Tinkerer
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Theoretically? Circlotron. Realistically? KGSSHV Carbon.
Do you happen to know all the technical specifications? I can't find them on the website.
Such as : weight, size, power consumption, THD, etc. Thank you.
JimL11
1000+ Head-Fier
There are no published technical specifications because this is not a commercial amplifier, so there is no "standard" KGSS Carbon.
SeaWo|f
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I think spitzer would be willing to give a reasonable degree of basic information on the ones he has in stock. Try email or perhaps ask/pm on the ~other~ forum.
But yea JimL11 is right, these are bespoke items from individual builders.
Life after Stax? The final round (ding ding) of my Downsizing experiment…
As an introduction, I suggest you read the previous round here. Which got me to the point of choosing the HEK V2 as a worthy Dynamics alternative to my beloved Electrostatics rig of many years, for when I didn't have the time to fire up the main rig. So, with my Objective (b) successfully realised, the next step was the more challenging Objective (a) to see if the HEK was actually good enough to completely replace my Electrostatics rig and so achieve my Downsizing objective.
I could tell straight away that, out of the box, the HEK wasn't going to achieve Objective (a). But because I've had several years to get used to the Stax sound, I deliberately switched off my BHSE/009 for ages whilst I got used to the HEK's presentation - with a few tweaks made along the way. At the end of a few months, I was pleased to see that my HEK had not fallen apart in any way - this had been a worry based on the many detrimental reports on past models quality control issues. On the SQ front, I've found that the HEK is highly transparent - in that it is very sensitive to upstream changes. Which means that I didn't always like what I heard, but the plus side is that it scaled up very quickly with upstream improvements. More of this later, but for now let's cut to the winner of this particular fight. With all tweaks in place, this result is based purely on SQ, irrespective of cost, aesthetics, build or practicality.
And the winner is…
Yep, you've guessed it, the fight went the full distance, with the judges unable to come to a unanimous decision. Now, it may have been close overall, but the two presentations were quite different, with many swings and roundabouts. Most things the SR-009 did were so right. You already know the usual electrostatics strengths - that unforced naturalness that makes female vocals sound so lifelike. This also applying to just about any acoustic recording, and many electronic ones as well. And I've still yet to hear a better bass quality (rather than quantity) from any other headphone. And then there's the speed, and the refined treble, and and so on….
But the HEK V2 countered with a combination 1-2 punch of key strengths:
Firstly, a presence and immediacy that gave a feeling of direct connection with the recording. A significant part of this is DAVE's direct drive. I've heard some expensive amps driving the HEK, and all of them add a slight thickening smoothness to the sound. Now, not everyone gets on with DAVE, and I can understand that, as I've had my own occasional disagreement with him in the past, but DAVE directly driving HEK V2 is a perfect match - partly because of that directness and particularly when combined with the next key strength:
Secondly, the HEK has a fantastic, spacious soundstage, with images popping out in a way that makes me forget I'm listening to headphones. Initially, I found its soundstage too wide, with rather diffuse central images, and not much depth. Enter DAVE's cross-feed function, which works wonders to sharpen up the images and also increase depth perception, at the expense of width and some euphonic "airiness". This is recording dependent, and each of DAVE's 3 CF settings have their merits, with CF=2 remaining my default setting for the HEK.
Below are the 4 conditions that I feel are fundamental to HEK V2's staying the full distance in this fight. If any of these are not met, then all bets are off as to how my decision may have gone:
Returning to the BHSE/009 after a long absence was surprising. I've always considered the 009 to be a touch upper-mid forward, a touch bass light. Not a big deal for me because its strengths far outweighed these correctable minor weaknesses. Overall I considered the BHSE/009 to have great speed, clarity and transparency, and combining naturalness with more "balls" than lesser electrostatics systems. And, up to this point, also an above average soundstage.But in this HEK comparison, the 009 didn't seem that tonally "hot" anymore, rather smooth actually. And much easier going (particularly when partnered with vintage tubes): Yes the 009 responded to some EQ, but it didn't matter much as it sounded good either way. Yes it responded to cross-feed, but it didn't matter much as it sounded good either way. The directly driven HEK was much fussier in getting to its peak sound, but with all 4 conditions in place, the resulting uncluttered 3-dimensional sound stage gave me just as good a musical "hit" as the faster, more detailed and refined 009 .
In conclusion, I think I've now achieved my downsizing objective: A compact, easily transportable rig that sounds at least as good as a full sized rig. The HEK V2 didn't knock out the 009, but it was at least in the same ballpark (as well as being great at mixing metaphors). I could quite happily keep both systems, but downsizing only works if I actually downsize. So, with much regret, I'm putting up all my electrostatics gear for sale. Absolutely all of it, including BHSE, SR-009, (SR-007 already gone), extension cable, SRM-007t, new and vintage tubes, Herbie dampers, and audiophile fuses. In the For Sales section. Here. Now. Phew!
As an introduction, I suggest you read the previous round here. Which got me to the point of choosing the HEK V2 as a worthy Dynamics alternative to my beloved Electrostatics rig of many years, for when I didn't have the time to fire up the main rig. So, with my Objective (b) successfully realised, the next step was the more challenging Objective (a) to see if the HEK was actually good enough to completely replace my Electrostatics rig and so achieve my Downsizing objective.
I could tell straight away that, out of the box, the HEK wasn't going to achieve Objective (a). But because I've had several years to get used to the Stax sound, I deliberately switched off my BHSE/009 for ages whilst I got used to the HEK's presentation - with a few tweaks made along the way. At the end of a few months, I was pleased to see that my HEK had not fallen apart in any way - this had been a worry based on the many detrimental reports on past models quality control issues. On the SQ front, I've found that the HEK is highly transparent - in that it is very sensitive to upstream changes. Which means that I didn't always like what I heard, but the plus side is that it scaled up very quickly with upstream improvements. More of this later, but for now let's cut to the winner of this particular fight. With all tweaks in place, this result is based purely on SQ, irrespective of cost, aesthetics, build or practicality.
And the winner is…
Yep, you've guessed it, the fight went the full distance, with the judges unable to come to a unanimous decision. Now, it may have been close overall, but the two presentations were quite different, with many swings and roundabouts. Most things the SR-009 did were so right. You already know the usual electrostatics strengths - that unforced naturalness that makes female vocals sound so lifelike. This also applying to just about any acoustic recording, and many electronic ones as well. And I've still yet to hear a better bass quality (rather than quantity) from any other headphone. And then there's the speed, and the refined treble, and and so on….
But the HEK V2 countered with a combination 1-2 punch of key strengths:
Firstly, a presence and immediacy that gave a feeling of direct connection with the recording. A significant part of this is DAVE's direct drive. I've heard some expensive amps driving the HEK, and all of them add a slight thickening smoothness to the sound. Now, not everyone gets on with DAVE, and I can understand that, as I've had my own occasional disagreement with him in the past, but DAVE directly driving HEK V2 is a perfect match - partly because of that directness and particularly when combined with the next key strength:
Secondly, the HEK has a fantastic, spacious soundstage, with images popping out in a way that makes me forget I'm listening to headphones. Initially, I found its soundstage too wide, with rather diffuse central images, and not much depth. Enter DAVE's cross-feed function, which works wonders to sharpen up the images and also increase depth perception, at the expense of width and some euphonic "airiness". This is recording dependent, and each of DAVE's 3 CF settings have their merits, with CF=2 remaining my default setting for the HEK.
Below are the 4 conditions that I feel are fundamental to HEK V2's staying the full distance in this fight. If any of these are not met, then all bets are off as to how my decision may have gone:
- Must be directly driven by DAVE
- Must use DAVE's cross-feed function
- Must have EQ applied to tame a tonal thinness roughly in the 7khz-10khz region (I use Roon's EQ, centred around 8.3khz, plus some bass correction to balance the cross-feed, still experimenting)
- Must replace the stock cable (I use Toxic's Silver Widow)
Returning to the BHSE/009 after a long absence was surprising. I've always considered the 009 to be a touch upper-mid forward, a touch bass light. Not a big deal for me because its strengths far outweighed these correctable minor weaknesses. Overall I considered the BHSE/009 to have great speed, clarity and transparency, and combining naturalness with more "balls" than lesser electrostatics systems. And, up to this point, also an above average soundstage.But in this HEK comparison, the 009 didn't seem that tonally "hot" anymore, rather smooth actually. And much easier going (particularly when partnered with vintage tubes): Yes the 009 responded to some EQ, but it didn't matter much as it sounded good either way. Yes it responded to cross-feed, but it didn't matter much as it sounded good either way. The directly driven HEK was much fussier in getting to its peak sound, but with all 4 conditions in place, the resulting uncluttered 3-dimensional sound stage gave me just as good a musical "hit" as the faster, more detailed and refined 009 .
In conclusion, I think I've now achieved my downsizing objective: A compact, easily transportable rig that sounds at least as good as a full sized rig. The HEK V2 didn't knock out the 009, but it was at least in the same ballpark (as well as being great at mixing metaphors). I could quite happily keep both systems, but downsizing only works if I actually downsize. So, with much regret, I'm putting up all my electrostatics gear for sale. Absolutely all of it, including BHSE, SR-009, (SR-007 already gone), extension cable, SRM-007t, new and vintage tubes, Herbie dampers, and audiophile fuses. In the For Sales section. Here. Now. Phew!
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Thanks for sharing. Unlike homes and cars. Many of us have collected too many elite headphones and amplifiers. Kudos on your efforts.
In the last few years, I have used my Stax less also, as it really is much easier to enjoy dynamic headphones at home or away.
Yes, there is now a portable Shure KSE1500, but that is no where as good as the Stax 007 or 009.
Again, congrats
paul
In the last few years, I have used my Stax less also, as it really is much easier to enjoy dynamic headphones at home or away.
Yes, there is now a portable Shure KSE1500, but that is no where as good as the Stax 007 or 009.
Again, congrats
paul
How do the planars compare? I've always wanted to audition the Oppo PM-3; but there's no way around here.
Planar magnetic headphones are all over the map, some like the Audeze LCD3 and LCD4, Hifiman HE1000s, MrSpeakers Ether and OPPO PM1 make you miss the electrostatics less when paired with good sources.
The OPPO PM3 are very comfortable Planars that anyone can try out as their first in this class of headphones.
I am not sure about what sources or gear you have, so cannot recommend if PM3 works for you.
You can order on from say Amazon https://goo.gl/o9SXfW, if you don't like them return it for a refund.
paul
The OPPO PM3 are very comfortable Planars that anyone can try out as their first in this class of headphones.
I am not sure about what sources or gear you have, so cannot recommend if PM3 works for you.
You can order on from say Amazon https://goo.gl/o9SXfW, if you don't like them return it for a refund.
paul
auricgoldfinger
500+ Head-Fier
@TheAttorney Roon expresses crossfeed in terms of Cut Frequency (Hz) and Feed Level (dB). Is there a way for you to equate DAVE's settings in those terms?
XLR8
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Did you try the Susvara?
Once you enter the electrostatic world, especially the high end models is hard to leave. Is great to have other headphones to use for different applications,but their sound can't compare with Stax IMHO.
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wink
His amps are made out of recycled beer cans
and his source from tomatos.
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You're gonna make some Head-Fiers very happy with your decision. Especially those who buy your gear.
hpeter
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something broken in amp stages, but if it was bias, you would not hear much.
but you can test it- put same volume and listen for distortion.
if sounds clear , but quiet - it can be very low bias voltage.
you should measure approx 580V bias - before the high value resistors... measuring directly at socket, you get much less due to these huge resistors...
with my custom tube amp, i can hear just weak treble, if i shutdown the bias. (quite higher than normal volume)
hpeter
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and still some people talks about selling stax and going back to magnets..
i think they´re insane.. what kind of hidden agenda is this ??? traitors, blasphemy !
i use my old dt990 just for pc gaming (poor boy´s endgame), well i will not wear my tubes and stats for GAMING...!!!
If you can Stax is worth using on anything from music, movies and games if that's your thing, just my humble opinion.
The sound is too good to be reserved only for critical listening.
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