electrostatic headphone experiences? stax? others?

[adaug]

hi: i realize that HFH is not a huge headphone community - but i dont have the patience to slog thru hundred page threads on head-fi. have been getting into headphones for a few years way deeper than ever expected to. have done extended listening with planars, dynamics, open backs, closed backs. and wanted to check out the world of electrostats -so bought a pair of cheap used koss/drop 95X. so light and easy-to-wear. so flimsy and plastic-y. the sound of 95X has a very 3D quality along with tonal issues. but the upsides are such that i want to delve deeper into electrostatics and try something very good. anyone care to share impressions of stax or other electrostatic models? amps/energizers? thanks!

 

[Currawong]

The problem with estats is that to get full performance, you need an amp with a power voltage swing, though if you're happy for the "airy" sound at quieter levels and don't care for bass dynamics, you can get away with a lot less. That means $5k+ to get great results.
Some of the more recent planar (orthodynamic) headphones come pretty close, without needing a special amp, such as those from HiFiMan, which are tuned rather similar to electrostats.

If you can, I'd recommend going to a CanJam and trying what's available.

 

[adaug]

anyone else?

 

[Rudy]

I rarely go into the headphone room at AXPONA but, if any stats are available for demo there, that would be the place to try them out.

 

[asilker]

I don't have any experience with stax or other stat phones but I've been watching this thread since OP

Also interested

 

[uniqusrname]

In current gen of estats, X1 is good option to start with. It has similar tonality as SRXmk3 and better slam than lambda series..
For Energizer, I would recommend to look for Stax T1 series to start with, better sounding than what Stax is producing today. Another option will be to pickup SRD7 and use a speaker amp with it.

 

[JohnVF]

I’ve auditioned ‘stats but personally did not love them and didn’t understand what they offered compared to other modern headphones. They seemed like a technology meant to fix a problem that the better “normal” headphones of today no longer have? But I also sold my Quad 63pro in-room floorstanding estats for the same reason. Just my limited experience with them. I use Audeze LCD2- even then I might actually prefer something more traditional that’s easier to drive, and the LCDs aren’t that difficult.

 

[adaug]

I use Audeze LCD2- even then I might actually prefer something more traditional that’s easier to drive, and the LCDs aren’t that difficult.

Audeze LCD2c's (c for "classic" not closed) are my baseline 'phones. they sound very good to me, and are driven by everything i have tried (including my holo serene preamp). there are better models out there but, for me, diminishing returns hit pretty steeply after this level.

in electrostatic headphones i'm looking for the "holographic" thing analagous to electrostatic speakers. the LCD2c's have good pretty fat bass. sometimes i think that the bass density may fill some of the space in the "holographic" thing - like maybe you cant really have both at once.