Need help: Stax USA

[MANSKITO]

So I am currently debating on whether or not to get the STAX SRS-3100 or the Koss ESP-950.

My issue is this:

I can afford the up front cost of either system, but I will not have much money for a long time. So the maintenance cost really matters to me.

I have contacted Stax and they will not tell me what the cost of replacing a driver or re cabling the headphones would be if they break out of warranty. In fact they have not even responded.

I know Koss has a life time warranty and will repair any issue down the road for the cost of shipping. ~$18.

However I am concerned that the Koss headphone will not sound as nice as the stax.

Can anyone confirm the Koss headphones sound as good as Stax?

Or can anyone confirm roughly what Stax charges to repair headphones? (inside of and outside of warranty) And how long the warranty period is?

 

[Music Alchemist]

I owned both. It comes down to preference. I'd say the SR-L300 is more accurate overall. But the ESP950 has a unique sound too. Actually, the SR-L300 doesn't sound like the other STAX Lambdas I owned (SR-207 & SR-Lambda) and is more solid and focused.

STAXUSA.com is owned by Yama's Enterprises, Inc., not STAX. They used to be an official STAX distributor for the US, but they no longer are. I don't even think they fulfill orders anymore. So forget about them and focus on other distributors like Elusive Disc. (Which have good support. I recommend contacting them with any questions.)

Since that lifetime warranty could come in handy, you may be better off with the Koss if you're worried about the future.

 

[MANSKITO]

I owned both. It comes down to preference. I'd say the SR-L300 is more accurate overall. But the ESP950 has a unique sound too. Actually, the SR-L300 doesn't sound like the other STAX Lambdas I owned (SR-207 & SR-Lambda) and is more solid and focused.

STAXUSA.com is owned by Yama's Enterprises, Inc., not STAX. They used to be an official STAX distributor for the US, but they no longer are. I don't even think they fulfill orders anymore. So forget about them and focus on other distributors like Elusive Disc. (Which have good support. I recommend contacting them with any questions.)

Since that lifetime warranty could come in handy, you may be better off with the Koss if you're worried about the future.

Would you say the esp 950 is in the same league as the stax? Or that it sounds like an e-stat should? I'm looking for detail, speed and resolution and most people claim that estats are the best at this. Is this the case with the esp 950?

 

[Music Alchemist]

Would you say the esp 950 is in the same league as the stax? Or that it sounds like an e-stat should? I'm looking for detail, speed and resolution and most people claim that estats are the best at this. Is this the case with the esp 950?

I think both of them are excellent in those areas, but they sound so different I wouldn't be able to tell you which you'd prefer. Like I said, I do think the SR-L300 is ultimately more accurate.

 

[buke9]

Would you say the esp 950 is in the same league as the stax? Or that it sounds like an e-stat should? I'm looking for detail, speed and resolution and most people claim that estats are the best at this. Is this the case with the esp 950?

I would say as the ESP's are very close to the sound of some Stax's but like said before different. I actually run my 950's from a Stax SRM 1 MK 2 and that opened them up even more not a total revelation but definitely better. You have to buy a cable that has been made for that purpose or if your kind of handy diy just as I did. It's just crazy though I got mine on Amazon least than a year ago for $530 or $560 can't remember but they are $879 now.

 

[MANSKITO]

I would say as the ESP's are very close to the sound of some Stax's but like said before different. I actually run my 950's from a Stax SRM 1 MK 2 and that opened them up even more not a total revelation but definitely better. You have to buy a cable that has been made for that purpose or if your kind of handy diy just as I did. It's just crazy though I got mine on Amazon least than a year ago for $530 or $560 can't remember but they are $879 now.

Well because of the life time warranty I was just going to get them used, they are ~600 used. vs ~700 for the entry level stax system. The upfront price is not really the issue, i can swing pretty much anything under 1k. I am just worried about 1-3 years from now. (I basically know I won't have more then maybe ~$200 AT MOST in checking at any one time for the next 3 years ) I have never had a headphone make it more then a year with out needing new cable. And the stax/esp 950 don't have detachable cables so I am worried about what it will cost to fix them.

 

[MANSKITO]

I would say as the ESP's are very close to the sound of some Stax's but like said before different. I actually run my 950's from a Stax SRM 1 MK 2 and that opened them up even more not a total revelation but definitely better. You have to buy a cable that has been made for that purpose or if your kind of handy diy just as I did. It's just crazy though I got mine on Amazon least than a year ago for $530 or $560 can't remember but they are $879 now.

DO the esp NEED a stax amp? i thought they came with there own.

 

[buke9]

It come with the E-90 amp and it is just fine. Being me I just wanted to see if I could step it up a notch so I got a Stax amp. It does make them sound better but not like a different headphone or anything I found a good deal on a decent amp so I went for it. It will be one of the most comfortable headphones you've ever put on your head. I also upgraded the pads to a pair of Vespers not necessary but they are nice and give a bit more bass to them plus velour touches your head and leather surrounds. They are like $80 or $90 not for sure but are nice.

 

[Music Alchemist]

Well because of the life time warranty I was just going to get them used, they are ~600 used. vs ~700 for the entry level stax system. The upfront price is not really the issue, i can swing pretty much anything under 1k. I am just worried about 1-3 years from now. (I basically know I won't have more then maybe ~$200 AT MOST in checking at any one time for the next 3 years ) I have never had a headphone make it more then a year with out needing new cable. And the stax/esp 950 don't have detachable cables so I am worried about what it will cost to fix them.

Yeah, you can sometimes find it used for ~$500.

If you're only going to have that little cash, perhaps it would be better to save/reinvest your money for awhile so you're in a better position financially.

Electrostats have very durable cables. I don't see it getting damaged unless you have a pet that likes to chew cables. But in the case of the Koss, the lifetime warranty covers it, so you would only have to pay for shipping to get it repaired or replaced.

 

[obobskivich]

+1 on the Koss. Their support is top-notch, and the 950s sound fantastic. The biggest thing I'd watch out for as far as "wear and tear" are the pads, but those are $5 (that's for a pair), like all Koss pads, so it isn't end of days if you damage one (they are *not* fun to replace though). Lots of other high end headphones can have pads that run $50 or more for a set. The whole system is basically self-contained too - it comes with the headphones, amp, all the cables you'd need to hook-up, a storage bag, etc. At least if you buy it new. Who knows what you find on the used market. Note that all of Koss' headphones are covered in this way, so if you bought, say, the PRO4/AA you also get the same warranty. It isn't just the $1k TOTL that gets this treatment. Koss themselves run sales relatively often too; it isn't uncommon to find the ESP/950 for like $750 from koss.com, and Amazon sometimes has them lower than that (https://camelcamelcamel.com/Koss-160416-ESP-950-Electrostatic-Stereophone/product/B000056ULH - make sure you click to enable the Amazon price line as well as third party). Basically, if you're patient, there's no reason to spend $900+ on the ESP/950.

Full disclosure: I haven't heard the STAX.