[JimL11]

I've listened to my Koss headset on JimL's amps; some relatively inexpensive Stax ones that he modded, and his BHSE. The Koss sounds significantly better on the BHSE , and slightly better on the lesser amps. Lesser in this context means ~$1000. The 950 at $500 or less is a steal, and doesn't really require an upgraded amp unless you area really picky and can hear a nat's fart. Of course, "require" is a very relative terms in this "hobby".

Actually he listened to two, an SRM-727 with global feedback mod, which costs >$1000 due to the basic cost of the 727 (the mod costs $1 in resistors plus a few minutes desoldering and soldering time), and an SRM-T1 with constant current load mod and replacement electrolytic caps, which costs considerably less than $1000 (basically cost of T1 plus <$100 parts, plus a few hours soldering time). Of the two, I think the T1 sounds better - I sold the modded 727.

 

[timb5881]

Did anyone else see the Koss ESP-900 on eBay? Went for $599 in just a few hours. The ESP-900 is essentially a ESP-950 but with sealed backs. It was intended for Magnetic Resonance labs since electrostatics have no magnets in them.

 

[PolloLoco]

I've just started listening to my esp950x seriously. I bought some cheap replacement pleather pads I'd like to try. Is there some trick to pulling the old ones off? I read something about glue in this thread, and would rather not risk breaking mine.

 

[IBJamon]

I've just started listening to my esp950x seriously. I bought some cheap replacement pleather pads I'd like to try. Is there some trick to pulling the old ones off? I read something about glue in this thread, and would rather not risk breaking mine.

It comes right off. No glue.

 

[kevin gilmore]

Did anyone else see the Koss ESP-900 on eBay? Went for $599 in just a few hours. The ESP-900 is essentially a ESP-950 but with sealed backs. It was intended for Magnetic Resonance labs since electrostatics have no magnets in them.

birgir got them. he usually gets rare stuff like this. he has posted pictures elsewhere.
acquisition mania is a serious disease.

 

[PolloLoco]

It comes right off. No glue.

Thanks! I did the swap tonight. Wow, much bigger difference than I expected from open headphones. The bass increase is noticeable. My ears get warm, though that's a fair trade and then some.

I have a feeling I'll buy the $90 pads eventually.

 

[IBJamon]

Which pads are they?

 

[PolloLoco]

Which pads are they?

I bough these on EBAY. Like I said, cheap, and several vendors have the same item.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Replacemen...-headphones-/112489688865?txnId=1943319283001

I have no idea how these compare to the original esp950 pads, but for me they're a big improvement on the velour pads provided by Massdrop.

I'm really curious if there would be noticeable improvement with the Vesper pads... like I said before, I'll probably get them eventually.

 

[frogmeat69]

So, haven't read the whole thread, but is there anywhere else besides the store on Ebay that sells a modded cable with the Stax plug? Just need like a pigtail extension, don't want to cut my original cables, and $150+ for the ebay one is kinda steep.

 

[darinf]

So, haven't read the whole thread, but is there anywhere else besides the store on Ebay that sells a modded cable with the Stax plug? Just need like a pigtail extension, don't want to cut my original cables, and $150+ for the ebay one is kinda steep.

We have them in stock too: Koss ESP-950 to Stax Adapter Cable, but we actually had to raise the price since Koss more than doubled the price of the extension cables. So ours is now $159.00.

 

[Allanmarcus]

We have them in stock too: Koss ESP-950 to Stax Adapter Cable, but we actually had to raise the price since Koss more than doubled the price of the extension cables. So ours is now $159.00.

Does that mean koss is selling the cables again?

 

[darinf]

Does that mean koss is selling the cables again?

Not that I am aware of to end users.
I am a dealer and there is a pretty high minimum order quantity. (The price has also more than doubled.).

 

[ratboi]

Not that I am aware of to end users.
I am a dealer and there is a pretty high minimum order quantity. (The price has also more than doubled.).

A Stax 725H extension cable was 4x the price Koss was charging, the 925H (silver!) was 10x. Koss have a ways to go before they catch up to Stax. Just sayin'...

 

[frogmeat69]

We have them in stock too: Koss ESP-950 to Stax Adapter Cable, but we actually had to raise the price since Koss more than doubled the price of the extension cables. So ours is now $159.00.

Thanks, I will keep you in mind if I do end up with the iFi. Would rather deal with someone on here with good rep than Ebay.

 

[Delmetrice]

I bough these on EBAY. Like I said, cheap, and several vendors have the same item.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Replacemen...-headphones-/112489688865?txnId=1943319283001

I have no idea how these compare to the original esp950 pads, but for me they're a big improvement on the velour pads provided by Massdrop.

I'm really curious if there would be noticeable improvement with the Vesper pads... like I said before, I'll probably get them eventually.

Am I a bad person if the availability of good pads is what keeps me from jumping on a set of cans? After this, I'm interested.