THE REVIEWS
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TRILOGY H1 ENERGIZER - REVIEW
The Trilogy H1 energizer is the child of electrostatics and single-ended triodes and it is sublime in the extreme. Did I mention the Trilogy H1’s blazing, transient speed, its openness, its hypnotic immersiveness, and delicious tonality? “Yes.” Well, okay.
BLUE HAWAII SPECIAL EDITION - REVIEW
The first thing one notices about the Blue Hawaii SE is its naturalness, its ease, and its gravitas—or its ability to put flesh on the bones of real performers/performances across the frequency spectrum—its palpability. There is no thinness, nor ghost-like apparitions wafting about the stage with hollow voices. There is instead the solidity of female and male vocalists, a strummed viola-de-gamba, a plucked upright bass, a raging Steinway, etc.
VIVA EGOISTA STX HPA\E - REVIEW
“You-are-there” describes succinctly my experience with the Viva Egoista STX electrostatic headphone amplifier. And it is an experience that will not soon be forgotten. As mentioned, the Top-Of-the-Line STAX SRM-T8000 is not a contender, though at approximately one third the price, it shouldn’t be. It isn’t. As I write this, there is no competition for the Viva Egoista STX electrostatic headphone amplifier. Where that contender may come from has yet to be discovered, but then competition is good, especially when the competition provides a different yet compelling perspective.
STAX SRM-500T - REVIEW
No doubt, the SRM-500T was STAX’s way of saying this was constructed for those new to electrostatics, for whom it may serve as a beacon to a world that is immensely charming, musical, and communicates as if a breath of fresh air. There will also be those, who see the STAX SRM-500T as but the point of entry to this world. Their sights will, no doubt, lead them farther into this incredibly beautiful, transparent, and detail rich electrostatic world.
STAX SRM-T8000 - REVIEW
The STAX SRM-T8000 is, decidedly, the TOTL of the STAX energizer line, as it incorporates all that its siblings do, in terms of transparency, resolutions, transient speed, etc. and on a level far above them all. The SRM-T8000 is an apex musical component that ticks the boxes across, well, all relevant parameters and then provides a near transcendental listening experience. At least, it did so for me.
STAX SRM-700S - REVIEW
Count me twice surprised now by a tubed electrostatic headphone amplifier—STAX SRM-700T—sporting 6SN7 tubes in the power role and now by a solid state electrostatic headphone amplifier—STAX SRM-700S—that stands at the doorway of two worlds—tube and solid state—though it is bereft of a single tube but can, nonetheless, speak both world’s languages rather fluently. The STAX SRM-700S is an extremely capable earspeaker energizer that, simply, must be heard.
STAX SRM-700T - REVIEW
The summary effect of the STAX SRM-700T is beguiling musicality, very good control of the bass regions, exceptional detail and resolution, and incredible dimensionality. The mix of these traits contribute to a rather fascinating you-are-there realism, which I have mentioned throughout my notes and in my reviews of, literally, everything STAX!