I had a pair of Stax Sigma earspeakers and the Stax SRA-12S Class A headphone amp/direct drive system quite a while back. I thought they sounded awesome, and felt like you do, that this was the best way to go. I found that I tired of this after a few months. It had beautiful sound, but had no "visceral" effects on the body, where speakers make the entire body have a "vibrating" part in the experience. I don't really mean the "slam" part, but just the overall body experience of "feeling" the sound. So I loved what it did for my ears, but I found that there was more to listening than just my ears. This eventually caused me to sell the Stax system because I couldn't afford to have both the Stax, and a good speaker system at the same time. Maybe you will be able to keep both, and enjoy them both for what they do best.
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???
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???