[Audio Addict]

What amps would anyone recommend for Estsats? I have zero experience in the Estat playing field.

My opinion is A Ray Samuels Audio A-10 Thunderbolt II.

 

[Degru]

Can any of those who know comment on how nicely the CRBN might play with the recommended converters (as opposed to the dedicated estat amps), if the converters are paired with solid and respectable high end-ish amps?

Woo Audio WEE
https://wooaudio.com/amplifiers/wee


IFI ProiESL
https://ifi-audio.com/products/pro-iesl

I particularly want to know how the IFi might play with a good SS or Hybrid Headamp. Comments on Converter + Speaker amp pairings are also welcome.

Bottomline, I would like to avoid the use of a converter if that option entails too much of a compromise in the SQ department.

Just a heads up, Woo WEE is not particularly recommended due to lacking ballast resistors which can damage the headphone. Not sure if they've fixed this in current units, or whether the CRBN's unique diaphragm construction is even affected by this omission tho. Not to mention WEE is less than stellar in terms of overall reliability and the Woo support is known to be awful. Shame cuz the price is right and the sound itself is supposedly good.

Personally, I'm of the opinion that transformer boxes with suitably clean transformers are the superior way of driving estats, with much better performance for the money (even with a modest speaker amp) and much greater flexibility. The problem is of course that there aren't many of these products on the market and companies like ifi prefer to charge a lot for them. The cheapest option is Stax's own SRD-7 mk2 if you can find one, but the transformers in those are not the cleanest. Though compared to just about any current Stax amplifier the strengths in driving ability significantly outweigh the weakness of extra distortion with any solid speaker amp in front of it. Personally I use a modified SRD with some nice Lundahl transformers attached and it sounds very clean and dynamic with my Aegir.

 

[Audio Addict]

I already have a great electrostatic amp. The RSA A-10 Thunderbolt that for some reason has never got much love here in the forums but I personally prefer over the BHSE with my SR-009.

Based on Jude’s description of this new headphone it seems like it could be a nice match with my amp so this could be my first Audeze headphone ever (over 17 years in HeadFi).

I have always stayed away due to weight, reliability and sound consistency between same model but I guess I may take a leap of faith with this one .

My last discussion with Ray indicated he had one left. I got mine last December so I would love to give the CRBN a listen with this.

 

[mikecheck95]

Sounds very cool. But all that talk about EQ from Jude about boosting the bass and dialing down the highs doesn’t sound that good to me. I am really looking forward to the reviews when they come. I am though more interested in the lcd-r then this judging by the sound profile alone (and the sparse info and reviews from the two headphones) also 4500$ with a same amount put into a special amp is a lot to me. So I don’t see me buying these. Too bad I missed the lcd-r launch.

Then he shows the measurements at the end that show lower upper treble than the “veiled” hd650. The bass level is very neutral as it is on many Audezes but extends very well.
I think this is by far the best-measuring electrostat there is and also the best-measuring audeze.

 

[DougD]

This could be a very disruptive introduction. I don't have the sense there's much surge capacity available for making more KGSS-Carbons, Blue Hawaiis and other electrostatic-driving amps of that caliber.

 

[dukeskd]

This could be a very disruptive introduction. I don't have the sense there's much surge capacity available for making more KGSS-Carbons, Blue Hawaiis and other electrostatic-driving amps of that caliber.

There definitely isn't... Keep in mind there is the Shangri-La Jr (+ Sr) from Hifiman and it didn't cause much disruption.

 

[paradoxper]

I called the flop.

For posterity.

 

[Audeze]

I called the flop.

For posterity.

About 40 million scans are done per year and the number is growing.
https://www.statista.com/statistics/282401/density-of-magnetic-resonance-imaging-units-by-country/

 

[paradoxper]

About 40 million scans are done per year and the number is growing.
https://www.statista.com/statistics/282401/density-of-magnetic-resonance-imaging-units-by-country/

We are on a headphone site, it is cool you guys are planning a medical science pivot for your future. LOL

 

[Degru]

We are on a headphone site, it is cool you guys are planning a medical science pivot for your future. LOL

Personally I think it's great that a niche audiophile product like this has a version for a larger professional market (particularly one accustomed to paying a lot for equipment). More incentive for r&d and lower cost to keeping the consumer version around long term.

 

[musicman59]

My last discussion with Ray indicated he had one left. I got mine last December so I would love to give the CRBN a listen with this.

I did not know he had one left. That’s very cool. I love the sound of this amp specially after the latest upgrade.

 

[vkenz]

It would have been nice if it was packaged like the LCD-R (HP+AMP). Greatest mistake?

 

[rmsanger]

How’s the bass if any at all?

 

[Sense]

About 40 million scans are done per year and the number is growing.
https://www.statista.com/statistics/282401/density-of-magnetic-resonance-imaging-units-by-country/

How does that market work? Are the medical headphones sold for an extremely large profit? Or do they have a short lifespan? For instance…do the medical headphones have to be replaced often due to the hostile environment?

Either way…I glad you guys made these headphones. I’m waiting for a nice mix of long term purchaser feedback and reviews before I decide on a purchase.

It would have been nice if it was packaged like the LCD-R (HP+AMP). Greatest mistake?

It would depend on if the energizer was a good one or not. People don’t want to be stuck paying for something that’s not great.

 

[Audio Addict]

How’s the bass if any at all?

I have found bass is a function of the amplifier design. My RSA A-10 Thunderbolt does not lack bass with the 009S or 009.