I think Jimbob's review is fair. I confused him, though....my apologies. I intended to bring my KGST and had it on the equipment list, but I elected to bring my KGSSHV Carbon (Kevin Gilmore design) as I figured the Ether E's could use the additional power based on what I had read. I also personally think the Stax 007A's benefit from the Carbon's additional power.
The chain was 44/16 FLAC files sent to the Ygg DAC via USB. XLR's from the Ygg to the KGSSHV Carbon amplifier. The Carbon uses the Golden Reference HV power supply unit (psu) and this psu has four capacitors that are rated at 680uf and capable of handling over 500v's. It has a DACT stepped attenuator. This is a really nice piece georgeP put together for me...450v at the rails. It's a beast. Weighs 35lbs and is built like a brick house. Extremely stable at start-up and can be left on overnight with zero drama...as I did last night.
First, big thanks MrSpeakers for shipping the units to Paul so we could experience a prototype at the meet. That's very cool and I, personally, appreciate your doing that for us.
They were fun out of the Carbon. They need a LOT of power...I had the volume at 2 o'clock and that much power has the 007A's screaming loud. So if the design remains as is, I suggest one heck of an amp to get the most out of them. A couple of the guys at the meet tried the Ether E prototypes on a new Stax 252s (baby) and a more substantial Stax 006t with NOS tubes and I heard they were underpowered (someone please chime in if you heard this differently).
I do not have golden ears or any of that so take this with a grain of salt. Relative to the 007A's I found the treble and upper mids to be more forward. They had less impact down low which surprised me from what I was told previously, but again...they're prototypes and likely evolving as they are modified.
They sound fun. There were far fewer of the microdetails you get with the stats I have heard. Specifically, at the meet were the new Stax L300's, a nice pair of Stax 404 Signatures and the relatively new Stax 007A's. IMO the Ethere E's were less holographic...that instrument separation and location one hears with stat rigs that's like nothing else I've heard including out of some pretty fine dynamic cans (I own the HD650 and the TH900's amongst some others at the moment).
They shout out loud if you are sitting next to a person listening to them and I didn't realize how much so until I passed them on to someone else and was sitting there watching...it's like there's an old school radio playing next to you. Not a huge deal, but it's the loudest I've heard and simply an observation.
Overall, I enjoyed them. They are a fun listen, a different signature to the Stax, and I think it'll be cool to have another option available to the community. Thanks again for allowing us the opportunity to enjoy them in Houston.
HS