STAX SR-009S new flagship electrostatic earspeakers released (with impressions)

[number1sixerfan]

x9000 - best headphones ever

We all have our best ever favorites . But I do think the x9000 is up there in terms of sheer resolving capability. It's top 3 for me, along with the Immanis and Shang Sr. But that's just to my ears.

 

[icnaiwhimor1975]

We all have our best ever favorites . But I do think the x9000 is up there in terms of sheer resolving capability. It's top 3 for me, along with the Immanis and Shang Sr. But that's just to my ears.

and what about the first omega?)

 

[number1sixerfan]

and what about the first omega?)

I think the Omega is slightly outdated in comparison from a technical perspective. And the same is true for the HE90 and R10. We'd all expect that over time.. but** the Omega does quite a lot of what the x9000 does and has a more natural tone and doesn't have any wonky quirks. I would take the Omega overall, especially if it were in production today.

 

[icnaiwhimor1975]

I think the Omega is slightly outdated in comparison from a technical perspective. And the same is true for the HE90 and R10. We'd all expect that over time.. but** the Omega does quite a lot of what the x9000 does and has a more natural tone and doesn't have any wonky quirks. I would take the Omega overall, especially if it were in production today.

but from the technical side - x9000 is clearly superior to it
+ x9000 can be bought right now for less than 4k
which can't be said about omega

 

[number1sixerfan]

but from the technical side - x9000 is clearly superior to it
+ x9000 can be bought right now for less than 4k
which can't be said about omega

Yea but technical performance isn't everything. Most previous Omega owners prefer it to it.

x9k is also plagued with imbalance issues. Omega also has driver longevity risks (although the models that have seemed to last to present day are very reliable). There are tradeoffs to each.

 

[TheAbyss2022]

Yea but technical performance isn't everything. Most previous Omega owners prefer it to it.

x9k is also plagued with imbalance issues. Omega also has driver longevity risks (although the models that have seemed to last to present day are very reliable). There are tradeoffs to each.

These extremely resolving headphones can sometimes ruin a lot of your library. You have to find the music that will work and synergise with the headphone to make it shine.

 

[icnaiwhimor1975]

These extremely resolving headphones can sometime ruin a lot of your library. You have to find the music that will work and synergise with the headphone to make it shine.

yes it's true
when I had x9000 - I had to specifically look for music in better quality for them

trying to listen to streamings like deezer on x9000 - there's no point..

 

[mulveling]

These extremely resolving headphones can sometimes ruin a lot of your library. You have to find the music that will work and synergise with the headphone to make it shine.

IMO resolution and detail by themselves should not contract your number of enjoyable recordings. Otherwise, it could be indicative of a aberrant sonic balance, or sub-optimal system synergy. If anything, better gear should increase your recording "hit rate". Else, what's the point?

That said, some recordings are just plain bad (dynamically flat, weird EQ) and won't sound great no matter what. It's not just the "loudness wars" stuff, either (the famous scapegoat for all bad sounding digital). Putting aside "audiophile"-focused recordings, for a lot of pop / rock music before 1990s, I find vinyl to give a much better hit rate than digital formats. There are always exceptions. Most vinyl from the 1990s sucked (trying to fit CD-length albums on 1 LP is a guaranteed fail). And the plain Redbook CDs I have from Japan (anime soundtracks, etc) are wonderful almost across the board. For newer music, vinyl and digital formats have gotten pretty close for me - but I might still give the edge to vinyl.

 

[icnaiwhimor1975]

IMO resolution and detail by themselves should not contract your number of enjoyable recordings. Otherwise, it could be indicative of a aberrant sonic balance, or sub-optimal system synergy.

this is exactly what happens with x9000
this is what you have to sacrifice for the sake of resolution

 

[mulveling]

this is exactly what happens with x9000
this is the price you pay for high resolution
everything has its price...

What amps have you tried X9000 with? This kind of behavior with recordings is a big NOPE for me.

 

[icnaiwhimor1975]

What amps have you tried X9000 with? This kind of behavior with recordings is a big NOPE for me.

it doesn't depend on the amplifier
any x9000 owner will say the same
these are headphones

there are 2 camps - those who are ready to sacrifice this
and those who are not

those who are not ready - choose the first omega

 

[mulveling]

it doesn't depend on the amplifier

I'm not fully buying that, but I guess until I hear X9000 I can't say for sure. Diana Krall will sound "good" on anything (if you're not put to sleep imemdiately) because it's so simplistic. Is a transducer that only sounds amazing with these kinds of recordings a great one (say some people) or a bad one (says me)?

 

[icnaiwhimor1975]

I'm not fully buying that, but I guess until I hear X9000 I can't say for sure. Diana Krall will sound "good" on anything (if you're not put to sleep imemdiately) because it's so simplistic. Is a transducer that only sounds amazing with these kinds of recordings a great one (say some people) or a bad one (says me)?

in that case the only correct answer is - it's better to listen for yourself and draw your own conclusions)