Please find the excuses for me not to buy Stax 009S headphone

thomask

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Empire Zeus IEM(earphone) sound pretty nice overall with nice dynamics and details.

Out of curiosity I pulled the trigger for Stax009s and Carbon amp last Saturday.

But the statement below got me a little bit upset.

Shall I have had tried Rall Sr1a instead of Stax on 14 days return guarantee?

I have to wait until July 9th to find out how Stax009s and Carbon amp will sound with Dave and Mscaler.



MrCypruz

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2d

I got the SR1a on Friday along with the Vidar and the Performer s800 but did not have a lot of time to do a proper evaluation other than quickly running through @Torq‘s suggested songs. In a nutshell, the SR1a provide the very best sound that I’ve heard to date coming from headphones, period.

The bass response is the most detailed and well textured I’ve ever heard to date. None of the HPs that I own (009S, Utopia & Empyrean) can match its speed, attack, decay. As @Torq stated, the SR1a takes no prisoners, it reveals everything upstream as it is with unparalleled realism and accuracy without any coloration. Neutrality is one of its main personality traits, I guess that’s why it’s very highly regarded in the professional realm for music production.

In less than 2hrs of listening time, the SR1a made me reach a state of audio nirvana for the very first time, therefore I don’t want to go back to anything less than this. I’ll spare my other 3 headphones because I like the looks, comfort and still enjoy their capabilities.
I’m officially done with headphones for now…until the release of the SR2a!!!

https://forum.headphones.com/t/raal...ld-monitor-headphone-official-thread/3220/265

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cjfrbw

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I wouldn't worry about it. As we know, there is ALWAYS something 'better' coming along, it's the nature of commercial beasthood. You'd get the Raal, and then hear the pundits giving something else endlessly re-cyled raves in a few months. The churn 'n burn of new stuff being made and promoted.

I personally like having the ear cushions all the way around, which the Raal does not have.
 
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thomask

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I wouldn't worry about it. As we know, there is ALWAYS something 'better' coming along, it's the nature of commercial beasthood. You'd get the Raal, and then hear the pundits giving something else endlessly re-cyled raves in a few months. The churn 'n burn of new stuff being made and promoted.

I personally like having the ear cushions all the way around, which the Raal does not have.
I guess that Rall SR1a has tighter bass than Stax 009S.

But I am not sure whether SR1a has refined mid range as latter.

I will give Stax and Carbon amp more than one month to tune the sound using different power cable and interconnect.

After fully tuning 009S, I will order SR1a to compare with 009S.

Since I have excellent 2 channel system with powerful bass up to 20hz, refined midrange out of headphone is more important to me.

In the meantime I would like to collect information how to get the best sound of Stax 009S and Rall SR1a .

If I find Rall not to have as refined midrange as Stax, then I may return it in within 14 day's of grace period.
 
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cjfrbw

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After trying out Rall Sr1a, if I like it I may keep it in addition to Stax 009S.

But that is going to be the end of it.

Heh, Heh! Famous last words! THERE IS NO END!
 
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thomask

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Heh, Heh! Famous last words! THERE IS NO END!
Once I like the components, I keep it for at least 2 years or longer.

I had been happy with Lansche 4.1 with plasma tweeter since 2007.

It will be speaker for my life.


I am listening to above music right now.

Lansche 4.1 driven by Line Magnetic 508 40W SET give very pristine treble and dynamic sound.


Headphone is kind of side attraction and I will not spend too much money on it.

I hope that Stax009s give kind of electrostatic speaker flavor.



If you pay too much attention to the sound, it is hard to enjoy music.

I plan to have a break from hardware swapping for at least 2 years.
 

gian60

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I listen well Sennheiser HE1 in Italian show
Very good but i don't know if is better of my combo 009 with Megahertz Guerra
Need to listen well in my home both to see what is better.

Anyway waiting your report with Carbon and 009.
Also i would like to buy Carbon but need to spend too much money for my system so no money for carbon
 

thomask

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I listen well Sennheiser HE1 in Italian show
Very good but i don't know if is better of my combo 009 with Megahertz Guerra
Need to listen well in my home both to see what is better.

Anyway waiting your report with Carbon and 009.
Also i would like to buy Carbon but need to spend too much money for my system so no money for carbon

Thanks for your report on Sennheiser HE1 :)
I will report my impression of Stax 009s and Carbon amplifier on July 10th or 11th.
 

thomask

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I had got delivery of Stax 009S and
KGSSHV Carbon made by loligagger.

I am using Jays Audio CDT2 MK2 to connect to Lyngdorf 2170 for digital equalization and then to Mscaler and Dave.

I am using Sablon Panatella BNC digital cables between Mscaler and Dave and Zenwave D4 from transport to Lyngdorf and Silnote Morpheus II from Lyngdorf to Mscaler.

From Dave to Carbon, I use Analysis Plus XLR cable.


After just 5 minute warmup, it sound dynamic with nuanced treble.

With orchestral music by Heitor Villa Lobos, I had tried soft eq set which lowers 1 db around 7khz and 2db around 15khz.

With Eva Cassidy's "Autumn Leaves", I use neutral setting(no eq) to get her full voice upwards.

It does not sound bright or closed in either.

It is perfect.

I had also tried "Time Warp" by Telarc.

With excellent dynamics and wide soundstage, it sounds surreal.

I am really happy to get this combination.

From other people's review, I had also considered Raal Sr1a.

But with this speed and full bloom out of Stax009s, I do not need to look around.

I will just enjoy music
 
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thomask

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After playing Stax009S and Carbon amp for 6 hours with various music genre, I am convinced that I can live with it until it stop working.

It sounds musical with clarity, nuanced details and decent dynamics.

I am listening to "As time goes by" sung by "Julie London".

Her voice sounds so natural and snappy that I would like to toss the drink to her.

I do not want to be greedy.

This is going to be my endgame on headphone.
 
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thomask

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Impression after spending 30 hours on Stax 009S and KGSSHV Carbon made by loligagger.


I am using Jays Audio CDT2 MK2 to connect to Lyngdorf 2170 for digital equalization and then to Mscaler and Dave.


I am using Sablon Panatella BNC digital cables between Mscaler and Dave and Zenwave D4 from transport to Lyngdorf and Silnote Morpheus II from Lyngdorf to Mscaler.


From Dave to Carbon, I use Analysis Plus XLR cable.


After 20 hours of use and I had sound of Stax and Carbon compared with my 2 channel system Lansche 4.1(plasma tweeter) driven by Line Magnetic 508 SET (Amperex 6SL7, 1944 Sylvania vt231 Nos tubes, Psavne Acme 805 and 300B tubes).

My 2 channel system go deeper to 20Hz with better dynamics and deeper soundstage.

Also my 2 channel system presents slightly more transparency and details.


Stax and Carbon sounds more intimate but with more realistic focus while the soundstage width are comparable.

With no eq, Stax and Carbon sounds very dynamic and no weakness of bass except sub 30Hz bass of organ.

It has a round texture with nuanced details neither hot or bright.

It is very musical and enjoyable.


I had done some experiment on equalization with Lyngdorf 2170.

With gradual eq of 2db up at 7khz and 3 db at 15khz, Stax and Carbon sounds more open and transparent.


I had paid 60K$ for my speaker and SET amplifier including the cost of tube rolling.

Stax009S and Carbon costs me 6500$ used ( Stax009S were 4 months old and Carbon amp is less than one month old, they looks like new one 9-10 condition).


I prefer my 2 channel system to Stax009S and Carbon on overall dynamics and more 3 D holographic soundstage.

But Stax009S and Carbon sounds so musical and nuanced with decent dynamics that I can enjoy music with windows open during summer time not to disturb my neighbors.


If I had got KGSSHV Carbon Ground Grid amplifier, there would be more room to tune the sound through tube rolling, but I am happy as is.

I expect to spend 60/40 time between my 2 channel and headphone system.

Thus after equalization using Lyngdorf 2170, Stax009S and KGSSHV Carbon headphone system perfectly fit my needs.

Thomas
 
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thomask

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Although I had enjoyed the sound from Stax 009S and Carbon amplifier with Dave and Mscaler for five days,

it is much better to use Empire Zeus IEM during hot summer days.

I am listening to "Come Away with me" by Norah Jones.

It reached 80 degree today in Pacific Northwest, maybe not so bad compared with other parts of US.

Stax 009S driven by Carbon amp sounds natural with deeper bass than Empire Zeus IEM.

But Empire Zeus IEM sounds lively going well with Pop music.
 
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thomask

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I used to use Analysis Plus power cables on Carbon headphone amp.

Also Analysis Plus XLR cable between Dave and Carbon amp.

I had been happy with balanced sound with good bass and dynamics.

The only thing missing was some air, although it did not sound closed in but too polite to my taste.


On Friday, I had replaced Analysis Plus power cables with Synergistic Blue and then the it sound slightly more detailed and nuanced with tighter bass.

Then I replaced Analysis Plus XLR cable with Synergistic Foundation cable.

Now it sounds faster with more air.

Although it sounds pretty good with Analysis Plus cables, I am happy with the improvement brought by Synergistic cables.

I think Dave and Mscaler, Carbon amp, Stax 009S is really end game combination.

I do not want more out of headphone.
 
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gian60

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I use Gobel lacorde statement XLR between Wadia S7I and Megahertz Guerra,tube amp for 009,and sound is incredible,full details and a lot of space between instrunment
Try if you can
 

thomask

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I had used Massdrop Zeus IEM during 10 hour flight from Seattle to Incheon, Korea on Aug 4th.

What a joy!

With using IEM supplied by Delta Airline, the music or sound from movie sounds mundane.

But with MD Zeus IEM, I had been happy with dynamic, nuanced treble and realistic soundstage throughout 10 hours.

It made my trip much easier.

I had crossed Pacific Ocean more than 100 times but this is the best occasion to enjoy sound out of Airline source.
 

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