GRAMOPHONE DREAMS

THIS ISSUE: Herb listens to the new Stax flagship, the replacement for the legendary EAR 834P phono stage, and a new version of the Sky 20 step-up transformer from Bob’s Devices.

A month ago, I ran into my Russian neighbor in the hall. As usual, he asked me what I was reviewing. (Vladimir likes to come over and listen, then find fault with everything I play.) When I told Vlad I had Stax’s new top-of-the-line earspeaker, the SR-X9000, he lit up and exclaimed, “I need to hear it,” adding that he has been a lifelong Stax fanatic and owns at least five different models, “dating way back.” He told me he’d recently sold his SR-009 to buy the newer SR-009S, but he still has his ragged, 25-year-old Stax Omega “prototype,” which sounds “even better” than the 009S. I told him I’d never heard that model and suggested he bring it by so that we could compare it to Stax’s latest “best” headset. He frowned. “It’s hidden in my room. I do not use them much at the moment, and no they are not for sale.” He promised a picture instead. “They’re really heavy, made of solid brass—and gold plated!” When I asked what the Omega sounded like, he laughed. “That headphone is a dream, Herb! So open, rich, and beautiful sounding. The bass is full although not as punchy as one might hope.”1 I begged him to find his gold-plated Omega and let me try it.

STAX SR-X9000

Stax’s new, big, expensive SR-X9000 electrostatic headphone ($6200) presents recordings with a purity, tonal neutrality, rhythmic ease, and resolve that I have not previously experienced with headphones—ever, whether dynamic, planar-magnetic, or electrostatic. Not even with Stax’s own SR-009S. On each of my most-played recordings, the SR-X9000 avoided blur, fuzz, dragging feet, and what-was-thatlyric confusion. It left no veils unlifted.

Which does not mean that every audiophile will think the new Stax is the best headphone contenders before buying, even the ones you can’t afford.