Stax SR009S and T8000 Review
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- čas přidán 25. 07. 2024
- After many years of wishing, Stax has a flagship system, consisting of the new SR009S earspeakers (as they like to refer to headphones) and the SRM-T8000 amp. I see how they compare to my existing system.
For buying Stax gear in the US, you can get it from headamp.com
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Always enjoy your reviews, thank you!
Thanks for the history lesson on Stax; I appreciate the Chinese support to this uniquely Japanese shop.
I had the opportunity to hear the 009 several times; despite the price, the 009 is all over Japan. The 009 was also my favourite headphone of all time. Indeed, it was ever so slightly tame for reasons I never determined. Look forward to trying out the 009s.
Thanks for this very informative and entertaining review. I’ve watched it a couple of times, and have auditioned this as a set at my dealer. Coming from HD800S and Audeze LCDX, and having also heard the Focals and LCD 4, and owning the Shure KSE 1200, I must say your conclusions about planars not being able to catch up are prescient. Anyway, tomorrow I’m picking up a T8000 and SR009. Going to stick it in my main system with a Chord Qutest and MScaler in the chain. I’ll consider this an endgame headphone.
Had a chance to listen to the same setup in a large Akihabara electronic store in Tokyo a few weeks ago. The most amazing headphone experience ever! Own lots of nice headphones but none have the incredibly tight impulse response, clean power and authority of this kit. My advice is to *not* demo them because if you do, you'll start trying to think up crazy ways you can pull off a deal to buy this $10k headphone/amp setup. Listening to these headphones from STAX with their top of the line electrostatic amp is highly addictive!
Couldn’t have said it better, I had a chance to try the sr-009 and t8000 combo. Audio heaven. If only I saw your comment sooner lol. I’m real close to getting one.
@@OmNi08 may i ask you a question, if you know the answer really respond me. Is that amp can be able to drive any other headphones im the world like high-end or this is just working well with only Stax headphones theirselfs? I mean when you choose a headphone, can 300 dolar amp drive the headphone better than 5k dolars amp, the reason why is it "pair" or the goodness of the amp?
For example, HD 800s and HDV800 is pair right? What if you can pair the hd800s with this Stax amp? Just asking i know this is stupid pairing, just to let you understand the thing im saying
@@ozunkeskin6919 stax only work with stax type amp they are high voltage and can not be used by othere headphones they will noit even be able to connect as connections are diffrent
I’m a Stax only guy and love my first pair purchased in 1982 which I still use every day. (SR-5’s with SR-D7 energiser) but the earspeakers I listen to at the end of the day are the Stax SR-L300 Limited Edition through my older SR-M 1/Mk2 Professional driver. Which sound to my ageing ears every bit as good as a SR-L700 or 009’s. Thanks for the review.
I would love to hear what you think of the new X9000 and amps.
Someone with actual knowledge and data, instead of just subjective reviews. Thank you kind Sir! Insta Subbed.
Great review!!!
How do the 009's match up to the Abyss 1266 phi. Thanks
I am also more then interested in your opinion about the new Stax D50 energiser in combination with the Sr009 of the Sr009s
Thanks for the review!
yup not even close vs utopia and susvara.
imo only beat by he1 or perhaps Shangri la(haven't heard it)
the dynamics are terrifying on he1 and 009s really remind me of that experience.
still I would prefer 009s that have sweeter vocals plus more airy and faster highs.
I saved all the money from work last year and will definitely get a set, most likely with auralic vega g2 dac.
they definitely worth it
ok so I got the stack stated above since April this year (2019)
so after half a year of listening and a chance to try the he1 again in an audio show, I would say my system beat the he1.
yes I personally believe 009s is better than he1. at least compared to the he1 system at the show
Had a few PsVane tubes. I rate them highly.
Have you heard the HIFIMAN Shangri-la JR system and if so, how do they sound. Thanks
I was told the DAC is also important, will a Gustard R26 or iFi Pro iDSD Signature work?
I was looking to purchase the STAX - SRM-700S
and stax sr-009s. How can I hook it up to my desktop pc? The stax srm 700s electrostatic amp doesn’t have a usb or optical input. The inputs and outputs listed on the website are
• Input terminal: RCA x 1, XLR x 1
• Output: RCA parallel output terminal
Could you guide me on how I can set up this combination with my desktop pc (Alienware/windows 10)?
Please let me know.
Kind regards,
Damn, my endgame right there :D
Since you mentioned them both: Do you prefer the Hugo 2 or the Yggdrasil?
You plan on reviewing the ether 2?
I hope so.
Love the review, many thanks. I was however wondering what brand the black amp above the Stax 8000 is. I myself own a Sr009 with a 007t. Many regards from Holland.
It's an Audio-gd R28 DAC/amp.
How do you like the 007t? does it have much power to run the 9's
@@johnsteiner1488 Hello John,
I do not have anything to compare it with but I am absolutely content with the combination. So I think it has enough power. Maybe it can be better but that's something I will probably never going to find out.
Nice bro.
Hi Amos, nice review as always.
Anyway, is that Gennaro Contaldo on your patreon contributor list?
For privacy reasons I don't post the full names of contributors. :)
Man, I really can understand when you say king of the headphone.
Great review, how was the sub bass on these?
Pretty good on my usual tracks. I wouldn't use them to play hip-hop, but the rumble on drums came through well.
sad no chance for you to try with any KG designed amp or the BHSE.
How is the dynamic range compared to dynamic drivers in general ?
I don't know how best to answer that. They tend to do quiet sounds better, but a lot of how well they perform has to do with the amp. That being said, even with the T8000, and noting that I don't listen loud, I felt they punched out music as well as any planar, while delivering the nuances of the music better.
Hi Currawong, do you know which tube can be upgraded for t8000? recently i would like to try telefunken cca or other e88cc for t8000 to exchange its original 6922
No, because the amp isn't designed to have the tubes rolled, and it isn't auto-biasing. You can't just drop random tubes in there, you'd need to have the correct equipment and service manual to bias them.
@@Currawong hi, i just changed it to telefunken e88cc this week, they are sounds amazing instead of the orignal
what tube is in the vali 2?
At the moment, a Western Electric 2C51.
For imaging only, who is the best hesdphone for you ?
Probably the Stax rig + a Chord DAC.
Can the new energizer run the lower model L-700?
Of course.
Do you think the SRS-3100 system is worth it? I've never heard STAX before, but I'm so curious about the sound. You can buy it on ebay for around $670 USD.
I can't say. If you want a taste of Stax gear, the price sounds reasonable.
I can’t understant oral.
What is your feeling about sr009s Vs Utopia good amped ?
You mean 009s > 009=utopia ?
Sorry for my bad english
009s>009>>>>>>>>>utopia
Hi, when you like electrostats and not the car kind of price tag you may think of what I did the sr L700 with a not so expensive amp like the SRM-006Ts, is that still an electrostat in your view? I think of upgrading to a 100Volt SRM-007tA with a step down adapter. I live in Europe. I would like the KGSSHV from Iceland but there the price is twice the SRM-007tA. I like the L700 a poor mans electrostat, should you not have a pair of those? Or should you not try them out? When you tried out the HiFiMan Sundara just because some people will buy these kind of cans? Thanks for your view on the sr 009S.
Of course the L700 is an electrostat. I forgot to mention it in the video, but I used to own a pair of Lambda Nova Signatures with a 007t. I still regret selling it. I'd definitely consider an L700 with a suitable amp.
The Lambda is reasonably easy to drive but Birgir from Mjolnir audio told me the L700 should be given a lovely amp too. Lovely amps in his perception are not too cheap. Kind regards.
Are you going to post your review on headfi?
I haven't written one yet, but anyone is welcome to share the video.
After 5 years, do you feel the SRM-T8000 competes with other third-party energizers?
You think planars have more similar characteristics to an estat vs a dynamic headphone?
Potentially. I'm not sure why we don't have planars at this level. I think it may have to do with the reliability of the diaphragms when using extremely thin materials.
Planars will never be able to catch up because physics. In a planar membrane, there's a thin conductive component where in estats there's no such thing (only some sort of coating). Estats will always have the edge at reproducing sounds vs Planars (thinner membrane + no moving constraint).
@@jettsom
yes
yes
yesyesyesyes
What's the best amp for stax 09 series?
www.headamp.com/products/blue-hawaii-se
i had a pair of the original stax sygmas back in the early 1980's and they were great
but i traded them in for a pair of full size Acoustat electrostatic speakers
because i wanted a full size room sound. i am still using the Acoustats.
can't afford these expensive headphones now. way out of my league.
Have had my eye on this and the blue Hawaii for the last 18 months, I just can’t bring myself round to clicking the buy now LOL
Selling the HTVD 820 HD 800 S and all the other headphones just to have one, and one that is pretty restrictive in its use case, just feels abnormal to me.
Is there some kind of converter that allows you to use the HTVD 820 amplifier with theSR009S? That’s more palatable just buying the headphones is the blue Hawaii that cost a bloody bum
No, and even if there were, it wouldn't be good. Impedance boxes, which work with speaker amps, aren't that great. That's the unfortunate thing about the SR009S -- there isn't a cheap amp option that really does them justice. 500-1000V power rails require serious hardware.
Currawong I thought you were going to say that LOL I think I might bite the bullet and buy them both but definitely not yet.
On that day I know I would have to give up all my headphones and currently I really can’t LOL
@@KojiCO-ConvinceM No need to buy bhse, you can get diy SRX plus for 600$ and members of Stax mafia think it's in the same league as bhse.
No one thanks for the response lad, I’ll definitely be having a look into this, I wanted the best energiser to match the headphones I’ve still got them in the shopping bag and waiting and considering
Thanks again
Nice, but I would not be able to afford one in the near future...
Bismillah
How about the Sonoma’s?
Yeah, I'm overdue to review that. I'd planned to. With their new system I think I'll have to contact them again.
from the frequency curve we can clearly see that they are colored in the high mid tho... you would need to bring the highmid peak down to truly compare.. if not it will be fake details..
If that were the case, then the Utopias would sound more detailed, which they don't.
How do SR 009S + T8000 compare against Susvara with Audio gd M7+M9?
More ultra-fine detail with the Stax rig. I don't like the Susvaras with the M9 though because of the way the bass is presented by the amp.
@@Currawong bass too aggressive?
In my opinion, Susvaras can create great impact but the bass is a little bit stiff and more 2 dimensional. 009Ss' bass are softer yet more detailed which is closer to live music but remain the same level of punch when you really need it.
Okay but do you think the Orpheus are that better?
Hard to say without direct comparison using the same source.
1) Between stax sr009 and stax sr009s, what is the best?
2) What is the most suitable amp for the best headphones between the sr009 and the sr009s?
The SR009S is definitely better. I can't answer on amps as I haven't had all the available models here, and there are quite a few.
@@Currawong among the amps you've tried, which do you consider the best for the 009s?
Thank you for the help
@@Currawong Did you listen to the 009s with the Mjolnir Audio Kgsshv Carbon CC and/or not-CC?
What do you think about it?
Comfort level for long listening hours L700 M2 or 009S ?
Hard to say. Both are light and very comfortable. Depends I suppose on whether the rectangular shape of the lambda-style L700 works with your head or not.
@@Currawong Thanks for quick response, i have L700 M2 and they fit well, i can easily use them for 4-5 hours after that it gets bit warm. I am planning to upgrade to 009s hence it is always good to know....
Would these headphones match well with a focal arche DAC/AMP?
hi currawong, what's the best amp you've ever experienced with the 009s? in tokyo where would you recommend buying them?
Only the T8000 so far. I haven't spent enough time with a Blue Hawaii or the Woo Audio amps to form an opinion, nor any other amp, most of which are DIY.
@@Currawong oh alright. cool cheers mate. did you get these directly from stax japan?
Yes. Borrowed them both from Stax.
I want
What is the diferent 009s vs 009 thank you for your answer
It's in there -- the 009 was very pinpoint-sounding, but if you wanted dynamics -- that is, a lot of impact from notes, it wasn't there so much. The 009S sounds more like what you'd get from the Audio Technica ADX5000 -- very in-your-face dynamics while maintaining that amazing ability to hear exactly where in the soundstage a note is coming from.
How's the 009S treble compared to the Susvara and Focal Utopia?
Smoother, more detailed, clearer and faster.
AT's 5000X review When?
I'll probably arrange to borrow a pair when I'm in Tokyo next weekend.
Thanks for the review. After I tried the 009S, I also believe it is the best headphone in almost every aspect. HE-1 has more powerful and more 3-dimensional bass but the overall sound is too vague compared to 009S and 009, not quite fit its fancy price. Also, I just don't like oval-shaped headphones, all the music instruments feel lengthened in the vertical way. Electrostatics could be even better with a balanced source since the circuit design of the amp and headphone are balanced. I have placed an order of 009S and I would paired with D10 for now and try to find the best desktop amp in the future. :D
Dude, I wasn't joking. Loudspeakers are capable of reproducing a 1:1 instrument size if the owner tunes them well. Headphones can't do that because of the size. So regardless of the size of instruments, a headphone should still reproduce an instrument's shape as accurate as possible. A drum should sound like a sphere and a cello should feel quite like an oval but both of them are shrunk to few inches tall instead of real sizes. If the headphone itself is oval(in the vertical way), the drum wouldn't be a sphere. It will be lengthened vertically and the shape would be close to a cello, and the cello would become even longer. As a result, all the shapes are turned in to a mess which is definitely far from the recording. That is the reason why I will never recommend an oval diagram headphone (I had a SR507 which has the problems above). This issue should be quite important regarding flagship headphones. However, not all companies and consumers care about this particular issue.
@@leaf4283 Sound is a vibration generating an audible wave of pressure that you can hear. You only hear the vibrations the instruments produce through their shapes; not their actual shapes.
Yes, the shape comes from the vibration and that wouldn't be exactly the shape of their frame. However, an oval diagram would vibrate more on the longer axis. Hence, create an audio image that is different from the recording. That's what I feel from my experiences. PS. HD650 has a round diagram and an oval case but doesn't have the oval effect. That's why I said diagram(driver)'s shape is the key point.
You contemplating on getting the 009S because it too expensive. You bought a HiFi Man Sauvar and the Focal Utopia. Aren't they 10K combine no amp? 009S and KGSSHV Carbon is about 10K
I paid $2500 second-hand for the Utopias and the Susvaras aren't mine. I need a new car before a $10k audio rig. If I had a spare $10k, I'd buy a Chord DAVE anyhow.
You say at the end that the 009s is the king of all headphones. Still your judgement in 2020 ?
Good question. I'd want to seriously evaluate the RAAL headphones first.
Noirceur TTE Impossibile to say if they are the king BUT no doubt better than lcd4 and utopia :)
Are those the best you've ever heard?
Hard to say. I think the RAAL may be the best experience I've had with headphones other than the HE-1.
@@Currawong hope u try 1266 tc soon
if you like trance music, they are the best cans.
Shpongle too. That has always sounded fantastic on electrostats.
@@x32i77 ilya soloviev mercury.
How's the 009S compared to HE1 ?
That'd be very interesting to test.
I'm just waiting for the successor of the Utopia....through these two years the Focal has realized the actual taste the headphone guys like about headphones. So we have to wait for the Focal to make a better flagship and no question, it will be even more revealing than all we have today which also has a better soundstage and tuning. Focal will definitely do that again with their technology.
Here is the issue with Utopias and other endgame electromagnetic headphones. You are well in the price range of a Stax setup and you know that it will be better than what your Focal can ever be. Why cut corners? Go Stax right away.
Have auditioned SR 007mk 2, same sound,better build
You look like Tom Hanks
I'll just buy HE-1 and call it a day.
These are really refined but gosh, I don't like the tonality. The sound isn't very fun imo.
Yeah, that's the thing, it's hard to get slam with 'stats without spending big money. I think that is where headphones like the RAAL will take over, as they give you both detail and slam.
@@Currawong what do you mean by big money? This set up is already almost 20k AUD.
Mainly the amps that can really make the SR-009S and others really perform are over $5k. Spending that kind of money isn't necessary to get level of performance out of regular headphones.
The Blue Hawaii SE amp is the best amp for the Stax 009. That new Stax amp is a joke compared to the BHSE.
...by a particular person with a commercial interest in his own designs.
@@Currawong Actually, many people have compared the bhse or Kgsshv to t8000, t8000 doesn't even drive 007 to its full potential, majority of the people will tell you the same. Not just, birgir and KG.
That might be Diy T2.
Some day I'll have to do a comparison with any luck.
What are music if you don't have the ears to listen? Eat your vegetables and do psychedelics! I'm serious. It's crazy how good music sounds when you have all the ingredients. A high quality source, microphone, sample, encoder, amplification, headphone (or speaker), shrooms, french toast, cereals, dinner, desert, and good ears to listen.
009S IS NOT KING! 007mk2.9 is the TRUE KING!!!!
Why?
I listedned to susvara and utopia as well. both have very very poor sound. even audeze lcd x has much much more better soundstage
Why would you ever place a directional microphone away from your face? No it's not the same
You sould talk more slowly
+10
Then the video would be 25min long. I'd rather it be compact. You can control the speed of the video if that helps :)
what ? i always watch him at 1.25x speed, and i am not even a native English speaker.
Yes, suggest you run it at .75x (or slower if you need).