Hasn't that bluetack mod been made obsolete years ago when Mk2.5 came out?
The Stax Thread III
OkPsychology
100+ Head-Fier
Hey buddy... I'm actually selling a woo wee in the classifieds right now. I had posted a question to the group here about the ballast resistor (spoiler alert: doesn't have one). Happy to chat with you if interested!
https://www.head-fi.org/classifieds/woo-wee.25101/
padam
Headphoneus Supremus
I have no skill either, but it's really easy to do. The most fiddly part is putting back the earpads. Otherwise, get an Mk1.
But if the earpads are worn out (they can wear out quicker than Mk2 pads, or just more used in general), you have to go through almost the same procedure anyway.
Some people like it without mods, but the Mk1 already has tipped-up bass, so I can't imagine any more to be a good thing.
KDS315
100+ Head-Fier
I have both the 007 Mk1 and Mk2 and honestly the much higher cost of the Mk1 is not really worth it - except you're a "bass head" then it might 
Zoide
Headphoneus Supremus
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Is something like an Antares or CCS/ECC99 modded T1 enough to drive the 007 well?I have both the 007 Mk1 and Mk2 and honestly the much higher cost of the Mk1 is not really worth it - except you're a "bass head" then it might
Thanks
Had a busy weekend but last night I finally got a chance to get a solid 6 hours in with the L700 Sigma. I'm glad I did, because when I first listened to it Friday night, it was such a different and interesting sound that I spent more time just vibing with my music than "listening to the gear," which in and of itself is a testament to how fun and engaging the headphones are.
Some thoughts on it, mostly focusing on what sounds different compared to the stock L700 naturally. One big, unfortunate caveat is that I have never heard a Sigma before this, so I can't compare to the NB, Pro, or 303/404 driver Sigma. I do have a 303 on hand right now and I like the x0x lineup quite a bit (possibly my second-favorite Lambda lineup behind the original "trio," NB-Pro-Sig), but the Sigma enclosure changes so much about the sound that it'd be largely fruitless to compare the 303 Lambda to the L700 Sigma.
I will put this in a bubble to expand since it is quite long and I don't want people to have to scroll for a few years to get to the bottom of the page if they have no interest in the L700 Sigma. Also, if anyone has any further questions about the L700 Sigma feel free to ask or DM and I'll be happy to respond.
Some thoughts on it, mostly focusing on what sounds different compared to the stock L700 naturally. One big, unfortunate caveat is that I have never heard a Sigma before this, so I can't compare to the NB, Pro, or 303/404 driver Sigma. I do have a 303 on hand right now and I like the x0x lineup quite a bit (possibly my second-favorite Lambda lineup behind the original "trio," NB-Pro-Sig), but the Sigma enclosure changes so much about the sound that it'd be largely fruitless to compare the 303 Lambda to the L700 Sigma.
I will put this in a bubble to expand since it is quite long and I don't want people to have to scroll for a few years to get to the bottom of the page if they have no interest in the L700 Sigma. Also, if anyone has any further questions about the L700 Sigma feel free to ask or DM and I'll be happy to respond.
-Subbass. Getting this one out of the way first since it is indeed the biggest weakness that the L700 Sigma has: there is effectively no subbass response below 60hz, at that point it rolls off immensely, beyond even what the L700 itself does without the port mod. +3db bass shelf at 60hz, +7, +10, etc., it does not matter, there is nothing there. Based on what I've read, this is due to the Sigma enclosure itself and therefore is just an inherent physical design limitation. Now keep in mind, this is by no means a dealbreaker: the L700 Sigma actually has a LOT of mid-to-low-end body (see below), it just manifests in a bass/midbass hump. Below that, it is a graveyard and thus this is very definitively not an all-rounder pair of headphones, they flat-out cannot do anything that relies on sub response - rap, EDM, trip-hop, etc.
That being said - come on, nobody looks at a Sigma with its ridiculous cups and thinks "that looks like a real all-rounder headphone" lol. It very much has a specific use case, and we'll get into that later because needless to say, it is by far its biggest strength.
-Bass/Midbass Hump. I was told that this hump was a result of the Sigma design, and when I first put them on my head I really was taken aback by how large it is. Considering that other "soundstage famous" headphones like the K1000 are incredibly bass-shy (well, most of the K1000 are anyway), it is a bizarre whiplash to hear a correspondingly large stage with a huge midbass hump making everything sound quite thick and anchored. It is, for sure, more midbass than the stock L700 has, and it is something that you either would get used to or have to EQ.
Another peculiarity is how, despite feeling like it is on the cusp of boominess, this hump is actually quite well-textured (likely due to the inherent strengths of the L700 drivers, which always deliver very high-quality bass), and therefore doesn't end up infesting the sound with flabby, unrefined low-end, but rather just sounds like a lot of solid, quality bass was turned up just a little too high in the mix. It's not a dealbreaker by any means, and in fact can sound quite good with the right material; that being said, I did EQ that whole range down a couple db and was happier with the sound afterwards.
And that's all I've got for caveats and weaknesses, now let's get into the real star of the show.
-Soundstage and Imaging. Here's where the magic is. The L700 Sigma (and probably, by extension, the other Sigma variants as well) has my favorite soundstage/headstage of any headphone. I have heard headphones with more resolution and technical proficiency across the board (for starters, the Stax Omega lineup), but I have never heard a unit that engrosses me in its created space quite like the L700 Sigma does.
This presentation is quite distinct from the two Omegas I have heard (007A and 009); while both of those have quite large soundstages and, of course, very precise imaging and layering, they sound more "in the thick of it" when it comes to how they present the music, whereas it is the directionality of the Sigma combined with its incredible size that makes it sound so unique. It creates a vast space and fills it with the music, but within that space you are not really "inside" the music per se, but rather are being "shown" the music from a source somewhere in front of you, but in such an enveloping, engrossing way that you feel you are inside it. It is, truly, a 2-channel setup that you strap to your head, and as a result it has just such an incredible mix of sounding like it should be more distant, while in execution sounding quite intimate and personal, but within a HUGE perceived space. So bizarre, but also so utterly captivating.
A lot of headphones with large stages can make music sound correspondingly large, but the Sigma is quite remarkable in how small it can make things sound as well, while still retaining the perception of a large stage. In moments where, for instance, a piano plays solo and softly, the stage doesn't become smaller to accommodate the piano; it sounds just as big, and the piano sounds absolutely diminutive, like it is surrounded by a huge expanse of darkness and silence. I think it is, fundamentally, the physical design of the Sigma that allows it to accomplish this effect, and it's really something I have not heard anywhere else. One of my favorite songs, "Starless" by King Crimson, was breathtaking with this sonic presentation; I have never heard the crescendo at the end sound so big (on headphones anyway), but I have also never heard Fripp's lonely, wistful guitar at the beginning sound so small. That song and "Roundabout" by Yes were really the first two tracks that made me go "Whoa...this thing is f--kin' awesome!"
I am assuming many of the things I mention above apply to all Sigmas due to sharing the same enclosure, but the layering and imaging of instruments and sounds that occurs within this massive, unique soundstage is something that may be attributable more to the L700 driver itself. I like the L700 a lot and consider it one of the best Lambda units; it doesn't have my favorite tonality or timbre, but on a technical level it is the most resolving, refined, and engaging.
Here, the best way I can describe the improvement over the L700 is that if the L700 drivers are a 2-channel system, adding the Sigma enclosure feels like moving the drivers from an untreated bedroom into a treated listening room. With the Sigma enclosure there is just so much more perceived, high-quality space to work with, and the key improvement is in the layering. There simply was not enough space before to really layer sounds without congestion, but here there are layers upon layers, sounds come up at you from out of nowhere in every direction while somehow retaining a controlled center stage in front of you, and distant sounds are truly distant even while close-mic'd sounds might as well be a foot from your ears. And all of this happens at the same time, while the "root" of the sound stays firmly in front of you. The only similar setup I've heard in audio are 5.1 room setups, it is just a remarkable presentation to come from a pair of headphones. I cannot even imagine what a Sigma enclosure that could hold an Omega driver would sound like, it would probably be my favorite headphone of all time.
There is no point really comparing the soundstage and imaging to most headphones known for these qualities, it is a decisive victory for the L700 Sigma. I prefer its technical proficiencies in these areas over, for instance, the HD 800 and the K1000. I think I even prefer the aural presentation here over the Omega line, though those units are certainly more refined overall, layer better within the allotted space, and generally do not have the same weaknesses elsewhere that the L700 Sigma has. Now I am quite curious to hear the RAAL SR1a and see how that compares.
-Price. This is already quite a document, and I've touched on really the main three things that I think are notable about the L700 Sigma (i.e. lack of subbass, midbass hump, incredibly unique soundstage/imaging), so now I'll move into price which is usually a factor as well.
The ES Labs L700 Sigma is not cheap, depending on exchange rate and shipping selection it can range from $1600-1800 bought new from the company. That is more than a used 007 (any version), a little chunk less than a used 009, a big chunk less than a used 009S and a whole lot less than a X9000 or SR-Omega. So, while it is on the lower end of the Omega price range, it is still in that area and therefore on price it does have to directly compete with the Omegas. The only real saving grace on this front is that, since it is fundamentally still using the L700 drivers, it is overall quite efficient and does not have the same (expensive) amping requirements.
What I can say is this: If you have never heard a Sigma, the 404 Sigma from ES Labs is less than half the price of this unit and might be a more financially responsible way of seeing if you connect with its sound. That driver swap is also a lot easier to do, and they will cut the price even more and just send you their Sigma enclosure if you have 303/404 on hand and want to mod it yourself. While I don't think it will image and layer in quite the same way, the 303/404 are excellent Lambdas (not all of them are excellent, but these two really are), and the Sigma enclosure will still provide the same magical soundstage.
If you are a "single headphone" type of person and want an all-rounder, don't bother with any of the Sigma variants, they are just flat-out not all-rounders. These units exist to give you the "Sigma sound," nothing else sounds like them and they don't sound like anything else either.
If you have heard the Sigma and like it, connect with what it's doing, etc, then the L700 Sigma is worth buying. I am confident that, because so much of the Sigma's worth derives from its unique aural presentation, the L700's inherent technical proficiencies in filling that space up make it the definitive version of the Sigma, and therefore if you really want "the best Sigma" then it is worth the premium over the 404/Pro/NB. For my ears there is not a better stage and presentation than this in the headphones I've heard, it is everything I'd want out of headphone soundstage/imaging and more.
The L700 was already arguably the best non-Omega Stax unit; in a Sigma enclosure it is a no-brainer to me that it is the best non-Omega Stax unit. As a Sigma it is the only non-Omega that I would say can comfortably inhabit the same tier as at least the 007 and 009 (I have not heard the X9000 or the SR-Omega); yes there are some major weaknesses it has compared to those units, and overall those units are more refined, but on a fundamental level they do not present sound the same way the L700 Sigma does, and that presentation is the key to its value. I love the Lambdas a lot but, at the end of the day, I think there is not much per se that the Lambdas can do that the Omegas cannot. That is not the case here; the Omegas cannot do the main thing that the L700 Sigma does. To be fair, it also can't do a LOT of things the Omegas do either - but the point is that, as likely the definitive form of the Sigma, I think that this unit can stand alongside the Omegas as a sort of "weird uncle at the family reunion" companion, and therefore its price at the low end of the Omega range is acceptable.
---
That is it for now, especially since this writeup is already quite long. What is the L700 Sigma to me? Well, I love it and yea, despite its weaknesses particularly in bass response, I think I will try to make it one of my daily drivers. I am just too addicted to its sound, and in some ways it reminds me of the NB Lambda: I give up a few things, concede they are legitimate weaknesses with the unit, because it has one core thing that just makes me love listening to music on them.
Now you may have noticed the "try" in "try to make it one of my daily drivers" - that is because I've already gotten chewed out by my girlfriend for making too much noise with them, they bleed sound like nothing else. Like holy s--t, they are borderline louder outside than inside. So, we'll see how it goes...living arrangements unfortunately factor a lot into what headphones we can use.
And finally, a tribute to an avatar pic I have seen many times while researching the Sigma line, and one that you all are probably familiar with too if you've done the same
:
That being said - come on, nobody looks at a Sigma with its ridiculous cups and thinks "that looks like a real all-rounder headphone" lol. It very much has a specific use case, and we'll get into that later because needless to say, it is by far its biggest strength.
-Bass/Midbass Hump. I was told that this hump was a result of the Sigma design, and when I first put them on my head I really was taken aback by how large it is. Considering that other "soundstage famous" headphones like the K1000 are incredibly bass-shy (well, most of the K1000 are anyway), it is a bizarre whiplash to hear a correspondingly large stage with a huge midbass hump making everything sound quite thick and anchored. It is, for sure, more midbass than the stock L700 has, and it is something that you either would get used to or have to EQ.
Another peculiarity is how, despite feeling like it is on the cusp of boominess, this hump is actually quite well-textured (likely due to the inherent strengths of the L700 drivers, which always deliver very high-quality bass), and therefore doesn't end up infesting the sound with flabby, unrefined low-end, but rather just sounds like a lot of solid, quality bass was turned up just a little too high in the mix. It's not a dealbreaker by any means, and in fact can sound quite good with the right material; that being said, I did EQ that whole range down a couple db and was happier with the sound afterwards.
And that's all I've got for caveats and weaknesses, now let's get into the real star of the show.
-Soundstage and Imaging. Here's where the magic is. The L700 Sigma (and probably, by extension, the other Sigma variants as well) has my favorite soundstage/headstage of any headphone. I have heard headphones with more resolution and technical proficiency across the board (for starters, the Stax Omega lineup), but I have never heard a unit that engrosses me in its created space quite like the L700 Sigma does.
This presentation is quite distinct from the two Omegas I have heard (007A and 009); while both of those have quite large soundstages and, of course, very precise imaging and layering, they sound more "in the thick of it" when it comes to how they present the music, whereas it is the directionality of the Sigma combined with its incredible size that makes it sound so unique. It creates a vast space and fills it with the music, but within that space you are not really "inside" the music per se, but rather are being "shown" the music from a source somewhere in front of you, but in such an enveloping, engrossing way that you feel you are inside it. It is, truly, a 2-channel setup that you strap to your head, and as a result it has just such an incredible mix of sounding like it should be more distant, while in execution sounding quite intimate and personal, but within a HUGE perceived space. So bizarre, but also so utterly captivating.
A lot of headphones with large stages can make music sound correspondingly large, but the Sigma is quite remarkable in how small it can make things sound as well, while still retaining the perception of a large stage. In moments where, for instance, a piano plays solo and softly, the stage doesn't become smaller to accommodate the piano; it sounds just as big, and the piano sounds absolutely diminutive, like it is surrounded by a huge expanse of darkness and silence. I think it is, fundamentally, the physical design of the Sigma that allows it to accomplish this effect, and it's really something I have not heard anywhere else. One of my favorite songs, "Starless" by King Crimson, was breathtaking with this sonic presentation; I have never heard the crescendo at the end sound so big (on headphones anyway), but I have also never heard Fripp's lonely, wistful guitar at the beginning sound so small. That song and "Roundabout" by Yes were really the first two tracks that made me go "Whoa...this thing is f--kin' awesome!"
I am assuming many of the things I mention above apply to all Sigmas due to sharing the same enclosure, but the layering and imaging of instruments and sounds that occurs within this massive, unique soundstage is something that may be attributable more to the L700 driver itself. I like the L700 a lot and consider it one of the best Lambda units; it doesn't have my favorite tonality or timbre, but on a technical level it is the most resolving, refined, and engaging.
Here, the best way I can describe the improvement over the L700 is that if the L700 drivers are a 2-channel system, adding the Sigma enclosure feels like moving the drivers from an untreated bedroom into a treated listening room. With the Sigma enclosure there is just so much more perceived, high-quality space to work with, and the key improvement is in the layering. There simply was not enough space before to really layer sounds without congestion, but here there are layers upon layers, sounds come up at you from out of nowhere in every direction while somehow retaining a controlled center stage in front of you, and distant sounds are truly distant even while close-mic'd sounds might as well be a foot from your ears. And all of this happens at the same time, while the "root" of the sound stays firmly in front of you. The only similar setup I've heard in audio are 5.1 room setups, it is just a remarkable presentation to come from a pair of headphones. I cannot even imagine what a Sigma enclosure that could hold an Omega driver would sound like, it would probably be my favorite headphone of all time.
There is no point really comparing the soundstage and imaging to most headphones known for these qualities, it is a decisive victory for the L700 Sigma. I prefer its technical proficiencies in these areas over, for instance, the HD 800 and the K1000. I think I even prefer the aural presentation here over the Omega line, though those units are certainly more refined overall, layer better within the allotted space, and generally do not have the same weaknesses elsewhere that the L700 Sigma has. Now I am quite curious to hear the RAAL SR1a and see how that compares.
-Price. This is already quite a document, and I've touched on really the main three things that I think are notable about the L700 Sigma (i.e. lack of subbass, midbass hump, incredibly unique soundstage/imaging), so now I'll move into price which is usually a factor as well.
The ES Labs L700 Sigma is not cheap, depending on exchange rate and shipping selection it can range from $1600-1800 bought new from the company. That is more than a used 007 (any version), a little chunk less than a used 009, a big chunk less than a used 009S and a whole lot less than a X9000 or SR-Omega. So, while it is on the lower end of the Omega price range, it is still in that area and therefore on price it does have to directly compete with the Omegas. The only real saving grace on this front is that, since it is fundamentally still using the L700 drivers, it is overall quite efficient and does not have the same (expensive) amping requirements.
What I can say is this: If you have never heard a Sigma, the 404 Sigma from ES Labs is less than half the price of this unit and might be a more financially responsible way of seeing if you connect with its sound. That driver swap is also a lot easier to do, and they will cut the price even more and just send you their Sigma enclosure if you have 303/404 on hand and want to mod it yourself. While I don't think it will image and layer in quite the same way, the 303/404 are excellent Lambdas (not all of them are excellent, but these two really are), and the Sigma enclosure will still provide the same magical soundstage.
If you are a "single headphone" type of person and want an all-rounder, don't bother with any of the Sigma variants, they are just flat-out not all-rounders. These units exist to give you the "Sigma sound," nothing else sounds like them and they don't sound like anything else either.
If you have heard the Sigma and like it, connect with what it's doing, etc, then the L700 Sigma is worth buying. I am confident that, because so much of the Sigma's worth derives from its unique aural presentation, the L700's inherent technical proficiencies in filling that space up make it the definitive version of the Sigma, and therefore if you really want "the best Sigma" then it is worth the premium over the 404/Pro/NB. For my ears there is not a better stage and presentation than this in the headphones I've heard, it is everything I'd want out of headphone soundstage/imaging and more.
The L700 was already arguably the best non-Omega Stax unit; in a Sigma enclosure it is a no-brainer to me that it is the best non-Omega Stax unit. As a Sigma it is the only non-Omega that I would say can comfortably inhabit the same tier as at least the 007 and 009 (I have not heard the X9000 or the SR-Omega); yes there are some major weaknesses it has compared to those units, and overall those units are more refined, but on a fundamental level they do not present sound the same way the L700 Sigma does, and that presentation is the key to its value. I love the Lambdas a lot but, at the end of the day, I think there is not much per se that the Lambdas can do that the Omegas cannot. That is not the case here; the Omegas cannot do the main thing that the L700 Sigma does. To be fair, it also can't do a LOT of things the Omegas do either - but the point is that, as likely the definitive form of the Sigma, I think that this unit can stand alongside the Omegas as a sort of "weird uncle at the family reunion" companion, and therefore its price at the low end of the Omega range is acceptable.
---
That is it for now, especially since this writeup is already quite long. What is the L700 Sigma to me? Well, I love it and yea, despite its weaknesses particularly in bass response, I think I will try to make it one of my daily drivers. I am just too addicted to its sound, and in some ways it reminds me of the NB Lambda: I give up a few things, concede they are legitimate weaknesses with the unit, because it has one core thing that just makes me love listening to music on them.
Now you may have noticed the "try" in "try to make it one of my daily drivers" - that is because I've already gotten chewed out by my girlfriend for making too much noise with them, they bleed sound like nothing else. Like holy s--t, they are borderline louder outside than inside. So, we'll see how it goes...living arrangements unfortunately factor a lot into what headphones we can use.
And finally, a tribute to an avatar pic I have seen many times while researching the Sigma line, and one that you all are probably familiar with too if you've done the same
:
KDS315
100+ Head-Fier
But work well for my 007 MK1+2 (I have both)
If you want punchy heavy metal with great, aggressive guitar tone and a lot of low-end/subbass for stuff like Hans Zimmer OSTs, a pretty cheap and excellent option is a Lambda 404, they have huge subbass response (some of the most of any Stax even the more expensive units) and they have a lot of energy in that upper-mid range which is really important for getting crunchy metal guitar. There is actually one on sale in the Classifieds here right now.
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Awesome review! Now I want one of course. I love the L700, both Mk I and II. You mentioned efficiency is still high like the L700. Are you able to notice any loss in efficiency versus a stock L700 due to the larger chamber and driver placement?
Zoide
Headphoneus Supremus
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Hey mulveling! Your name sounded familiar from waaaay back in the day (I joined HF just one year after you did, in 2004).
So I clicked on your profile and saw your posts in the ES-R10 thread...
Lately I've been obsessed reading about the Nectar Hive X, Arya Stealth, and Stax SR-007 as possible upgrades to my (blu-tack modded) L700, but now you've got me thinking about the R10 replicas!
Any thoughts on how they all stack up?
(the price for a new ES-R10 is way out of my budget though...
)Thanks
@tjlindle Thank you for the excellent review. Now I’m even more intrigued to hear these and help support another small electrostatic headphone maker with a purchase.
bigjako
100+ Head-Fier
Thanks @tjlindle, great read. I have the 404 version and my experience lines up with yours, subject to the differences between the 404 and the L700. I periodically consider selling mine, because they just don’t get the head time of my others (because of the non-all roundedness you point out), but in the end they provide such a unique experience that while the Omegas may be objectively better, the Sigmas are one of a kind and deserve a spot at the Stax family table. I love mine with acoustic rock and, particularly, live jazz.
I do find I need to turn up the volume relative to all the other Lambdas but that’s just the nature of the housing and driver placement. I have toyed with the idea of lining them with some other material, to lessen the dampening to try to reclaim some of the sub bass or slam, but then I worry I’ll just screw them up and I leave well enough alone. I also put a little glue where the driver housing connects to the gimbal to give them a little extra purchase. Benson told me that the non-Sigma headbands don’t play perfectly well with the increased housing size, so watch for them coming disconnected while you’re listening.
I do find I need to turn up the volume relative to all the other Lambdas but that’s just the nature of the housing and driver placement. I have toyed with the idea of lining them with some other material, to lessen the dampening to try to reclaim some of the sub bass or slam, but then I worry I’ll just screw them up and I leave well enough alone. I also put a little glue where the driver housing connects to the gimbal to give them a little extra purchase. Benson told me that the non-Sigma headbands don’t play perfectly well with the increased housing size, so watch for them coming disconnected while you’re listening.
hewlett168
Head-Fier
It certainly has not with the current model, the Mk2.9. I received one two weeks ago and implemented the Blu-Tack mod today (third time doing it).
Wow! What a difference, it is quite unbelievable, turning a somewhat limp and dull sound into hard-hitting and fully engaging sound.
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Good to see you still around! Can't believe it's been so long since we started posting on head-fi.Hey mulveling! Your name sounded familiar from waaaay back in the day (I joined HF just one year after you did, in 2004).
So I clicked on your profile and saw your posts in the ES-R10 thread...
Lately I've been obsessed reading about the Nectar Hive X, Arya Stealth, and Stax SR-007 as possible upgrades to my (blu-tack modded) L700, but now you've got me thinking about the R10 replicas!
Any thoughts on how they all stack up?
(the price for a new ES-R10 is way out of my budget though...
Thanks
I haven't heard all the new stuff. There's just so much these days. I still have a 007 Mk I and 009. It's so hard to amp them to potential. Only on a DIY T2 do I not find them lacking in any way. On a KGSShv they're both quite competent & enjoyable, but not "quite there" for me. The 007 Mk I is a bit dark and sleepy. The 009 has its slightly cold tone - and I was so enthralled with them at first (circa 2014). Now the 007 and 009 only sound "perfect" (each their own version of perfect) to me on T2 - it really does some magic there to fix the 009's tone while advancing all other attributes too. On BHSE (going on memory here) both 007 and 009 are certainly better than KGSShv, but honestly it's still much closer to the KGSShv level than T2 (that goes for most amps, actually). The L700 (both MK I and Mk II) is so much easier to max out, and so engaging when you do so. Like I said the L700 / hev90 pairing is blowing my mind. It's such an addictive sound, short of only a 007 / 009 + T2. I have some sort of part issue with my T2, or else I've be able to listen to that more, btw.
The ES-R10 is also wonderful in its own way, and much easier to drive to great heights than any Stax. It won't match a well-driven L700, 007, or 009 in detail. But has excellent detail for a dynamic driver. Its layering of information in the soundstage is really special, courtesy of the zelkova chambers. Nothing else quite like it (other than OG R10, of course). Doesn't sound like other closed headphones (in a good way). It's got a warm, sweet tone. No listening fatigue. And it's like a hard rocker's take on the original R10. More bass than the bass-heavy OG R10. Still not near basshead territory, and not as large a soundstage nor as technical as the OG. But quite honestly I sold the OG R10 because it couldn't rock. These can, and then some.
KDS315
100+ Head-Fier
No it is not as efficient as the L700, the 007 needs about 6dB more in my experience
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