[Gummy82]

Removing the dust screens is easy, the effect on sonics is large ('would love to hear others opinions on this) and does not (IMHO) cause much risk. The earpads hold the dust screens in place. The earpads are stretchy, and screens deform quite easily, so you can essentially grab the polymer frames of the polymer screens and pull them out through the holes for your ears.

Removing the metal screens is rather more difficult. The operation is riskier. The result is riskier. Better sound comes for a substantial cost in risk! Removing the metal screens and normal usage without them makes it easy to tear the quite delicate polymer film that envelopes and stators and diaphragm. If the film is torn, the ear speakers need to go back to Stax for repair. I did damage one of my screens. I returned the 009s to Stax and they repaired them for $1350, in about 2mo., including shipping time. The cost of the repair in time and money was worth the improvement in sound, *to me*, and I have just removed the screens from my repaired pair. However, I am fabricating some protective screens, to try to have the best of both worlds. Time will tell.

I will put together some instructions for removing the metal screens and post here, eventually. However BE FOREWARNED THAT THE RISK IS REAL.

Come to think of it I won't bother to remove the dust screens because I plan on selling my SR-009 headphones (best to leave them in as new condition) so I can buy the new ones (I think they're called SR-009s).

 

[statfi]

Removing the dust screens is easy, the effect on sonics is large ('would love to hear others opinions on this) and does not (IMHO) cause much risk.

Not much

 

[statfi]

Come to think of it I won't bother to remove the dust screens because I plan on selling my SR-009 headphones (best to leave them in as new condition) so I can buy the new ones (I think they're called SR-009s).

Not much SHORT-TERM risk of catastrophic failure, that is. I do not know how real the long-term risk is, but the driver does get more exposed to build up of "dust".

 

[statfi]

Come to think of it I won't bother to remove the dust screens because I plan on selling my SR-009 headphones (best to leave them in as new condition) so I can buy the new ones (I think they're called SR-009s).

Sounds reasonable. I'd like to know your comparative impressions after you get them.

 

[bearFNF]

No offense guys, but this is the mrspeakers electrostat thread, not the 009 modding thread....might wsnt to start your own thread or take it to PM.

 

[JimL11]

Not much SHORT-TERM risk of catastrophic failure, that is. I do not know how real the long-term risk is, but the driver does get more exposed to build up of "dust".

Which is exactly the point. Dust screens improve long-term reliability, which is why Stax headphones from 40-50 years ago are still working just fine. This is why people were bugging Dan when the original prototypes of the VOCE didn't have dust screens. Removing them is a BAD idea for long-term reliability. I somewhat disagree with bearFNF, this really doesn't belong anywhere IMO.

 

[mrspeakers]

I’m happy to note we’ve shipped about half our backlog and to date have not had a single enquiry for support or service.

 

[marcusd]

Hi Guys, had the VOCE now for a few months and just posted a review of it. I am impressed, very much so Thanks Dan for letting me try it out both in Singapore and the comforts of my lazy boy at home!

https://headfonics.com/2018/05/mrspeakers-voce-review/

 

[mrspeakers]

Hey thanks for the great review, Marcus! A 9.3, wow!

 

[Byronb]

We just buy/rent/borrow equipment arranged our own demo parties!

Full story here: https://www.head-fi.org/threads/adv...-head-first-into-the-head-fi-deep-end.824351/ https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/chord-hugo-2.22209/reviews#review-19435

Kidding aside, @mrspeakers and team were *incredibly* generous to host me for several hours as I put the Ether line through its paces. Can't wait for an opportunity to hear the Voce's (Dan, you're always welcome to bring toys to our audio nights!)

Now that is a party I could get into!

 

[Bones13]

My Voce headphones arrived this week, with a new set of NOS Siemens EL34 tubes. Finally installed the tubes, and did preliminary adjustments.

The headphones are spectacularly packaged, and I much prefer the round cable to the flat Staxx cable, which always seems in danger of getting damaged.

I put the SR009s in the nice wood/lucite box, and installed the Voce on my BHSE. The Voceheadphones are very light compared to the SR009, and don’t seem to stick out from the skull as far. When moving my head, there is no slippage. First couple of songs sound great.

Dinner with wife tonight. Full warm up and bias adjustment tomorrow with some more listening.

Thanks Dan, for all your great headphones, I have an Ether Flow also, and for the tube recommendation.

 

[musicday]

My Voce headphones arrived this week, with a new set of NOS Siemens EL34 tubes. Finally installed the tubes, and did preliminary adjustments.

The headphones are spectacularly packaged, and I much prefer the round cable to the flat Staxx cable, which always seems in danger of getting damaged.

I put the SR009s in the nice wood/lucite box, and installed the Voce on my BHSE. The Voceheadphones are very light compared to the SR009, and don’t seem to stick out from the skull as far. When moving my head, there is no slippage. First couple of songs sound great.

Dinner with wife tonight. Full warm up and bias adjustment tomorrow with some more listening.

Thanks Dan, for all your great headphones, I have an Ether Flow also, and for the tube recommendation.

Hope the dinner with your wife didn't end with a divorce with all you audio purchases.
When you have more time maybe you can write in depth about 009 vs Voce.
Thank you.

 

[pbui44]

Hope the dinner with your wife didn't end with a divorce with all you audio purchases.
When you have more time maybe you can write in depth about 009 vs Voce.
Thank you.

Although my comparison was with a prototype-VOCE in its final stages and the Amp was a SRM-212, you can read my VOCE and SR-009 comparison here on Post #290 in the meantime:

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/mrs...rototype-listening-impressions.804022/page-20

 

[mrspeakers]

Good news, by end of week we should be in stock! Also, a review is in the new TAS Headphone Guide...

 

[mrspeakers]

Here's something cool from the HiFi+ review in the TAS headphone guide, I think this is the only headphone they've rated with their new system to get perfect marks.

edit: the post isn't letting me upload an image file for some reason. Rats!