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Are there speakers after Stax?

I just got a chance to listen to my new Stax SRS-4040
Signature System II, and it blows away any speakers I have ever heard. It has its own dedicated, direct-drive tube amp (006t) and the full-range electrostatic drivers use a diaphram that is actually lighter than air.

The coherency and balance is outstanding, as is the transient response. But the delivery of fine, inner nuances and minute details is simply mind boggling. No speaker I have heard even comes close to what these baby's can deliver -- and this without highlighting any particular segment of the audible frequency spectrum. The bass is ultra quick and smooth, the midrange, beyond compare, and the high frequencies the most delicate and detailed that I have ever heard.

I may find it difficult to go back to speakers after hearing what this system can do. When you don't have to deal with room reflections, bass anomalies, and controlling vibrations/acoustic feedback, not only is there a true performance advantage, but the price/performance ratio is much better.

I know that some 'philes shun cans, but after my session last night, I feel these folks are missing the boat.

In a couple of months I'll be moving out of state and looking to buy new reference speakers for my new home. As fine and detailed as my InnerSound Mk-II speakers were, the Stax SRS-4040 system seems to be an order of magnitude better. I really don't think there are any speakers that can compete at this level, but I'm open to suggestions. Does anyone else feel this way???
plato
wmcmanus's avatar
wmcmanus
171 posts
 
Plato, you're absolutely right that the K-1000's use a dynamic design. I've just gone to the AKG website and it says as much - which is all the more reason to be amazed at their lightning quick transient response and detailed resolution - they sure look and sound like electrostats!

The K-1000's are incredibly inefficient and require at least a 10 watt amp to drive them (a lot in headamp terms), so this would jack up the investment cost for you - because unfortunately, Stax amps cannot be used on anything but Stax earspeakers. The K-1000's do best with a beefy tube amp such as the RKV (my choice) or a nOrh SE9 (the amp of choice for many happy head-fi'ers). Also, since they are so revealing, cheap sources need not apply - so I agree that you should ideally mate the K-1000's with an entire system that is in the same general class.

Other factors to consider are that 1) the K-1000's, to most people, are not terribly attractive. OK, they're really wierd looking creatures! and 2) they are totally open in design so the listener can easily be distracted by other noise in the room (and obviously you would distract others around you as well) - just in case that is a factor.

Oh, but do they ever sound so sweet - if I had to keep just one set of cans, these would be the ones!
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ivanj
35 posts
 
Try Jaeklin Floats.
plato OP
1,543 posts
 
Hey, wait a minute Ivanj. The Jecklin Floats are not only the ugliest headphones I've ever seen, but they were designed by a fellow named "Jurk". In view of that, the phones must sound very good -- for the company to have stayed in business so long. :)
t_bone
1,182 posts
 
Wmcmanus, does the Audiovalve RKV have speaker terminals or just the jacks on the front? I tried the AKG K1000s recently and am smitten (and when I listened to them, I thought they were electrostats too) and am now trying to figure out how to swing it...

Jecklin also makes a similar-looking headphone called "Ergo", the high-end model of which is quite good (still has the same looks though). Like the AKGs, they don't actually touch your ears, but the experience is kind of creepy as the headphones are so large and heavy, and the surface area of the point where they rest on your head so small, that when you tip or turn your head, they are easily displaced.
detlof
1,899 posts
 
Not Jurk, Plato, but Jörg and yes, the Jecklin floats are good es headphones indeed, but they cannot touch the Stax. As far as the general question is concerend, I think Duke has said it all. When I stumbled on this thread just now, I also thought that the best solution would be a pair of Soundlabs or the old Quad 63. Cheers,
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