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

I may had got into rabbit hole of Headphone.

After getting Massdrop Empire Zeus IEm, I had been happy with its dynamics and nuanced details.



But after having gone back to my 2 channel system of Lansche 4.1 speaker driven by Line Magnetic 508 SET amplifier, I want more out of IEM.

My main system plays much more dynamic with deeper bass slam with deeper and more transparent soundstage.
.

After finding some good deal, I am about to pull the trigger for Stax 009 electrostatic headphone and KGSSHV Carbon amplifier for sizable sum of money.

Please find the excuses for me not to buy Stax 009S headphone.
128x128shkong78
shkong78's avatar
shkong78 OP
1,485 posts
 

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


mulveling's avatar
mulveling
2,064 posts
 
Congrats shkong78! I’m glad you’re enjoying it. Not surprising with your top-notch sources. I wish I had such a setup for myself right now, as my T2 is down for repairs. Your love for the sound may grow even more with time. And I’ve previously owned two amps built by loligagger - a KGST and a 450V Sanyo KGSShv - he’s a good builder!
shkong78's avatar
shkong78 OP
1,485 posts
 
@mulveling 

Thanks a lot for your kind word.

I also wish you to get better source in the future.

I had decided to have two years of break from changing major audio equipment.

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

The sound out of Stax and Carbon amp is much better than my expectation with clarity and nuanced details.

The only missing thing is the bottom bass out of organ.

But I can live without it.
shkong78's avatar
shkong78 OP
1,485 posts
 
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.
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
To close the loop on my experience with the HIFIMAN RE-600S V2 Songbird earphones, the ones with the long crystal copper cable, after around 300 hours of near continuous burn-in, including about 140 hours of continuous burn-in using the XLO Test CD, my final thought is, to paraphrase what another reviewer said, this Songbird is a Frog 🐸
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