Hi Mike,you know how sometimes you do stuff, then you think back why did i do that? then you think some more and realize it was the right thing to do? but then later.......back in 2010-2011 i decided i wanted to investigate high level headphones. i wanted to see if they could reveal more of the music in some way. a part of the hobby i had not explored. i spent 2 years learning, acquiring a good dynamic headphone rig (HD-800's/Woo 6SE maxxed) and a good electrostat rig (Stax 007 Mk1/Stax-SRM-717 amp) and then later a Stax 009 and Headamp BHSE & Aristaeus amps, which at that time was fairly top drawer. i learned a little and enjoyed it, but then in 2012 had to sell it all to fund my dart mono blocks and MM7's.
since then i've looked into headphones from time to time thinking i would at some point get back into it.
then i started watching Youtube video's and other stuff on my laptop and got frustrated with the sound quality. so about a year ago started checking out headphones again. i knew i did not need to go hog wild, but my way is to jump fully in so i have been more and more checking them out. mostly what i had been watching were the planar dynamics and the new Stax 009S's and appropriate amps to get the most out of them. one issue was how would they integrate into my system when i was not using them for Youtube video's?
this weekend i noticed an MSB Select Headphone amp for sale. one thing led to another and......well......i now own it. and today the Stax SR-009S's i ordered to go with it showed up. i'm listening to the combo right now. i'll not yet comment on the performance. headphones take time to break in.
the Select headphone amp does integrate really well with my system, and i'll be able to plug my laptop into an analog input on the MSB Select II dac and use the Select passive pre volume control for it. i'm waiting for the cable to allow that to work seamlessly; s/b here tomorrow.
one thing, the amp is anodized silver, my dac and power supplies are black. if i decide to keep it long term i can send it in and have it anodized black to match. or if i sell it later it can be matched to that buyer's Select II.
did i need to do this? will it still be here in 6 months? god only knows.
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Congrats on your new acquisition. I just ordered a pair a Stax 009S as well. Remember hearing the 009 at RMAF years ago on a Blue Hawaii amp. It was very nice sounding. I also ordered the new Woo Audio 3es elite electrostatic headphone amp to drive them. Probably wont get the amp for at least a month. The Woo amp uses 300b, 6sn7 driver, and 5u4g rectifier. It also can function as a preamp. I wanted to get some tubes in my system again so the 3es seemed to fit the bill. Can't wait to hear it.
Sean
