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In Reply to: RE: headphone advice posted by sisterray on October 03, 2019 at 20:19:10
So, which electrostatic headphone system do you recommend. I own Koss ESP/950 headphones and I'd like to know what you own.
Thanks!
John Elison
Follow Ups:
That said, I also own the Koss electrostats. The best upgrade for the Koss is to play them through a Stax headphone amp...it definetely opens up the sound.
Between my old antiquated SR-404s and my Koss, I actually prefer the Stax. They are more open, with more detail. That said, both sound much better with an after-market tube headphone amp (I use a McAllister headphone amp).
You can currently get a Stax SR-507 for a good price, I haven't heard these, but some say they aren't as good as the old SR-404 or the current SR-L500 but I haven't heard the SR-L500 or SR-507 myself. The SR-L700 are supposed to be much better but they are a lot more money.
If you want to talk the SR-007 or the SR-009, that is another matter completely. My suggestion is just try a second hand Stax, maybe a SR-407 or similar, with a Stax amp, and if its your liking, you can upgrade headphone or amp one at a time..
Grant
RAAL TRUE RIBBON HEADPHONES !
Intriguing. Have you heard them? I wonder about diaphragm weight. A comparison against various electrostatic headphones (just not Stax) would be in order.
Thanks for the link. Much appreciated.
"'Cause when love is gone, there's always justice./And when justice is gone, there's always force./And when force is gone, there's always Mom. Hi Mom!" Laurie Anderson, "O Superman (For Massenet)"
Grant -
Very, very true. Nothing in my experience beats stats. That said, it's a pretty closed ecosystem. Not a lot of amplification choices, and the two primary players are Stax & Koss. Both situations are slowly changing. The equipment does keep its value.
I do want to try the Koss, using an adaptor cable & my SRM-1/Mk2.
I prefer the 507s, although I'd be intererested in listening to the L-700s. The opinion of some on Head-case.org is that the 507s are awful, the worst compared to others in the product line, that even the intro-line 207s are better. I won't engage in defending my personal preference. I respect one specific person's other opinions on that board, and pissing contests are not for me. This is a hobby, not religion, politics, nor soccer.
For me, Bass definition is better in the 507s compared to the 207s. Drums sound more saturated. Presentation may also be a bit quicker. The 507s have a thinner diaphragm, which means less mass to move. Ergonomically, they fit my head more comfortably. The pads are leather, and the cable is detachable. The cable itself & the plug are quite durable.
"'Cause when love is gone, there's always justice./And when justice is gone, there's always force./And when force is gone, there's always Mom. Hi Mom!" Laurie Anderson, "O Superman (For Massenet)"
Thanks for the info! I know that Stax are the best; I just wish I could find a reputable discount seller. Apparently, Stax has excellent control over price. ;-)
Best regards,
John Elison
I don't know about US pricing, but here in Toronto they are still selling the now discontinued SR-507s for a lot less...about 800 CDN$ they were originally more like 1100-1200. Some say the SR-507s aren't Stax's best effort, I haven't heard them myself.
I own the Koss, but I have only used the Koss amp once or twice; they sound much better with the Stax 006t amp.
cheers
Grant
Grant -
When were the 507s discontinued? I wonder whether the Lambda series is intended to take over for the upper end of the x07 series earspeakers.
I'd like to try the L-700 & the SR-007. For amplification, the SRM-353X is attractive & barely affordable. As I mentioned to John, the ESP/950 would be neat to try. I believe the diaphragm is larger than on the Stax offerings, but I have no idea re diaphragm thickness. I think that is key.
"'Cause when love is gone, there's always justice./And when justice is gone, there's always force./And when force is gone, there's always Mom. Hi Mom!" Laurie Anderson, "O Superman (For Massenet)"
John -
How do you like the Koss stats? There are adaptor cables to enable ESPs to be used with a Pro Bias Stax energizer. The bias voltage of the Koss box is 600V, while Stax Pro Bias is 580V, so compatibility is not an issue. My understanding is that the Koss energizer is the weak point. The 950s are on my list to try.
"'Cause when love is gone, there's always justice./And when justice is gone, there's always force./And when force is gone, there's always Mom. Hi Mom!" Laurie Anderson, "O Superman (For Massenet)"
The Koss ESP/950 headphones sound pretty nice. I would think they are probably not as good as Stax, though. Unfortunately, Stax are a bit expensive for me. I like FiiO earbud headphones as well as any I've tried recently. They also block outside noise significantly because they fit into the ear canal.
I owned a pair of Stax Lambda Pros many years ago and I really liked them. When Grado came out with his first headphones, the HP-1, they bested my Stax so I gave the Stax to my son. He ruined them after a while.
I'd love to own another pair of Stax, but I just don't want to spend the money and I don't want to buy a used pair. If I could ever find a discount on a new pair I might try Stax again.
Best regards,
John Elison
John -
I use a Stax SRM-1/Mk2 energizer & Stax SR-507 earspeakers. I also have 207s, but I prefer the bass definition of the 507s. I'm not done with the shootout between the two, but the 507s seem to be the winner. The build quality & comfort are much better on the 507s. The leather pads on the latter make a big difference.
I have an exceedingly poor room, so cans are a necessity. I'm also a detail junkie, so the Stax really do it for me, especially coupled with SACDs. I honestly never knew what "soundstage" meant until I used head stats.
"'Cause when love is gone, there's always justice./And when justice is gone, there's always force./And when force is gone, there's always Mom. Hi Mom!" Laurie Anderson, "O Superman (For Massenet)"
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