Stax Omega II.

[OSIMOVIL]

Hello, I need help...

I have the Sennsheiser HD-650 with the Meyer HA-2 head amp. This is a good equipment but I´d like something better.

The Stax Omega II looks better, but 3.000 $...

Is this price justified? Is the quality difference with the HD-650 so long?

Thank you.

 

[Vertigo-1]

Hello, and welcome to Headfi!

Whether you'll find the Omega IIs better than the HD650s is up to your ears. Having owned the Omega IIs for about a year previously and having spent some time building a system up around the HD650s myself lately, I would have to say that in terms of musical enjoyment, the move up to the Omega IIs probably wouldn't be worth it money-wise.

They have very similar characteristics...they're both a little "dark" in the mid-treble region, have a very smooth, lush midrange, and powerful bass response. The major difference is that the Omega IIs are much, much more transparent and detailed, and thus is very highly dependant on the rest of your system to sound good. If you never believed in cables making a difference before, get ready to audition cable after cable with the Omega IIs...it can literally make or break their sound. The HD650s are a little more forgiving both on the music and on the equipment. The other big difference is bass...the HD650s have a very high impacting bass that you can really feel, the Omega IIs have a very accurate, deep, and powerful bass response but you can hardly feel the bass, it's a "weakness" of electrostatics.

If you get the Omega IIs, just get ready to change other parts of your system as the Omega IIs WILL show off the strengths and FLAWS of your current system. Getting the Omega IIs certainly didn't end up upgrading.

 

[TheGhostWhoWalks]

Yeah, I have to agree. Unless you're ready to give them a great system to go along with them, the Omega IIs won't shine like they might in a top tier system. They're amazing if you have the money to build a system around them, but they will show off whatever flaws your system might have.

 

[OSIMOVIL]

Thank you for your responses.

My systems are:

- Opera Consonance 2.2
- Pioneer 868.
- Unison Unico Primo.

The headamp would be the ¿Stax 007t?... The model with valves...
The cables are Clearaudio/Discovery Trident.

What do you think about these equipments with the Omega II?

 

[TheGhostWhoWalks]

Quote:

Originally Posted by OSIMOVIL Thank you for your responses. My systems are: - Opera Consonance 2.2 - Pioneer 868. - Unison Unico Primo. The headamp would be the ¿Stax 007t?... The model with valves... The cables are Clearaudio/Discovery Trident. What do you think about these equipments with the Omega II?

I'm not real familiar with any of them except the amp. But I'll give you a bump here and maybe someone can help you out. The Omega's are great headphones, but they're one of those top tier headphones that can really only shine their brightest if you build a top tier system around them. Otherwise you're better off just sticking with the HD650s which are great in their own right.

The great thing about the 650s is they'll grow as your system grows too. I've never heard a system outgrow the 650s. They sound great through my dad's cheap-but-high quality NAD gear and sound fantastic through my Reimyo and SDS.

 

[SOLEIL]

3000 dollars in Europe is one very good price!!!

 

[Wmcmanus]

If you're intersted in the Omega II's, buy them from Japan.

There is Koji at EIFL Corp, which you can find by doing a Google search with EIFL and Omega in the search field.

There is also Price Japan.

And don't forget Audio Cubes, one of our Head-Fi sponsors.

I've not checked the Omega II prices lately, but I think all 3 of these companies would sell them to you (shipped) for less than $2k USD. That should make you feel better!

They also come up in the used market here at Head-Fi from time to time for even less.

 

[sonic32]

Eifl had them for around $1750/shipped last I new. BTW I prefer the HD650/Equinox to the Omega II's. All I can say is you need to hear them yourself to know.

 

[OSIMOVIL]

Ok, thank you (and very sorry for my English). I don´t want to expend a lot of money in a new system. If I´d change the CD... I´ll change the amp (Unison Unico SE), the Dynaudios, cables, and all...

I don´t want a new system only for a better headphones... My wish is a better sound with the headphones, if this is possible whitout a lot of complications and money.

If I don´t buy another headphone+headamp (Stax Omega), maybe I can improve only with a better headamp.

I have two headamps:

- Meyer Audio Corda HA-2
- Antique Soundlab MG-head OTL Mark II

The MARK II works with three tubes. I think that his sound is better than with the HA-2, but is dark, and closer, whitout location for the instruments (I usually listen classical music)...

Maybe, the both headamps are medium or low quality... and maybe this is my problem. Do you agree?

And changing the cable for one Silver Dragon or another? I have the HD-650 with the standard cable...

 

[tkam]

FYI Pricejapan.com has the Omega 2's for about $1400 right now.

 

[Sugano-san]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sonic32 Eifl had them for around $1750/shipped

Only the headspeakers or the entire system? Surley not the latter, or am I wrong?

 

[Salt Peanuts]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sugano-san Only the headspeakers or the entire system? Surley not the latter, or am I wrong?

Just the Omega II's.

 

[FeetAsleep]

I've been contemplating getting an Omega 2 like the original thread poster for some time now. From everything I've read on these forums they sound like the perfect headphones for me.

However the reviews on headphonereviews.org say otherwise

I've heard mixed opinions on this forum, half saying they're very laid back and "slow' and the other saying they're a typical electrostat presentation thats forward and fast.

I'm guessing at this pricepoint it's something taht really has to be heard in ideal listening conditions to make your mind on something like this. I'm hoping to attend a meet where these will be present,since I'm still craving them.

The other option I've been considering is the 4040 system, which isn't too bad to buy blindly but everything i've read seems to point to these not having my weight or body.

 

[sonic32]

Quote:

Originally Posted by FeetAsleep I've heard mixed opinions on this forum, half saying they're very laid back and "slow' and the other saying they're a typical electrostat presentation thats forward and fast.

They are extremely fast, and not forward at all. They are very recording dependent and effortless in presentation. The o2 has the ability to extract a huge amount of detail, but present it in a manner that is never harsh. If you have the time to read Darth-nut's review here, give it a shot. The good news is at $1400 if you don't like them recover nearly your full investment back on the FS forums here. Good luck.

 

[OSIMOVIL]

To sonic-32: The price you said is whitout the amplifier... Need you the Stax headamp? Or is this headamp more recommendable than others for the O2? With the amp is 3000 dollars...

You have HD-650 and Stax Omega but I don´t know the quality of your model of CD (DAC1). Is so important the source? (I have an Opera Consonance and I don´t want change it).

Are the bass so bad or so different with the O2? In the HD-650 are great...