[nw130d]

Stax is an obvious example of the original point (last page). However I by no means bashing the company or any one, I stated some facts about products from a company, not once did I insult, so I am not sure what attitude you are implying. It is no different than direct to the point speech you just typed out. If anything there was a joke thrown in was trying lighten the mood. However (fact) same can not be said for
 
arnaud 

 Squat, I bet... Facepalm x 2, back on topic now.

 
As for your second point, MSRP is the price of the product. Street value/ if something doesn't sell or goes on sale/ or 45% cheaper in parts of world is irreverent to the point that the MSRP of some products is greatly inflated for the technology or product they are producing, hence for a niche market. In fact your comment of "...US $2,77..." supports the considerable mark up.
 
Key point here, logic such as reasoning of induction and deduction can be right and wrong, I'll entertain that all day long. But I by no means is implying anyone is wrong for buying product, it is their money and their choice. Same freewill principle apply to companies. Giving an example is no crime. If one gets offended then maybe something deeper was steering inside.

 

[nw130d]

But it's all in the interview from Stax. You have to go back to fall 2010, i had tried to translate as best as I could. I haven't checked again but what I recall is that:
1) the electrode made of friction welded metals (3 layers) is much more expensive to build than the traditional pcb stators
2) almost every part of the sr009 is made of precision milled aluminum (gimbal and such). If you haven't seen a 009 in your hands, you have no idea. All the tooling is subcontracted to local businesses, Stax gear is made in Japan from Japan part.
3) the sr009 goes through very tedious assembly and q/a process. A guy spends hours inspecting each assembled transducers in a dust free room, using large loop and search for any spec of dust between the diaphragm and the electrode.
4) these cans are hand made in Japan, using Japanese part. 30 pairs at most are shipped every month, pretty much as bto.
5) the development if the 009 pretty much bankruped stax again, hence a chinese venture that took ownership and injected badly needed cash.

Now, everyone is entitled an opinion, be a smart behind, and claim every headphone over there shouldn't cost any more than 500 bucks. But pretending stax business consists in stiffening their customers all day long by overcharging them to the roof with sr009 is desingenous and insulting.

Take it as my emotional response or whatever but I have done my homework on this one and everyone should do the same before calling bulls.

Now, does that mean one couldn't make an equivalent product for cheaper? Certainly not, because that wasn't stax's point to save cost to start with. If that is what you complain about (cost no object design) because you can't afford the gear, just realise this is what drives innovation and better sound. There are plenty of cheaper alternatives out there, you don't have to stay obsessed about the 5kUSD products.

Arnaud

addressing your post arnaud
 
1) friction welding is not new or expensive, they however actually used high current electricity to fuse the layers, even faster and cheaper actually.
2) aluminium is actually fastest and easiest and least wear on the production tooling machine. A $5 dollar bearing is actually produced with much higher precision and harder metal to machine such as tempered steel.
3) this guy must be working really slow... trust me a 5k camera goes though some pretty tough inspection. Some people actually use them for a living.
4) simple math... A) charge $100 for 10x headphones make $1000    OR B) charge $10 for 100x make a profit of $1000. If I was a company I would pick Stax way of making less product and charge more for them. Other benefits of going with B such as using less raw materials (Japan actually does not actually possess much geological resources). Need less workers as there is simply less work that needs to be done...etc
5) ??? ok ??? all that just informed me is poor financial management.
 
Pitty... Just don't have manners hey?! Again a lot of assumption you are making about complete stranger. If you think spending $5k is a big deal and worth bragging for be my guest. Sadly money isn't everything. Best products sometimes are made for free, eg Google.

 

[mhamel]

Maybe both of you should stop trying to get the last word in and either let it go or take it to PMs before you get the thread closed. You know, the one that's supposed to be about the Dharma.

 

[Focker]

Maybe both of you should stop trying to get the last word in and either let it go or take it to PMs before you get the thread closed. You know, the one that's supposed to be about the Dharma.

 
+1

 

[nw130d]

+2   pm myself for more schooling... 

 
Quote:

  I contacted ENIGMAcoustics and they confirmed the following:
 
1. The Dharma retail price will be $1,200.
 
2. The Dharma is being targeted for release sometime during Q2 of this year.  They will exhibit the Dharma at the CanJam SoCal in Costa Mesa, California, March 28-29.
 
3.  The Dharma does not require a special amplifier.  Any competently designed amp will work.
 
4.  The new ENIGMAcoustics Athena A1 single-ended triode headphone amp will retail for $1,500.

 
The final product is still yet to be seen but ENIGMAcoustics suggested price of $1200 seems reasonable. If one considers what I assume a passive 2 way crossover along with this their diaphragm design. The materials shown in the photos and an elegant design are some extra bounce!
 
+1

  Nobody is complaining because of limited economical capabilities. My complaint is that if someone is selling a product for 5K bucks it needs to be perfection. And, for how good the Sr-009 is, and I know it is very very very good, it's phenomenal, there's not enough sound quality in it to justify price. We are talking about 5k bucks, that's a hell lot of money. Some people here maybe lost the meaning of how much money that is. And same goes for other 1K bucks headphones. And if Stax spends a lot to build a product that does not correspond, in sound quality, to the price, it's their fault. They need to improve their production process. Such a pricey headphone needs to have a perfect, flat FR and ultra high trasparency. Is the frequency response a perfect, flat, head related function equalised line? No. It needs to be perfect in everything, with no faults or weaknesses. But it is not. Value of headphones if compared to that of, say , led tv or monitors, is crap. Most headphones cannot even reproduce all frequencies without huge dips or peaks. That is what I'm talking about.
 
P.S.: i think the same of HD800s, wich I currently own. Very overpriced.
 

 

[Hal X]

Curious to see what Tyll has to say about them

 

[YtseJamer]

From HifiPlus : "This pair provided what stands out in my mind as the most spacious and compellingly three-dimensional sound I have ever heard form any headphone system"
 
http://www.hifiplus.com/articles/ces-highlights-from-venetian-floor-30-and-lvcc-south-hall-headphones-and-related-electronics/?utm_campaign=Hi-Fi%2B+Weekly+Emails&utm_medium=email&page=4&utm_source=email-334

 

[YtseJamer]

http://www.6moons.com/news/news.html

 

[Focker]

  From HifiPlus : "This pair provided what stands out in my mind as the most spacious and compellingly three-dimensional sound I have ever heard form any headphone system"
 
http://www.hifiplus.com/articles/ces-highlights-from-venetian-floor-30-and-lvcc-south-hall-headphones-and-related-electronics/?utm_campaign=Hi-Fi%2B+Weekly+Emails&utm_medium=email&page=4&utm_source=email-334

 
Depending on their background, that is potentially a hugely significant statement. 

 

[hifimanrookie]

Wow..could this be the new hifiman he5?, when that special headphone came out it made the headphone world rumble... Could it be?..i for sure am curious..a electrostatic speaker specialist should have the right expertise to pull it off and make something astonishing..me, i dont mind cheapish looks, as long its built with quality materials and that it sounds wonderful...as thats what matters most...mmmmmm cant wait to try one out on my PaG

 

[YtseJamer]

New Dharma Mythology speakers: http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/ces-2015-speakers-20000-and-under/

 

[BlakeT]

New Dharma speakers: http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/ces-2015-speakers-20000-and-under/

 
The reference to "Dharma" in the article is an error.  The speakers shown are the Mythology, not Dharma.

 

[Maxx134]

[COLOR=141823]From the manufacturer:[/COLOR]
 
[COLOR=141823]The ultra-lightweight composite and non-conductive electrostatic membrane is permanently impregnated with electrons, therefore it doesn't require any external power.[/COLOR][COLOR=141823]
[/COLOR][COLOR=141823]
[/COLOR][COLOR=141823]Simply stated, the proprietary SBESL™ (self-biased electrostatic loudspeaker) technology inherits all of the amazing ESL traits but none of its baggage.[/COLOR]

It seemsconfusing as it looks like they using some material based off electrostatic driver and implementing in a dynamic driver setting. ..

those are interesting connectors... they almost look like hd800 connectors

The pics also seem to look similar to an hd800 and its all good if it works in their favor..

.....  It`s psychic enjoyment.  We`re not curing cancer here.  

hahaha!

 

[Vartan]

http://www.innerfidelity.com/content/ces-2015-show-stopper-enigmacoustics-dharma-electrostaticdynamic-hybrid-headphones

 

[BlakeT]

  http://www.innerfidelity.com/content/ces-2015-show-stopper-enigmacoustics-dharma-electrostaticdynamic-hybrid-headphones

 
 
The video with Tyll's initial impressions are extremely encouraging.  
 
Tyll didn't pull any punches with with respect to his sonic impressions of the new Audeze and Audioquest headphones (he didn't think either headphone was ready for prime time), so Tyll's enthusiasm for the Dharma means alot to me personally.
 
Man, I am so excited for the release of the Dharma!