paradoxper
Headphoneus Supremus
It's good enough for you. Meet impressions aren't very meaningful.
STAX SR-009S new flagship electrostatic earspeakers released (with impressions)
Svperstar
Headphoneus Supremus
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I realized something. Right now the 009s and X9000 and other estats aren't as "cool" as they used to be. Right now everyone is all about the Tungsten DS and Immanis and such. I heard the HEDD phone which is also a ribbon driver and it sounded good but nothing as clear as an estat. The Tungsten has excellent bass response but isn't nearly as resolving as other high ends like others have noted.
If Stax comes out with a new high end or some new crazy energizer comes out maybe they will be "cool" again but not right now.
If Stax comes out with a new high end or some new crazy energizer comes out maybe they will be "cool" again but not right now.
I do really want that Blue Hawaii in champagne colour though.
There is no other Estats now that I would want to own so I can save up for it.
What volume level are you listening at with the Blue Hawaii with the 009 headphones.
It took Stax around 12 years to follow up with a new TOTL headphone after the 009 released in 2011.
I would suspect the sales for the X9000 are good and expect them to do another S variant in a couple years like they did with the 009S.
paradoxper
Headphoneus Supremus
I didn't use the BHSE. I had a DIY T2 and many other KGSSHV amps.
The 009S is now arrived! I love the gold plate and its in mint condition.
Now it's time to listen, its the black vs gold!
Now it's time to listen, its the black vs gold!
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The energizer / amp requirement, plus physical limitations in bass response and SPL, will always prevent e-stats from cracking the wider headphone market. It's always been a niche, and will remain one. There was just a brief period in time circa 2010's, when there was a glimmer of hope for e-stats to potentially dominate the high-end segment: this was when the KG crew was cranking out amazing new e-stat amps, and the other headphones types generally sucked (like when HE1000 was HiFiMan's best, and HD800 was taken seriously - what dark times).
Now I am just an old man shaking my fist at clouds. X9000? Still brand new , as far as I'm concerned. Hell the 009S still seems "new" to me.
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Cool, enjoy! So what Stax tried to do with 009S was to streamline the "wave flow" through the aluminum electrode plates. They did this by making the electrode THINNER, and also smoothing the hole edges. Of course, when you make it thinner, it's now going to dance around a LOT more in response to energy in the diaphragm (that means distortion). They claimed to address this (somewhat) with the gold plate - gold is heavy and soft, but then plating is very thin and thus only goes so far. So this was a give-and-take kind of engineering decision. Up to you to decide whether it was successful or not.The 009S is now arrived! I love the gold plate and its in mint condition.
Now it's time to listen, its the black vs gold!
The ES Lab ES-1a uses thin copper plates and I think it looks quite striking. Its sound is also somewhat 009S-like, to me.
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ok guys I have done some extensive listening tonight and switching between the 009 & 009S like a mad man.
The new 009S definitely has even more detail in the midrange which was a surprise as the regular 009 was a detail monster so it was quite impressive that the 009S improved in this area. The 009S also had the more natural instrumental timbre and vocal presentation and this was quite noticeable to me. The whole presentation on the 009S just had a more natural and believable sound. The treble on the 009S is smoother and more tamed and I had to turn down the volume on some tracks when going back to the 009. The 009 however, had more treble energy at the highest frequencies so I did prefer some of the female vocals on the 009 even though they sounded more natural on the 009S.
The bass was also a surprise as the 009 had more impact so I usually listened on the 10hz mode with the xBass on the Phantom but I needed the 20hz mode with the 009S as I found them a little light in comparison. The 009 also had a slightly wider and more open soundstage with a little more air up top due to that more extended treble presence. Some songs I preferred on the 009 just for the more openness but to be honest, I found the 009S to be the superior headphone overall.
The 009S is giving you more detail in the midrange, more natural instrumentation and vocal timbre and a smoother treble (for better or worse). I think I will keep my 009 as they sound different enough and have their own advantages such as the bass impact, treble energy and more openness in the soundstage.
The new 009S definitely has even more detail in the midrange which was a surprise as the regular 009 was a detail monster so it was quite impressive that the 009S improved in this area. The 009S also had the more natural instrumental timbre and vocal presentation and this was quite noticeable to me. The whole presentation on the 009S just had a more natural and believable sound. The treble on the 009S is smoother and more tamed and I had to turn down the volume on some tracks when going back to the 009. The 009 however, had more treble energy at the highest frequencies so I did prefer some of the female vocals on the 009 even though they sounded more natural on the 009S.
The bass was also a surprise as the 009 had more impact so I usually listened on the 10hz mode with the xBass on the Phantom but I needed the 20hz mode with the 009S as I found them a little light in comparison. The 009 also had a slightly wider and more open soundstage with a little more air up top due to that more extended treble presence. Some songs I preferred on the 009 just for the more openness but to be honest, I found the 009S to be the superior headphone overall.
The 009S is giving you more detail in the midrange, more natural instrumentation and vocal timbre and a smoother treble (for better or worse). I think I will keep my 009 as they sound different enough and have their own advantages such as the bass impact, treble energy and more openness in the soundstage.
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I just tried the tube mode on the Phantom and I actually much prefer this to the solid state mode with 009S.
It sound a bit plain and kind of boring with the solid state mode but the tubes really add some musicality.
The tube mode also has better sub-bass presence and impact.
Strangely, I prefer the solid state mode with the regular 009.
It sound a bit plain and kind of boring with the solid state mode but the tubes really add some musicality.
The tube mode also has better sub-bass presence and impact.
Strangely, I prefer the solid state mode with the regular 009.
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It turns out that the 009S is the most fussy headphone I have ever experienced.
Everything in the chain needs to be perfect so I have tried Qobuz and it actually sounds a lot better using this service compared to Tidal and I am now back on the solid state mode.
I used Soundiiz to transfer my Tidal playlists to Qobuz which was a lot easier than I expected.
Everything in the chain needs to be perfect so I have tried Qobuz and it actually sounds a lot better using this service compared to Tidal and I am now back on the solid state mode.
I used Soundiiz to transfer my Tidal playlists to Qobuz which was a lot easier than I expected.
This observation aligns with my feelings when comparing both streaming services. In fact it was immediately obvious (as opposed to spending hours to discern any differences).
The 009 is the best headphone I have ever heard for rock music and the 009S is one of the worst.
Electric guitars sound proper and the energetic treble of the 009 is just a perfect match alongside the energetic vocals of singers like Kurt Cobain.
On the 009S, the electric guitars just sound really bad to my ears and its an all around terrible experience with this genre for me.
Electric guitars sound proper and the energetic treble of the 009 is just a perfect match alongside the energetic vocals of singers like Kurt Cobain.
On the 009S, the electric guitars just sound really bad to my ears and its an all around terrible experience with this genre for me.
arielext
Headphoneus Supremus
Ok I did not expect that! My wallet thanks you
Yeah stay away from the 009S if you listen to rock and metal.Ok I did not expect that! My wallet thanks you
The 009 is just inane with these genres and I have never heard bands like Nirvana, Linkin Park and Metallica sound this good with any other headphone.
On the other hand, the 009S is absolutely fantastic with acoustical guitars.
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