Deeew Eeeet! I want to live vicariously to those who have them (if they're as good as they cost).

Are there any SR-009 purchasers who can share some listening impressions?
 
 
Are there any SR-009 Purchers who can share listening impressions with a BHSE?

Quote:

rsbrsvp said:

Are there any SR-009 purchasers who can share some listening impressions?
 
 

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Posted originally in another thread - spring headphone festival from Fujiya Avic in Tokyo (http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/548917/headphone-festival-2011-in-tokyo-may-7th-2011#post_7457238): 
 
1. I could drool again on the Stax SR-009 (marantz cdp, 727a amp). I quickly compared it against the Omega 2 mk2, listening to a drum xrcd recording. Well, it does not take a golden ear to take notice of the step up in every direction... I really really need to start saving... It's so much more lively/dynamic/impactful/and correct sounding than the o2mk2. The interesting thing is that while it is definitely brighter sounding than the omega 2 through this stax amp, the treble or maybe upper mids have a quality that makes it totally stress free as if the o2 had some slight coloration or distortion in comparison. From discussion with the Stax staff, it's only 1dB more sensitive than the o2 but it feels more like 2-3 dB, probably due to the change in tonal balance and very significant increase in impact.
 

2. I asked Stax about potential new amp to pair with the sr-009, and something will indeed be released at some point, but certainly not this year and probably not next year either. Waiting in line for a BHSE from Headamp doesn't sound like a bad option suddenly! From what I understood, Stax isn't even decided on which route to go (ss or valve) as various markets have differing preferences and Stax will need to settle...

Which mail order US retailers will allow for an in-home audition?  I doubt that there will be many retail outlets that would have the phones available for auditioning in the store.
 
 

Quote:

arnaud said:

. I really really need to start saving... 

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You're on the wrong forum for that, LOL.

I listen to 507/SR-007/SR-009 with 727 amp at "Jetliveaudio" this afternoon.  I never listen to top STAX before so I was excited.  I would say I prefer one over the other for difference types of music and usage.  
 
For POP and electronica presentations were slightly difference but I'd prefer SR-007/507 over SR-009.  SR-009 brighter, clearer, load of details make my ears tired pretty fast. 
 
For vocal music I find SR-007 more mellow (sweeter may be) more relax than SR-009.  It likes technicality vs musicality things.
 
SR-009 bass and soundstage really stand out.  I used to owned ED10 and LCD2. SR-009 bass is somewhere between these two.  It's kindda bouncy like ED10 with some LCD2s authority and impact.  Good proportion between quantity and quality.  I'll leave it at that as I don't know how to explain better.
 
SR-009 soundstage was the largest but what really impressed me was the "presence". I'd feel instruments are really playing in the room.  The same illusion from watching movies with Smyth A8 (sometimes I look for surround speakers that don't exist).   SR-009 "presence" was best I heard from headphone so far.
 
I'll audition them again with my own DAC and cables.  Since I have no idea how they sound with BHSE and more important when Justin'll finish assembly I can only guess for the time being

[size=12pt]zenbonsakura,[/size]
 
[size=12pt]Your impressions of the new Stax SR-009, with comparison to the SR-007, were interesting.  Nice to read that they create an 'illusion of reality'.[/size]
 
[size=12pt]Did you notice the "Stax fart" noises when wearing the SR-009 ?  [/size]
 
[size=12pt]Do the new SR-009 phones have some kind of internal pressure equalization (to allow air flow?) [/size]
 
[size=12pt]The pictures of the new SR-009 'sound element' seem to show an open center hole, and additional air-holes around the periphery of the sound-element (the SR-009 diaphragm assembly).[/size]
 
[size=12pt]My older SR-007 phones are sealed, and make my ears sweat, especially on warm humid days.  [/size]
[size=12pt]N[size=small]o air flow makes the SR-007 uncomfortable for long listening sessions.[/size][/size]
 
[size=12pt]I ordered the SR-009 phones and expect them to arrive later this month - glad to hear that you found them to sound great.  Guess I'll also keep my old SR-007 for those certain types of recordings.  [/size]
[size=12pt]BTW, also getting the SRM-323S amplifier which I believe has sufficient drive-power at reasonable volume levels.[/size]
 
[size=12pt]Thanks,[/size]
 
[size=12pt]Bill[/size]

The heat issue with the Mk1 is all down to the earpads and not the open port used on the Mk2/A.  Use the Mk2 earpads on the Mk1 and you get the same results. 

Quote:

bill13 said:

[size=12pt]zenbonsakura,[/size]
 
[size=12pt]Your impressions of the new Stax SR-009, with comparison to the SR-007, were interesting.  Nice to read that they create an 'illusion of reality'.[/size]
 
[size=12pt]Did you notice the "Stax fart" noises when wearing the SR-009 ?  [/size]
 
[size=12pt]Do the new SR-009 phones have some kind of internal pressure equalization (to allow air flow?) [/size]
 
[size=12pt]The pictures of the new SR-009 'sound element' seem to show an open center hole, and additional air-holes around the periphery of the sound-element (the SR-009 diaphragm assembly).[/size]
 
[size=12pt]My older SR-007 phones are sealed, and make my ears sweat, especially on warm humid days.  [/size]
[size=12pt]N[size=small]o air flow makes the SR-007 uncomfortable for long listening sessions.[/size][/size]
 
[size=12pt]I ordered the SR-009 phones and expect them to arrive later this month - glad to hear that you found them to sound great.  Guess I'll also keep my old SR-007 for those certain types of recordings.  [/size]
[size=12pt]BTW, also getting the SRM-323S amplifier which I believe has sufficient drive-power at reasonable volume levels.[/size]
 
[size=12pt]Thanks,[/size]
 
[size=12pt]Bill[/size]

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Hi Bill,
 
I'm not familiar with STAX phones if you can explain what "stax fart" sound like may be I can tell you.   One thing for sure SR-009 leak so much sound I can literally listen to music without putting them on.  Turn 727 about 12.00 put SR-009 on the table and you have a desktop speakers
 
SR-009 pads internally bigger than SR-007.  They're about the same size as LCD2 and SR-007 about the same size or a little smaller than ED10.  SR-009 have extra space inside but SR-007 fit almost perfectly.  Naturally, my ears get warmer with SR-007 but I prefer SR-007 pads fit and finished though. 
 
I think you should keep SR-007 until you listen to them side by side.  IMO SR-009 super high-res clarity make them very much analytical headphone.   It shouldn't be a problem if your entire collections are high quality but mine are mixed bags I probably better off with two headphones or even two amps (if BHSE also brutally revealing like SR-009).
 
Let me know your impression on 323S + SR-007/507.  I'm interested in this combo as well. 

Hi zenbonsakura, driver unit you auditioned is SRM-007tII, not SRM-727II.
 

Quote:

business_jj said:

Hi zenbonsakura, driver unit you auditioned is SRM-007tII, not SRM-727II.
 

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Oh ... I thought it was 727 didn't feel like listening to tube amp.  If you have SRM 323s in store give me a call.  Right now I'm looking for fun rig for KPOP  : )

Quote:

zenbonsakura said:

I listen to 507/SR-007/SR-009 with 727 amp at "Jetliveaudio" this afternoon.  I never listen to top STAX before so I was excited.  I would say I prefer one over the other for difference types of music and usage.  
 
For POP and electronica presentations were slightly difference but I'd prefer SR-007/507 over SR-009.  SR-009 brighter, clearer, load of details make my ears tired pretty fast. 
 
For vocal music I find SR-007 more mellow (sweeter may be) more relax than SR-009.  It likes technicality vs musicality things.
 
SR-009 bass and soundstage really stand out.  I used to owned ED10 and LCD2. SR-009 bass is somewhere between these two.  It's kindda bouncy like ED10 with some LCD2s authority and impact.  Good proportion between quantity and quality.  I'll leave it at that as I don't know how to explain better.
 
SR-009 soundstage was the largest but what really impressed me was the "presence". I'd feel instruments are really playing in the room.  The same illusion from watching movies with Smyth A8 (sometimes I look for surround speakers that don't exist).   SR-009 "presence" was best I heard from headphone so far.
 
I'll audition them again with my own DAC and cables.  Since I have no idea how they sound with BHSE and more important when Justin'll finish assembly I can only guess for the time being

Click to expand...

Very interesting...the comparisons to other cans helps a lot. I want to see how this changes with the addition of a good amp...and a change of source since I don't know what was used.

[size=10pt]Zenbonsakura[/size][size=medium],[/size]
 
[size=10pt]Thanks for your reply.[/size]
 
[size=10pt]When I receive the Stax SRM-323S and SR-009 I will try to post my impressions – also with the old SR-007 MK1.[/size]
 
 
[size=10pt]I will try to describe the ‘Stax fart’ sound (not related to the music!): – it is extraneous noise associated with pressure changes inside the sealed earphone chamber caused by moving your head, or anything that makes the headphones move on your head.  [/size]
 
[size=10pt]The ‘fart’ sound typically sounds like what the term implies = indeed, a fart.[/size]
[size=10pt]The fart sound can be caused by air pressure pushing the earphone sound-element’s diaphragm against a stator resulting in electrical discharge (the transducer capacitor formed by the stators and diaphragm suffers discharge -- current flow from the charged diaphragm causing the extraneous fart noise). [/size]

I wonder if shipping times are slipping on the second shipment. The ebay seller is now saying July