Don't want to do too much stream of consciousness, although it's tempting ... So far it amounts to this (for me): What the SR-X 9000 does really well, it does much better than any other headphone I have heard. Think 'magical moments' - where you think 'this is worth it, I have never heard this...

SR-X 9000 in the house! 3 observations after a few hours: 1. Distinct sound, 'worth it' for varieties sake, irrespective of what other headphones you own (IMHO). Not the best for 'aggressive' music genres ... 2 Delivery speed: Ordered in September 2021 from Staxaudio.com (Woo). Serial...

You have shared that you have never heard the SR-X 9000. You are making the assertion that "no Stax can do it like the CRBN" - in your CRBN review that is currently featured on the head-fi homepage. You are creating a straw man argument by commenting on the SR 009, which is besides the point...

On LTA z10e: He claims collapsed soundstage compared to CRBN; talks about stuff like "human-poetic feel" (I am not making this up!), "detailed and relaxed". More alike than different vs. Susvara (same amp), Stax slightly brighter, more upfront, more detailed, "more physical". On 3ES: more...

Staxaudio are an authorized *reseller* - same as HeadAmp and others. The sole *distributor* in the USA appears to be Staxheadphones.com (as per this list).

Brief update - just in case you are wondering if your tubes and amp are working as designed - with we We417a tubes I am hearing an increased slight hum (all the time, not just after startup) with more sensitive headphones, e.g. Sony MDR-Z1R. It's not ideal but tolerable. Not audible with...

For me KR 274B-HP complements the KR 2A3 HP better than the Takatsuki 274B - which in turn work better with the Takatsuki 300B (in the 3ES, obviously not WA33 ...)

Regarding we417a - whether it's worth it. I was highly skeptical how much of a difference those little thingies would make. I mostly bought them out of curiosity. Couldn't have been more wrong. They are as important, if not more so, as the other tubes in the set. I would almost say that this is...

My WE417a are silent (* in a good way; of course you could argue they amplify and conduct the music that goes through them ...) right after switching on the WA33. I ran them all through my tube tester and they all tested good. Purchased the set with adapters directly from Wooaudio. I can...

Lots of good insights. I would tweak the dedicated line out statement a bit: You can shift that burden to the C9 by running it in power amp mode and using volume control on your mid fi DAC. C9 pa mode significantly clears up signal quality, and you avoid double pre-amping (to your point).

EE Odin, Traillii, Tia Fourte Noir, ... Apple Music APK version 3.7.2. To be fair I don't have Solaris or other notoriously hiss-prone IEMs.

Track to try: The Clash / Sandinista / The Magnificent Seven: C9 in class A, tube, power amp mode (low gain is sufficient and sounds better) - everything else as before (A&K SP2000, 4.4mm balanced connections throughout) This little stack sounds better then it has any right to! I have been...

Same here - 2/22 - hope it's a lucky number. Allegedly Stax are at least getting better in accurately predicting production and shipment schedules. Perhaps we should talk to our dealer to get on the SR-X 9100 pre-order list, the way things are going being in a pole position for the eventual...

Same here - using the iFi 4.4 interconnect cable with my C9; bought it because the one in the box was too short; seems to be well constructed and liking the sound

Best chain that I have found so far is Rockna NET -> Wavedream Signature XLR -> WA33 Elite JPS (KR HP 2A3 and KR 274B tubes). DCA Stealth on this sounds ridiculously good and is in the top 5 headphone league. I have never seen any other headphone to be this extremely sensitive to source and...

Thanks for participating in the experiment :-) 24 Ohm load should be no problem for the C9 as it's specced well for that range (data sheet: 4100mW into 16 Ohm, 2600mW into 32 Ohm). That's also what I'm hearing. Hugo 2 is more analytical (... as always), but that doesn't necessarily benefit the...

Just to confirm - are you also using a balanced cable with the Stealth? That's the biggest difference ... You mention "pre" mode - should be "power amp" mode (i.e. not using C9 volume control)? Based on your suggestion I tried Hugo 2 - I can confirm it works surprisingly well. I like SP2k/C9...

Did you try 1/ all balanced (DAC in and headphone out); 2/ C9 in power amp mode? Both are necessary to get good performance. By the numbers: Output 32 Ohm single ended: 700mW; balanced: 2600mW Input sensitivity 32 Ohm line in (low gain) single ended: 6V; pre in balanced: 8.4V ... together...

U12ts are *extremely* good, certainly a keeper, working great with SP2000.

Apple Music has become my preferred streaming service (over Tidal and Qobuz) on SP2k. Best all around in every way (features, playlists, AI, sound quality)

Not in the market for IEMs this month :-) Close in tuning IMHO in my current set would be KSE1500 and Noble Kaiser Encore ... Interestingly the closest resemblance of the tuning evident in the DCA Stealth is with the Burmester Premium system in my AMG - minus the roar of the V8 :xf_cool:

Cayin C9 is the way to go!!! Just got my DCA Stealth today: Listening on Cayin C9 (source: Astell & Kern SP 2000, balanced out, DCA Stealth balanced stock cable) Absolutely no "clipping on sub bass between 45" and 1'30 for "Cradle to the grave" from Max Richter' hostiles album" -- this was...

I am having a blast right now with my WA33 JPS Elite and a 20 year old Sennheiser HD 650. I have never heard the HD 650 with this much punch, precision, clarity, and stage width. The sound is extremely coherent and well balanced. The WA33 may present a good counter point to the common advice on...

... Stereonet being of those publications where every product is a gold star award winner ... honestly I value your insights more highly than their reviews, reads too much like an advertorial IMHO (I have written advertorials -- with disclosure -- I know the smell)

Same here - across other headphones, went back this morning from Take 274-B to the KR rectifier and liking it better - seems like the Take was "too soft" if that makes sense, all-KR set works well together I have the We417a with Woo adapters still sitting on the shelf, will try next. Thanks for...