#11
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If you change your mind, I have a lovely set of Stax SR-009's (originals) and Stax SRMT-600 MK2 amp that would sound lovely.
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Poland: Silenzio, Simaudio, Luxman, Bricasti, Bryston, Shunyata, Stax, Meze, Linn, Audeze, and Dan Clark Headphones, Stax, Wireworld, Crystal, Nordost, Siltech. Home Main System: Magnepan 20.7, Pass Labs XA 100.5, Audio Research Reference 6, Esoteric P-03, D-03, G0-Rb, DV-60, Clearaudio Innovation & Tangent arm, VPI HW19 MK4 & ET 2.5 arm, Mark Levinson 37, Aesthetix Rhea Signature, Magnum Dynalab Etude, Kiseki PHS, Sumiko Palos Santos Presentation,Wireworld, Crystal Absolute Dream, Shunyata, Acoustic Zen, and Stealth cables Other Avalon Arcus, Snell Type AIII, Tympani IV, Green Mountain Europa, Martin Logan CLS, Tympani 1D, Counterpoint, GAS, Yamaha, Levinson, Perreaux, Proceed, Theta, Linn, and other collectibles, including 60 different headphones and 30+ headphone amps, over 60 cartridges, and too many cables, stands, and tweaks to list. |
#12
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Ivan will get my first call once I've decided which route to go! |
#13
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So I've been to the dealer and I've listened to the following headphones
Focal Clear: Immediately, it's different from my system. I guess it's the headphone effect. I can hear a lot more details, lower noise floor, better bass, great separation. I could stop there and be happy. The headphones are comfortable though a bit heavy Focal Utopia: Let's jump another level. The sound signature is similar to the Clear but with a bit more of everything (including weight). they are sharp, they are detailled. I really enjoyed them. Audeze LCD-X: I really enjoyed those. They are warmer than the Focal but they are lively and sharp. Amazing sound and details. The bass is there. Clear winner for me Audeze LCD-4: Massive let down. I thought I was going up and up until now. The sound was weak, the bass was absent, it was detailed but there was no presence. One of my test track is Stimela by Masekela with a progressive drum kick at the beginning. On the previous headphones, it was a rush but here it was nowhere. I thought it was the amp being weak so we changed for a dedicated Focal headphone amp (Arche). It was a bit better but not great and trying the LCD-X again, they were clearly better for me. If I had stopped there, I would have picked the LCD-X and created the system around them. But I had to try Stax so here we go (all on SRM-007TII) SR-L500: very flimsy looking and I almost thought I would crush them. They seem like a toy headphone and no one would take them seriously... Until you listen to them. they are airy, detailed, black backgroup, quite comfortable for the shape. Now those are amazing headphones and a cut above the rest. SR-007 MKII: Slightly better than the L500, much more comfortable but struggling to hear a strong difference. At that point I was running out of time but I would have liked to spend more time comparing to the L500 and maybe even try the L700 SR-009: What can I say? The only headphone to give me goosebumps while listening to Summertime by Ella and Louis. The drum kick on Stimela seemed to last forever and becoming more and more menacing. You could hear the fingers on trumpet on Moanin'. I could have stayed there for a very long time. Since it would be a new system and I would have to buy an amp anyway, having to buy the energiser for the Stax is not an additional cost in my case. The headphones would be about the same price as the speaker cables and they will last me for a long time. I think my choice is made ... Now what do I pair them with ? |
#14
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Ivan ordered me the SRMT-8000 and SR-009S, which is current the flagship Stax combo. They also make the solid state and tube amps that are cheaper. I forget the model numbers now, but I am sure Ivan can get them for you for maybe 1//2 to 1/3 of the price of the 8000. The 8000 is sublime. Any serious electrostatic buyer should also look at the Headamp Blue Hawaii SE. I am not sure if Ivan can get them, but they are really amazing. I bought amps from Justin in the past, and while they take a long time to be manufactured, his commitment to quality is second to none. I can say that I am thrilled the combo Ivan got me, and I have compared them to the Sennheiser HE-1 at $55,000, and certainly do not hear the difference in price! Enjoy!
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Poland: Silenzio, Simaudio, Luxman, Bricasti, Bryston, Shunyata, Stax, Meze, Linn, Audeze, and Dan Clark Headphones, Stax, Wireworld, Crystal, Nordost, Siltech. Home Main System: Magnepan 20.7, Pass Labs XA 100.5, Audio Research Reference 6, Esoteric P-03, D-03, G0-Rb, DV-60, Clearaudio Innovation & Tangent arm, VPI HW19 MK4 & ET 2.5 arm, Mark Levinson 37, Aesthetix Rhea Signature, Magnum Dynalab Etude, Kiseki PHS, Sumiko Palos Santos Presentation,Wireworld, Crystal Absolute Dream, Shunyata, Acoustic Zen, and Stealth cables Other Avalon Arcus, Snell Type AIII, Tympani IV, Green Mountain Europa, Martin Logan CLS, Tympani 1D, Counterpoint, GAS, Yamaha, Levinson, Perreaux, Proceed, Theta, Linn, and other collectibles, including 60 different headphones and 30+ headphone amps, over 60 cartridges, and too many cables, stands, and tweaks to list. |
#15
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Talking about energiser, have you tried the STAX SRM-D50? It seems like a nice all in one solution and it is quite compact
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#16
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Where's the London dealer with all those goodies?
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#17
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I have not. The SR-009's do need power. You can also check the new 700 series, which may be very good (at least I have heard so).
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Poland: Silenzio, Simaudio, Luxman, Bricasti, Bryston, Shunyata, Stax, Meze, Linn, Audeze, and Dan Clark Headphones, Stax, Wireworld, Crystal, Nordost, Siltech. Home Main System: Magnepan 20.7, Pass Labs XA 100.5, Audio Research Reference 6, Esoteric P-03, D-03, G0-Rb, DV-60, Clearaudio Innovation & Tangent arm, VPI HW19 MK4 & ET 2.5 arm, Mark Levinson 37, Aesthetix Rhea Signature, Magnum Dynalab Etude, Kiseki PHS, Sumiko Palos Santos Presentation,Wireworld, Crystal Absolute Dream, Shunyata, Acoustic Zen, and Stealth cables Other Avalon Arcus, Snell Type AIII, Tympani IV, Green Mountain Europa, Martin Logan CLS, Tympani 1D, Counterpoint, GAS, Yamaha, Levinson, Perreaux, Proceed, Theta, Linn, and other collectibles, including 60 different headphones and 30+ headphone amps, over 60 cartridges, and too many cables, stands, and tweaks to list. |
#18
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KJ West One on New Cavendish Street. They have some really high end gear including some massive Focal, Soulution, dCS.... Customer service was quite average though and I didn’t really get much advice from them.
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#19
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If you are looking for a compact Roon endpoint I suggest the Mytek Brooklyn Bridge. Has Balanced output to feed your Stax. Compact size. Well built and great sound |
#20
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Ivan FLORIDA MX136, MC1.2KW(10) MC2KW(2), MCD1100, MS750(2) MVP881, C1000C/P/T, MPC1500, HT-2 SUBS(2) HT3F(2) WS350(2) XRT2K, XCS2K, XR27(2) XCS350(2) JL GOTHAM v2 SUBS(2) SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, LUMAGEN RADIANCE SCALER, SONY VPH-G90U 4K PROJECTOR, STEWART 120" MOTORIZED SCREEN, CINEMA-TECH SEATING, WW PLATINUM CABLES Reference System: ACCUPHASE A300 AMPS, C3900 PRE-AMP, DP1000 CD/SACD TRANSPORT, DC1000 DIGITAL PROCESSOR, DG-68 DIGITAL EQUALIZER, T1200 FM STEREO TUNER, PS1230 POWER SUPPLY, HRS-SXR CUSTOM RACK w/ M3X SHELVES, TAD REFERENCE ONE MK2 LOUDSPEAKERS, WW PLATINUM CABLES CAPE COD MX150, MC501(2) MC1.2KW(10) MC2301(2) MR88, MVP881, MCD1100, MDA1000, C1000C/P/T, MPC1500, ESOTERIC K-01X 30th ANNIVERSARY (BLACK) SACD/CD PLAYER, G02-X CLOCK, HT3F(2) XRT2K, XCS2K, XR27(2) JL GOTHAM v2 SUBS(2) JL FATHOM F113v2 SUBS(4) SOUND ANCHOR STANDS(2) KALEIDESCAPE STRATO & TERRA SERVERS 80-TB, LUMAGEN RADIANCE SCALER, SONY VPH-G90U 4K PROJECTOR, STEWART 120" SCREEN, SONUS FABER STRADIVARI, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, FORTRESS SEATING, WW PLATINUM CABLES Analog Rig: CLEARAUDIO INNOVATION WOOD, UNIVERSAL ARM w/ Da VINCI' CART, 2nd UNIVERSAL ARM w/ GOLDFINGER STATEMENT CART, HRS-MXR REFERENCE RACK-GLOSS BLACK w/ M3X SHELVES, AESTHETIX RHEA SIG PHONO-PRE, BRYSTON BHA-1 HEADPHONE AMP, WW PLATINUM CABLES Reference System: BURMESTER 911MK3 AMP(3), 088 PRE-AMP, 089 CD PLAYER, 100 PHONO PRE-AMP, 948 POWER CONDITIONER, ACCUPHASE DG-68 VOICING EQUALIZER, AVID ACUTUS REFERENCE SP TT, GRAHAM PHANTOM II SUPREME ARM, BENZ MICRO LP-S CART, GRANDIOSO P1X/D1X STACK, G1X RUBIDIUM MASTER CLOCK, N05 NETWORK PLAYER, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, HRS-SXR CUSTOM RACK w/ M3X SHELVES, SONUS FABER AIDA SPEAKERS, JL FATHOM F113v2 SUBS(2) SOUND ANCHOR STANDS(2) WW PLATINUM CABLES Library System: GRANDIOSO M1 MONOBLOCK AMPS, C1 LINESTAGE PRE-AMP, K1X CD/SACD PLAYER, G1 MASTER RUBIDIUM CLOCK, E02 PHONO-PRE, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, AERIAL ACOUSTICS 20T V2, AERIAL SW12 SUBS(2), CANTON REF K1’s, VPI HRX TT w/ SDS POWER SUPPLY, ORTOFON CADENZA BLACK CART, KLAUDIO RCM, SHUNYATA DENALI 6000/S v2, SHUNYATA OMEGA QR’s, WW PLATINUM CABLES Esoteric/Bryston System: ESOTERIC C02-X PRE-AMP, P-02X TRANSPORT, D02-X DAC, G02-X CLOCK, BRYSTON 28B3 CUBED MONOBLOCK AMPS(4), BRYSTON BHA-1 HEADPHONE AMP, SHUNYATA DENALI 6000/S v2(2) EVEREST 8000 POWER CONDITIONER(2) ALTAIRA CG & SG HUBS, AMR-DP777-SE DAC, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, TAD REFERENCE ONE MK2 LOUDSPEAKERS, QUADRASPIRE RACK, WW PLATINUM CABLES Accuphase/Canton System: ACCUPHASE E800 INTEGRATED, DP570 CD/SACD PLAYER, T1200 FM STEREO TUNER, DG-68 VOICING EQUALIZER, PS530 POWER SUPPLY, CANTON REF K3’s, CANTON REF K5’s, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, HRS MXR REFERENCE MAHOGHANY RACK w/ M3X2 SHELVES, WW GOLD CABLES |
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