Along with the 009's, I also have the SR-003mk2's, to which both earspeakers are driven by the BHSE.
Now I haven't heard the 009's with an SRM-323, but have with an SRM-007t + 717, and I assume the 007t and 717 will probably drive the 009's as good if not better than the 323.
So with me knowing the difference in SQ between the 009's and 003mk2's driven by the BHSE, and also knowing how the 009's sounded driven by both Stax amps mentioned, then if I didn't have any stats gear, and I'd only enough to get either the BHSE / SR-003mk2, or SR-009 / SRM-323, I would without doubt get the BHSE / 003mk2, I'd then get the 009's when I'd the money saved.
Yes I find the 009's do sound better than the 003mk2's driven by the BHSE, in that the 009's are more open sounding with better separation, but the detail and transparency difference isn't as big as some might think.
For me the only downside with the 003mk2's is after so long they become uncomfortable, but they are the best value for money phones I've ever heard, driven by the BHSE that is.
P.S. Although I've not heard the KGSSHV Carbon, reading what Birgir has written on his website about his KGSSHV Carbon being up there with the BHSE and DIY T2, then I would also get a KGSSHV Carbon / SR-003mk2 rather than an SR-009 / SRM-323, then again getting the 009's when I'd the money saved.
Portable STAX (okay, I know the SR-003MK2 is not compatible with the SRM-002, but you know what I mean) is not on my radar for now. (Though it would be cool to collect every STAX ever made someday.) And I've already owned other STAX systems.
An SR-207 + SRM-212 (connected directly from my laptop with no DAC because my laptop sounded just as good as a Schiit Modi 2 DAC) sounded a lot better to me than the Abyss AB-1266 ($5,495), HIFIMAN HE1000 ($2,999), HIFIMAN HE6 (~$1,300), and Sennheiser HD 800 (~$1,600) from a MOON Neo 430HA amp/DAC (~$4,300). (I also heard the HE1000 and HD 800 on a Sennheiser HDVD 800 amp/DAC, which sounded the same to me as the other amp/DAC.)
Needless to say, upgrading to the SR-009 is the only logical move for me.
The SR-009 is about $2,800 from PriceJapan.com. The SRM-323S is around $550 from the same site or $300-500 on the used market. The BHSE is $6,596 with the upgrade, and would be even more if I bought it new with no wait period, since I have something...sneaky planned.
I do not anticipate having much more than $3,000 to spare in the next month or two, so like I said, the SR-009 + SRM-323S is the only combo I am interested in buying this year with that money. BHSE or KGSSHV Carbon can come next year, or potentially in a few months if things go unexpectedly well.
Birgir actually said the SRM-323S is the best STAX amp in production. However, he did not specifically say the KGSSHV Carbon is better than or even equal to the BHSE or T2. Here is what he said:
Right up there with the BHSE and the T2 as the best amps of their kind
"Of their kind" can mean that in their respective (but different) categories, they are the best. The only unambiguous qualitative statements he made were that it is "the best solid state amplifier we have designed" and that it has "the best bass I’ve heard from an electrostatic amp."
I see a lot of this subject on head-fi, not as much on other audio forums like AudioGon. I don't get why folk can't see (hear) that the Source, the Amplifier and the end Speaker / Headphones are all 33.5% of the total SQ you will attain.
To put it more simply, would you expect an Opel Corsa to suddenly out perform a BMW M3 because it has been fitted with the same uprated tyres? No, of course not.
In effect, the best headphone in the world tagged on the end of anything short of a great quality source and amplifier will simply reveal all the warts and all. In fact, I would suggest a 507 with a standard Stax amp will sound more balanced than an 009 from a 323 amp. Certainly the 507 will be a more balanced system IMO. The 009 out of a 323 may get fatiguing...
Three words, my friend: free parametric equalizer. It's laughably easy to tweak the frequency response of anything.
I'd agree that the amplifier is a far bigger determinant of resulting sound quality with top Staxes than with any dynamic headphones, at least until you get up to the level of a KGSShv. It makes no sense to hold back the 009 with a Stax-made amp -- finding a nice Lambda/Stax amp pairing sorta seems more reasonable. Though I suppose I can see importing a PJ 009 now (well in advance of securing a decent amp) if you're speculating that the exchange rate will get worse in the future.
As for DACs, yeah that's important too, but the 3K/Yggy/R2R thing isn't a requirement. Just don't get a bright DAC; not all DS are bright (e.g. Eximus DP1 is nice and warm). I've also been very happy with the lowly NAD M51, which retails at only 2K and can be had for just over 1K used. I have a very nice analog setup for my speakers (Clearaudio Innovation, Graham Phantom, Koetsu Onyx, Ortofon Cadenza, etc), and I haven't felt the need to bring it over to the Stax setup -- the sound from the M51/KGSShv/009 is top notch as-is.
The SR-009 on virtually any amp will get much better sound than, say, the SR-207 from the same amp. (And I've already covered how the SR-009 is technically easier to drive than the SR-507, etc.) Anyway...I have no problem at all
eventually spending whatever amount of money is necessary to get ultimate sound. I just need to take it one step at a time. I don't mind not getting the best sound immediately. I mean, I want the MSB SELECT DAC (which is over $130,000 with all the upgrades!) someday.
