Focal Clear and ZMF Verite. Elex is totally up there too for me.
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Does the D10 improve the sound of the Koss 95X?
D10…meaning the DAC? if you’re going from PC audio, you should have a marked improvement. but I’d say look at the newer D10s that was just launched.
Yeah STAX SRM-D10. Do you mean just buy a new D10 or is there a new model that isn’t on the site yet?
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oooh, sorry. I thought you were referring to the SMSL D10 DAC. you’re talking about energizers. I would upgrade to the SRM-323 or the SRM-232s it replaced. way more power than the D10.
No problem, I was replying to a guy from March. I’d like to upgrade to a 323 but it’s to big. I’m going to be moving into a much smaller place in a couple months and if anything I need to downsize my setup. I’m totally happy with the Koss energizer but was wondering if there would be an improvement with the D10
I don’t know, I’m afraid. just know you’ll have to buy a $100 cable that makes the 95x compatible with the Stax connectors.
and if you have space constraints, get a 232s. they are tiny compared to the 323. I have one and it’s about 5" x 5’" x 1.5".
I’ll look into that, thanks
Well I still consider myself as a person that is still at a beginner level to this hobby, and to answer that question, I am not sure if I can have such because for me the so called endgame headphone that you are ideally looking for is really up to you. I mean I have seen some people owning good set of headphones that are not in an expensive tier but they do consider it as an endgame kind of like the Koss KPH30i to some.
I don’t know man if there is a so called endgame headphone, then other headphones should not exist for you anymore for you have already reached that point of satisfaction, but me? I can’t, I simply can’t for there are a lot of stuff involving high-fidelity audio that are deserved to be explored even more for if there is an endgame for the others, then there will be endgames that will keep on coming for the folks who have not reached to that level.
So yeah, it is really up to your hearing on what you can consider as endgame piece, or your so called magnum opus of audio.
all my headphones are end game cause when I’m listening to them, I’m happy and enjoying my music through them.
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(First thought seeing this thread title was somebody should remake that song and make it go “Oh Lord, won’t you buy me, an endgame headphone?”. 
)
I want to agree with the enjoyment argument, but unfortunately these fundamentally different technologies exist that are not easy to try out, and glowing reviews exist for them that make them seem like out of this world quality.
So in principle, I already have “endgame” gear - I could listen to the HE-400i with my personalized EQ, powered by… really any source at BTR3 quality level or above, for the rest of my life and not care that anything “better” exists - but given what I’ve heard and read about Stax electrostatics… I still hope I get to try some Stax before I die. 
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get the Drop / Koss 95x…much lower entry point to really good estat headphones.
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Nope, because I have endgame imo, 95x and nighthawk are kinda it for me. I will prob get the hd560s to have an extra can to tube on top of my dad’s 6xx for testing and some Senn love. But 95% of the time the 95x is on point, very rarely do I switch from it, but the Hawks are always a plesant surprise when I do. Now iems and speakers are different, I’d like to try some lrs with my dad’s 18in jbl sub to see what they can do, but for a stereo my l112s are good enough to kick some ass. And my sony love will likely become unhealthy in iems causing me so spend some cash I dont have here sooner or later lol. Z1r I’m eye fucking you right now… 
Nah, don’t want to buy, just try. Plus I haven’t heard anyone gushing about the ESP950/95X the way some gush about Stax. 
If you like bass, the best cheap widely adv. Option is the 95x, otherwise you go stax. The lower end stax ie L300/L500 are not supposed to be as good in bass for estats. If you want boutique solutions then the hive or pollinator may be something to look at. 95x are bae tho so depends on who you talk to I guess lolololol
further, the 95x are supposed to really shine when you give them more power. alas, the only ‘affordable’ energizers for estat’s would be the 232s or newer 323.
that said, M0N has commented the L300 and L500 come to life when you plug them into a higher tiered energizer as well. but then you’ve got a case of putting lipstick on a pig, so to speak,
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Yeah, that is a more appropriate way to put it like that. Consider the ones you are owning right now as endgame pieces.
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Boy this is a time capsule for me.
I no longer strive for balanced, my opinion of THX has lowered considerably, and I’m completely sick of the homogeneous budget chi-fi stuff. Yet I think I’m still in about the same place. I’ve gotten an Asgard 3 with a topping S10 and the Grado Hemps and I enjoy them and can tell the difference, but I think I would still be happy with nothing more than the X00s and the xd-05.
I’m definitely happy with what I have now. I feel like I’ll be making a similar post in another year.
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liar. you still long for drivers made of unobtanium that are cradled in a yoke of carbon nano tubes. I know you AC…I know you… 
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I think following the rookie -> journeyman -> master progression is a good idea in many aspects of life. If I could have bought my dream set-up 4 years ago, it wouldn’t be as good as what is to come, and worse - I wouldn’t be able to learn->appreciate in a more of less continual spiral on the way forward.
I’d really like a Susvara or a Voce on a HFM jr amp, but when I can afford that I may have discovered another way - or a better headphone(s) came out.
Since I’m getting old and I’m pretty much done buying/selling - when I do get to what I think is endgame - I’ll be done with sites like this, magazines, web sites, dealers, whatever. Because done is done.
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