Separate Electrostatic/Planar Headphone/Amp Forum?

[The Monkey]

Given the size of the "Stax (new)" thread and the introduction of the Jade and some new 'stat amps, I am beginning to think that a forum dedicated to electrostatic phones and amps might be a good idea. Any thoughts?

EDIT: after the helpful input in this thread, I want to clarify that I agree the new forum, if any, should be dedicated to all planars, not just electrostatic phones.

 

[Maxvla]

The High End Audio forum essentially is the electrostat forum.

 

[The Monkey]

Yes and no. That's where many of the threads wound up, but it's not necessarily appropriate, as not all stat rigs are high end of course. Further, the long stat thread contains so much useful information, but is difficult to navigate. I think it would be more useful and user-friendly if a stat forum were created and broken into a few sub-topics, such as "headphones," "amps," "repairs," and "Misc." or some other breakdown as the powers that be see fit.

 

[scompton]

Even though I discuss my stats on the Stax thread, they're hardly high end. I'll never have what most head-fiers would call high end since I have no plans to ever buy anything with a pro bias.

 

[The Monkey]

Quote:

Originally Posted by scompton /img/forum/go_quote.gif Even though I discuss my stats on the Stax thread, they're hardly high end. I'll never have what most head-fiers would call high end since I have no plans to ever buy anything with a pro bias.

The irony of course is that many would argue that the normal bias Lambdas sound better.

And I agree completely. The great thing about stats is that the barrier to entry to truly great sound is relatively low. I happen to think a Lambda Pro with an SRM1/MK2 sounds "high end" (whatever that really means), but is not priced at the high end. All of which shows that stats come in a variety of price points and flavors, which makes the categorization of them as only high end a bit confusing.

 

[scompton]

I also have a few SR-3 clones that I've posted about. I'm going to be rewiring my K-Mart SR-3 clone soon and I'll be posting about that, but probably in the headphone forum with a link to it in the Stax thread. I doubt that anyone would consider a K-Mart stat high end

 

[Keithpgdrb]

I'm also in the normal bias camp, and I love it. maybe a separate area for electrostats would be good at this point. I think the membership numbers have raised enough to merit this.

 

[TheMarchingMule]

I do agree that electrostats need a forum of their own. That one Stax thread is so dense (text-wise), that I'm amazed that people can get good bearing on what they should look in for a good Stax setup.

I was lucky enough to buy a combination that had great synergy (and apparently sold together back in the ol' days

).

So yes, I do think that if we had its own forum, separate questions could be asked, seen, and answered on their own time, and that would be a huge benefit for everybody.

 

[spritzer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheMarchingMule /img/forum/go_quote.gif ...that I'm amazed that people can get good bearing on what they should look in for a good Stax setup.

There is a simple explanation to that... everybody just PM's me.

 

[The Monkey]

That's one of the rites of passage.

 

[Uncle Erik]

I think a separate forum would be a good idea. I've tried to make an effort to read the gigantic Stax thread, but it's massive. It'd be a lot easier to discuss and learn about in a separate subforum.

 

[mbd2884]

Sure why not. Electrostatic Headphones and their Amps for that matter seem different enough to warrant this.

I suggest changing the title to this thread though, I clicked on it thinking it would be about forum statistics.

 

[malldian]

Combining it with the ortho thread might be nice as well.

 

[spritzer]

A planar sub forum would be a good idea. The whole scene is more technical and DIY orientated so it doesn't really fit with the wash of inane posts that HF is filled with. There is also nothing to argue about what constitutes a planar driver like was the case with the high-end forum. An old headphone with SFI drivers beats the pants off most of the dynamic phones people bicker about here daily yet are they high end?

 

[The Monkey]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbd2884 /img/forum/go_quote.gif I suggest changing the title to this thread though, I clicked on it thinking it would be about forum statistics.

Done, thanks for the suggestion.

Quote:

Originally Posted by malldian /img/forum/go_quote.gif Combining it with the ortho thread might be nice as well.

Agreed.