A new(er) photo of my good friend’s system that was listened to yesterday, posted with permission. Those EMM Labs monoblocks are something to behold.

Let's have STAX come in again with a new and greater headphone (compared to the SR-009) to prove that they are the greatest headphone company in history.

  For classical, I would agree that the 600's are the best dynamic headphones under $500. If cost is no object, the STAX SR-009 are the best I've heard (which is part of the reason I bought them).        I love the sound of the HD 650's, but I found them warmer than the HD 600's, so for...

In my experience I would say that electrostats are best for classical music, with STAX obviously as the most prolific manufacturer. You can get a used SR-207 for probably around $300, your budget limit. The only problem is that you would also need an electrostatic amp, which you could get for...

  I own the DT 990 250 Ohm and I agree that it would be a great choice. I think it works well for almost all genres. The Sennheiser HD600 would also be a great choice.

If cost isn't an issue, I would say to go for the SR-009. Right now is a great time to buy the SR-009 from Japan; it's recently been at it's lowest price ever due to the yen's decline in value over the past several years.   I had never owned a STAX headphone (or any electrostat for that...

  Yeah, with the choice of paint with a rather fragile body, I hope that their next flagship has a better overall build quality (and perhaps just uses aluminum, wood or something else for the outer earcups).

  I'm still young I guess, just 27, but I've been conditioned to believe that Beethoven is the Mt. Everest of music (or Olympus Mons if we ever settle on Mars ). I love these sort of debates 

I might get this, but I haven't had any problems with my SR-009 since I bought it almost two years ago. When I'm not using it, I just fit back on a Sieveking Omega stand. I live in Houston, which gets very hot and humid during the summer, and fortunately I haven't had any problems so far. But...

These headphones look great. They have a minimalistic, refined look that's unique for headphones. The design of the earcups and earpads actually reminds me of those from STAX's SR-009 flagship electrostatic headphones. I'm definitely going to give these a listen if I see them at a meet or...

  I love this recording, and it's amazing, but I still prefer Karajan's 1982 version, probably because that was the version I was raised on.  

  Moi, very happy listening to the Top Gun Soundtrack.

EDIT: Wrong thread; I see there's a newer one.

  The SR-009 will almost certainly change your mind; The detail retrieval is too good to be true.

  "So" by Peter Gabriel. Such a great album!   Currently listening to this track from the album:  

  Not completely unrelated, and I'm not trying to brag or high jack the thread or anything, but just asking a question. I have seats to see Beethoven's Fifth Symphony performed by the Houston Symphony on Friday, Nov. 14 at Jones Hall in Houston, Texas (USA), with seats H 1 & 2, so essentially H...

  Yeah, and that's why I chose the BHSE.   The Orpheus (HE90) and the corresponding amp (HEV90) are still several times the price (I saw a setup between $30,000 and $40,000 sometime for sale last year) of an SR-009 and BHSE or equivalent amp (class-wise), so by that standard, the SR-009 with...

I got two Stax jacks as well.   I thought about the Sennheiser option, but I remembered reading from several Head-Fi'ers that the HE90 doesn't sound great (or maybe just isn't optimal) with the BHSE. I imagine that the HEV90 amp it came with is still the best pairing for the HE90. I believe...

I don't expect it happen anytime soon, that's for sure.

Hopefully DavidMahler or another user does an updated version (or an entirely new version) of this list. With the recent new flagships that have made a splash, it would be amazing if something like this was done every year (and that's asking a lot, I know ).

  I'm drooling over that source. One day I'll have one...

  The SCAD version of this recording through my "STAX SR-009" earspeakers powered by a Cavalli Liquid Lightning!   Magnificent!

  Now that's art! I wonder if snakeskin changes/alters the seal?  I'm not sure about the comfort though.

  Wow  

  That's a great choice OddE.    I have that box set too. It's extraordinary (if you like Wagner ).