antonyfirst
Headphoneus Supremus
Quote:
Your question is very well placed as I haven't talked about it in my impressions, and can help making them more complete. I have always tended to overlook dynamic range in the past, as my interest for Classical is recent, while dynamic range has less impact in rock.
I have done some tests with three tracks. A trance song, a rock song, an orchestral classical work.
Trance: Shpongle - Once Upon The Sea Of Blissful Awareness
Here I have been looking for the SR-X Pro to reproduce small sounds and very loud sound at the same time. The SR-X can reproduce , make low sounds very clear, while being able to swing to loud sounds at the same time.
In particular, the huge bass in the middle of the track doesn't cover the low level rattling of the song, which stands out clearly, apart when the bass tone is more similar to the rattling and covers it partially.
Rock: King Crimson - The Letters
Here, the song starts very quiet, especially as far as vocals go, and initially goes loud with sounds. The SR-X go effortlessly from one kind to another. At two thirds of the song, the vocalist comes back after small instrumental sounds. The voice pops out with a huge imaging (covering the whole soundstage space) and with much louder volume than before. I don't know if this is what you are looking for, in the sense of an ability to replicate what speakers do. There's a limit in the size of headphone imaging, but it's done very well here.
Classical: Penderecki - Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima (conduction by Antoni Wit)
Note: if you don't know this work, buy it immediately.
It's a masterpiece and possibly my favourite classical work.
The track starts with a huge volume and then plays lower with all sorts of instrument, to reproduce the chaos of Hiroshima I suppose (I should read more about the Threnody). Sounds of all levels come out clearly and very well defined, and perfectly placed. The song goes on like a sequence of sirens, where lower volume tones can be spotted and make it "analogue".
The same trend (even to a larger extent) can be found in another Penderecki's Flourescence, where sounds have much more layers, and loud
instruments play at the same time as low instruments. The SR-X handle this perfectly with clarity and swing.
I have to run to the station now, so I can't elaborate further. You can ask me for particular works so that I can analyse what the headphones do with them.
Note: the two Stax I own don't reproduce fake details. This is a property that I associate more to Etymotic ER4P or Denon D5000, with their frequency responses, tilted towards the upper mids and lower treble, that give an unreal take on almost all songs (as well as sibilance and artificial sounding cymbals).
| Originally Posted by Cool_Torpedo /img/forum/go_quote.gif Nice write up Tony. I knew the SR-003 wouldn't change their character by upgrading the amp 
I just wonder if you can comment about their dynamic abilites listening to symphonic works, and your findings compared to non-planar cans. And I'm not speaking of speed reproducing transients or faint details, which I know are outstanding on good electrostats. Rgrds |
Your question is very well placed as I haven't talked about it in my impressions, and can help making them more complete. I have always tended to overlook dynamic range in the past, as my interest for Classical is recent, while dynamic range has less impact in rock.
I have done some tests with three tracks. A trance song, a rock song, an orchestral classical work.
Trance: Shpongle - Once Upon The Sea Of Blissful Awareness
Here I have been looking for the SR-X Pro to reproduce small sounds and very loud sound at the same time. The SR-X can reproduce , make low sounds very clear, while being able to swing to loud sounds at the same time.
In particular, the huge bass in the middle of the track doesn't cover the low level rattling of the song, which stands out clearly, apart when the bass tone is more similar to the rattling and covers it partially.
Rock: King Crimson - The Letters
Here, the song starts very quiet, especially as far as vocals go, and initially goes loud with sounds. The SR-X go effortlessly from one kind to another. At two thirds of the song, the vocalist comes back after small instrumental sounds. The voice pops out with a huge imaging (covering the whole soundstage space) and with much louder volume than before. I don't know if this is what you are looking for, in the sense of an ability to replicate what speakers do. There's a limit in the size of headphone imaging, but it's done very well here.
Classical: Penderecki - Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima (conduction by Antoni Wit)
Note: if you don't know this work, buy it immediately.
The track starts with a huge volume and then plays lower with all sorts of instrument, to reproduce the chaos of Hiroshima I suppose (I should read more about the Threnody). Sounds of all levels come out clearly and very well defined, and perfectly placed. The song goes on like a sequence of sirens, where lower volume tones can be spotted and make it "analogue".
The same trend (even to a larger extent) can be found in another Penderecki's Flourescence, where sounds have much more layers, and loud
instruments play at the same time as low instruments. The SR-X handle this perfectly with clarity and swing.
I have to run to the station now, so I can't elaborate further. You can ask me for particular works so that I can analyse what the headphones do with them.
Note: the two Stax I own don't reproduce fake details. This is a property that I associate more to Etymotic ER4P or Denon D5000, with their frequency responses, tilted towards the upper mids and lower treble, that give an unreal take on almost all songs (as well as sibilance and artificial sounding cymbals).
