Review on:

Stax SR-007 "Omega II" Open-Back Electrostatic Earspeaker

Audio Quality

Comfort

Design

Value

ardilla’s Rating

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Community Rating:

(4 reviews)

This is not really a review, just some inital impresions I'd like to share with fellow head-fiers. I've spent some hours with the SR007 mkI and the SRM007 amp. I also compared the mkI and mkII briefly, and main difference, though subtle, was that the mkII is slightly more forward and bright sounding. I preferred the slightly more smooth mkI. 

I've listened to the Stax O2 a couple of times before, but recently I was lucky enough to take it home for trial. When I rigged up the stax rig next to my HD650/Woo WA2, I was eager to see how much more I'd like the Stax rig.... Here's my short comparison

1) o2 is of course more detailed

2) o2 has blacker background

3) o2 has better soundstage, but not by the large margin I'd expect

4) o2 has deeper bass by far and makes music that I really only enjoy on large speakers shine

5) HD650 is way more comfortable. Main issue is velour pads and that the o2 cups don't swivel

6) HD650 is to me less fatiguing. Every time I switched back to the HD650, I felt relief.. The Stax  creates a slight vacuum, and is brighter feeling (though it isn't bright by any high end standard)

7) HD650 has better midrange tonality. The o2 has more detail, of course, but the HD650 has a better flavor. The o2 feels recessed, presenting a "neutral" or "cold" midrange, when the HD650 is warm and natural feeling. 

Despite the obvious technical advantages, I preferred the warmness and natural feeling of the HD650, though I really miss the smooth treble detail and powerful bass extension of the O2. 

Again please take this "review" with a grain of salt :) But I wrote it as a reminder that expensive and technically superior isn't necessarily subjectively better - cost no object...