I have been using mine with an iPad Pro (large screen). No issues with distortion - just keep the iPad volume at ~75%.   However, even the slightest movement will cause microphonic ringing... I knew about this before I ordered, but I didn't know it was quite so sensitive. Your really have to...

So, for what it's worth, coming from someone who has a SR-009/BHSE AND an all Kondo Japan 4 way field coil horn system (which alone cost about 50k Euros)... headphones simply don't come close to what a top end speaker system will do.    So I would never buy the new Senn system. It's just not...

Is there an actual owners' forum for the 234?

  Many people think otherwise. Certainly the PS Audio people do - but you could argue they are biased and are trying to sell their own power regenerators. Search online though and you'll see that PS Audio is not alone.   I certainly wouldn't use a simple surge protector on high end audio...

Has anyone experimented with different fuses in the power supply of the BHSE?   One of mine blew and since I need to replace it anyway, thought I would look into the cryo treated, etc. fuses.   (I learned a few years ago that everything in the electrical signal's path will affect the sound…...

  Congrats on your BHSE. I got mine a few months ago and loving it.   Now is that a standard (low cost) power bar you have everything plugged into?  If so, you should remove that and plug your gear directly into the wall.  Low cost power supplies reduce the current as power demands increase...

Really?! You try reading it instead of posting a condescending remark.

Any chance we can learn what tubes David1961 is using is his bhse that make it sound so much better than stock, apparently?

Very odd - optical should not sound better than usb. Optical is restricted to a much lower sampling frequency. I believe no higher than a standard CD. You're probably comparing different recordings? Or the Mac USB input has some kind of inferior processing vs the optical. Or the source is...

I shared similar feelings. What I gleaned through emails and a few calls with Justin, is that he cares and is a perfectionist. So you'll be getting a high high quality piece. And I wouldn't worry that he won't deliver. Be prepared to wait up to 2 years, I'd say, and it will come within that...

The answer you're looking for doesn't exist. Be prepared to wait -- for an uncertain period of time. When I ordered mine in spring of 2013, I was told it would be shipping in July of that year! I just got it a few weeks ago. So it's been a "little" late. But I still love it and don't regret...

I use a PS Audio P5 AC regenerator and have a low end Shunyata cord connecting it to the BHSE. I have not compared the sound with and without the P5 for the bhse specifically, but the P5 made a significant difference with the rest of my gear, so it can only improve the bhse.

The Woo WES is an example of an amp that is unusable with unbalanced inputs. I used to own one, and there was way too much noise and a kind of hum when using the RCA inputs. Jack Woo sent me new tubes but it wasn't that. The design just doesn't work with single ended inputs, it's mislieading to...

Yes, my BHSE is noise free. It's actually the most noise free amp I've ever owned. I can turn the volume to the max and hear the faintest noise above 3 o'clock. Perhpas you have one or more bad tubes?

Just want to be clear that it was entirely my fault.  Just letting you know to be careful with the Stax jacks on your new BHSE.   I have now designed a 'strain relief' for the headphone cord, so that it will not put and undue force on the jack.

They are black jacks. I recall reading in this thread that Justin no longer uses Stax jacks, as they are not available? I didn't apply a lot of force- I got up from my couch (the amp is above and behind me), and as I did so, the Stax cord got pulled down, and this put downward pressure on the...

My BHSE arrived last week and I've had a few nights of listening.     It's hard to compare back to back, as I sold my previous electrostatic amp, a Woo WES, 1.5 years ago to prepare for the 'imminent' arrival of the BHSE.  I almost cannot believe it's actually here, in my media room, sitting...

Wow, your computer consumes 750W! Bitcoin mining? 

  Yes, the big difference is the output - 750 VA (720 Watts) in the P3 and 1250 VA (1200 Watts) in the P5.  And the P5 features seem to be longer, i.e., I don't see the 10X lower distortion claim on the P3; but not sure if that's just an omission in the marketing material.   For $1K, I would...

  Not a good idea.  UPSs restrict current, which will reduce the dynamic range.   I have my BHSE connected to a PS Audio P5 A/C regenerator.  You can connect a backup battery to that, but I don't think it's necessary as the P5 will provide surge and voltage fluctuation is not an issue.

My 2c on your setup - reduce your cord lengths! 25' and running the signal through switches is damaging the purity of the signal. Think of all the trouble Justin went through to select the best components. You wouldn't watch a 4K movie from 25' away, even though it would still look great.

No need to burn in and adjust bias. Justin does that before shipping.

THank you for this. But why no BHSE in the comparison?  This is the reigning 'champ' when paired with the SR-009… so it would have been important to include it.

Really? You really think extension cables don't degrade the sound quality because they are made by Stax?! Every time you increase the length and even more troubling, add another connection you are degrading the sound quality. Especially with an analog amplified signal.

Wouldn't do that -- you're degrading the sound and possibly negating the benefits of better cables upstream.