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TazerMonkey
Last Activity:
May 14, 2021 at 9:57 PM
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TazerMonkey

Acquaintance, Male, from Los Angeles, CA

Contributor

Feel like I dove into the deep end with electrostats and IEMs. Probably putting up my HD800S and ZDT Jr up for sale in a few days. Apr 14, 2021

TazerMonkey was last seen:
Viewing thread Helm Bolt DAC, May 14, 2021 at 9:57 PM
    1. TazerMonkey
      TazerMonkey
      Feel like I dove into the deep end with electrostats and IEMs. Probably putting up my HD800S and ZDT Jr up for sale in a few days.
      Apr 14, 2021
    2. TazerMonkey
      TazerMonkey
      My new electrostatic lifestyle matches my avatar. Destiny, or self-determination?
      Feb 23, 2021
      1. Syzygy likes this.
    3. TazerMonkey
      TazerMonkey
      Night 2 with ESP/95X, mostly with used SRM-727A. Listening to piano concertos and grinning like it's Christmas.
      Feb 19, 2021
      1. shredical, Syzygy, Jinxy245 and 4 others like this.
      2. crazychile
        crazychile
        Did the Stax amp make a significant improvement over the stock amp? I ran mine on a modest amp from Mjolnir Audio for a while. It was better but not by enough to justify the cost. I now use mine again with stock amp and a Loki.
        Feb 20, 2021
        TazerMonkey likes this.
      3. TazerMonkey
        TazerMonkey
        I think the 727 improves over the Koss amp, but it's not a huge difference; wider stage, better extension at both ends, slightly more dynamic? Noticeable but not gamechanging. The Stax amp feels more premium and not having to squeeze the volume knobs together when adjusting is nice. I bought it as a leap of faith to try other electrostats, and with that in mind I'm definitely happy with the purchase.
        Feb 20, 2021
        crazychile likes this.
      4. TazerMonkey
        TazerMonkey
        ^After a couple more rounds of back-to-back listening, I think the 727 is probably worth the improvements to the sound alone; it's just more open and clean and musical. But the Koss amp isn't garbage, and the 95X still sounds pretty good when using it.
        Feb 20, 2021
        crazychile likes this.
    4. TazerMonkey
      TazerMonkey
      Got my Koss ESP/95X in and... holy shit! I'm already leaning towards selling my HD800S and I haven't tried them with the Stax amp yet.
      Feb 18, 2021
      1. numbercube, scapeinator1, Kernel Kurtz and 3 others like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. Hammy
        Hammy
        @Merrick I have a Koss 95X that you can borrow if you want to try them. Or wait a year or so for when we can have meets again.
        Feb 18, 2021
      4. Merrick
        Merrick
        @Hammy I should wait until we can have meets so we actually have an excuse to do one!
        Feb 18, 2021
        FlySweep likes this.
      5. Hammy
        Hammy
        @Merrick It's been too long since we've had a meet in the Portland area. Back in January 2020 I was looking at locations in the Sherwood, Tigard, Tualatin area to do a meet. Then pandemic. I don't know when it will be safe to do a proper meet again. Till then I do have toys that can be shared locally with friends/contributors.
        Feb 18, 2021
        FlySweep and Merrick like this.
    5. TazerMonkey
      TazerMonkey
      Ordered ESP95X from Drop 1/28, used Stax amp from HK on 2/7, yet tonight the amp waits at my desk & Koss left Indianapolis on 2/13. FU FedEx
      Feb 16, 2021
      1. Jinxy245 likes this.
    6. TazerMonkey
      TazerMonkey
      Giving ESP/95X a try. $400 as the price of [electrostatic] knowledge.
      Jan 28, 2021
      1. Kernel Kurtz, OJneg, Hammy and 3 others like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. Hands
        Hands
        I just recently got a 95X myself, and I personally find it incredibly lean and bright! Painfully so. I think I enjoyed the stock HD800 more.

        But I’m already trying some mods, primarily with pads, and it’s quickly shaping up into something nice. I just don’t think I get on well with it’s velour pads.
        Jan 29, 2021
      4. crazychile
        crazychile
        @Hands , throw a Loki on that rig. Made me want to dust off that ESP-950 after 2 years in a box. It’s my main hp rig now even with a schitty old ds dac.
        Jan 29, 2021
        TazerMonkey and Raimei Templar like this.
      5. Elmer Danilovich
        Elmer Danilovich
        mmhm @Hands performing a pad swap is the single easier and worthwhile "mod" I feel, and yea @TazerMonkey congrats man! I too feel 95X is easily one of the very best headphones you can buy from a cost/performance view. It's "value" or bang for the buck is tough to beat
        Feb 16, 2021
        TazerMonkey likes this.
    7. TazerMonkey
      TazerMonkey
      ZDT Jr. came Friday, spent weekend listening. Not ready to post full impressions yet, but synergy with HD800S is 1000% better than THX 789.
      Aug 17, 2020
      1. Jinxy245, EagleWings, yotacowboy and 6 others like this.
      2. ChaChaRealSmooth
        ChaChaRealSmooth
        More like the THX 789 has anti-synergy with the HD800S
        Aug 17, 2020
      3. TazerMonkey
        TazerMonkey
        You're right. Infinitely better synergy is more accurate.
        Aug 17, 2020
      4. EagleWings
        EagleWings
        Probably the best pairing for the 800 you can find in the sub-$500 category.
        Aug 18, 2020
        TazerMonkey likes this.
    8. TazerMonkey
      TazerMonkey
      Back to tubes after 2 years w/ THX 789 and 1 year w/ HD800S; got a used ZDT Jr. on the way. Even-order harmonic distortion, here I come!
      Aug 11, 2020
      1. Gazny, dncnexus and Vtory like this.
    9. TazerMonkey
      TazerMonkey
      Man, coming back to my ZMFs after weeks with the HD800S feels like sinking into a jacuzzi of warm chocolate pudding... Pure bliss.
      Feb 1, 2020
      1. ColtMrFire, ChaChaRealSmooth, numbercube and 3 others like this.
    10. TazerMonkey
      TazerMonkey
      Recently reacquainted with Koss PortaPros. Wondering why I was ever stupid enough to sell these (at least new darker colors look better).
      Dec 6, 2019
      1. hikergrl, Deep Funk, Jinxy245 and 4 others like this.
      2. dubharmonic
        dubharmonic
        I'm all about that classic 80s color scheme.
        Dec 6, 2019
        TazerMonkey and spwath like this.
    11. TazerMonkey
      TazerMonkey
      Broke my Source AV cherry today. Talked quite a bit with Alan, who was super chill. Thought I'd leave with a ZMF, instead left with HD800S.
      Jun 29, 2019
      1. dubharmonic, scapeinator1, Ash1412 and 2 others like this.
    12. TazerMonkey
      TazerMonkey
      Fending off a case of upgraditis.
      Aug 25, 2017
      2. Deep Funk
        Deep Funk
        Play your favourite song and let everything be.
        Aug 26, 2017
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  • About

    Gender:
    Male
    Birthday:
    November 19
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Gear List:
    DAC:
    Schiit Bifrost 2
    Schiit Modi Multibit w/ Eitr (sold)
    Massdrop ODAC rev B (sold)
    FiiO E17 (spare)
    FiiO E7 (sold)

    Amp:
    Stax SRM-727A (stock)
    Massdrop x Eddie Current ZDT Jr.
    Massdrop THX AAA 789
    Garage 1217 Project Ember II
    Little Dot MK III (trash)
    FiiO E09K (spare)

    Headphones:
    Stax SR-L700 MK II
    Massdrop x Koss ESP/95X
    Sennheiser HD800S (selling?)
    Sennheiser HD650 (gifted-ish)
    ZMF Ori (Cherry)
    Audio-Technica ATH-A900X (sold)
    Audio-Technica ATH-AD700 (gifted)


    Sony MDR-EX1000
    Sony MDR-7550
    Massdrop x Koss PortaPro X
    Oppo PM-3 (selling?)
    Audio-Technica ATH-MSR7 (sold)
    Bose QuietComfort 25 (sold)
    Auglamour RX-1 (trash)
    HiFiMan RE-400 (trash)
    Struggling writer.

    Interact

    Content:

    Signature

    CURRENT SET-UPS

    Main:
    Schiit Bifrost 2 -> Stax SRM-727A (unmodded) -> Stax SR-L700 MK II, Massdrop x Koss ESP/95X
    Schiit Bifrost 2 -> Massdrop x THX 789 AAA -> ZMF Ori (cherry)
    Schiit Bifrost 2 -> Massdrop x Eddie Current ZDT Jr. -> Sennheiser HD800S (probation)

    Gaming:
    PS5, Switch -> Creative Sound Blasterx G6 -> Massdrop x Koss ESP/95X (w E/90x), Sennheiser HD800S (probation)

    Portable:
    LG V60 -> Sony MDR-EX1000, Massdrop x Koss PortaPro X, Sony MDR-7550 (probation), Oppo PM-3 (probation)