Koss ESP950, do you think I'd like them?

[obobskivich]

Ok, I've done a lot of reading on what electrostats sound like, and the ESP950's themselves, compared to both Stax phones, and HD600/650's from a few users' perspective

I've heard upgrading them to a Stax or similar amp will improve LF response, and a few other things

BUT
I'm wondering, would I like or hate the sound, coming from Denon AH-D2000's and Grado SR-60's (and liking the SR-325i's and GS-1000's from auditions)?

like, I've heard they're excellent SQ, and should outclass the HD 600's (this isn't flame bait, its just what I've read), in terms of reproduction, however that doesnt' really tell me, will I like or hate them?

I know, hearing them is the only option to really know the answer, but based on what I've got now, would it even be something I would remotely like, in terms of their sound? or would I find them overbearing or "too" good, or something like that? (blase I think the term is, lol)

and yes I realize LQ sources into them would be a problem, but thats a problem with the D2000's and CI amp anyways

 

[kintsaki]

I spent a whole day listening through most of my favorite music (classica, jazz, rock, greek and ethnic male and female voices) and comparing to Grado RS-1
325, 125 Sennheiser 600, Etys 4s/p and driving with the RA-1, Corda Pprehead and RKV II, from a Linn Sondek
LP12, the Lynx2 B (see review of the revelation from six moon) and the sony NWZ a828 DAP. The Koss was driven by its own low end inexpensive energizer. It only takes a few minutes to
see the difference which is more than an order of magnitude. Regardless of music genre, mood and sound volume the Koss is so much more musical.
Bass is not tactile but you can easily tell whether the drumhas a wooden or a metal case and the boot and tympani and the organ pipe and the bass guitar it is
all real and addictive. Midrange is a killer and treble is
liquid with no sibilance. It is all so good that even at
low volume blows all the others out of the water.
Whatever you do you must try it. In my opinion it
totaly kills the Senn in bass detail and involving and engaging presentation. However Stereofile reviewers
say the seen with the blockhead beats the Omega.
Add this to the mysteries list thread.

 

[obobskivich]

well, thats probably the single most "I MUST HAVE THIS AFTER READING" post i've ever read

given that I loved the SR-325i's, and you're saying this just destroys them

and it isn't *that* expensive relative to something like the Omega (or even some dynamics)

might have to order one up in the next week or so

 

[ericj]

I think there are only a few high end headphones that really require a high end source to enjoy.

A better source often results in a better overall experience, but a reasonably good source pairs just fine with most planar headphones.

Not that I've heard the ESP950 - I would very much like to.

I also have heard from more than one person that the main thing holding back the ESP950 is the E/90 amp. Which is why you can get koss-to-stax adapters. But that presupposes having a Stax amp or transformer box to plug them into.

By the way - I wholeheartedly approve of the Master Shake Munching on Broodwich avatar. That was an awesome episode.

 

[obobskivich]

i'm still really debating them given that they are somewhat expensive, and I dont know how much I might end up spending to get a Stax amp or something like that (like, will I hate them with the E/90, or will they be good, and then I'll upgrade and be like, the E/90 sucks?)



although, I'm loving what I've heard about them so far

as far as "only a few require a high end source", care to define high end source?

atm I'm going from my X-Fi Prelude, the yamaha receiver's FM tumer, my Yamaha CD/LD player, and a PS1 SPCH-1001

 

[HeadphoneAddict]

Yes, you need a ESP/950 - bear in mind that my ES/950 were re-cabled and modded by APS, installing a Stax PC-OCC cable, and some of the dampening material is removed in the process.

With my SRM-1 Mk2 Pro or Woo GES prototype amp, my Stax-cabled ESP950 beat my balanced SR-325i and balanced D2000, even though I enjoy them very much too. Although the balanced HD600 are better than the SR-325i and D2000 they cannot pass up the ESP950 either.

The ESP/950 also beat most of my vintage Stax including SR-5, SR-5NB gold edition, SR-Lambda and SR-Lambda Signature in terms of frequency response and soundstage. My Stax Lambda series are very good still, but the soundstage is a little fuzzy and smeared out wide, and there is a little upper mids etch present that hurts the transparency a little. The ESP/950 are more forward and present, with less coloration, and while the soundstage is smaller it is easier to pinpoint instrument placement.

Now, my Senn HE60 do some things the ESP950 can't do, and the ESP950 do some things the HE60 can't do - they are polar opposites. The HE60 are spacious and airy and delicate, the the ESP950 are forward and dynamic and punchy. The ESP950 have impact closer to a dynamic with the speed and detail of an electrostatic. So the HE60 soundstage is bigger, but I find I can still pinpoint instrument placement - what they lack is the impact of the ESP/950. Both do treble well, but it sounds to me like the ESP/950 is more accurate in tone.

 

[QQQ]

Are esp950 closed? They use those pleather pads... Is it possible to find some velours\quality leather pads which wil fit esp950 without compromising OG sound quality?

 

[obobskivich]

from everything I've read, no, they aren't closed, there is a thread on head-fi about modifying them, someone was talking about using the HE60 or HE90 pads on them, instead of the stock Koss pads

 

[spritzer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by obobskivich /img/forum/go_quote.gif from everything I've read, no, they aren't closed, there is a thread on head-fi about modifying them, someone was talking about using the HE60 or HE90 pads on them, instead of the stock Koss pads

That was me but you can't do that to the stock unit. I'm going to have a new headphone built with the Koss drivers, made to look like the HE90.

 

[obobskivich]

so, its basically stuck with the stock koss pads, or anything custom built?

 

[spritzer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by obobskivich /img/forum/go_quote.gif so, its basically stuck with the stock koss pads, or anything custom built?

Yup but the Koss pads aren't all that bad even compared to something like the leather SR-007 and He90 pads.

 

[Faust2D]

Quote:

Originally Posted by spritzer /img/forum/go_quote.gif Yup but the Koss pads aren't all that bad even compared to something like the leather SR-007 and He90 pads.

.....and at $5 per set they are cheap as dirt.

 

[spritzer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Faust2D /img/forum/go_quote.gif .....and at $5 per set they are cheap as dirt.

Yeah which is a good alternative to the 130$ SR-007 and 300$ He90 pads

 

[ericj]

If you're really upset about the pleather, there are leatherworkers who could probably make you custom leather pads for not a huge amount of money. not compared to the replacement costs of existing leather pads from stax or sennheiser, at least.

 

[ak40ozKevin]

If I ever upgrade to an SRM-1 or 717 I'd like to sell my 2050 system and buy the ESP-950. I'd probably be happy enough with the included energizer but then I'm not so sure I'd be upgrading.