Quick off topic question…is there any electrostat energizer that plugs into an amp like either my soloist 3x or parasound a21+ that would do some electrostats justice or do they need cleaner amplification to shine? I’ve had my thoughts about the iESL and Woo Audio Wee (I guess you can customize it pretty freely though Woo directly) and wondered if they were even worth the time.
Depends on which electrostat. I think one of those transformer boxes would be good for like your koss or like stax lambda series, but if you went for the big ones I might just say you are better off getting a full stat amp
You already mentioned the ifi or the wee, but if just look for a used stax tap box or a mjolnir one for even less
As a person with a modded SRD-7, modded Woo Wee, and looking to get an iESL in the near future, I really want this question answered. Right now, I would say the transformer box is worth it if the quality of the amplifier it’s connected to (and the estat headphone you choose) is good enough. @Draaly already tried my SRD-7 on his AIC-10 for example using X9000.
The estat amps I’ve heard are the BHSE, Z10E, and STAX 007tii and it’s hard for me to conclude they’re worth it on their own. Obviously I’ve not heard KGSSHV Carbon or something extravagant like a T2 or a Viva Egoista STX but it’s something I’m looking to have answered in the future.
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Would agree
I think they are worth it, but again that’s assuming you don’t already have a high caliber amp that could power a transformer box. I mean if you are running aic 10 → transformer box vs bhse, I’d prob take the former if it was a decent enough transformer box. But that’s more than double the cost, so not the fairest comparison. If you went dollar for dollar, I think it would lean in the estat amp’s favor more often then not imo, from my experience you typically have to spend more on speaker amp + transformer box to equal a good stat amp
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One of the biggest head-scratchers at CanJam today was that Hifiman didn’t bring an amp that could drive a Susvara. I asked if I could listen to one (never having heard one before) and they told me they only brought their EF400 amp, which didn’t have enough power to do it justice.
I tried it anyway, on high gain and volume at 100%, to reach an acceptable listening level. Even so, I was shocked (in a good way) at how smooth the Sus was, and was eager to try it on an amp that was more suited to it.
The Headamp room also had a Susvara, driven by a GSX mk2, using a Bricasti M3 DAC. The GSX had plenty of power but the Sus seemed to lack the smoothness I heard that morning on the cheaper Hifiman amp. The differences in sound was very confusing. I’ve never heard the GSX mk2 before, so I wonder if it’s tuning doesn’t meet my preferences.
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Gilmore designs seem to favor a more treble forward presentation from what I’ve heard.
I’m guessing it was a ‘brighter’ sound compared to the HifiMan amp.
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The gsx is indeed more on the narrow/intimate, forward, and brighter leaning side of things, and personally I think microdynamics are weak, personally not really my favorite pairing with the susvara
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There’s wasn’t a Feliks Audio Envy with a Susvara around?
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Thanks. Perhaps it’s a good thing that there wasn’t an ideal amp there to cause me to impulsively buy one.
No Feliks amps there. There’s an Ampsandsound Nautilus in the same room as the Headamp gear but I think that’s part of DCA’s exhibit (they’re sharing the same small room off to the side of the main hall). I have a Nautilus so it would be interesting to see how the Susvara sounds on that but it would be a little cheeky to ask Headamp if I can borrow their headphones to try them on a different amp.
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I think that one of the things that make the Susvara so special is how it really exposes everything in a chain and each change you make to it. And obviously just how amazing it sounds when powered correctly and with synergistic gear.
My favorite headphones ever by far.
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That is a really odd choice by HFM, unless they had coordinated with another vendor to feature the Sus with their amps. Headamp seems unlikely to have been that vendor.
Someday, I’d love to get to one of these shows.
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That cracks me up. Aside from the poor planning for a major event, they were literally surrounded by amazing headphone amps. I’m sure one of the amp manufacturers would be happy to Have their amp featured at another table.
Luckily for Hifiman, they were next to Benchmark.
I was the first person to ask them about the Susvara on the morning of day 1 and presumably after a ton of other people asked for the same thing, they struck a deal with the Benchmark stand to send Susvara fans to them. I asked the Benchmark rep and he said it wasn’t planned that way, but he said he was happy to accommodate because it provided him with a lot of foot traffic that may not have stopped there otherwise.
I did listen to a Susvara today on a Benchmark dac3b and hpa4 headamp. I liked it more than the GSX, but I still liked the tone of the underpowered Hifiman dac-amp the best. I liked the Benchmark amp but wondered if I’d like it even more if they’d paired it with a more flavored DAC to add some spice, instead of doubling up on studio neutrality.
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Gonna hijack this thread for Shangri La SR impressions and comparisons, will follow up one or more times in the coming weeks.
A couple days ago I got my Shangri La SR and 3es elite (stock tubes). The tubes and headphone have been burning in and from what I have been told, benefit from a lot more burn in, so take these initial impressions with a grain of salt. Additionally, I will try to compare with SRx9000 and susvara. (SRx9000 as it is currently in-house on loan and Susvara because it is the planar flagship from Hifiman and has been my favorite headphone, the one Shangri La SR has to beat in order to be my endgame.)
Chain: Gaming pc → Venom USB → Mscaler → Silver Dragon BNC → Dave → Audioquest Earth XLR → 3es Elite (stock tubes) → Shangri La SR/ SRx9000
*Audioquest Blizzard powercables for Dave and 3es elite.
Initial overall thoughts:
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Extremely large and open stage. Surprisingly forward and engaging. The other headphone that reminds me of a similar mix of very large and open but also forward and engaging would be 1266tc.
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Can be a bit harsh/siblant and overall unforgiving. Also, would like it to have more warmth/body and hoping break-in or tube rolling will do the trick.
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On the right track, the Shangri La SR is absolutely massive, convincing, immersive. It can take you to a boundless world where it is just the music. Nothing inbetween you and the music, no haze, no sense that you are in a closed room or bubble (boundaries to the soundstage).
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Only note I’ll make on the build/aesthetics: I knew what I would be getting but was still underwhelmed that it comes in the same box as susvara, has the same cable as shangri la jr (from what I can tell), and is built as well as an Arya or he1000. Susvara looks and feels more premium in my opinion.
Initial comparisons against Susvara (mscaler/dave → wa33 std-> prion4) from memory:
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Shangri La SR is more energetic, forward, brighter, less “polite”, drier, less body, harsher. The susvara is a chill headphone. You can just sit back and peer into the music. Shangri La Sr is much more engaging and in your face.
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One of the things I love about the Susvara is that it not only sounds natural and organic tonally and has good body and fullness, it also sounds very natural and organic spatially. Currently, I am not finding that same unprecedented naturalness from the Shangri La Sr.
Initial comparisons against SR-X9000:
- SR-x9000 is much bassier and warmer and not hot/harsh, overall a lot more “fun” headphone. Stage sounds closed and small in comparison to Shangri La SR, such that, SR-x9000 sounds less capable.
Concluding Initial Thoughts:
Shangri la Sr is an impressive headphone. I can see myself conclude in the coming weeks that it has the largest and most open stage. However, between the tonality and forward nature, it is not a “musical” (like Susvara) or “fun” headphone and instead a technical powerhouse for engaged listening.
Moving Forward:
I will post comparisons with CRBN and 009s when I get them back in a couple weeks. Additionally, I will compare Susvara after I get wa33 elite next week (and add any thoughts of Utopia, LCD5, sr1a and mysphere vs Shangri La Sr. if I find anything worth mentioning). And I will definitely be burning in the 3es elite tubes more.
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This is basically what I found as well. When I was in the mood for it and with the right music and chain, it was truly the most realistic headphone I owned (before I had heard the 3.1s on my most recent speaker chain). I just ended up finding that despite this, I didn’t grab for them as often as the susvara which handled a wider range of music better, was more forgiving, and was technical enough to where while I knew I was missing out on things vs the sr, I didn’t mind that trade off. Also the greater weighting and density of the headphone was appreciated.
Nice nice, can’t wait for your comparison basically on equal sources
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Great impressions!
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@M0N these impressions have me wondering. What were your goto dacs for 3es → shang?
Took longer than I expected to post a follow up, you can thank Susvara for that. This was going to be a short update but I had too much to say…
TLDR at the bottom
Sound Impressions
Burn in did wonders, overall SRL is the best headphone I have ever heard. If I had to compare it with other headphones, it is sort of like taking a 1266tc up a notch, improving the tonality, but missing out on the bass slam. Another comparison would be its like a 009s taken up a notch and greatly improved the vastness of its stage and dynamics.
Soundstage is probably the largest I have ever heard and I honestly don’t think its close. To be clear this is not big in the way arya or hd800 is big. This is very deep, wide and tall and can place anywhere in the space. On cinematic, orchestral, or atmospheric music, the stage can sound nearly limitless but also be intimate for intimately placed instruments/vocalists.
Tonality is no longer harsh but it is still brighter and leaner than a lot of headphones, namely the Susvara.
Clarity is probably the best I have heard. Resolution, imaging, speed, authority, and incisiveness to match. This does mean it is also incredibly revealing which is not always a good thing.
Dynamics are insane. Sounds as if the dynamic range is higher on SRL and other headphones are compressed. Microdynamics and texture are also outstanding. Electronic, rock and metal are extremely engaging and fun.
Slam is pretty average overall, one of the weak points for sure. But incredible dynamics make up for this somewhat.
Comparisons
The following is all my opinion and you may disagree, especially if you value different sonic characteristics.
Originally I was going to give a comparison of SRL vs all the other flagship headphones I have or had but there is no need as the only thing that comes close is Susvara. Susvara has a very different tonality, presentation, and much more body and weight. 1266tc has that killer slam whereas the SRL suffers from being an estat in this regard. In every other regard, the SRL wins. Namely, the soundstage, resolution, speed, dynamics, clarity, and incisiveness of the SRL is just unlike anything else. If I went estat only route, I would miss out on that 1266tc bass and susvara magic though. Unfortunately for me, I am stuck trying to figure out what to keep (yeah I know, boohoo cry me a river 
).
With SRL, pretty much ever other headphone other than these 3 is just no longer worth listening to (lcd5, utopia, etc) and other estats (009s, CRBN, voce). They are just too far behind in technical ability and don’t offer as much of a differentiating factor to be worthwhile (unlike susvara and 1266tc). Other than maybe SRx9000 due to it having more bass and being warmer, but it is a solid step down from SRL and is not as contrasting as Susvara is from SRL.
I can see why someone would take Susvara or 1266tc over SRL, but no other headphone is in the conversation (and 1266tc is only in the conversation because it is being carried by its slam).
Tier list (based on performance, preference and unique characteristics but a big oversimplification)
SS: SRL
S: Susvara
A+: Utopia, 1266tc (because bass…), Mysphere, SRx9000
A-: D8000 pro, LCD5, 009, 009s, CRBN
Moving Forward
So I have three options considering the amplification for planars/dynamics vs estats is a separate investment (wa33 elite vs 3es elite) and it is hard to justify keeping both.
- Stick to estats: Keep the SS tier SRL but have to sell off some amazing S and A+ tier planars/dynamics and overall have a lot less variety. For better or worse, pretty much be done with headphones because nothing else can compete and I wouldn’t have an amp of the similar tier. Future purchases would be to improve my chain (streamer, PSU, tube roll, etc) or sidgrade (viva stx, T2).
- Stick to planars/dynamics: More variety but I can’t unhear the SRL and will always feel like I am missing out.
- Say fuck it, keep it all and forget about having any inkling of financial responsibility.
PSA: If you are one of those people that have a Susvara and an endgame setup for it, choose wisely before hearing SRL, because you might find yourself suddenly transported from your endgame destination to a fork in the road.
TLDR: SRL is the best but Susvara is stupid good.
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I want to say I’m definitely coming over to hear the SRL but also maybe I shouldn’t lol
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I have so very much enjoyed experiencing your growth in the hobby from afar, for a long while now, 
. Congratulations on reaching such an varied pinnacle of experiences and knowledge.
I hope you are able to pick some pieces you personally have a preference for and now maximize what you have from beginning to end in a well thought out chain you have some passion for. Nothing gives me more joy than sitting down and playing with items i have put in my time and effort to acquire. Good luck in whichever direction you chose to go, it will be nice to follow along for the rest of the ride, good health and happy listening always @sa11297 
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