Whelp, looks like I have to buy a new pair of replacement drivers for my SR-009. After not using them for months I plugged them in recently and found the right driver noticeably lower in volume. Context: I had them in a room of the house that developed mould while we were overseas recently (Sydney had been beset by biblical-level rainfall) and discovered the pads and the cloth had mould. I cleaned them up but it's possible the electrostatic film was damaged from the mould. Or maybe it's a coincidence. Dunno.
Anyway, took them into the authorised distributor along with my amp and we compared my SR-009 with theirs and yep, definitely sounds weaker in the right driver. My wife tagged along and she confirmed it immediately, someone who couldn't care less about audio so that was that. Replacing both drivers seems to be the only recourse as having a matched pair is important. Gonna be about $2,500 AUD inc labour. Really not impressed but it's far, far cheaper than buying a new pair. At least they're giving me a full warranty so it's practically like getting a new pair. Might buy new earpads while I'm at it. Sigh.
On the flipside I'm going to hook up my Woo WEE energiser when the 009 return rather than using the STAX SRM-007 as the sound quality of my pre/power driving the 009 should be waaaaaay above what the STAX amp is capable of.
