STAX SR 009 - AMAZING

[aross]

 
This is a review of the newly released STAX SR 009 headphones..
 
While the several hundred hours of “break-in” was ongoing, I selected from my library a collection of vocal, solo instrumental, chamber, orchestral, symphonic and jazz of various colors to be used during my audition adventure.  All of this music was downloaded from several online “high-resolution” sites.
 
Being experienced with headphone listening since the early 1980s, and exclusively so since the mid 1990s with earlier STAX equipment, I can state that my experience with the STAX SR 009 and the WOO AUDIO WES combination was a “mind blowing” revelatory immersive experience.  Prior to receipt of these new headphones from STAX, my system included two SR 007 MKII “phones.”
 
Vocal performances, solo and small instrumental groups (classical or jazz), symphonic and orchestral pieces, the oft-used phrase “you are there” is supremely accurate.  The articulation, blending, harmonics, dynamics and presence of each performance are startling.  An example of what I am trying to portray is this:  Consider that during a live performance you leave your seat for a visit to the rest room.  Upon your return to the auditorium, as you open the door and enter, the on-going performance leaps out at you and you are enveloped by an infinity of sonic stimulus.  Suddenly there is no longer anything between you and the music.
 
The depth and speed of the bass and the presentation its inner details are extraordinary.  The wallop of the tympani and gigantic drum in Aaron Copeland’s “Fanfare for the Common Man” may not move your flesh, but it sure will “jiggle” the stuff between your ears.  The mid range is smooth and airy and absolutely convincing.  In Benjamin Britten’s Simple Symphony (movement #1, “Boisterous Bourree”), the power of the massed strings has earth tremor dimensions.  Further, the dynamic keyboard attacks in Minoru Nojima Plays Liszt (Mephisto Waltz #1) have the power of cannon reports.  As you progress up into the higher registers the “air” and detail continues and the freedom from congestion of massed strings and chorus of multiple other instruments is breathtaking, and given past experience, unexpected.  In sum:  Magical!  Of course, these references assume that the high-resolution recordings are well recorded and contain the requisite digital information, and that the playback equipment is up to the task.
 
Aross

 

[SLaRe]

Quote:

 
While the several hundred hours of “break-in” was ongoing, I selected from my library a collection of vocal, solo instrumental, chamber, orchestral, symphonic and jazz of various colors to be used during my audition adventure.  

 
Since when has the music colours?
 
Sorry, after that I stopped reading your marketing review.

 

[extrabigmehdi]

Quote:

 
Since when has the music colours?
 
Sorry, after that I stopped reading your marketing review.

It' s called synesthesia

. And after all it's not different than calling a sound dark, bright, warm, cold etc...
 
 

 

[juantendo8]

Your thinking of a colored recording (as in the mastering) while he is talking about a colorful composition and/or performance which I would say is something all good musicians strive to achieve. In my opinion, almost any classical recording devoid of tonal colors is one which should be avoided.
 

 

[Radio_head]

Quote:

 
Since when has the music colours?
 
Sorry, after that I stopped reading your marketing review.

Ever heard of Scriabin?  He composed based on color associations.
Alternatively, colors means flavours or types.
Alternatively, colours in jazz means a colored tone, eg a flatted fifth or sharp nine instead of the plain chord.
The 009 doesn't really need marketing, Stax people with the expendable cash may buy it, others won't.
 
 
I do see the same user started another thread a week ago also extolling the 009, so aross you might want to keep all your impressions to one thread as otherwise it can be misconstrued as shilling.
 
 
 

 

[extrabigmehdi]

Quote:

 In my opinion, almost any classical recording devoid of tonal colors is one which should be avoided.
 

What about atonal music ? Nothing better to express nightmares.
 

 
 

 

[Radio_head]

for pretentious people (ie jonny greenwood) and soundtracks (the shining.)
 
Its contradictory to music.  That's why its a nightmare - because the music is terrible.

 

[Proglover]

nevermind this post
 
 
 
 

 

[SLaRe]

Quote:

It' s called synesthesia

. And after all it's not different than calling a sound dark, bright, warm, cold etc...
 
 

Do you really know what Synaesthesia means? I think you don´t...


Quote:

Ever heard of Scriabin?  He composed based on color associations.
Alternatively, colors means flavours or types.
Alternatively, colours in jazz means a colored tone, eg a flatted fifth or sharp nine instead of the plain chord.
The 009 doesn't really need marketing, Stax people with the expendable cash may buy it, others won't.
 
 
I do see the same user started another thread a week ago also extolling the 009, so aross you might want to keep all your impressions to one thread as otherwise it can be misconstrued as shilling.
 
 
 

Don't get me wrong, I love Stax gear and I plan buying a set in the future, but some reviews seem to be done by sellers.
 

 

[Radio_head]

Some reviews... yes.  but stax doesn't care.  at all.  They don't even bother sending reps to canjam, rmaf, or any of the conventions, they are uncommunicative and indifferent to distributors, have no delegate answering questions in forums with thousands of posts and hundreds of thousands of views dedicated to their products, and they seem generally unconcerned with how their products are received.  They are the least suspect company to use such a tactic.  Overzealous fanboys?  By the hundred.  Actual representatives of the company reaching out to the plebian masses?  Nonexistent to my knowledge.

 

[purrin]

^ So true.

 

[extrabigmehdi]

Quote:

Do you really know what Synaesthesia means? I think you don´t...
 

I  believe the origin of adjective  dark, bright etc, to qualify sound  comes from  people having some synaesthasia (well, this can't be verified) . That doesn't mean that all people that use these words have synaesthesia, but I  was just highlighting the fact that talking of colors of music  is as much weird as to call a sound "bright" or "warm" or whatever, adjective that you wouldn't expect on sound. 
In other words, I  know for instance,  that "dark" signature, means an emphasis on bass, but I'm pretty certain some people have the genuine sensation of something "dark".
 
 

 

[aross]

Check my profile.  I am retired and NOT in the audio business, or ever was.
 
Hereafter, I'll keep my thoughts to myself.  I posted my review because I was really overwhelmed by what Stax had accomplished.  Now I will just shut-up.

 

[Radio_head]

aross - your impressions are appreciated.  Although if they're really as good as you say then we won't hear from you much anyways, as you'll be too busy listening.

 

[bbophead]

Quote:

Check my profile.  I am retired and NOT in the audio business, or ever was.
 
Hereafter, I'll keep my thoughts to myself.  I posted my review because I was really overwhelmed by what Stax had accomplished.  Now I will just shut-up.

I appreciated your review.  Unfortunately, it can get pretty ****ty around here with lots of peeps shooting off their mouths while their brains are on permanent vacation.  Wish I had the sheckels to check that combination of yours out but I'm stuck in upper mid-fi heaven right now.  Take care.