[Nik]

Help!

What kind of amp you' d prefer for the Omega II?

SS???
Tube???
Hybrid???

Stax???
Kevin Gilmore???

Or what?

Thanks a lot!

Niocla

 

[NeilPeart]

Nik,
I've been working on my own dynamic vs. electrostatic battle for a while, and I've done extensive testing with the Omega II with two amps:

Stax SRM-007t (Tube)
Stax SRM-717 (SS)

Of the two, I preferred the 717 (SS) in nearly every instance. It just sounded more immediate and transparent with the SS. However I hear Kevin Gilmore's SS (zzz built, and the Blue Hawaii or whatever) are FAR better than even the 717. The Omega II actually has really great bass with the 717, but many say the Omega II + KGSS is unrivaled even by the Orpheus. Maybe you can take your Omega II/KGSS combo and compare it to Jatinder's Orpheus one day?

 

[jatinder]

Hi Nik,

When I used the Omega II - I used it with the SRM-007t amp.

As a combo - they worked extremely well and my own thoughts on it can be found on Head-Fi. I found issues with the extreme treble and the bass - YMMV.

Let us all know what your opinions of the Omega II/SRM-??? when you get them.

--Jatinder

 

[Zanth]

Nik, from what I have read and in numerous conversations...to achieve the best results with the Omega II's you will need AT LEAST the KGSS. I mean...you want to go head to head with your R10/Angstrom and there is a good chance upon first listen with the 007 amp...you will be thinking there is no way it could ever be better than the R10/Angstrom. If you can have zzz build you a hybrid then it will be at the same level or well beyond depending on your tastes. To make the audition/comparison fair...a Hybrid Kevin Gilmore should be used as it is the very best electrostatic headphone amp cost no object.

 

[Vka]

I heard you can also use the Orpheus Amp to power the Omega Stax II via a custome built adaptor. I have never tried it myself although it would be nice to give the Omega II another chance with a better amp. Just wondering if Jatinder have tried it. If it works, you can save money by running one amp for 2 electrostatic headphones. I think the Orpheus amp is better than the 2 commercial Stax amp no?

 

[Nik]

Guys,

Thanks a lot for your help!!!!!

The Omega IIs is ordered, and I'm convinced to order the SRM 717 (SS) because I found a very good price, (and the 230 V version). Think that in Italy I'd pay the system: more than 7000 $

And I'm paying "online" 2600 $ INCREDIBLE!

I mean that costs of object are incredibly relative, and quality of product is totaly another thing...

Best!
Nicola

Jatinder,

nice to see you again...

What about your Angstrom/R10 system? Did you see the pictures of his big brother?

Best to you!

Nicola

 

[bozebuttons]

Quote:

Originally posted by Vka I heard you can also use the Orpheus Amp to power the Omega Stax II via a custome built adaptor. I have never tried it myself although it would be nice to give the Omega II another chance with a better amp. Just wondering if Jatinder have tried it. If it works, you can save money by running one amp for 2 electrostatic headphones. I think the Orpheus amp is better than the 2 commercial Stax amp no?

Yes you can make an adapter so you can use the omega IIs with the senn. amp.
I am currently using the orpheus he90 headphone with the Stax007t amp as well as the senn he60swith adapters I made, and of course the omegaIIs.
Having a gillmore Hybrid built now & will post impressions compared to the stax007t amp once I get it.

 

[taoster]

Having heard both the Stax SRM-007t (Tube) and Stax SRM-717 (SS) too. I must agree and say the 717 is the MUCH better choice and the MUCH better match with the Omega II.

Be interesting to hear Nicola's perspective on the Omega II.

 

[grinch]

i have only heard the 007t and the kgss (kevin gilmore solid-state electrostatic amp) that zzz built for me. i have to say that of my memory of the 007t (i have not, as of yet, been able to directly compare the two), i like my kgss better in every way. nothing is thin or lost or held back. it's simply an incredible setup that only one other i've heard is in the same tier, and that was grado hp-1 connected to the maestrobator (modded by carlo).

if i had your kind of funds nik, i would accept nothing but a kevin gilmore hybrid amp built by zzz.

 

[NotoriousBIG_PJ]

Quote:

Originally posted by grinch if i had your kind of funds nik, i would accept nothing but a kevin gilmore hybrid amp built by zzz.

Get some fire insurance first lol...

Biggie.

edit:

Here is the pm Grinch sent me:

"assclown. edit that post now. you could've just raped zzz of ten grand."

Then he kicked me off channel headphones. Something tells me things are going to get worse before they get better hehe..

 

[zzz]

Quote:

Originally posted by Vka I heard you can also use the Orpheus Amp to power the Omega Stax II via a custome built adaptor. I have never tried it myself although it would be nice to give the Omega II another chance with a better amp. Just wondering if Jatinder have tried it. If it works, you can save money by running one amp for 2 electrostatic headphones. I think the Orpheus amp is better than the 2 commercial Stax amp no?

the orpheus amp design looks very eh on paper. input and all 4 stages are capacitively coupled making that 4 caps in the signal path, plus some more inside several ac feedback networks. it is very easy to build though, so I might make one just to play around with one day. srm-717 design looks much cleaner.

by the way, some time ago I have auditioned the orpheus phone (he90) in my system for 2 weeks with the same amp that I used for my omegas (which at the time was the original kevin gilmore hybrid amplifier design aka weebl aka `blue hawaii`), and vastly preferred omega2 to he90 -- the latter was way too colored for my tastes. you know, maybe tonal neutrality is just not your thing.

Quote:

Originally posted by NotoriousBIG_PJ Get some fire insurance first lol... Biggie. edit: Here is the pm Grinch sent me: "assclown. edit that post now. you could've just raped zzz of ten grand." Then he kicked me off channel head-fi. Something tells me things are going to get worse before they get better hehe..

heh heh. my poor piggie is mad at me.

 

[fewtch]

Quote:

Originally posted by zzz by the way, some time ago I have auditioned the orpheus phone (he90) in my system for 2 weeks with the same amp that I used for my omegas (which at the time was the original kevin gilmore hybrid amplifier design aka weebl aka `blue hawaii`), and vastly preferred omega2 to he90 -- the latter was way too colored for my tastes. you know, maybe tonal neutrality is just not your thing.

Tonal neutrality sometimes comes at the expensive of something else. Personally, at the price point of these cans I'd want to audition both thoroughly before even considering laying down the cheesecakes. Ears and inclinations differ.

Re: Notorious's comment... LOL.

The event referred to had to have been a bit embarrassing but hardly reflective of your skills, obviously a lot of people worldwide are using and enjoying your amps trouble-free.

 

[KShaft]

Well considering Vka had the 007t and omega IIs and after breaking it in for about a month, he compared it to his r10s and hp-2's coupled with a dct-1, as well as his BIG O system and sold the omegas quickly; Im not sure if it says weather he likes tonal neutrality or not. It does say however that he likes quality reproduction of music. Tonal neutrality is fine in theory. However like most theories, it has nothing to do with reality. Unless youre Swiss, neutrality is a matter of perspective.

 

[zzz]

Quote:

Originally posted by KShaft Well considering Vka had the 007t and omega IIs and after breaking it in for about a month, he compared it to his r10s and hp-2's coupled with a dct-1, as well as his BIG O system and sold the omegas quickly; Im not sure if it says weather he likes tonal neutrality or not. It does say however that he likes quality reproduction of music. Tonal neutrality is fine in theory. However like most theories, it has nothing to do with reality. Unless youre Swiss, neutrality is a matter of perspective.

orpheus: sweet, forward, treble sparkle, midbass issues, price tag.
r10: sweet, forward, treble sparkle, midbass issues, price tag.

so *shrug*.

by the way, I'm not saying anything about the sr-007/srm-007t combo. I've never heard official stax amps.

 

[Squalish]

Quote:

Originally posted by Nik Guys, Thanks a lot for your help!!!!! The Omega IIs is ordered, and I'm convinced to order the SRM 717 (SS) because I found a very good price, (and the 230 V version). Think that in Italy I'd pay the system: more than 7000 $ And I'm paying "online" 2600 $ INCREDIBLE! I mean that costs of object are incredibly relative, and quality of product is totaly another thing... Best! Nicola Jatinder, nice to see you again... What about your Angstrom/R10 system? Did you see the pictures of his big brother? Best to you! Nicola

May I point out that you can get it at audiocubes for $1200?
I would prefer that our highend-guineapig compare the angstrom to a KG Blue Hawaii/Weebl, as Mr. Gilmore(the only one who's heard both) says it is vastly superior, but then again, it isn't me making the decision

.

edit: Someone told me that you were talking about the whole system, and if so, it's a pretty good price.