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This has been a killer of a week for me so I'm late with the impressions. Then all of sudden we had a holiday today so I finally have some free time. I'm too lazy to find my camera so I'll take some pics later. First off, this is set nr.4 so I very much view it as a "work in progress" but...they are pretty awesome. From the first impressions and until now they keep reminding me of the SR-007. Clearly power hogs (I measured the system with stock cable at 160pf) too and a bit dark sounding. Now in my book this is a welcome reprise from all the bright models out there now. Doesn't mean the treble is subdued or anything like that, it is just not as apparent as with the L700 or 009's for instance. This also gives it a fuller sound and well...that bass. The cups are ported so the bass could have been compromised due to that but not so here, it's deep, tight and tuneful. It doesn't match a closed SR-007 but I frankly don't mind that...I can always grab my 007's if I want to listen to them. These are a bit more tuneful with more presence higher up. One of the first tracks I tried on them is the one which 009, 009S and 009BK all fail miserably at, but no issues here. They replicate the snare drum perfectly and same goes for everything else I've thrown at them. The midrange is perfectly fine and really showcases the difference in mastering on some tracks. The soundstage is just about perfect, follows what the tracks should sound like and doesn't pull a HE90 on us. Not quite up to the layering of the 007's but then again...that is the gold standard. Overall they are very neutral and do what any transducer should do, get out of the way. For me the biggest compliment to any headphones is me willing to listen to them as well, I have a lot of headphones at hand. I've used these almost exclusively since I got them, only swapping out to do comparisons. Now for fit and finish, I have no complaints. The headband is very sturdy with nice spring steel for the main span and they fit my head nicely. A bit snug but then again, I have a melon for a head. I did bend the arc a bit and now I can use them for hours at a time. The housing is attached to the earcups with a single M4 bolt and I did experience some rubbing there. This joint wasn't really supposed to move but for my use, they fit better that way so I place a nylon washer between the two parts and that has fixed this. I've already relayed this to Aumkar who should be arriving back home soon. The only major issue I've had is with the cable or rather one of the connectors. One channel started to drop out and after some troubleshooting this was traced to the mini XLR plug. I bought some new ones and made a quick replacement cable this morning and now it works perfectly. To keep the cost down the mini XLR does work for this but yeah... I'd like something better but given the cost constraints I get why they use it. Same for the cable, getting anything which works for this is difficult and costly. The cable is still better than what Hifiman are using so yeah... I'm not too worried about that. So over all, I'm very, very impressed and I will be working with Aumkar to see if we can't improve on these small issues.

Sym-miau-try.

So over the last month I've begun a slow return to photography, after 5+ years of near complete inactivity. I started with digging out my old camera gear, blowing the dust off and charging my batteries. Said batteries are all over a decade old at this point and very quickly it became clear they didn't have the moxie to keep my DSLRs happy. They could keep my ca. 2002 IR-modified PowerShot G2 running, however: Taken with a 17 year old, 4 megapixel point & shoot with a wide angle adapter that was meant for (SD) video. Slightly thereafter, I placed several orders to AMZN and got my IR-modified 5D up and running.. My initial adventure wasn't very far ...my side yard. I used my EF 50mm F/1.8, the vintage 1987 Mk I iteration (which is mechanically superior, but optically the same as the plastic "nifty fifty.") Converted to black & white with an blue filter and then duotoned in Photoshop. Taken with my EF 35mm F/2, which has a wonky AF motor but usually works on the 5D. Converted to black & white with a blue filter an duotoned in Photoshop. I pulled a tick off me shortly after taking this photo. Straight out of the camera. No edits at all.

23 seconds... any longer and you will ruin any headphones!!!

Fun... The "bucket" seats, although wrapped in a nice alcantara, were a bit much. Think bucket stuck to arse in and ingress and egress requires olympic technique...LOL. Good for a track car. The door release is basically seat belt material for weight savings. Otherwise, pretty bad ass. HS

I've been slow to get it but finally I have it at home.

The previous post was supposed to be longer, but I'm having some issue posting multiple images from Flickr to HC. Yes, the irony of that statement is not lost on me. The stream at the edge of my property. I spent considerable time framing this shot. 35mm F/2 at F/8, 1/60, ISO200. It's just a bunch of trees. Converted to black & white in Photoshop using a high contrast blue filter, then duotoned. I also tweaked the curves a bit and then cropped it to 5:4 (which has been my favorite aspect ratio for a decade now.) The vignetting is organic, and not done by a PS plugin. It's an artifact of how the EF 50mm F/1.4 USM transmits IR. F/8, 1/100 ISO 160. 17-40L at 17mm, F/7.1, 1/100, ISO50. 17-40L at 19mm, F/6.3, 1/80, ISO50. Moar later.

I am listening this right now. Good discovery!

Thanks. Of course a small homage to the Swedish radio manufacturer 'voice of Scandinavia' (1940s). The vintage knob has the patented double dot feature which guarantees perfect channel balance. On-off switch is a spiffy little Russian thing with nice M1,6 threads. Bought a pair from Bulgaria delivered in oiled paper. Strange thing: manufacturer has the same name as me.

Archive, 25–I love this group so much!

1965 Opa Dual 1019.

A little more snug, but have you checked out the M2?

As much as I like BMWs it’s hard to not start considering a lower end 911 (or used) / Cayman when you consider what a loaded M4 costs.

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It was awesome meeting you and getting the headphones hand-delivered. My impressions will be coming soon but a small sneak preview after a very limited time with them (aka I couldn't help myself), don't let the price fool you to think these are budget headphones...they don't sound like that.

Today was a very special day. They say, never meet your heroes but today I met the man, the myth, the Legend of the Spritzer. I flew down to Reykjavík to deliver the first production RR1 to ever leave Indian shores. It was an honour to meet Birgir, I still remember reading his posts 7-8 years ago when I got into the hobby and owning an Electrostat seemed unfathomable. So, delivering my Headphone to the STAX Mafia is an occasion to celebrate. Had commissioned 2 custom KGSSHVs. Our primary Amp of choice for upcoming shows. Really fortunate to be lucky enough to visit Iceland. Even though it was a short business trip, will be back with the family someday.

We need more of these.

Time for some old fashioned design. You can't go wrong with through hole.