Here is the post I referred to above in post #18. I have no doubt this is accurate:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/785949/the-stax-sr-l500-and-sr-l700-impressions-thread/15
Consider:
KGST from Mjolnir Audio/Spritzer $3000
retail US cost for STAX L700 $1400, Total Cost: $4400
KGSSHV Carbon from Mjolnir Audio $4600
STAX 009 in US $4450 Total Cost $9050
Double the cost for what I believe is the ultimate STAX rig (minus DAC of course) for what many believe is 5-10% improvement technically (bass, soundstage, imaging/air/instrument separation and detail) but maybe even less subjective listening pleasure difference because tone of the L700 is optimal.
Price of a pair of new SR-009 if bought in Japan directly: US $ 2500
You could fly there to buy it and it still will probably cost you less. I asked my friend to get it for me while he was traveling in Japan. But for the 007 which I once owned many years ago, this time around I will fly to Tokyo to get it. Around $1400 for a new pair of 007A, best price I found.
Carbon could be built with a lot less if you have the know how. The initial tools will cost a lot. But after that it's all good from then on, assuming your amp don't blow up.
Heard the L-500 and the L-700. Both do not have the refinement that the Omegas (007 and 009) possess. I guess the L-700 would work well as a starter. But one has to consider what a good value the 007 is from Japan.
Don't have money for Stax amp? Try to build one yourself.
Don't know? Try to learn. Go to the Stax forum and learn.
Can't buy the boards? No group buy? Dr. Kevin Gilmore has been too kind and his design files are all there if you kindly seek his advice. Boards can be made from PCB makers, you can find it online.
Parts for the amp? Try Mouser, Digikey, etc.
Don't have BOM list? Get PCB makers to make the boards for you, then try to study the board and list the parts out, one by one.
Can't find Stax jacks? You can get it on eBay from Justin. If not, get a 3D printer, design it in Solidworks, convert it into 3D file, and 3D print the jacks yourself. That's what I am gonna do.
It took me years to learn. I am still just a novice. Pursuing Stax as a headphone/close-to-endgame setup could be rather rewarding. Admittedly it's not for everyone but if you have the potential and the determination go for it.
Some pics of the rework I had to do on my humble HV after the PS blew. Now it will blow no more. Heat had been an issue for me since it's very hot in Singapore, but now it's all good after I changed some stuff. Next amp to come would be Carbon. Then who knows, SRX Plus, Circlotron, Megatron, etc. It's fun building. I just don't have the money to buy all the parts.
Used to be 900V, but now 800V.
Alright, one should really be careful messing with all these high voltages. One should be using proper workplace instead of doing it like me.
Current limiter -> Variac -> Transformer -> PS
PS output (+, -) connected directly to multimeter. Make sure you use a proper multimeter that can withstand 1kV and above without blowing up. Mine would just beep and give warning if the DC goes above 1kV.
Useful current limiting device using a halogen bulb in series.
Ignore the messy wiring and the multimeter down there. One should have tidier wiring.