My local Stax pusher found a BNIB SRS-2170 that had been lying in a cupboard for "quite some time...", coincidentally at exactly the same time my good mate Scubadude lucked onto his.
I mean, what's the chances? These things are not just hen's teeth rare, they are bull's wool and tortoise feathers unobtainium.
I could not let this good fortune pass me by, especially since I got a great deal, and have been thoroughly enjoying my first electrostatics for nearly a week now.
There's nothing entry level about this system.
In fact, my biggest problem is taking them off my head.
And the fact that the Missus thinks they look archaic and huge...
All the usual epithets apply - clarity, soundstage, speed, detail.
Two things stand out immediately for me: the quality and amount of deep, detailed bass that the SR-207 can produce was unexpected, as was the effortless gain of the SRM-252S fed by a Benchmark DAC 1 USB.
Totally black background and totally free of any grain.
I'm shocked at the value. Nothing else comes close at anywhere near the price, dynamic or planar IMHO.
No, the Stax does not have the sheer bass weight and slam of my beloved LCD2F, but I don't miss it.
I've put in some long sessions these past few days, and have had no comfort issues at all.
These things have a habit of turning short sessions into long ones...
Dunno if burn in is a thing with electrostats, but these sounded huge out of the box and I've not noticed any change.
Well I have from the point of view that I am rapidly discovering what these can do with my favourite music, and am hearing more and better as I settle into the sound signature.
I was only looking to invest in my first Stax early next year, according to the Master Plan, but I'm really rather glad the opportunity came around sooner than expected.
I shall post further impressions as the initial wow factor wears off, if it ever does...
I mean, what's the chances? These things are not just hen's teeth rare, they are bull's wool and tortoise feathers unobtainium.
I could not let this good fortune pass me by, especially since I got a great deal, and have been thoroughly enjoying my first electrostatics for nearly a week now.
There's nothing entry level about this system.
In fact, my biggest problem is taking them off my head.
And the fact that the Missus thinks they look archaic and huge...
All the usual epithets apply - clarity, soundstage, speed, detail.
Two things stand out immediately for me: the quality and amount of deep, detailed bass that the SR-207 can produce was unexpected, as was the effortless gain of the SRM-252S fed by a Benchmark DAC 1 USB.
Totally black background and totally free of any grain.
I'm shocked at the value. Nothing else comes close at anywhere near the price, dynamic or planar IMHO.
No, the Stax does not have the sheer bass weight and slam of my beloved LCD2F, but I don't miss it.
I've put in some long sessions these past few days, and have had no comfort issues at all.
These things have a habit of turning short sessions into long ones...
Dunno if burn in is a thing with electrostats, but these sounded huge out of the box and I've not noticed any change.
Well I have from the point of view that I am rapidly discovering what these can do with my favourite music, and am hearing more and better as I settle into the sound signature.
I was only looking to invest in my first Stax early next year, according to the Master Plan, but I'm really rather glad the opportunity came around sooner than expected.
I shall post further impressions as the initial wow factor wears off, if it ever does...
