I have never owned a pair of STAX or any electrostatic headphones or iems prior. I had the opportunity to hear the best available at Can Jam LA 2017. After hearing the MrSpeakers Electrostat, Sennheiser Orpheus, Sonoma, and STAX sr-009, sr-007, L-700, L-500, L-300 on the Headamp Blue Hawaii Special Edition. I was set on buying a pair of L-700's, which I am wearing right now! I am using a Headamp Koss DX Edition electrostatic amplifier.

I have owned and had a chance to listen to numerous dynamic driver and planar magnetic headphones, such as the Focal Utopia/ Elear, Hifiman Susvara, Hek/v2, Abyss 1266/ phi, HD800/s, Sony z1r, Pioneer SE-M1, and Audeze LCD-4.

With that being said, the only thing that the L-700 loses on is the lack of bass response compared to planar magnetic and dynamic driver headphones. In every other aspect, the Stax L-700 beats every pair of headphones in tonality and musicality.

I personally Used EQ to improve the bass response to make up for the lack of bass. I also attached Mrspeakers Electrostat pads onto the stock brackets with bass ports unblocked. The size of the pads are identical to the Sennheiser Orpheus dimensions.

I listen to every genre you can imagine, the only sonic imperfection is the lack of bass that is improved with EQ and the Mrspeakers ear pads. The soundstage also increases with the electrostat earpads too. Having heard the Sr-009/007 side-by-side, I would still take the L-700 over them due to their price vs performance bargain. They beat out the sr- 007 and aren't far off from the famed sr-009. I personally sold my other headphones and am completely satisfied with the L-700!



Just a sample of the tracks used to evaluate measurements.

Kpop:

신해철 (Shin HaeChul) - 일상으로의 초대



하현우



The Cross - Don't Cry



런일은"_화요비 -



Gummy(거미) _ The only thing I can't do(해줄 수 없는 일)



Jpop:

宇多田ヒカル - Be My Last

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fR-IIj4YClI

YUI - Good-bye days (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujJN3lobdSs)

Cpop:

張雨生-口是心非 官方 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAmsnJQEb20&list=PL79C9F9706A232071)

Ann白安 - 是什麼讓我遇見這樣的你What brings me to you (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVmZpcrQBU4)

張信哲 過火 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urtJ79AQjqo)

優客李林 Ukulele - 不知所措 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0eDDZ43Fug)

G.E.M. - 泡沫 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHXr4bBxHCo)

Instruments:

Harp: Lavinia Meijer - Koyaanisqatsi (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ikn4B7jq6Ic)

Catrin Finch - Bach (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSDLzgDroNM)

Piano: Alice Sara Ott - Grieg – To Spring (Lyric Pieces Book III) - Wonderland (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYORFMwujaI)

Yuja Wang Plays Schubert and Liszt (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ypx9fH-OHk)

Violin: Esther Yoo plays Sibelius’ Violin Concerto in D minor (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gdXpCmS9yc)

Paganini Violin Concerto No. 1 Hilary Hahn
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MenIhT7umeM)

Ukulele: Taimane - Battle (HiSessions.com Acoustic Live!) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ijpbSpQkE4)

Eagles - Hotel California (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcf6wQWN0-8)

Whitney Houston - I Will Always Love You (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JWTaaS7LdU)

王若琳 Joanna Wang - Let's Start from Here
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEyESh3pblo)

The Traveler - Joe Satriani
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMRdEpUXefk)

Sound of Silence - Susan Wong
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUWgsrQ5hsw)

Andrea Bocelli, Sarah Brightman - Time To Say Goodbye
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4L_yCwFD6Jo)

Boston - Boston
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zDR5jmCXOg)

Aerosmith's Greatest Hits
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-j17zIKp030)

Gun's N' Roses - Knockin On Heavens Door
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tmc8rJgxUI)

Robert Miles - Children
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwqmJilXxJY)

Paul van Dyk - For An Angel 2009
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnRmwhaoDU8)