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Author Topic: Koss ESP950 Frequency Response and CSD Waterfall Plots  (Read 21847 times)

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shipsupt

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Re: Koss ESP950 Frequency Response and CSD Waterfall Plots
« Reply #60 on: April 25, 2013, 09:29:02 PM »
It's more about synergy than scale...
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Questhate

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Re: Koss ESP950 Frequency Response and CSD Waterfall Plots
« Reply #61 on: April 25, 2013, 11:12:48 PM »
I think Purrin said that before hearing the ESP950 from the Electra. Seriously it's like a totally different headphone plugged into the Electra. Or maybe I just had one too many of CEETEE's fancy beer by that point.
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anetode

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Re: Koss ESP950 Frequency Response and CSD Waterfall Plots
« Reply #62 on: April 25, 2013, 11:35:48 PM »
Quote from: spritzer on June 27, 2012, 03:50:02 PM
One thing to note is that driving the ESP950 with a Stax bias settings isn't doing it any favors.  We did a lot of experiments back in the day and these should really be treated as a separate system.  +620-640V bias seems to be the sweet spot.

It would be great fun to play around with bias settings for the 950, Jade and the Kingsound. Not mention damping, earpad options, etc.

Quote from: purrin on April 25, 2013, 05:43:12 PM
The problem with either is that they need the right amp to come alive. The ESP950 had great synergy with the Electra and 6L6 tubes.

Perhaps the main reason I would consider a new stat amp would be to attempt for a jack of all trades, I'm going to try to look at the options offered by ec, cavalli and headamp to see how far they can be enticed to accommodate different bias options and supplemental adaptors. This would of course be much easier with a prolific knowledge of DIY, but there's the old HF standby of simply throwing money at the problem. And not dying of stupid assembly practices I'd be guaranteed tp start with.
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TMRaven

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Re: Koss ESP950 Frequency Response and CSD Waterfall Plots
« Reply #63 on: April 26, 2013, 12:12:06 AM »
That eddie current amp looks expensive as shit.  Is it really worth it to pair it with the ESP950 when you could get 007/009? 
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Anaxilus.

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Re: Koss ESP950 Frequency Response and CSD Waterfall Plots
« Reply #64 on: April 26, 2013, 05:55:50 AM »
Expensive?  What do you think a LL, BHSE or T2 amp goes for (just in parts).  The Electra expensive for stat world?  Lol.  Funny.  I'd do the 950 over a 007/009 out of a 3232 any day.  Then again, I like music that moves and sounds real, not flat boring sound suitable for corpses.

The Electra + 950 would be my stat rig till Senn or Fang does a new stat.  Or Stax makes something new that sounds right w/ more than Patricia Barber.
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lmswjm

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Re: Koss ESP950 Frequency Response and CSD Waterfall Plots
« Reply #65 on: April 26, 2013, 11:13:42 AM »
I thought the introductory price on the Electra was a steal. I hope to compare the 950 vs. the 009 on the Electra by the end of May. Didn't the Electra do wonders for the 009 as well?

BTW, I lifted the avatar from Marv. It was from photos of "Ultimate" portable systems I believe with battery powered amping courtesy of Red Wine Audio.
« Last Edit: April 26, 2013, 11:20:45 AM by lmswjm »
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TMRaven

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Re: Koss ESP950 Frequency Response and CSD Waterfall Plots
« Reply #66 on: April 26, 2013, 03:55:15 PM »
Quote from: Analixus on April 26, 2013, 05:55:50 AM
Expensive?  What do you think a LL, BHSE or T2 amp goes for (just in parts).  The Electra expensive for stat world?  Lol.  Funny.  I'd do the 950 over a 007/009 out of a 3232 any day.  Then again, I like music that moves and sounds real, not flat boring sound suitable for corpses.

The Electra + 950 would be my stat rig till Senn or Fang does a new stat.  Or Stax makes something new that sounds right w/ more than Patricia Barber.

Just seemed like such an expensive looking amp would be defeating the purpose of the 950, which is a very cheap electrostat relative to the rest of stat world.  If 950 out of the Electra is better than 007/009 with whatever, then it sounds like a worthwhile investment eventually. 
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Anaxilus.

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Re: Koss ESP950 Frequency Response and CSD Waterfall Plots
« Reply #67 on: April 26, 2013, 05:16:57 PM »
I think they actually look great together myself.  Whatever cost combinations make sense to people is the ultimate in subjectivity.  People have all sorts of weird pocketbook calculus. 

$1000 phone > $10000 amp > $5000 DAC
$1000 phone > $500 amp > $100 DAC
$2500 phone > $150 Dac/Amp
$250 phone > $50 portable using $400 cables

Whatever
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anetode

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Re: Koss ESP950 Frequency Response and CSD Waterfall Plots
« Reply #68 on: April 26, 2013, 08:03:36 PM »
Quote from: shipsupt on March 10, 2013, 07:24:32 PM
Different. but they would stand up well... especially to the 507 which is not exactly a fan favorite among STAX fans...

I don't get the x07 antipathy among staxheads, IMHO they're an improvement. But the 950s are worthy competitors in the Lambda league and may come out ahead depending on personal tastes.
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FlySweep

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Re: Koss ESP950 Frequency Response and CSD Waterfall Plots
« Reply #69 on: April 30, 2013, 07:45:45 PM »
Had the ESP for about a week now.  It's nice. I like it.. don't love it.  I think the lack of extension at both ends is what's keeping me from going totally gaga for it.  It's nice to (finally) hear what the 'stat' sound is all about.. I get the allure.  That clean, effortless, airy presentation.  It's laid back, but not sleepy or slow.  That's really impressive.  It reminds me of the RE262 in many ways.  Thing is, the Fischer Audio FA-002w High Edition (w/ Karelian Birch cups) approximates the sound (and technicalities) surprisingly well.  The HE has that same airy, fast, open sound (albeit from a dynamic driver).. it's brighter and the mids aren't quite as absorbing & effortless as the ESP's one-of-a-kind midrange.. but the HE offers better fq extension, is closed (for private listening).. and I don't need a "special" amp to drive it.  The ESP certainly has a unique sound that would appeal to a wider audience than the 'picky' sound the HE possesses.  The ESP's liquid midrange is quite unlike anything I've heard.. but that isn't enough for me to overlook the things it lacks.

The ESP feels like a really fun, 'niche' phone I'd get down with from time to time.. but I'm not sure it's something worth keeping around (and adding to the clutter of gear I already have) long term.  Having the HD800 but a few feet away isn't doing it any favors either.  The HD800 & ESP are pretty complimentary.. but really, the HD800 is more than capable of being my do-it-all phone and it offers more flexibility since I can more easily (and affordably) alter what it's paired with upstream.  I came away very impressed with the ESP and certainly appreciate what it offers, but I don't think I'll be keeping it.  It's a terrific value in that you get a whole lotta sound w/o needing to buy anything else.. but I place too high a value on the things it lacks for me to want to love it.
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