Trying to IMPRESS! Topping EHA5 electrostatic driver / energizer review

[@bigherb]

Would be interesting to see how something like the Stax L700Mk2 performs on the topping energiser. Keep the estat content coming, and happy Christmas 🎁🎄

[@PassionforSound]

Merry Christmas to you too! I'll try to get the L700 in soon.

[@curlmythic]

Very happy with the review audio, Lachy.

[@PassionforSound]

Thanks Heath!

[@jerryodom4542]

Another FANTASTIC review! I've heard a few Stax at meetups and ended up getting the Drop Koss ESP-95X and I adore them even though they have some fairly significant build issues. Their sound is so clear, fast, dynamic, and I'd say give a good bit of depth. One thing that I love about Electrostats is (I believe Currawong mentioned this) they're great for being able to listen at low volumes and still thoroughly enjoy the detail, resolution, staging, etc. but not blast your ears out. The resolution and clarity feels effortless. They're also usually really light and comfortable. The need for the dedicated driver is the main drawback, for sure. I often think about trying to upgrade the energizer for the 95X but it uses it's own connection type from the headphone to the supplied energizer so I'd also need to invest in a decent adapter. But I'd love to see some reviews of that sort of energizer comparisons especially at a "budget" level like the Topping. Really hoping more companies would get into lower level electrostat stuff.

[@PassionforSound]

Thanks for sharing your experiences. Hopefully I can provide more electrostatic content in the future at all price levels.

[@karstenjuhljrgensen4338]

Agree completely with your impressions of the EHA5 vs STAX energizer: tighter, possibly more detailed, but also less organig and flatter sounding. My topping pre90 also sounds flatter than my Ayre, so you are probably right it’s their sound signature. The EHA5 is simply great value. Agree on the lokks too though. Thanks for doing this!

[@iikatinggangsengii2471]

it will improve but keep in mind that sound will change (original amp sort of negated/useless)

[@iikatinggangsengii2471]

thing is the original amp has very nice tune youd prob dont want to miss/lost

[@PassionforSound]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Karsten!

[@johnsoriano3812]

Very nice! Hope to see this review released soon :)

[@PassionforSound]

Yep. Not long now...

[@ayushbhaumik7980]

I like your new video formats, starting with the sound quality aspects is definitely the way to go forward.

[@PassionforSound]

Thanks for the feedback. I'll maybe start doing it in all reviews in the future if others seem to like it too.

[@alphaniner3770]

Thanks for the review. It seems to have the Topping sound. I think that Topping in general is a good choice for people that start delving into the hobby. Clever design and great value for money, and a great starting reference point (and possibly end point) to start discovering (aka spending) gear that satisfies personal preference more. I indeed ended up liking other gear a lot more, but it is easy to sell Topping gear.

[@PassionforSound]

I agree that Topping make some good entry point gear, but this one is a bit less "Topping" than some of the regular headphone amps I've tried of theirs.

[@alphaniner3770]

@@PassionforSound agreed. Topping seems to to have started to diversity - which is good.

[@PassionforSound]

Yes. True.

[@taidee]

So EHA5 is the one to go for as a beginner on electrostats, thanks Lachlan.

[@PassionforSound]

Yes, it seems a solid entry point. Some commenters have raised an issue where it shuts down randomly, but I didn't experience this and wonder if it's being caused by people boosting the bass and/or volume too high.

[@clarkejones8090]

Hi Lachlan, Merry Christmas and thank you for investigating electro-static headphones/ear speakers. I have been wishing you would. Another excellent video , barring the title which is merely attention -grabbing but does not show your characteristic fairness and respect. ( Especially the word "Fake"). But then the review is temperate . I am most interested in the mid-fi and below segment because this is what I think I can afford so this video was /is relevant to my circumstances / interests. Re Stax ear speakers: There is a big price gap between the Stax SR- L500 Mk2 and the Stax SR-L700 MK2 and so I would like you to compare them but if you could only choose one then I would prefer you choose the former . I would also like you to try the least expensive one, the L300. I would be very pleased if you could review the Nectar HiveX. It would be good if you could try The Koss ESP -950 system , as 1mctous has already suggested. Energisers: If you could compare the Stax SRM 353X or SRM 400S to the EHA5 , on the , say Stax SR-500 Mk2, and on the Nectar HiveX, then that would be of value to me. I would like you to try the Woo Audio WA7e. It is a very good idea to compare a mid level price electo-static heasdphone and energiser pairing to a similarly priced dynamic headphone and amplifier pairing. One sound reproduction aspect I care about ,in this comparison, is truth or realism of timbre. Cheers.

[@PassionforSound]

Merry Christmas to you too, Clarke. (Did I say that already on your other comment?) Unfortunately, the thumbnails and titles need to do something to catch people's attention or they just scroll past. I definitely always aim to be truthful though and the orange glow IS fake, and the EHA5 IS trying (and succeeding) to impress at the price. I definitely plan to do more stats headphones in the future and will probably start with a step down to something like the 500 and also up to the 009 or similar.

[@clarkejones8090]

That will be excellent. I look forward to hearing/viewing your findings and thoughts . Happy 2024 to you and your family.@@PassionforSound

[@TheVeganVicar]

I've auditioned electrostatic headphones only once. It was a pair of Stax headphones I heard in a Sydney hi-fi store in 2005 while I was auditioning speakers and headphones for my music ministry in Perth. I ended-up getting the Sennheiser HD600, believe it or not, due to the far better bass response. At the moment, I am hankering for two (or possibly three) pairs of world-class headphones and this is my shortlist: AMT: HEDDphones 2 PLANAR: MEZE Empyrean 2, Modhouse Tungsten, or more probably Abyss Diana MR DYNAMIC: ZMF Atrium and/or Sennheiser 660S2 plus CLOSEDBACK: DCA E3 (if I find myself listening outside the house alot). At the moment my best pair of headphones is an Audeze, which I'm selling online.

[@PassionforSound]

Good luck with the sale! I'll be interested to hear which headphones from your list you buy first...

[@juanp756]

Man it's almost the same list I have for my next one. I would add to the list hifiman 1000se and now a stax srl700

[@TheVeganVicar]

@@juanp756, that's quite a coincidence, and even more so, because I almost purchased the HE1000se the other day, when I saw a B-stock one for sale on the HiFiMan website for USD$1,800.

[@nothingelse1520]

I just got into Stax right before you posted these estat videos. There are reports that when playing very bassy music the EHA5 will just shut itself off. I bought the 717 which is supposedly the best amp Stax ever made and pure solid state. It should be here this week. I had high hopes the the topping but those reports scared me off.

[@PassionforSound]

Someone mentioned that issue in the comments here, but I didn't experience it at all. I wonder if EQ and/or extra high volume levels are needed to trigger the issue? I hope you love the 717.

[@1mctous]

Koss ESP-950's ($999 USD) would be an excellent choice. Their own amp outputs 600 VDC for bias and 600 V RMS for the audio signal.

[@nothingelse1520]

the problem with the Koss is it has a filter for sounds below 200 hz. So basically all bass is lowered. Stax amps have no such filter, hence why the ESP-950/95X sounds better out of a Stax amp

[@1mctous]

@@nothingelse1520 That's why I think that the Topping amp will work, along with its compatible voltage specs.

[@nothingelse1520]

@@1mctous specs wise sure but there are reports the Topping estat amp shuts itself off during bassy songs, Stax amps and other estat amps don't do that

[@1mctous]

@@nothingelse1520 Lachlan apparently had no such issues but YMMV.

[@chefsteve8381]

The Stax L300 is the perfect match for the topping eha5....

[@PassionforSound]

That makes sense. 🙂

[@juanp756]

Interested to hear what you think of a woo wa7d compared to this one.

[@PassionforSound]

I don't currently have access to Woo gear, but would love to review some if I get the chance in the future

[@CookinBeatloaf]

Clearly better than the 252S? I have a brighter L300 with L500 pads and a L300 Limited with blue tac mod and want a second energizer that will last and not cost more than the earphones, although the D10II is enticing for its size

[@PassionforSound]

I haven't tried enough energisers to properly comment. Sorry!

[@CookinBeatloaf]

@@PassionforSound no worries. It's all I've had but I've heard the power supply goes bad and there's little headroom for EQ. I'll hold out for some d10ii reviews

[@ChrisStoneinator]

@@CookinBeatloaf Look into the new 270S. I've heard mixed things about the D10-II, particularly that it can't drive the new SR-X1 very well, whereas the 270S certainly does and I can vouch for that, which suggests it's got the headroom you need for EQ. Would advise researching more as I impulse bought this system after hearing it at the store so I know very little about its tech specs or reputation.

[@PassionforSound]

I've got the D10 II and the SR-X1 here now as well as the HiFiMan Mini Shangri-La so I'm keen to try both headphones out across those two energizers and the Topping EHA5.

[@aRc11-11]

When it seems too good to be true? Believe me.. it is. The Blue Haweewee is in your future. Take Stax to the MAX!

[@PassionforSound]

I don't see this as too good to be true. Just an affordable energizer with pretty solid sound as an entry point.

[@aRc11-11]

@@PassionforSound The Stax Energizers themselves? Aren't regarded too highly by the Stax aficionados. My brother is one. Two buddies and a cousin are really gonzoed, building and modding their own energizers. Stax owners (some) are a breed apart.

[@PassionforSound]

Yes. The Stax Mafia as they're sometimes called. I wondered how they'd all react to my reviews.

[@aRc11-11]

@@PassionforSound Like a novice waiting to get your feet wet 😁

[@PassionforSound]

Getting my feet wet with a high voltage headphone sounds dangerous! 😂😂

[@thecardoski]

Could a ladder Dac like the Gustard r26 give the Hifiman more depth? Or are dacs really limited ?

[@PassionforSound]

A good DAC will output more depth, but I think the EHA5 is squashing that depth regardless.

[@thecardoski]

@@PassionforSound Ah, ok thanks.

[@psyphonyxaudio]

Nice shirt =)

[@PassionforSound]

Thank you! Glad you like it 🙂🙂

[@masterazlan6999]

Naa.. Those firefly frm woo.. better.. Hapy holiday n hapy new yrs bra.. Peace!

[@fatdoi003]

Once I investigated into estat but imo the energiser is the deal breaker for me

[@PassionforSound]

That's been my hurdle previously too

[@kh-bd5ye]

Without balance....

[@PassionforSound]

That's correct

[@MOWFWDU]

My apologies, but I really am turned off by the click bait thumb nails, to the extent that I loose interest in any channel that does it because most have more to offer than that.

[@PassionforSound]

I understand where you're coming from. Unfortunately, you're in the minority and if I don't make the thumbnails a source of curiosity, they won't get clicked on and I won't be able to grow the channel. I do try to stay truthful though. After all, the glow in the EHA5 is fake and it IS trying to impress (and succeeding) with its price and performance.