[Greed]

Quote:

Finally got to hear the GS-X Mk2 (with my LCD-3's).  No one would be disappointed with it.  It is very well built and sounds amazing.
 
I also got to hear the Liquid Gold though.  Wow.  I've never even considered one because of its price.  I am now.

 
QUICK! Which one more impressive?

 

[Saraguie]

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By my math: $5200/$1995 = 2.6X 

 
Not 2.6X better, but worth every penny. 

 
Quote:

 
Sorry, I fixed it! You just didn't give me the chance... haha. 
 
Anyways, that is the fight that is currently going on in my head...

The other consideration is the STAX needs a special type amp. For instance the Mojo would not power it.
 
Taking the plunge and buying the 009 is always in my head. And last week I wrote the US factory rep asking about when they would get some in stock.
I read the reply and erased right away...so not to be tempted  I think they said it takes 6-8 weeks after ordering.

 

[mikebirm49]

No, you're right. Not 3x the price. The LCD-2s are not THAT much better to warrant the price difference. HiFiman's HE-500 at $699 are sanely priced and the LCD-2s should be priced comparably.

 

[MacedonianHero]

Quote:

 
The other consideration is the STAX needs a special type amp. For instance the Mojo would not power it.
 
Taking the plunge and buying the 009 is always in my head. And last week I wrote the US factory rep asking about when they would get some in stock.
I read the reply and erased right away...so not to be tempted  I think they said it takes 6-8 weeks after ordering.

Correct. You're going to need a dedicated stat amp. Traditional amps can't swing 1200V. 

 

[Saraguie]

Quote:

 
The other consideration is the STAX needs a special type amp. For instance the Mojo would not power it.
 
Taking the plunge and buying the 009 is always in my head. And last week I wrote the US factory rep asking about when they would get some in stock.
I read the reply and erased right away...so not to be tempted  I think they said it takes 6-8 weeks after ordering.

 
Quote:

Correct. You're going to need a dedicated stat amp. Traditional amps can't swing 1200V. 

Right......what's interesting is Stax sells amps and while I don't subscribe to the threads, I never read anywhere about pairing the 007 or 009 with one of their amps.  

 

[MacedonianHero]

Quote:

 
Right......what's interesting is Stax sells amps and while I don't subscribe to the threads, I never read anywhere about pairing the 007 or 009 with one of their amps.  

Ironically, not very good.

 

[Saraguie]

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Right......what's interesting is Stax sells amps and while I don't subscribe to the threads, I never read anywhere about pairing the 007 or 009 with one of their amps.  

 
Quote:

Ironically, not very good.

Go figure.......the best HP maker should be able to make a contender. Oh well......

 

[Girls Generation]

I think it was around $2500 less if you buy from Japan.
Quote:

 
The other consideration is the STAX needs a special type amp. For instance the Mojo would not power it.
 
Taking the plunge and buying the 009 is always in my head. And last week I wrote the US factory rep asking about when they would get some in stock.
I read the reply and erased right away...so not to be tempted  I think they said it takes 6-8 weeks after ordering.

 

[RedBull]

Finally got to hear the GS-X Mk2 (with my LCD-3's).  No one would be disappointed with it.  It is very well built and sounds amazing.

I also got to hear the Liquid Gold though.  Wow.  I've never even considered one because of its price.  I am now.

And ... The added difference are?

 

[Girls Generation]

Exactly. I still miss the intimacy and the finer details that headphones gave me. However, I guess I'm just the speaker type. Currently sporting floorstanding omni room fillers but might get monitors as well just because these room fillers... are loud... Loud enough that I feel uncomfortable listening to them after 6PM since all 5-6 neighbors in my condo probably hear me if I leave my veranda door open (which I have to because it's way too hot in Vancouver right now). 
 
Quote:

 
No argument there.  Headphones are a compromise at worst and a tool at best.  Even at the level I've gotten to with my headphone rig, if no one is around I use the Dynaudio monitors.  They aren't anywhere near as good as the LCD-3 but they are just as enjoyable.

 
 
The intimacy is the whole reason I shied away from IEMs and eventually headphones too because it was way too intimate for me. I like my music ambient as I don't do detailed listening seshs because I can't afford to do that. Also, speakers just create an atmosphere, which headphones and CIEMS will never do. This atmosphere is why I prefer speakers infinitely more than headphones or IEMs. Turning on Norah Jones just creates that undeniable mood in the room. Lastly, turning on some classical, the imaging is so 3D with speakers, if I close my eyes and adjust the volume, it really just feels like I'm in the seats of a performance, and this goes for any kind of music as well. We're all different, and I understand some just prefer headphones to speakers.
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I have a nice 7.1 speaker set-up that I enjoy listening to but I simply can't get as close to the music. Films, yes, the experience is unparalleled through speakers. And music does sound superb and enjoyable through good speakers. But the experience of listening to orchestral music through HD800s or Jazz through LCD-3s brings me that much closer to the music. The intimacy is the soul of the experience and I can't reproduce that through my speakers. I wish I could. My wallet would be much thicker.

 

[Saraguie]

I think it was around $2500 less if you buy from Japan.

Wait I'm confused. 009 in Japan is like $2800?

 

[MacedonianHero]

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Wait I'm confused. 009 in Japan is like $2800?

Currently $3260 due to the poor performance of the Japanese currency against the US dollar.

 

[wuwhere]

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Currently $3260 due to the poor performance of the Japanese currency against the US dollar.

 
Probably intentional to make Japanese products less expensive, controlled currency manipulation. That's good for Stax so that they can sell more.

 

[OPR8R]

Quote:

 
QUICK! Which one more impressive?

 
Hard to say.  I had ditched my LCD-3's by then.  I was more "wow'd" by the LG (+ Abyss) though.
 
I did also listen to Audeze's Eddie Current Balancing Act + LCD-3 setup, just before the GS-X.  I preferred the GS-X.  The GS-X was connected to a reel-to-reel drive, so that may have had something to do with it.
 
I was also very impressed by the MrSpeakers Alpha Dogs + Mjolnir setup.  If I were going to buy a full sized, closed set, it would probably be the Alpha Dogs, even if they were much more than the $600 they are.
 
I'm tempted to go back tomorrow and spend more time with the GS-X and Liquid Gold, but that's nearly a 2-hour drive

  I didn't have as much time as I would've liked today.

 

[Greed]

Quote:

 
Hard to say.  I had ditched my LCD-3's by then.  I was more "wow'd" by the LG (+ Abyss) though.
 
I did also listen to Audeze's Eddie Current Balancing Act + LCD-3 setup, just before the GS-X.  I preferred the GS-X.  The GS-X was connected to a reel-to-reel drive, so that may have had something to do with it.
 
I was also very impressed by the MrSpeakers Alpha Dogs + Mjolnir setup.  If I were going to buy a full sized, closed set, it would probably be the Alpha Dogs, even if they were much more than the $600 they are.
 
I'm tempted to go back tomorrow and spend more time with the GS-X and Liquid Gold, but that's nearly a 2-hour drive

  I didn't have as much time as I would've liked today.

 
This means I made the right choice.