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- Jan 9, 2003
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Got the L700 in today to join my nice little Stax collection: a KGST, two full sized KGSShv, 009, and 007 Mk I. Sources on hand are an Eximus DP1 and NAD M51, driven by an iMac and Audiophilleo 2 with the PSU. I've also had a new Yggdrasil running in for a few days, but just lent it to a friend (and now I wait for the philanthropy awards which are surely headed my way). Also I have a very nice analog setup -- Clearaudio Innovation, Graham Phantom, Koetsu Onyx, Rogue Ares, Cinemag 1131 SUT -- but that's tethered to the big Tannoy Canterbury system and I haven't felt the need to cross-pollinate yet.
About myself: I'm a hardcore 009 lover. I think that once you get to the KGSShv amp level, this is the best headphone. I understand how the warmth of the 007 Mk I is appealing, especially with the BHSE, which is perfectly voiced for it. But the 009 is my ultimate headphone, and when paired with a DIY T2 I think it pushes the limits of what headphones can achieve (best I've ever heard, certainly). I easily prefer the 009 over: Sony R10 (bass heavy and light), Qualia 010, Sennheiser Orpheus he90 w/ hev90, HE1000 (only heard the prototype, but was not terribly impressed), Sennhieser HD800, Grado HP1000, Audio Technica L3000, AKG K1000, etc. I've heard a number of dynamic amps too, in case you were wondering.
I didn't notice any significant burn-in with the 009, so for now I'm operating on the assumption that this also holds with the L700. I started out with my 500V KGSShv, which is the most neutral and resolving of all the KGSShv units I've heard -- and is easily my favored paring for both the 009 and 007 Mk I. To be frank -- with the L700 it yields good sound, with a nice neutral balance, but it's fairly disappointing next to the 009. The L700 is less detailed. The bass is voluminous, but it's slightly bloated and uncontrolled compared to the 009's bass perfection. And some might find the L700's treble slightly less offensive than the 009, but then I'm not one who finds any offense in anything the 009 does (with at least a full-sized KGSShv). The soundstage is just like how I hear other lambdas (I've had the Lambda Pro and Lambda Signature): tall, not great in back-to-font depth, and not particularly wide, but with a stronger left/right division than is optimal. The 009 by comparison is nicely large, spherical, and perfectly uniformly distributed within that space. The L700 midrange is very good (as with all Stax), but slightly hollow and lacking palpability (i.e. mildly soul-less) when compared to the 007 or 009 on the same amp. In short, the 009 w/ KGSShv is superior to the L700 in virtually all aspects, technical and musical.
At this point it was time to try the KGST -- nothing to lose, right? I had to dust the poor damn thing off: the KGST was supposedly designed as a match for the 009, but I found it to be far from that. A nice amp, to be sure, but compared to a KGSShv (or better) it restricts the 009 in detail, soundstage, and bass impact. Its one advantage over the KGSShv is a slightly more organic, palpable midrange -- presumably bequeathed by the tubes. And this lovely midrange was the one reason I held out some hope for an L700 pairing. Still not expecting much, the result was instantly surprising and pleasing! It's a wonderful musical balance. NONE of the relative weaknesses of these two components are additive: neither the detail nor the soundstage of either is reduced further in the pairing. Furthermore, in the case of the bass, it seems as if two wrongs actually make a right: the resultant bass has excellent impact and is nicely controlled to boot. Most interestingly, the midrange of the L700 benefits a LOT from the tubed KGST (more than it benefits the 009), and the result is beautiful. Whereas I feel that the KGST brings the 009 backwards vs. the KGSShv, I also feel that it equally pushes the L700 forward.
To be clear, the 009 w/ KGSShv is still the better technical performer. However, the L700 w/ KGST is a good technical performer with excellent musicality, and encroaches upon the 009 system there -- in fact I can assure you that some will prefer the L700/KGST, though I don't count myself among them (at least not yet).
It's only been a few hours so far, but this has been enlightening experience. I think the KGST and L700 is a wonderfully balanced system -- and I would never have guessed that at the start, given the KGSShv's clear superiority over KGST with both 007 and 009. Crappy pics because I'm lazy but hey at least I can show I have this stuff
About myself: I'm a hardcore 009 lover. I think that once you get to the KGSShv amp level, this is the best headphone. I understand how the warmth of the 007 Mk I is appealing, especially with the BHSE, which is perfectly voiced for it. But the 009 is my ultimate headphone, and when paired with a DIY T2 I think it pushes the limits of what headphones can achieve (best I've ever heard, certainly). I easily prefer the 009 over: Sony R10 (bass heavy and light), Qualia 010, Sennheiser Orpheus he90 w/ hev90, HE1000 (only heard the prototype, but was not terribly impressed), Sennhieser HD800, Grado HP1000, Audio Technica L3000, AKG K1000, etc. I've heard a number of dynamic amps too, in case you were wondering.
I didn't notice any significant burn-in with the 009, so for now I'm operating on the assumption that this also holds with the L700. I started out with my 500V KGSShv, which is the most neutral and resolving of all the KGSShv units I've heard -- and is easily my favored paring for both the 009 and 007 Mk I. To be frank -- with the L700 it yields good sound, with a nice neutral balance, but it's fairly disappointing next to the 009. The L700 is less detailed. The bass is voluminous, but it's slightly bloated and uncontrolled compared to the 009's bass perfection. And some might find the L700's treble slightly less offensive than the 009, but then I'm not one who finds any offense in anything the 009 does (with at least a full-sized KGSShv). The soundstage is just like how I hear other lambdas (I've had the Lambda Pro and Lambda Signature): tall, not great in back-to-font depth, and not particularly wide, but with a stronger left/right division than is optimal. The 009 by comparison is nicely large, spherical, and perfectly uniformly distributed within that space. The L700 midrange is very good (as with all Stax), but slightly hollow and lacking palpability (i.e. mildly soul-less) when compared to the 007 or 009 on the same amp. In short, the 009 w/ KGSShv is superior to the L700 in virtually all aspects, technical and musical.
At this point it was time to try the KGST -- nothing to lose, right? I had to dust the poor damn thing off: the KGST was supposedly designed as a match for the 009, but I found it to be far from that. A nice amp, to be sure, but compared to a KGSShv (or better) it restricts the 009 in detail, soundstage, and bass impact. Its one advantage over the KGSShv is a slightly more organic, palpable midrange -- presumably bequeathed by the tubes. And this lovely midrange was the one reason I held out some hope for an L700 pairing. Still not expecting much, the result was instantly surprising and pleasing! It's a wonderful musical balance. NONE of the relative weaknesses of these two components are additive: neither the detail nor the soundstage of either is reduced further in the pairing. Furthermore, in the case of the bass, it seems as if two wrongs actually make a right: the resultant bass has excellent impact and is nicely controlled to boot. Most interestingly, the midrange of the L700 benefits a LOT from the tubed KGST (more than it benefits the 009), and the result is beautiful. Whereas I feel that the KGST brings the 009 backwards vs. the KGSShv, I also feel that it equally pushes the L700 forward.
To be clear, the 009 w/ KGSShv is still the better technical performer. However, the L700 w/ KGST is a good technical performer with excellent musicality, and encroaches upon the 009 system there -- in fact I can assure you that some will prefer the L700/KGST, though I don't count myself among them (at least not yet).
It's only been a few hours so far, but this has been enlightening experience. I think the KGST and L700 is a wonderfully balanced system -- and I would never have guessed that at the start, given the KGSShv's clear superiority over KGST with both 007 and 009. Crappy pics because I'm lazy but hey at least I can show I have this stuff
. This diy stat thread in itself is really neat actually. I did not go very far myself but it was quite instructive already 
