Z06_Pilot
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Jan 30, 2010
- Posts
- 137
- Likes
- 45
Night.......thanks for taking the time to record a detailed and thorough review. I am in the exact position as you. I replaced my 10-year old HD800 cans with the HD800s a few weeks ago, and have had the Stellia's for about 10 days for the same reason as you: as a compliment to the HD800s. I have loved that extremely revealing, true-to-the mix HD800 house sound for a long time. I am driving them with a Hugo2Go combo, and a HeadAmp GS-X mini amp, running Roon (with Tidal streaming) exclusively. Currently waiting on Arctic balanced cable to replace the stock Stellia cable. I probably have ~100 hours on the Stellia's, running them constantly 24x7 for burn-in purposes.
The Stellia's put vocals front and center like the HD800s-just the way I like it. Smaller soundstage (compared to the HD800s, what headphone isn't?!), but I really like that, especially for string quartet and small jazz group recordings (HD800s is the only way to go for full blown orchestral recordings). That smaller stage and the closed back design make me feel like I am listening in a small jazz club with no one else in the audience but me. The Stellia's are slightly less fatiguing than the HD800s-they still force your attention to the music but not nearly to the degree of the HD800s. With the Stellia's, I can more or less do other things while listening if I want to. The HD800s-well that's a full time job listening to those (not a complaint at all).
I have never listened to their most mentioned competitor, the Verite Closed, so I can't really compare and say whether the Stellia's justify their stratospheric price or not. I know they provide layering, detail, and plenty of clear low end more so than any other closed cans I have listened to before (including the Sony Z1R's). As you mentioned, they are a sight to behold, and just like my wife, they are not just another pretty face-these phones have serious game. I think the Stellia's are the perfect compliment to the HD800s, and they will be side-by-side on my headphone stands for many years to come.
The Stellia's put vocals front and center like the HD800s-just the way I like it. Smaller soundstage (compared to the HD800s, what headphone isn't?!), but I really like that, especially for string quartet and small jazz group recordings (HD800s is the only way to go for full blown orchestral recordings). That smaller stage and the closed back design make me feel like I am listening in a small jazz club with no one else in the audience but me. The Stellia's are slightly less fatiguing than the HD800s-they still force your attention to the music but not nearly to the degree of the HD800s. With the Stellia's, I can more or less do other things while listening if I want to. The HD800s-well that's a full time job listening to those (not a complaint at all).
I have never listened to their most mentioned competitor, the Verite Closed, so I can't really compare and say whether the Stellia's justify their stratospheric price or not. I know they provide layering, detail, and plenty of clear low end more so than any other closed cans I have listened to before (including the Sony Z1R's). As you mentioned, they are a sight to behold, and just like my wife, they are not just another pretty face-these phones have serious game. I think the Stellia's are the perfect compliment to the HD800s, and they will be side-by-side on my headphone stands for many years to come.