Grado RS2X Review and Measurements

Discussion in 'Headphones' started by purr1n, Jan 15, 2022.

  1. Merrick

    Merrick A lidless ear

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2016
    Likes Received:
    12,569
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Portland, OR
    If you specifically want the metallic timbre, why not go for the 325x?
     
  2. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    89,777
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    The wood play is there with the Grados, but they don't get in the way of transients. The effect is subtle. The wood resonance isn't at such a level that the decay of transients are smeared. It's something very low level that imparts more on the timbre than in the time domain. Part of it is because Grados are open in almost an open baffle configuration. Sound goes one out way hitting the wood along the way without too much bouncy bouncy as would be in a closed headphone. Besides HFM... ya know.

    The RS1X remains the "fastest" of the Grados. If want a tight decay without any wood play, go for the SR325X. However, the driver on the SR325X isn't quite as fast as the RS1X or RS2X. Finally, another thing to keep in keep is the quite different tuning for each of them.

    I need to write up a buyer's guide / matrix for SR225X, SR325X, RS2X, and RS1X.
     
  3. murphythecat

    murphythecat GRU-powered uniformed trumpkin

    Pyrate Banned
    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2016
    Likes Received:
    1,201
    Trophy Points:
    93
    I sure will

    problem is I dont have a measurements setup. otherwise id go nuts and measure all sorts of different tape: gorrila tape, electric tape, scotch tape, ect. Im sure they all have different acoustical properties. damn. how hard is it to build a half decent basic setup when I already have a mic?

    edit: looking at the shipibo thread. clearly those grado are 100% dependent on the pads acoustic properties. no peak whatsoever at 2khz 4khz and 10khz
     
    Last edited: Jan 22, 2022
  4. goodvibes

    goodvibes Facebook Friend

    Joined:
    Jun 21, 2017
    Likes Received:
    33
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Location:
    Chicago
    RS1X is more my speed and reminds me of the PS500e.
     
  5. RedFuneral

    RedFuneral Facebook Friend

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2016
    Likes Received:
    213
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    CT, USA
    It's a combination of factors. Not sure I'd appreciate the extreme overshoot in the 4.8khz transient plus I'm a bit of a treblehead and it's the darkest one of the bunch. I'm actually intrigued by the woody timbre just leery of dosage.

    I'll be keeping an eye open for that guide for sure.
     
  6. Philimon

    Philimon Friend

    Pyrate Contributor Banned
    Joined:
    May 6, 2016
    Likes Received:
    2,092
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Portland, OR
    Please elaborate. I cant find your impressions, only gibberish.
     
  7. goodvibes

    goodvibes Facebook Friend

    Joined:
    Jun 21, 2017
    Likes Received:
    33
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Location:
    Chicago
    That's because I didn't give them. I think the ps500n is one of the best on the market but too 'analytical' for most. RS1x isn't quite as revealing but friendlier, fast and plenty revealing. Neither is for bass heads.
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Dislike Dislike x 1
    • List
  8. Philimon

    Philimon Friend

    Pyrate Contributor Banned
    Joined:
    May 6, 2016
    Likes Received:
    2,092
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Portland, OR
    I can't seem to find your impressions comparing the ps500n to the other bests on the market. Link?
     
  9. goodvibes

    goodvibes Facebook Friend

    Joined:
    Jun 21, 2017
    Likes Received:
    33
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Location:
    Chicago
    If that's what you need, you're out of luck. It's just an opinion . I've listened to top planars, Focals, Mt Speakers etc. Owned Lambdas 40 years ago and other Stax since. Are you questioning my sincerity because of my post count. If this place is one of those needing to be in the click sites, I'll be happy to exit. Life's too short for needing to 'define your terms' nonsense on an open forum.
    Go insult and hall guard someone else.:)

    Oh, and for large diaphragm Grados the ps2000e were quite good but a little warm for me personally and HEAVY.
     
    • Dislike Dislike x 5
    • Like Like x 1
    • List
    Last edited: Jan 24, 2022
  10. pure5152

    pure5152 Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2018
    Likes Received:
    1,595
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Southern California
    Nah it's not about sincerity or about low post count, it's just opinions without broader context/comparisons/juxtaposition are largely meaningless. Can you elaborate on what about the ps500 makes them one of the "bests on the market" for you? What specific qualities do you prefer the rs1x/ps500e over the "top planars, Focals, mr speakers, stax lambda", etc you've mentioned? What stack did you listen to the rs1x and ps500e on?

    No hard feelings, but it'd just be great if you expanded on your thoughts a little to get where you're coming from/understand better what you mean. If you're unwilling to do that, that's fine and again no hard feelings, but this forum might not be the place for you.
     
  11. goodvibes

    goodvibes Facebook Friend

    Joined:
    Jun 21, 2017
    Likes Received:
    33
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Location:
    Chicago
    Not interested in joining a click. When your 1st response to me is an insult, I think I know where you're coming from. I'm out. Not looking to argue. Too bad for the owner of this place. I joined ages ago and never understood why it didn't have more traffic. Now I do. Have a good friendly life, guys.
     
    • Dislike Dislike x 7
    • Like Like x 2
    • List
  12. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    89,777
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    Which reminds me, I should get the PS500e in for comparison, unless there's an X version of that coming out soon.
     
  13. Lyander

    Lyander Official SBAF Equitable Empathizer

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Feb 25, 2017
    Likes Received:
    10,961
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Philippines, The
    *clique

    Would still be curious to get your thoughts on the PS500e to calibrate impressions since I wasn't rightly impressed by the pair I temp traded the HP-3s for.
     
  14. Grattle

    Grattle Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Feb 17, 2017
    Likes Received:
    995
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    USA
    I too would like to see how a PS500 compares. I can send you mine if you want. Its an OG PS500 though.
     
  15. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    89,777
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    I've heard the PS500, not the PS500e. I am curious if there is a X in the works because the X series have been fairly big with incremental upgrades or changes. From memory, the PS500 sounded pretty good with the bowl pads, like a classic Grado but with a bass hump. It's a wood and metal sandwich right?

    I'll see if I can snag an E. Want to make a guide that's usable for new buyers.
     
  16. Lyander

    Lyander Official SBAF Equitable Empathizer

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Feb 25, 2017
    Likes Received:
    10,961
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Philippines, The
    Yup, wood and metal sandwich-- the wood actually plays a fair bit into things. I actually tried using what little dynamat I had left over to dampen it temporarily (just a thin ring between the pads and the housing) and it did seem to truncate the decays a whit, but it still seemed oddly bloomy and thuddy to me even relative to the HP-3s out of a warmer upstream. I still find it amusing that they were vibrating on my head with particularly bassy passages, enough to almost get displaced.

    Mind, this was with kitchen sponge-like aftermarket pads besides the stock Grado flats; been forever since I got to hear a pair with the stock bowls but ergonomics aside I may well prefer the stock pads there. That's not saying much though as I didn't like the PS500e overall compared to other Grados in the RS/SR series. I do hope that there's an X version that makes for a more sensible tuning in the works since I think they try a bit too hard for bass level (with mediocre quality) and sacrifice a lot of what makes Grados good with it.
     
  17. murphythecat

    murphythecat GRU-powered uniformed trumpkin

    Pyrate Banned
    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2016
    Likes Received:
    1,201
    Trophy Points:
    93
  18. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    89,777
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    No I didn't. It's because I know they won't work (being a prior GS1000 and PS1000 owner).
     
  19. Philimon

    Philimon Friend

    Pyrate Contributor Banned
    Joined:
    May 6, 2016
    Likes Received:
    2,092
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Portland, OR
    When have g-pads ever worked? I remember their one positive is they create a large and diffuse soundstage that’s kind of neat. But every other characteristic gets worse, even comfort ime.
     
  20. goodvibes

    goodvibes Facebook Friend

    Joined:
    Jun 21, 2017
    Likes Received:
    33
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Location:
    Chicago
    Here's another post for members to dislike, LOL.
    I inadvertently confused the RS1x with the RS2x. I prefer the smaller driver RS2x and feel it similar to the PS500e that i like a lot. Just wanted to correct an erroneous post I made.

    Noticed it due to a dislike frenzy by rfernand, LOL. Happy New Year:piratemug:
     
    Last edited: Jan 3, 2023

Share This Page