Equipment:
Source - Cyrus CD-7 (DPS power cord)
ICs - Grover UR4
Amplifier - Eddie Current HD-25 (Syl 1952 BadBoy, WE 421A, DIY power cord)
Headphones - RS-1, HF-1, stock bowls on both
Music (songs) used:
Aimee Mann - Red Vines
Coldplay - X&Y
Franz Ferdinand - Jacqueline
Franz Ferdinand - Take Me Out
Franz Ferdinand - Dark Of The Matinee
Gorillaz - Kids With Guns
Rachael Yamagata - Be Be Your Love
Rachael Yamagata - Reason Why
Rammstein - Mein Herz Brent
Sufjan Stevens - Flint
Sufjan Stevens - Holland
Review/Comparison:
Just earlier today I had the good fortune to be able to compare the HF-1 and RS-1 for a good period of time. I used a couple of songs that I was extremely familiar with to compare the 2 headphones. At no point in time was the volume knob on the HD-25 adjusted.
At no point in time did I enconter any sibilance or untoward harshness with either headphone.
The HF-1 clearly sounds darker than the RS-1. Perhaps it could be a less fatiguing phone to listen to for super-extended (>4hours) periods of time.
The RS-1 has a more even frequency response.
Pianos on the RS-1 sounded slightly brighter than on the HF-1. Both headphones presented pianos in a completely believable way though.
Midbass could get a tad overblown at time with the HF-1. This was very evident with the bass guitar intro in Jacqueline, Take Me Out and Kids With Guns. The overall effect of the excess midbass was to make everything sound wool-ley and diffuse/hazy on the HF-1.
The HF-1's instrument seperation and ability to resolve detail fall far short of the RS-1. This was one weakness that stood out especially badly. At times, the instrumentation on Take Me Out and Dark Of The Matinee threatened to collapse into chaos with the HF-1. The RS-1 handled it effortlessly. The instrumentation (strings) on X&Y was a amorphous mass with the HF-1. The RS-1 gave it texture and body.
The RS-1 extends both ways better. This was noticed on X&Y and confirmed with Dark Of The Matinee. Some deep bass present on the RS-1 was missing in the HF-1.
Surprise surprise - the HF-1 has marginally more bass impact than the RS-1. This was first noticed with the drums on Dark Of The Matinee and subsequently confirmed with the bass drum intro on Be Be Your Love and on Mein Herz Brent. The RS-1 bass impact was marginally more diffuse. You have to listen very hard to notice this.
Female vocals sound wonderful on both the RS-1 and HF-1. The balance is tipped a little towards the dark side for the HF-1, which could in some cases make the music sound a tad lifeless. This was noticed with
The RS-1 has a much wider soundstage. The RS-1 also managed to get me to that much vaunted state of headphone nirvana much often (when you close your eyes, the music suddenly jumps out of your head and you get completely lost in it...)
Clarity: RS-1 wins, hands down. The acoustic guitar on Holland and the male vocals of Coldplay and Sufjan Stevens simply sound much better on the RS-1. On the HF-1 they sound somewhat dark and muddled.
Build quality - The HF-1 has a very flimsy and thin vinyl headband. It feels very fragile and flexes in every direction way too easily. I would certainly not throw it into a backpack and bring it around. The RS-1 has a much sturdier and wider leather headband. The RS-1 has much sturdier 'stalks' than the HF-1. The HF-1 is slightly lighter than the RS-1.
Conclusion - soundwise or buildwise, does the HF-1 stack up to the RS-1? Unfortunately no. It is certainly not a RS-1 'killer' in any sense of the word. Sorry people, today Goliath wins.
But does that render it anything else besides a fantastic deal? Most certainly NOT!!
The HF-1 is an awesome deal - I simply cannot emphasise this strongly enough. So much sound, at that price! I strongly advise anyone who is looking to get their first Grado to skip the sr-60/80/125/225 and head straight for the HF-1.
Heck, the HF-1 might even win some converts away from the SR-325!
If the HF-1 had been available in the past, I would have gladly skipped owning the Beyer DT880, Senn HD-25-1, E2c, K501 and even the MS-2 just to own this headphone!
Yes, in this review the HF-1 may have come out looking the inferior headphone, and it is. BUT ONLY IF YOU HAVE A RS-1 NEXT TO IT TO COMPARE TO. Taken on its own merits, the HF-1 definitely stands tall and proud amongst its peers in the same price bracket.
And now the part you all have been waiting for...
Photos!
a group shot of all the equipment involved. note the pad of paper - i made sure every thought that entered my head during listening was written down!
focus on the cyrus cd-7 player and berning microzotl.
focus on the eddie current hd-25 and headphile single stand.
Well... That's all folks. I sincerely hope this thread helps all those people out there wondering about how the HF-1 stacks up against it's big brother, the RS-1.
Off topic warning:
Some further thoughts at the end of the day...
1. Today was the first time I realised the importance of ICs. The Eddie Current has 3 inputs with an input selector. The Cyrus CD-7 has 2 outputs. Placing 2 pairs of different ICs between them, I was able to rapidly A-B them without having to stop to manually remove ICs. The differences were subtle, but certainly there. My advice - get your main rig components sorted out first, then look to ICs. IMO they are of the 'last 10%' type of upgrade.
2. The Cyrus CD-7 is an excellent source. Dynamic sounding without being fatiguing and having a wide spacious soundstage, and oh - the SLAM! The SLAM!! It completely thrashed my E-MU 1212m. There is simply no comparison. I'm talking Mick Jagger vs Scarlett Johansson - in other words, no comparison. I am now a convert to Dedicated Sources. My next upgrade will be to get a good dedicated redbook source.
