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- Jan 9, 2003
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Got a stash of great headphones to borrow for a night of fun. My reference system here is:
Stax DIY T2 (georgep build)
Stax SR-009 and SR-009S headphones
Schiit Yggdrasil 2, Audiophilleo 2 with PurePower (feeding mostly CD-quality FLAC files)
MSI GS75 laptop, jRiver
SOTA Nova V turntable, Shelter Accord cartridge, Herron VTPH-2A (* vinyl was not used for these comparisons)
Audioquest Niagara 1000; Colorado, Sky, Leopard, and WEL Signature interconnects; Thunder/Hurricane/NRG1000 PCs, and a few PS Audio cords to fill things in.
Dynamic Amplifiers used:
Headroom Balanced Max (the latest and greatest version of Blockhead)
Headamp GS-X Mini with stepped attenuator
Focal Stellia
I like these headphones. Used to own Utopia (two pairs!), and I like these in a lot of the same ways. Its soundstage didn't seem quite as constrained as the Utopia, but perhaps I'm over-emphasizing my memories of that flaw. It paired so nicely with the Max - which is an amp slightly on the warm side of neutral. You'll want an amp at LEAST this warm. The Stellia got bright and fatiguing in a HURRY when partnered with the GS-X Mini. Ow! Like the Utopia it's missing the last degree of detail and transparency that Stax/T2 can deliver. Very easy to drive, but you need the right sonic (and impedance) match.
Mr Speakers Voce
I didn't get these. Not bad sounding to be sure, but in literally every category I find each of the top 3 Stax headphones superior. Well that's not entirely true - the Voce fits my head better than any Stax, which is impressive. This headband should be an option for Stax. Great job on the headband's functionality! Still, sonically I won't need to revisit these. Ever.
Meze Empyrean
Very thick, rich, voluptuous sound. I'm sure that's been said 1 million times because it's so true. I put this at or near the same level of overall performance as the Stellia. Like Stellia, they don't crack the very top tier of transparency, but get reasonably close. Personally I like these even a little better than the Stellia. Very, VERY good headphones! This and a Stellia could be your Yin and Yang if you're into that. Not too hard to drive. Did really well out of both the Max and Mini; here I preferred the Mini by a few hairs. So finding a good amp for these bad boys shouldn't be too hard.
HifiMan Susvara
I first plugged these into the Max and realized how hard they are to drive. Even cranking the volume, I got no satisfaction. I was ready to bin 'em, because they were sounding like they looked (not very good at all). Late in the night I plugged em into the Mini - and these thing came VERY uncomfortably close to blowing me away. I have to admit, I really, really like them. Wonderfully balanced sound, that really comes shockingly close to competing on even level with the top Stax setups in transparency. When you hear Stax on a T2, you hear the music "breathe" in a way other headphone systems can't - as if the music you hear is finally crossing over from a reproduction into a performance. The Susvara displayed a very good chunk of this "breathing" quality. Plus it has that a bit of that thick voluptuous, seductive nature that some dynamics can do. A bit tonally fleshier in places where the Stax are more lean, which gives a wonderful alternative perspective on favorite tunes. Sonically, this is a top-tier headphone. Hard to drive, though. I'd honestly be surprised if you can find a better 8K system than Susvara and Mini.
Stax 007
This is the Mk I version (71XX). Used to own these, unfortunately I sold them before I got the T2. Because now that I hear them on T2, I'm kinda blown away, and I want them! They've always been warmer and thicker than the 009, with more bass bloom in exchange for less extension. But now on the T2 they finally, finally, FINALLY fully 100% wake up from their the sleepy dull sound on lesser amps. They sound fully dynamic and alive, and in some way they "breathe" the music even better than the 009! The imaging is holographic, 3D, simply phenomenal. I have to admit I was preferring the 007 last night. Then this morning, I was back to preferring the 009 again - but only by the slightest hair. And at night, who knows I may prefer 007 again! Keep in min these impressions are ONLY for the T2. I always preferred the 009, sometimes by miles, on any other amps including the lovely BHSE.
Stax 009S
I've owned these for a while, but have come to the conclusion that these are voiced to optimize their performance on amps LESS THAN the T2. On the T2, this voicing/tweaking seems to get in the way of that last 1% of transparency. They get pushed into third place on the T2, behind 007 and 009. Funny, because the 009S was my favorite of the 3 on the KGSShv Carbon!
Conclusions:
In the end, I still like my Stax / T2 setup best. But that's a 12K amp; not a fair fight by any means. The Susvara and GS-X mini were both really impressive. I also very much liked the Mezes. And I like the Stellia, but feel zero need/desire to own them - been there, done that with the Utopia. If anything, I'll be adding a 007 to my collection.
Stax DIY T2 (georgep build)
Stax SR-009 and SR-009S headphones
Schiit Yggdrasil 2, Audiophilleo 2 with PurePower (feeding mostly CD-quality FLAC files)
MSI GS75 laptop, jRiver
SOTA Nova V turntable, Shelter Accord cartridge, Herron VTPH-2A (* vinyl was not used for these comparisons)
Audioquest Niagara 1000; Colorado, Sky, Leopard, and WEL Signature interconnects; Thunder/Hurricane/NRG1000 PCs, and a few PS Audio cords to fill things in.
Dynamic Amplifiers used:
Headroom Balanced Max (the latest and greatest version of Blockhead)
Headamp GS-X Mini with stepped attenuator
Focal Stellia
I like these headphones. Used to own Utopia (two pairs!), and I like these in a lot of the same ways. Its soundstage didn't seem quite as constrained as the Utopia, but perhaps I'm over-emphasizing my memories of that flaw. It paired so nicely with the Max - which is an amp slightly on the warm side of neutral. You'll want an amp at LEAST this warm. The Stellia got bright and fatiguing in a HURRY when partnered with the GS-X Mini. Ow! Like the Utopia it's missing the last degree of detail and transparency that Stax/T2 can deliver. Very easy to drive, but you need the right sonic (and impedance) match.
Mr Speakers Voce
I didn't get these. Not bad sounding to be sure, but in literally every category I find each of the top 3 Stax headphones superior. Well that's not entirely true - the Voce fits my head better than any Stax, which is impressive. This headband should be an option for Stax. Great job on the headband's functionality! Still, sonically I won't need to revisit these. Ever.
Meze Empyrean
Very thick, rich, voluptuous sound. I'm sure that's been said 1 million times because it's so true. I put this at or near the same level of overall performance as the Stellia. Like Stellia, they don't crack the very top tier of transparency, but get reasonably close. Personally I like these even a little better than the Stellia. Very, VERY good headphones! This and a Stellia could be your Yin and Yang if you're into that. Not too hard to drive. Did really well out of both the Max and Mini; here I preferred the Mini by a few hairs. So finding a good amp for these bad boys shouldn't be too hard.
HifiMan Susvara
I first plugged these into the Max and realized how hard they are to drive. Even cranking the volume, I got no satisfaction. I was ready to bin 'em, because they were sounding like they looked (not very good at all). Late in the night I plugged em into the Mini - and these thing came VERY uncomfortably close to blowing me away. I have to admit, I really, really like them. Wonderfully balanced sound, that really comes shockingly close to competing on even level with the top Stax setups in transparency. When you hear Stax on a T2, you hear the music "breathe" in a way other headphone systems can't - as if the music you hear is finally crossing over from a reproduction into a performance. The Susvara displayed a very good chunk of this "breathing" quality. Plus it has that a bit of that thick voluptuous, seductive nature that some dynamics can do. A bit tonally fleshier in places where the Stax are more lean, which gives a wonderful alternative perspective on favorite tunes. Sonically, this is a top-tier headphone. Hard to drive, though. I'd honestly be surprised if you can find a better 8K system than Susvara and Mini.
Stax 007
This is the Mk I version (71XX). Used to own these, unfortunately I sold them before I got the T2. Because now that I hear them on T2, I'm kinda blown away, and I want them! They've always been warmer and thicker than the 009, with more bass bloom in exchange for less extension. But now on the T2 they finally, finally, FINALLY fully 100% wake up from their the sleepy dull sound on lesser amps. They sound fully dynamic and alive, and in some way they "breathe" the music even better than the 009! The imaging is holographic, 3D, simply phenomenal. I have to admit I was preferring the 007 last night. Then this morning, I was back to preferring the 009 again - but only by the slightest hair. And at night, who knows I may prefer 007 again! Keep in min these impressions are ONLY for the T2. I always preferred the 009, sometimes by miles, on any other amps including the lovely BHSE.
Stax 009S
I've owned these for a while, but have come to the conclusion that these are voiced to optimize their performance on amps LESS THAN the T2. On the T2, this voicing/tweaking seems to get in the way of that last 1% of transparency. They get pushed into third place on the T2, behind 007 and 009. Funny, because the 009S was my favorite of the 3 on the KGSShv Carbon!
Conclusions:
In the end, I still like my Stax / T2 setup best. But that's a 12K amp; not a fair fight by any means. The Susvara and GS-X mini were both really impressive. I also very much liked the Mezes. And I like the Stellia, but feel zero need/desire to own them - been there, done that with the Utopia. If anything, I'll be adding a 007 to my collection.
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