Bought my Sigmas in the ''80s, after trying all the available Stax products and preferred the sound of the Sigmas by a wide margin.  Until recently have used them sparingly since I never really cared for the energizer/solid state amp combos I had available and thus spent far more time listening to a variety of speakers. Found a mint Stax SRM-T1W amp/preamp, and now I truly enjoy these 'phones. Plus the passive preamp section works quite well with the amps I now own when it's time to use speakers.

Bought my ATH-W1000X headphones used, with leather earcups and an improved cable.  Using a Linn Mimik CD Player and an older Woo WA-3 with Amperex (Holland) tubes, and getting what I consider exceptional sound for from dynamic drivers.  I also use a Stax Sigma with a Stax SRT-1W amp/preamp, and the Audio Technica 'phones come reasonablyly close to the Sigmas through the Woo amp.  I listen to classical and jazz both through speakers and headphones, and I'm quite please with both the sound and feel of the ATH-W1000X's.