Help me plan my Stax O2 mkII rig

This is it. Some of you have told me that I'll likely end up with a Stax rig eventually, and you were right. Now that I have the LCD-2 and have been putting it through its paces for a while, I've decided that as much as I like the LCD-2 and think it's really good, it doesn't have the kind of magical sound I heard in the O2 mkII (with the 717 amp) when I auditioned it a few months ago in a private listening session comparing some high-end dynamic headphones with the O2 mkII. My wife was really hoping the LCD-2 would be the end of my headphone journey, and when I told her it wasn't, she looked horrified (because she knows how much a Stax rig costs--she was with me at that O2 mkII listening session).

So now I have to decide on the what, where, and how for my upcoming Stax rig. I have spent hours searching for all threads about possible amps for the O2 mkII, and these are the ones that I'm considering (I'd like to keep the cost at around $2k or so for the amp):

SRM-717 - This is the amp I heard the O2 mkII with and I already know how it sounds. I'm told that the darker treble I heard is due to not having enough power, but I just read a head-fier's post saying that when he got to compare the 717 with the KGSS, they sounded so similar that the differences were very subtle, and the 717 in fact have a bit more slam and dynamic sound, while the KGSS is a bit more refined and polite. He didn't mention anything about the KGSS making the treble more airy. If the differences between the two are indeed very subtle (we all know how much audiophiles like to use hyperbole to describe very subtle differences that one has to actually strain to hear) and not night and day like some say, then the 717 makes more sense since I can find them easier in Asia and probably pick one up in Person and not have to pay for shipping and import tax.

KGSS - If I do end up choosing the KGSS, I'm concerned about availability, since the Gillmore products are famous for taking a long time to build. I have no idea how long it's going to take for me to get one, not to mention I have to pay international shipping and import tax, which will probably add up to around $500 extra.

KGSSHV - I see this being talked about but I have no idea of its availability as a commercial product, or who I can get to build one for me, for how much, and how long it would take. It's a total mystery and AFAIK, no one's even heard one yet or compared to other amps currently available.

SRM-727 - This is the current "official" Stax SS amp for the O2 mkII, and I've read so many people saying how much they dislike it (though no one ever talks about exactly what they didn't like--they simply just say they hate it), except for maybe one person who said it got much better after a bit of time and became very good. This would probably be easier to find than any other amps listed since it's still in production and most Stax retailers should carry it.

I really would prefer not to deal with tubes, since they need to be maintained and replaced, as well as warmed up before using. I have no idea how long it takes to warm them up for optimal performance, but I do know that even the SS amps require some warming up too, although I would assume the amount of time it takes to warm up an SS amp is significantly less? The most expensive amps are the tube ones and I can't afford them anyway. The Woo GES is within my budget but if I don't see any reason why I would pick a tube amp over a SS one if the price is similar. I have never heard a tube amp before but based on the various reviews and comparisons I have read, most say the differences are subtle and not night and day. So I guess tubes are out for me.

I mentioned that the darker treble I heard on the O2 mkII with the 717 amp, and I don't know if I would really call it a negative thing. I mean, the treble was the most detailed, textured, and natural sounding treble I had ever heard in my life, even if it didn't seem as airy as the treble I've heard on dynamic headphones. I'm thinking maybe that's just how the O2 mkII's sound, and they'll sound that way with any amp. When people compare amps for the O2 mkII, they don't seem to agree. Some people say the BH or the KGSS really makes the treble more airy and not as dark, while other said whatever differences they heard were subtle at best and doesn't change the overall characteristics of the O2mkII that much--just blacker background around the notes and more refined sound overall, with less mid-bass presence for a tighter sound. I tend to trust the opinion of those who are less likely to throw around hyperbole like "night and day difference" or use adjective like "much" "far more" because I find that most audiophiles exaggerate way too much and are prone to splitting hair and then exclaiming the differences are night and day, when they really aren't.

So where does that leave me? I have no way to auditioning and comparing different amps (except maybe the 717 and 727 since it's more likely to find them at the same location in Asia). Should I just get the 717 and call it the day?

I don't mind waiting a month or two for the KGSS, but the main concern I have is whether it is truly significantly better than the 717 for me to be paying $500 extra for import tax and international shipping, when I can just go to Taiwan (while on personal business) and buy a 717 in person and take it back in my luggage.

I haven't considered the mk1 because the one I heard was the mk2, and I loved it. I've read that some think it has a mid-bass hump and the mk1 is a bit more neutral, and the treble slightly more airy (or something like that), but I have no way of confirming this for myself. I didn't think the mk2's bass was too much and thought it was just right for a satisfying and full-bodied sound. The mk1 is also discontinued, which is something I usually avoid for the sake of warranty and replacement parts.

I really wish there are frequency response charts of the O2's with different amps so we can see exactly how each amp is adding its own color. Maybe people can work with Tyll on this?

Quote:

Originally Posted by arnesto 

I haven't listened to the Woo WEE, but I think it is too much of a compromise for what I am looking for. I think I would soon want to upgrade later.

 

I have never heard of a Stax adapter before. I did a Google search for it, but I didn't get any results. I would go for something like that if it was super cheap so that it can tie me over until I am able to audition some better amps.

 

Anyhow, thanks for the suggestions.

 

I was just looking at the Woo WEE the other day and I was intrigued. I don't really know much about speaker amps though, so I don't know how much money it would take for a speaker amp + WEE combo to match the sound quality of a dedicated electrostat headphone amp.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Region2 

I have yet to hear the KGSSHV, though I'm definitely going to grab a few boards when they become available, but having compared the KGTT and the BH, I can say more power is great for the O2.  This is coming from the O2 mk1, but the BH blew me away.  If the KGSSHV is close to the BH, I would recommend trying to see if you get someone to build one for you.  The BH made me realize what the O2 could do.  Which makes me very curious about the T2.  Either way, I'm prepping to build myself a BH and KGSSHV to do my own comparison.  I'm currently enjoying mine off an adapter I got off spritzer and it's great but it doesn't have that detail and separation you can get from a proper amp.

 

If I were in your position and considering an upgrade path, I would probably want to go with the 717 and then look at the BH or the KGSSHV later down the line, or just jump straight into one of them.  I can't remember who wrote it, but someone wrote a post that said that it was only when used in conjunction with the BH did they purchase an O2.

 

Just two cents from a fellow head-fer putting together his own O2 rig.

My main problem with the BH is really just price, but also because I just don't know if I want to deal with the fact that tube products are high maintenance--you have to continually put money into tube replacement, and you have to warm them up for a long time before you listen, and they are also much more fragile. I also have to wonder just how much better it sounds when it costs more than twice as much. 10% better? While I understand at this level of the game, diminishing returns is the worst thing, but still, it's a bit hard to swallow. I suppose I have to hear a BH with an O2mk2 in person to see for myself. I mean, when I heard the O2mk2 with the 717, it convinced me that spending thousands of dollars for a flagship electrostat rig was worth the money compared to how much more enjoyment I got out of the listening session compared to any dynamic headphones I have ever heard--including many of the most respected ones.