I guess it's my turn now.
Prologue
I would just like to thank kchew (Kelvin) again for the incredible opportunity to try Audio-Technica's flagship open-back headphone, it was a great experience. Regretfully, I did not get as much time with it as I would have liked due to the start of school, orientation camps and whatnot.
Introduction
I will be doing a comparison of the AD2000 with one of my favourite headphones, the Grado RS-1. I listened through the whole of each album using both headphones and jotted down the differences.
Equipment useu
Myryad MC100 - MAD Ear+ HD with GE TMBP 5751 - headphone
Comparison
KT Tunstall - Eye to the Telescope
One of my in-heavy-rotation albums, I figured it would be a good test to see how each headphone handled non-audiophile quality recordings.
The immediate differences I noticed was that the AD2000 was noticeably brighter than the RS-1, so the entire album sounded more electric on the AD2000 compared to the RS-1 which sounded mellower in comparison. KT's vocals stood out more on the AD2000, and cymbals were definitely more pronounced. The RS-1 did sound slightly muddy on a few tracks due to a larger midrange presence.
A downside though, the AD2000 got pretty fatiguing after half the album, whereas with the RS-1 I did not have that problem.
On select tracks that have less accompaniment such as "Silent Sea" the AD2000 really nailed them with KT's crisp voice really coming through, however on slightly heavier tracks the brightness of the cymbals overwhelmed the vocals for me, and I preferred the RS-1 for a mellower sound.
Eric Clapton - Unplugged
RS-1 definitely has a more textured, intimate sound compared to AD2000. I felt a lot of the decay and emotion from Clapton's guitar riffs were lost on the AD2000. Clapton's voice also lost some of his roughness on the AD2000.
RS-1 is a clear winner for this one.
The Fray - How to Save a Life
Drums have more satisfying kick on the RS-1 as compared to the AD2000. There's better soundstage and separation on the AD2000, but not very significantly. Electric guitars work better on the RS-1 than the AD2000, there's just something special about electric guitars and Grados. Male vocals sound more realistic on the RS-1 as well, sounds a tad too thin on the AD2000.
I'll have to give this to the RS-1 as well.
Bruce Springsteen - In Concert
Separation is clearly better on the AD2000, however it does lack the crunch of the electric guitars. The sound is just too clean and thin for this particular genre. Bruce Springsteen's voice lost most of his roughness and body on the AD2000. AD2000, though technically superior, was just not as engaging due to the lack of body.
RS-1 for rock.
Eva Cassidy - Live at Blues Alley
Vocals are more present, sweeter and crisper on the AD2000. Percussion has a very nice snap and just the right amount of aggressiveness without going over the top. Piano has a more realistic tone on the AD2000 as compared to the RS-1. Soundstage is slightly larger, more precise and focused on the AD2000 which works really well for this album when combined with the sweet vocals. There however is just a slight bit of fatigue after listening to the whole album with AD2000, probably due to the brighter nature.
Overall, this is clearly one album that the AD2000 wipes the floor with the RS-1.
Jazz at the Pawnshop
AD2000 is more lively, and very snappy with this album. Percussion, in particular, shines. Drum beats are tighter, though with less presence than the RS-1. AD2000 has better resolution and slightly better soundstage too. Piano, once again, is more realistic on the AD2000. Treble is airier on the AD2000, and as mentioned a few times above, more prominent as well.
AD2000 was largely more impactful and engaging on this album as compared to the RS-1, which almost sounded sluggish. Details jump out at you on the AD2000.
One more win for the AD2000.
Nils Lofgren - Acoustic Live
AD2000 has better transients and decay, though at the expense of a little body. The AD2000 is brighter, with a little more bite to the guitars. However, I thought the AD2000 was bordering on fatigue. AD2000 had more focused vocals, albeit leaner.
This was one of my favourite albums on the RS-1, though after hearing the AD2000 I really can't say who's the winner for this one. I like the AD2000 for the snap and speed, but I still like the RS-1 for the midbass reverb and overall body.
Antonio Forcione - Touch Wood
AD2000 more dynamic, with better resolution and detail. Mostly the same observations as above, better transient detail on the AD2000. Female vocals more forward on the AD2000, though male vocals lack a little body.
Stacey Kent - The Boy Next Door
I bought this particular CD after 10 seconds of hearing it in the store. Her voice was fantastic, yet I could not replicate that exact feeling at home on my system. RS-1's midbass seemed to work against it terribly in this case. AD2000, however, brought back the same feeling as I had in the store. Her voice was so crisp, sweet and forward, exactly as I would have liked. What was amazing on the AD2000, quickly became average on the RS-1. I definitely did not see this coming.
A hearty win for the AD2000.
One Billion Applause 2 - The Best Of Teresa Teng
Clearer and crisper vocals on the AD2000, though the RS-1 has ever-so-slightly more texture. It's easier to follow the bass line with RS-1, and the imaging I get from the RS-1 is more coherent than with the AD2000. The AD2000 does give the impression that the singer is TOO isolated from the rest of the picture.
Although the AD2000 nails the vocal range better than the RS-1, I have to give it to the RS-1 for a more coherent imaging and a more textured fluid sound.
Conclusion
After a few moments on my head, it was pretty obvious that the AD2000 was a technically superior headphone as compared to the RS-1. It has a larger, more enveloping soundstage due to the circumaural nature. It has better transient response, resolution and detail retrieval.
Sonically, both headphones are coloured and this colouration works differently for each of them. AD2000 thrashes RS-1 in jazz and percussion-heavy tracks, with its speed and snappiness leaving the RS-1 in the dust. On female vocal tracks with little accompaniment, AD2000 shows its true prowess as well, though I can understand if some comment that the midrange is too forward/coloured/fake.
AD2000 has a cleaner, crisper sound with the lack of midbass bloom and the more accentuated upper-midrange. Comparatively, this can make the RS-1 sound slightly muddy. AD2000 has a brasher, more detail orientated sound and you will definitely notice new things with your music. RS-1 focuses on a smooth, mellow sound which lets you be able to listen for hours on end. It all depends on what you're looking for.
AD2000 is simply divine for a lot of audiophile material (especially vocals), it is less forgiving than the RS-1. Team SOURCE FIRST should love the AD2000. AD2000 literally hurts on bad recordings.
AD2000 works very well on jazz, percusssion, female vocals, good recordings in general.
RS-1 works well on rock, male AND female vocals, pop, recording quality is slightly less important.
A HUGE thumbs-up for the AD2000, at the start I kept listening to female vocals and I really wanted to get myself a pair just for that genre. I think that's the biggest compliment I can give it.
Thanks again, kchew!
