YKYAAW you decide to focus on a STAX SR-009 system.
I've been going back and forth trying to decide between high-end headphone systems I want to get...and I kind of want them all eventually...but I really should focus on the one with the highest likelihood of having the best overall sound quality, at least at this early stage where I can't afford to collect multiple high-end systems.
Shouldn't cost much more than $3,000 to start with. (I've made more than that in a single day, so once I stop being lazy, this shouldn't be too much trouble.)
STAX SR-009 electrostatic earspeakers
US retail price: $4,450
PriceJapan price: currently $2,722
STAX SRM-323S electrostatic amplifier
US retail price: $875
PriceJapan price: under $450
That amp would just be something to tide me over until I can get one of the best 'stat amps, which are crazy expensive. ($4-10K+) I'll need to do a lot more research before making a final decision on that...
Perhaps I will get the Smyth Realiser A8 virtual surround sound processor (which emulates the sound of any speaker system you can visit and measure and is reportedly indistinguishable from speakers!) and Schiit Yggdrasil DAC before the ultimate amp.
After that, I would be interested in things like better cables, vibration control, and power management.
...At least I don't have to worry about aftermarket headphone cables, since STAX cables are hardwired...