the weight of the metal deters me from using these headphones exclusively. rs2 is the most expensive headphone i have. i believe it is the most sennheiser-like. its very smooth. i probably wouldn't have bought the rs2 knowing what it would sound like. but i've always wanted to try a woodie. also because it was an older version with buttons, so...resale value?

It sounds like we had a similar Sennheiser-like experience with the stock RS-2 (see my post above you).

 

[jivetrain]

Quote:

Originally Posted by HeadphoneAddict /img/forum/go_quote.gif However, I thought the stock RS-2 were still a little bland for my tastes when compared to SR-80 or SR-225

was it bland simply because it was more refined than those models? i'm imagining that the 225's and especially 80's might sound more exciting in comparison since they're less controlled all over the spectrum. i could say the same about the 225's vs. the 80's, since the treble is so much more balanced on the 225's that you lose the unnaturally bright and sparkly quality that made the 80's exciting. but the 225's have their own advantages which are more important, like the smoothness, focus, and purity of the sound, which i assume are qualities the RS2's also improve even further in, right?

i can't imagine why else the rs2's would be bland, if they have a richer sound and better soundstage than the lower models... you don't feel that the rs1's are bland though, from what i can guess, so maybe it's not the better control that's the problem.

thanks for that run down, any firsthand accounts help a lot.

 

[majkel]

So, here is my point of view, all with the stock Grado cable. First of all, the Grado cable, which I used once to recable other headphones, has got it's own signature, rich, colorful and bright, like the Grado house sound. This signature compliments best the RS2 from the SR325i-RS1 range. The other two need something more neutral/transparent and detailed, so I'm not surprised audiophile custom cable made the RS2's bland or something. The RS1's are IMHO more refined and less picky SR325i's while the RS2's are different creatures. The RS2's are the closest to the natural sound IMHO, the most realistic vocal timbre and positioning and have good resonance control. The SR325i's are most uneven but it's a great choice for those who cannot afford the RS1's. The latter present kind of surrealism in soundstage and imaging. Everything get's thicker and wider than in the RS2's, making instuments slightly blurred. It sounds like Grado wanted to place all good things they made in several types of their headphones in just one headphone - RS1's. You get full, rich, colored, thick presentation which is just to much for me. The RS2'a are slightly darker and colder but being closer to the natural presentation. You see and feel the performers more obviously and naturally, without adding too much of warmth on higher midrange. The characteristic Grado colorations still exist but the RS2's have the best control of them. On the RS1's there is just to much of it. What I can say is that when somebody needs a direct upgrade from the SR325i's without losing any aspect present in those headphones - should go straight to the RS1's.
Regarding the MS2i's - these are really bland and uninvolving headphones. I sold them after several days of auditioning. Compared to the SR325i's the only good thing about them is truly neutral midrange, somthing like in the GS1000's but bass was like a leather pillow, not hard enough, not so well controlled, the trebles were coldly colorless and lacking dynamics. The soundstage had a bit more depth than the SR325i's but the overall unliveliness, lack of bass impact and authority and the highs with no color/timbre information made me disappointed.

 

[Blackmore]

Really surprised to read that RS-2 are quite similar to HD600

However never tried recabled HD600, so...

From my experience I would say RS-2 are very detailed with crystal clear presentation, best for acoustics, imo. I found the bass to be deeper than SR-225, but also the airiness and detail just much better than SR-225. And when I think of RS-1 compare to RS-2, they do have more refinement and less that "sharpness" RS-2 have. They are like RS-2, but with a touch of cream... SR-225 are quite close to RS-1, if we are talking about velvet / woolly presentation, they both just warmer and more colored than RS-2.

 

[majkel]

@Blackmore, could you describe the differences between the RS2's and the MS Pro's? I read a comment saying the MS Pro's are "better RS2's". Is it true?

 

[Cool_Torpedo]

Has any of you compared the RS-2 to the PS-1?

Rgrds

 

[Blackmore]

Nonsense. MS PRO have less forward, less extended, less coloured with rolled of highs sound sig. They are more neutral and polite to your ears than RS-2. I am not saying they are bad, but I wasn't impressed like I was when I compared RS-2 to SR-225. It can be the fact that at the time I was so spoiled by other hp, such as K1000, GS1000 & PS-1, that any other couldn't make it anymore, I believe that was the thing. But even then, I choose RS-2 any day above MS PRO, just the matter of taste, nothing more.

Quote:

Originally Posted by majkel /img/forum/go_quote.gif @Blackmore, could you describe the differences between the RS2's and the MS Pro's? I read a comment saying the MS Pro's are "better RS2's". Is it true?

Not directly, but from the memory PS-1 have more weight and bass impact, but less clarity, but that's logical, I guess. RS-2 were the most concentrated on detail hp until GS1000 came out, imo..

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cool_Torpedo /img/forum/go_quote.gif Has any of you compared the RS-2 to the PS-1? Rgrds

 

[Cool_Torpedo]

Thanks Blackmore. I somehow expected that. Any worth mentioning differences in the midrange and vocals rendition? I like the PS-1s and the DAP drives them surprinsingly well, but I wouldn't dare to take the PS-1 on a trip. I wonder if the RS-2 using flats (more bass) could be a good substitute of the PS-1 when travelling.

Rgrds

 

[Blackmore]

I think you would be more than happy with RS-2, imo. And yes, flats bring them closer to your ears and create more impact&bass, but would increase some detail. Strange thing, but I never tried RS-2 with anything else than orig.pads. In fact I do not like any other combination than original one, with any Grado. So, why the hell I am giving you an advice then

I guess that's what happened in general, cos I tried it with GS1000 and it was just blaaa... I do not really remember, maybe I did try RS-2 with orig pads, but than reverse and like I wrote, not my taste. Also tried MS PRO with reversed and they become more punchy, so it must be some general effect, I think.

p.s. You may want to try ATH ESW9 instead of RS-2. They are really great portables. In the beginning they were not that smooth sounding, but now I truly enjoy their smoothness, especially with vocals. Just an idea...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cool_Torpedo /img/forum/go_quote.gif Thanks Blackmore. I somehow expected that. Any worth mentioning differences in the midrange and vocals rendition? I like the PS-1s and the DAP drives them surprinsingly well, but I wouldn't dare to take the PS-1 on a trip. I wonder if the RS-2 using flats (more bass) could be a good substitute of the PS-1 when travelling. Rgrds

 

[majkel]

@Blackmore, thanks for the answer. It looks like I'd choose the RS2's over the MS, too.