Beyerdynamic vs Sennheiser vs Stax

audioarcher

Well-Known Member
May 6, 2012
1,396
51
970
Seattle area
i investigated headphones in Jan 2011 with top level perfromance in mind, and ended up buying some used headphones to dip my toe in, and then ordering the Headamp BHSE (Blue Hawaii Special Edition) electrostatic amplifier. later i ordered the new Stax 009 headphones.

this combo proved to be pretty amazing compared to any other headphone combo i tried....and if the $12k list price is not too steep then it's a no-brainer. it was the only headphone combination that i considered truely not veiled and favorably compared to my 2-channel system. none others got very close.

i did sell all my headphone gear to help pay for new amps and speakers.

I heard that combo at RMAF 2011. I had exactly the same thoughts. If I had to down size to just head phones that would be the rig I would get. I can't justify having both right now.
 

Gregadd

WBF Founding Member
Apr 20, 2010
10,517
1,774
1,850
Metro DC

Gregadd

WBF Founding Member
Apr 20, 2010
10,517
1,774
1,850
Metro DC
bhse_gray_high.jpg
 

Gregadd

WBF Founding Member
Apr 20, 2010
10,517
1,774
1,850
Metro DC
Mike -given your expereince with audio equiopment, I cannot fathom why you are not confered expert status on this forum. Sigh.
greg
 

hvbias

Well-Known Member
Jun 22, 2012
578
38
940
New England area
I have the original Stax Omega (SR-Omega) and SR-007 (Omega 2). Both are amazing, the SR-Omega has a huge wide open sound stage even larger than the new SR-009; it's incredibly detailed as well. The SR-007 is more focused, smaller soundstage. I love Stax headphones, they are what caused me to seek out auditions of electrostatic speakers, which I really enjoy as well.

I do not miss those undergrad/med days of studying 8 hours a day in small apartments with only headphones and no speakers :) I've been meaning to sell some of the Stax... as much fun as headphone listening is they do not come close to good speakers.
 

dalethorn

Headphone user
Dec 9, 2012
476
7
18
63
Cleveland TN.
dalethorn.com

Gregadd

WBF Founding Member
Apr 20, 2010
10,517
1,774
1,850
Metro DC
i don't think you can amplify bits. Maybe our digitalphiles can chime in.
 

dalethorn

Headphone user
Dec 9, 2012
476
7
18
63
Cleveland TN.
dalethorn.com
i don't think you can amplify bits. Maybe our digitalphiles can chime in.

You can actually - you just set the volume bit or bits to a higher value, then let the valve part of the amp perform the actual work.
 

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