[Hi-Fi-Apricity]

Sounds like a similar Stax experience to mine. I am back here after a 15 year absence and went a bit crazy this year and purchased a Utopia and Z1R. I still have my Grado RS1 from back in 2003.

I just jumped on the Stax train last month and took delivery of the L300Limited and 353XBK. The 300 anniversary has much in common with the L700 (supposedly!)
Just like you - WOW
I mainly listen to 2 channel and Stax is revered as god amongst Naim 2 channel users. I can now under stand why.
IMHO my L300L/353XBK at $1700 is just about the best "bargain" out there - when compared to my $4000 Utopia's (no amp included!)

Needless to say I am hooked on the Stax sound. No need to regurgitate my feelings as you pretty well summed things up above.
Now - 009S already ordered for September

There are really magical ear speakers!

Honestly this makes me a skeptic if anyone has a chance to beat Stax. The new Lambda line and the SR009 are on a whole different level to every other headphone ive heard imho.

 

[491838]

Why do people describe the L700 as smooth or lean sounding? That sounds to me like the only possible defect as I am looking for a realistic representation of sound as well as insane detail. I'm now strongly considering saving up for the L700.

 

[Hi-Fi-Apricity]

Why do people describe the L700 as smooth or lean sounding? That sounds to me like the only possible defect as I am looking for a realistic representation of sound as well as insane detail. I'm now strongly considering saving up for the L700.

Its an interesting beast and its quite hard to put your finger on the sound signiture. It has adequete bass and the mids are very neutral but there is a slight rise in the upper mids and treble is very even and refined. Think about the audio technica AD line and then add some warmth onto that, more bass, and just a **** tonne of detail and refinement

 

[491838]

Is it possible that the L700 are less textured than a high end dynamic? That doesn't make any sense since most people describe Stax as insanely detailed. Lean\smooth makes me think of a lack of texture\detail or something.

 

[Hi-Fi-Apricity]

Is it possible that the L700 are less textured than a high end dynamic? That doesn't make any sense since most people describe Stax as insanely detailed. Lean\smooth makes me think of a lack of texture\detail or something.

They have insane texture and detail. Most detailed headphones ive ever owned and is close to or maybe even equal to the SR009 detailing. SR009 is brighter so it shoves it in a little bit more but when I A/B'd them I found that the L700 was had all the details but just presented less foward and in your face. By smooth I reckon people are talking more about the lack of edginess that is apparent in the treble on pretty much every dynamic ever made. STAX has the most transparent smooth treble out of any tranducer ive ever heard. On the lean side that probably just is talking about them being slightly bright. I wouldn't call them particularly lean myself but I can see where it comes from. They are my benchmark for neutral and clean sound as of now and its only been a few days.

 

[491838]

Holy mother of god THD. Sub 0.1% for the most part. No planar or dynamic can touch that AFAIK. They have a very similar graph for the 009 (with less distortion in the bass but very similar values overall).

 

[Hi-Fi-Apricity]

Its pretty crude but I did take the effort not long ago to overaly the SR009 and L700 measures from inexxon. L700 is in blue

 

[491838]

I'm calling BS on the HE-1 now unless some third party does a THD measurement. There's no way they're worth $55,000.

 

[Hi-Fi-Apricity]

I'm calling BS on the HE-1 now unless some third party does a THD measurement. There's no way they're worth $55,000.

Quite honestly I don't think any headphone could be justified at 55k!The diminishing returns on that one has to be mad!

 

[491838]

BTW, where is the best place to get the L700 and a driver? I'm from the EU. The Stax USA site seems to ship worldwide but will I get an EU version of the driver (for 220\240V, 50 Hz)?

 

[Hubert481]

BTW, where is the best place to get the L700 and a driver? I'm from the EU. The Stax USA site seems to ship worldwide but will I get an EU version of the driver (for 220\240V, 50 Hz)?

I thought us and eu headphones are identical.
Only amps are different

 

[491838]

They call the amp the "driver". That's what I meant. Does Stax USA ship European amps?

 

[powertoold]

L700 is lacking in subbass quantity and slam.

 

[Pahani]

L700 is lacking in subbass quantity and slam.

Have to disagree, my ears quantify L700 as quite Neutral throughout the frequency range. Neutral should NOT be confused with "lacking" in any way. Charts be damned, what my ears tell me is what I go by (and so should others).

That being said, when I desire MORE subbass, I have my modded TH-X00 Purplehearts picked specifically for their bass emphasis. I find if I pair a bass-heavy headphone with my Stax, then all my bases are covered.

 

[powertoold]

When it comes to subbass, who can say what's neutral? I find the subbass on the L700 unsatisfactory and lacking compared to other Stax, lambda Nova signature and 007mk1.

I don't believe in different headphones for different purposes. There exist headphones that are good for everything and satisfactory in every way.