Guys, I'm back again and this time please don't slam me

Where I live I cannot audition any electro system since no one I know have one. But the idea of this have been intriguing me and I come to an agreement with Woo for a GES for delivery in Christmas this year. Jack is just waiting for my green light.

Now, I need advise from you guys (and mind you, I don't have any experience at all with electro outside from what I read), should I get the Koss EP950 or SR404 ? Or maybe any other choices for the phones ? Wanted an Omega but too dear for my taste. I would like to build a system that is pretty much near the top end so I wouldn't worry too much in upgrading. And this would be my only electro setup outside dynamic that I have now.

Thank you all in advance......

budget

<1k.....preferably new as I'm not a type of person that can wait for the perfect phones to come up in used condition

Ehh what? Isn't the GES over 1k by itself? If you're saying 1k is your budget for the headphones alone, then you can get pretty much any electrostat outside of the HE90/HE60/Omega/Omega2, used. If you want new, then you're pretty much limited to the 950/404/303/202. Elaborate a bit on what sound preferences you have please. The 950 generally gets very good reviews and the 404/303 generally are thought of as being a bit worse than the older Lambda models.

Sorry, <1k for the phone itself. Music preferences jazz/smooth jazz, adult contemporary, 80-90's pop/rock, country, bossanova, new age.

I would like to build a system that is pretty much near the top end so I wouldn't worry too much in upgrading.

I think you need to temper your expectations. Based on what you've already selected and your stated budget, your system will sound great, but you will not be near the top end.

That said, I love the Lambdas (regular, pro, Sig) out of the GES. Perhaps the 404 LE. I haven't heard them, but what I've read has been very encouraging.

Also, what's your source? Gotta have a source. There are some here who believe the source is very important.

I can't think of any headphones that will make smooth jazz not suicide inducing

I can't think of any headphones that will make smooth jazz not suicide inducing

Perhaps a broken pair, I know I would prefer silence.

Transport is laptop on foobar, source is either pico or stello da100. So this rig that i'm planning to build would be, say middle end electro rig at the best ?

@grawk : dont get your drift. do you mean that smooth jazz will sound great with virtually any phones/setup ?

Another questions is would it be worth it to get a maxed GES ? Or better stick with the stock ? I'm thinking of going with premium parts upgrade - the one that costs $680

I personally don't get all that maxxed stuff. Some people shop that way, but I think it makes more sense to just get a better piece period with that money. A maxxed GES is almost $2200 and a new KGSS is $2300. I'd get the latter without thinking twice.

The upgraded caps are better and will let more detail through but I'd rather just go for the KGSS since there are no caps in the first place.

@grawk : dont get your drift. do you mean that smooth jazz will sound great with virtually any phones/setup ?

Soft Jazz doesn't put any strain on a system so it will not show off a good system or embarrass a mediocre one. That's why it's used so much by dealers and manufacturers. Same deal with cartoons on crappy flat panel TV's.

God of electro spoken already....... any advise for thy humble peasant who's looking to follow your footpath ?

If you aren't going up to the SR-007 level then it's hard to go wrong with the Koss ESP950. If you want Stax then the stock SR-404 is horrible (same goes for the SR-303) so I'd say 404LE, SR-202 (if you can find it solo) or Airbow SR-SC1 for the current production models.

thanks sprit.....i will drop justin a pm then i will make up my mind......

The Airbow SR-SC1 is a current production model?

The Airbow SR-SC1 is a current production model?

Last I knew.

First of all, quit calling them "electro" -- I'm thinking music, took me a sentence or two before I understood you were talking about "electrostatics". If you're going to shorten the name, at least use the same contraction that everyone else uses: "stats".

Oh, and smooth jazz sucks, you should stop listening to it. Jazz is awesome, and some of the best is some of the smoothest, but "smooth jazz" is a different genre entirely -- music for people who don't really like music.

First of all, quit calling them "electro" -- I'm thinking music, took me a sentence or two before I understood you were talking about "electrostatics". If you're going to shorten the name, at least use the same contraction that everyone else uses: "stats".

Oh, and smooth jazz sucks, you should stop listening to it. Jazz is awesome, and some of the best is some of the smoothest, but "smooth jazz" is a different genre entirely -- music for people who don't really like music.

QFT

First of all, quit calling them "electro" -- I'm thinking music, took me a sentence or two before I understood you were talking about "electrostatics". If you're going to shorten the name, at least use the same contraction that everyone else uses: "stats".

Oh, and smooth jazz sucks, you should stop listening to it. Jazz is awesome, and some of the best is some of the smoothest, but "smooth jazz" is a different genre entirely -- music for people who don't really like music.

Smooth jazz is good for porn music too.

Smooth jazz is good for porn music too.

No it isn't

You can't appreciate the full complexity of Kenny G's music until you've heard it on a O2. It actually feels like being at this baby's place:

ya got it......stats. thanks......can't really get pure jazz grow on me and i know, smooth jazz is good for background music for airlines, commercial breaks, mall, casinos, brothel house but can't help it really......and trust me, you dont want me to mention the rest of my music or so called music collection if you despise smooth jazz

nerdling - thanks for your advise too

Guys, settled.....Amp: Headamp KGSS, headphones : Koss ESP 950. Delivery for amp : Christmas. Price for the Koss is even crazier now at Amazon...... $594........

If I made a terrible mistake on the above setup, someone please kind enough to point out to me. Thanks !!!