Stax SR-009 & SR-009s Electrostatic Headphones Review

[@aceofspades6667]

sweet review and thanks to your benefactor! I've always wanted to own a pair of estats... shangri-la jr, 009S, and CRBN are all on the shopping list.

[@ryansemplexyz]

Believe it or not, many electrostats actually have measurable break-in. So to anyone getting new stats, be sure to break them in for a few days.

[@gewinnste]

Any source for a measurement?

[@nitraM321]

same for planars

[@christianblais3350]

Stax has a new flagship, the SR-X9000, which is supposed to have 20% bigger drivers (so larger soundstage) and improved bass region. They will probably be more available this spring in North America. Hope you will do an update video about them. :)

[@gewinnste]

Driver size is not correlated with soundstage size.

[@Reticuli]

@@gewinnste Correct.

[@martinslocombe2288]

The Mjolner kgsshv carbon and the Blue Hawaii tube amp are pretty well at the top of the energiser tree both were designed by Kevin Gilmore . Having gone from Stax 007 valve energiser to Mjolner carbon the difference was night and day The Mjolner is so much more powerful and open especially with the Stax 007 mk2 which is power hungry ,

[@nothingelse1520]

Do you know which Stax headphone has the best bass?

[@martinslocombe2288]

SR 007mk 2 has the most bass especially with the Mjolner mod . Basically that involves sticking some blu tac over the bass port of the driver unit it does involve removal of the ear pads which is a bit fiddly but it well worth doing . I have the 009 and the 007mk2 I like both I almost sold the 007s a year ago but changed my mind when i listened to Marcus Miller "The Sun Dont Lie" Which sounds awsome through the 007s @@nothingelse1520

[@martinslocombe2288]

@@nothingelse1520 SR 007mk2

[@matthewhilty4209]

I didn't hear mention of what electrostatic amp you used. Was it solid state or tube ? The SR-X9000 is the current flagship at time of review not the SR-009s at a wallet busting price of 6,200 USD. Thank You for your impressions of both of these, I love Electrostatics for that ethereal detailed treble. There have been many times during a listening session that I turned around thinking someone had entered the room , just to realize it was a cough or chair movement in a recording. I would actually love to hear your impressions of SR-007MK2 since that one has a reputation for better bass. IMO when you spend north of 3000 USD for a headphone it needs to have a harmon-esque bass curve.

[@sjqideez6626]

Wave said he used a Mjolnir Audio Carbon, which is a solid state amp.

[@goldwerger]

I tried the 009s at CanJam and was underwhelmed (I have the 007mk1 which I really love and thought it was better tuned compared to the 009s). That said, I was comparing it back-to-back tot he X9000 and it may have been an unfair comparison. I will say that the X9000 is amazing - if you can lay your hands on a pair, they are insanely resolving and very very balanced. Laid back in across the board, giving a sense of a big sound stage, and being understated in the best possibly way (to my preference). As far as amps, the Carbon from Mjolnir is exceptional (I have it). I did try a few others at CanJam, including the Stax t8000 which I thought was, simply, inferior (Stax amps are not great imho), the Blue Hawaii which is great (and even though it's tubes vs ss, very similar to the Carbon), and the Woo WES which is also great (powered the X9000 beautifully). I you ever want to hear a masterpiece, the T2 by Eksonic is a real treat and was at CanJam. It's price tag though is seriously out of reach for the plebs...

[@nitraM321]

the cables on electro stats are attached for your safety !!!, not because "i think again you need special amps for that has probably something to do with that !" it's because they use 480 to 1500+ volts !!!! (the warwick acoustics)

[@ChrisStoneinator]

Interestingly, I’ve got the new Stax SR-X1 and the cable IS detachable??? No idea how that’s considered safe! Mind you, the connectors are female so it’s slightly harder to zap yourself.

[@x-techgaming]

BUT. . . . . 009 vs 007?

[@nitraM321]

Bond

[@martinslocombe2288]

I have both

[@nitraM321]

its not "goldish" it's gold plated, real gold.

[@rysiodionio843]

Audiophile channel and microphone is crap! This guy like good sound and making review with poor soundig mic.

[@ChrisStoneinator]

Maybe your system just isn’t good enough for his voice ;)