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Massdrop x Koss ESP/95X Electrostatic System
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Massdrop x Koss ESP/95X Electrostatic System
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Product Description
A revival of the standard-setting ESP/950 released by Koss in 1990, these headphones bring electrostatic quality into a whole new price bracket. Initially designed for live recording, the ESP/950 came with a large carrying case and a battery pack to power the required energizer: a special amplifier for electrostatic drivers Read More
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keyboard_arrow_downCEE_TEE
3480
Sep 14, 2018
Today we’re excited to announce a new collaboration with Koss based on the iconic ESP/950 electrostatic headphone system.
Koss released the ESP/950 in 1990 to rave reviews, and it was widely recognized as the best headphone system in the world. Koss has continually produced the ESP/950 from launch until now, but as time went on, the community demanded more low-end performance in headphones, and competition developed around the $1000 pricepoint. As a result, the ESP/950 fell out of Audiophile community focus.
Now, almost 30 years later, we’re working with Koss to deliver the ESP/95X, an updated ESP/950 with deep low-end and at an accessible $499.99 for the entire system. We updated the earpads to improve comfort, which also smoothed out the low-end & upper-mids frequency response (as you can see in the graphs on the drop page). Soundstage has increased slightly as well. Removal of some vestigial accessories allows this accessible pricepoint.
Out of thin air… Why should you care about electrostatic headphone systems? -Speed and resolution. -Low distortion and low coloration.
Electrostatic forces move an entire membrane to produce sound without any physical contact or interference by parts required in other types of drivers. The driver is ultra-thin with extremely low mass so it moves very quickly/easily. This leads to a level of resolution and space between sounds that delivers more information to the ear which can be perceived by the brain. Electrostats are the endgame for most detail addicts.
The membranes are lighter than air and store no extra energy when they move. This leads to low distortion and less sonic coloration than other types of drivers. Much of your music is captured by microphones using similar technology, but in reverse. Sound produces waves in the air which move sensitive electret membranes to generate small electric signals that we record.
COMFORT The overall headphone is super lightweight and comfortable due to the drivers, cups, and headband. For many people who find regular headphones to be bulky and uncomfortable, the ESP/95X will be a load lifted off of your shoulders.
“DD” vs. “e-stat” The popular headphone battle seemed to be won by dynamic drivers since regular amplifiers are much more common than the high voltage “energizers” needed by electrostatic drivers. But is the battle over? Many people enjoying “Summit-fi” (owning the most expensive or end-game rigs) enjoy “e-stats”. Adding an iconic electrostatic headphone system from such an important brand makes this a very special day that we have been working towards for a long time. The Massdrop Audiophile & Collaborations Team (Will Bright, Matt Takaichi, Michael Billeci, Thomas Fernandez, & myself) would like to thank Michael J. Koss, Chairman & CEO of Koss, John Koss Jr., Vice President of Sales, and Michael J. Koss Jr., Vice President of Marketing & Product. Michael Koss (CEO) was involved in the original development of the ESP/950 in 1990 and all three of the family members have been instrumental in our partnership to bring you the ESP/95X.
Koss released the ESP/950 in 1990 to rave reviews, and it was widely recognized as the best headphone system in the world. Koss has continually produced the ESP/950 from launch until now, but as time went on, the community demanded more low-end performance in headphones, and competition developed around the $1000 pricepoint. As a result, the ESP/950 fell out of Audiophile community focus.
Now, almost 30 years later, we’re working with Koss to deliver the ESP/95X, an updated ESP/950 with deep low-end and at an accessible $499.99 for the entire system. We updated the earpads to improve comfort, which also smoothed out the low-end & upper-mids frequency response (as you can see in the graphs on the drop page). Soundstage has increased slightly as well. Removal of some vestigial accessories allows this accessible pricepoint.
Out of thin air… Why should you care about electrostatic headphone systems? -Speed and resolution. -Low distortion and low coloration.
Electrostatic forces move an entire membrane to produce sound without any physical contact or interference by parts required in other types of drivers. The driver is ultra-thin with extremely low mass so it moves very quickly/easily. This leads to a level of resolution and space between sounds that delivers more information to the ear which can be perceived by the brain. Electrostats are the endgame for most detail addicts.
The membranes are lighter than air and store no extra energy when they move. This leads to low distortion and less sonic coloration than other types of drivers. Much of your music is captured by microphones using similar technology, but in reverse. Sound produces waves in the air which move sensitive electret membranes to generate small electric signals that we record.
COMFORT The overall headphone is super lightweight and comfortable due to the drivers, cups, and headband. For many people who find regular headphones to be bulky and uncomfortable, the ESP/95X will be a load lifted off of your shoulders.
“DD” vs. “e-stat” The popular headphone battle seemed to be won by dynamic drivers since regular amplifiers are much more common than the high voltage “energizers” needed by electrostatic drivers. But is the battle over? Many people enjoying “Summit-fi” (owning the most expensive or end-game rigs) enjoy “e-stats”. Adding an iconic electrostatic headphone system from such an important brand makes this a very special day that we have been working towards for a long time. The Massdrop Audiophile & Collaborations Team (Will Bright, Matt Takaichi, Michael Billeci, Thomas Fernandez, & myself) would like to thank Michael J. Koss, Chairman & CEO of Koss, John Koss Jr., Vice President of Sales, and Michael J. Koss Jr., Vice President of Marketing & Product. Michael Koss (CEO) was involved in the original development of the ESP/950 in 1990 and all three of the family members have been instrumental in our partnership to bring you the ESP/95X.
CanHead
1
Jan 28, 2021
Agreed. An adaptor should never cost 1/3 of an audio system. And Koss don't even sell a better enegiser.
unrealol
25
Dec 17, 2019
Was one of the first to order after discounts, Email said its going to get shipped on Monday, but still no update. So they say, they dont have enough volume to justify the EU Warehouse, but they cant even ship a package in a full day?
Barbabeppo
25
Feb 22, 2021
I believe it came with a 230V adapter when it was available from the EU Warehouse.
TheBlueDuck
11
Apr 6, 2019
No buyers remorse haha. Most people( or at least me) don't start the headphone hobby with electrostats. You will go down the rabbit hole and get stax probably. But I use a JDS labs el dac at the moment. There are many options out there.
(Edited)
Barondla
146
Apr 7, 2019
@Briankan no buyer's remorse here. They sound great.
Dac wise, I don't know. Heard them on a Schiit Yggdrasil dac with Stax SRM1-Mk2 amp and it was amazing.
Billqs
32
Sep 15, 2018
This just might be the most amazing drop Massdrop has ever offered. I love electrostats and have owned 6 pair of STAX (still have 3) and I've been wanting to see what the legendary Koss electrostat brings to the table. Now if we can get the Sennheiser electrostat at a simliar pricepoint.... that would really be a coup!
Papptona
37
Mar 6, 2021
BillqsI just bought the Stax SRS-3100 kit which includes the SR-L300 + SRM-2525 (my first pair of electrostats!). Even though it's just a "starter" kit, I absolutely LOVE them.
Do you have any pointers on:
- whether it's worth an energizer upgrade for the L300's?
- DACs that pair well with electrostatics?
CEE_TEE
3480
Sep 19, 2018
Hey Everyone,
Good news- we have worked with Koss to have 120V & 220V options at check-out!
The dev team at Massdrop did a lot of coding to add the options and retroactively assign your orders based on location.
If you already ordered: Please go to your Transactions page from your Profile drop-down menu and find your Order. Please check it to see if you have the correct voltage for your country and usage.
If you have not ordered yet: You can now order and clearly select a voltage option at check-out!
Please Note: the wall power supply will now work with the voltage that you choose, but you may need to provide your own small plug adapter to fit your country’s outlet.
If you already ordered: Please go to your Transactions page from your Profile drop-down menu and find your Order. Please check it to see if you have the correct voltage for your country and usage.
If you have not ordered yet: You can now order and clearly select a voltage option at check-out!
Please Note: the wall power supply will now work with the voltage that you choose, but you may need to provide your own small plug adapter to fit your country’s outlet.
CEE_TEE
3480
May 24, 2019
Yes- if you request and are able to receive emails from us (not going to spam folder), then you will get a notification that it is available again!
rdodev
632
Sep 15, 2018
Part of me says hell yeah, the other part of of me says hell yeah too.
Massdrop can you pinky promise me if I jump on this you will NOT drop a Stax stack this year? For one, I'd like to remain unstabbed by my wife, secondly, I'd like to remain unstabbed by our financial planner. Thanks!
Massdrop can you pinky promise me if I jump on this you will NOT drop a Stax stack this year? For one, I'd like to remain unstabbed by my wife, secondly, I'd like to remain unstabbed by our financial planner. Thanks!
VampyrDetective
6
Jul 13, 2020
rdodevYour financial planner isn't doing his or her job if you need to worry about being unstabbed/stabbed! I kid. I get what you mean. Haha.
WaydeR
56
Sep 30, 2018
I thought I'd add my 2-cents. My Massdrop avatar photo since I joined happens to be me in my Koss esp-950s.
They were long my favourite headphones, but have been replaced in that top spot by Audeze LCD-3, but they're still a close 2nd.
I love the electrostatic sound, for midrange and high-end it's beautifully detailed, accurate and responsive. These won't be bass monsters by any means. Switching back and forth between the LCD-3 and the 950s when listening to anything with a lot of bass will leave them sounding a bit thin. But bass just isn't where they shine. I tend to use them for rock music, classical, jazz but not techno, EDM/hip-hop.
There's a sweet-spot around 1000Hz and up where there is a slight warmth that really makes acoustic music and female vocals, very warm and non-fatiguing as other headphones might be in the upper end.
I've had my 950s for over ten years and my time hasn't been without technical issues. I had them for years when the notorious "buzz issue" started up. The right side would get this faint intermittent buzzing sound that would be drowned out by music but still annoying. I sent them in to Koss and must praise the warranty here.
I started with a phone call for instructions and talked to a really nice lady at the Koss headquarters. The whole process of shipping from my home in Ontario, Canada to their headquarters in Milwaukee and back again repaired took about two weeks. To my surprise they not only fixed the buzz but they slapped on brand new earpads and even replaced the cables with new ones. The fact that this service exists, no questions asked, no proof of purchase, no wacky verification number requirement - for life, cannot be understated. Koss deserves much praise for their excellent support policy.
I still use them semi-regularly. They are my go-to for jazz, acoustic music. I turn to my Fostex/Massdrop TH-X00 purpleheart for anything that benefits from a more bass-forward presentation (such as electronica), so I feel like I've got the best of both worlds between the two headphones.
It's a shame the battery pack won't be included with this drop. I love the battery pack, but I admit I hardly use it anymore. Attaching a battery pack to the "energizer" is ridiculous fun just because it's so impractical.
The overall build quality and feel by today's standards might seem a bit "cheap". The earcups are plastic, but seem to be more solid than they feel because I've never broken them or had any issues with cracks. They're extremely light on your head, they almost feel like "nothing"... especially compared to my LCD-3s which are pretty heavy. The build quality and design are definitely out of the past, but know what you're getting into. They're vintage headphones, but good sound is eternal. And that lifetime warranty will keep them eternal - so it's easy to overlook the plasticiness of the shells around the earcups. I guess it's worth noting you can get aftermarket earpads, I ordered them online and they're a bit thicker than Koss's stock earpads . There might be a slight bump in the mid-bass due to the earpads and their placement being slightly further from my head, but honestly I didn't notice much difference in sound quality.
I hope you enjoy the drop, good luck.
They were long my favourite headphones, but have been replaced in that top spot by Audeze LCD-3, but they're still a close 2nd.
I love the electrostatic sound, for midrange and high-end it's beautifully detailed, accurate and responsive. These won't be bass monsters by any means. Switching back and forth between the LCD-3 and the 950s when listening to anything with a lot of bass will leave them sounding a bit thin. But bass just isn't where they shine. I tend to use them for rock music, classical, jazz but not techno, EDM/hip-hop.
There's a sweet-spot around 1000Hz and up where there is a slight warmth that really makes acoustic music and female vocals, very warm and non-fatiguing as other headphones might be in the upper end.
I've had my 950s for over ten years and my time hasn't been without technical issues. I had them for years when the notorious "buzz issue" started up. The right side would get this faint intermittent buzzing sound that would be drowned out by music but still annoying. I sent them in to Koss and must praise the warranty here.
I started with a phone call for instructions and talked to a really nice lady at the Koss headquarters. The whole process of shipping from my home in Ontario, Canada to their headquarters in Milwaukee and back again repaired took about two weeks. To my surprise they not only fixed the buzz but they slapped on brand new earpads and even replaced the cables with new ones. The fact that this service exists, no questions asked, no proof of purchase, no wacky verification number requirement - for life, cannot be understated. Koss deserves much praise for their excellent support policy.
I still use them semi-regularly. They are my go-to for jazz, acoustic music. I turn to my Fostex/Massdrop TH-X00 purpleheart for anything that benefits from a more bass-forward presentation (such as electronica), so I feel like I've got the best of both worlds between the two headphones.
It's a shame the battery pack won't be included with this drop. I love the battery pack, but I admit I hardly use it anymore. Attaching a battery pack to the "energizer" is ridiculous fun just because it's so impractical.
The overall build quality and feel by today's standards might seem a bit "cheap". The earcups are plastic, but seem to be more solid than they feel because I've never broken them or had any issues with cracks. They're extremely light on your head, they almost feel like "nothing"... especially compared to my LCD-3s which are pretty heavy. The build quality and design are definitely out of the past, but know what you're getting into. They're vintage headphones, but good sound is eternal. And that lifetime warranty will keep them eternal - so it's easy to overlook the plasticiness of the shells around the earcups. I guess it's worth noting you can get aftermarket earpads, I ordered them online and they're a bit thicker than Koss's stock earpads . There might be a slight bump in the mid-bass due to the earpads and their placement being slightly further from my head, but honestly I didn't notice much difference in sound quality.
I hope you enjoy the drop, good luck.
WaydeR
56
Nov 29, 2018
I've thought about this... but how would I connect a disc player that reads DVD-A to my PC? Is it even possible to use the Oppo's digital out? I assumed I'd need a disc player in my PC that could read DVD-A. I don't know too much about that. Is there anywhere I could read up on this?
I'll try some searches online, but thanks for the idea. I hadn't thought it was really possible without getting more hardware.
Barondla
146
Nov 29, 2018
WaydeRYour computer/dvd drive reads the disc. The problem is most computers don't have the dac to handle 24/192. Doesn't matter here. The digital signal isn't being decoded. We are just extracting and moving it to a hard drive.
I use a Dell i5 laptop with built in dvd drive to rip DVD-A to an external hard drive. Then plug that hard drive into the Oppo's front usb input. Instant hi res music.
DVD Audio Distractor does require you to find cover art. You may also see different versions on disc. Hi res stereo pcm, surround, Dolby, etc. Pick the version you want to rip. Takes less than 10 min. to rip a disc.
PX599
15
Dec 19, 2019
This was supposed to be shipped on the 17th dec... And yet, still no updates on the shipment, status stays Active...
Edit: Got an email update of the shipping from DPD courier that it's gonna be delivered on the next work day.
Edit 2: Mine just arrived.
(Edited)
Cheapasschit
20
Dec 28, 2019
rossoI come from a hd650 with jds atom and I must say; believe the positive reviews. I'm sure there is better out there but they sound great to my ears... More detailed, and more open than the hd650...
Yes, they are light and the earpads are not the best; my right ear touches the inner foam and I can here it when my ear moves over the foam during silent passages in the music. For the rest the pads are good enough... very comfortable.
And for $270... I mean (starts laughing hysterically and screams)
....they are fantastic!!!
Uzuzu
1431
Sep 24, 2018
*surfs Massdrop like a shark on the daily, gots 2 git muhdealz*
*spots electrostats*
"Hell yeah "puts on glasses before terminator eyes incinerate my OLED screen", we cool club now*
*get them in box in box, so excited*
*open them up, their smell makes me dribble and from more than one orafice*
*plug amp into my 90s walkman and turn it on*
*oh sweet creamsus.mp4* what .jpg? that meme's ded
*angels literally singing in my ears, okay now they are licking the inside of my ears with their angel tongues*
*ohhhhhh YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSssssss*
*pant feeling tighter than usual, bumps desk*
*knocks over glass of water by amp*
MY FACE WHEN
OCBob
526
Sep 16, 2018
I own a pair of the ESP-950 but for the sake of others considering joining this drop I wanted to ask a question: How long is the cable length going to be on these? Did I not see the info on the overview page? I ask because with my pair the attached section of the cable is only about 4.5 feet long, and even at a desk that's a bit on the short side. Luckily, the classics come with a 6 foot extension cable. but I don't see that mentioned here either. To bad they aren't including the battery pack. I can run for about 3 hours on it. I'm also assuming that the ear cups will still detach from the headband.
gobin
Sep 20, 2018
I was expecting a 2-3 sentences comparison but you surprise me sir, in a pleasant way. I really appreciate it.
I do wholeheartedly agree with you that using the HD600 with out a DAC/AMP wouldn't do it justice. I had the FX-DAC X6, and if I remember correctly, I definitely notice that the DAC/AMP helps tighten the bass of the HD600 in comparison with my laptop audio board.
Your description of the HD600 is very much in line with my own; so based on what you shared, I might just need to save up and try some fancy amp like the Bottlehead Crack, since I enjoyed the lack of fatigue form long listening sessions of the HD600.
Again, thank you for the helpful write up.
I do wholeheartedly agree with you that using the HD600 with out a DAC/AMP wouldn't do it justice. I had the FX-DAC X6, and if I remember correctly, I definitely notice that the DAC/AMP helps tighten the bass of the HD600 in comparison with my laptop audio board.
Your description of the HD600 is very much in line with my own; so based on what you shared, I might just need to save up and try some fancy amp like the Bottlehead Crack, since I enjoyed the lack of fatigue form long listening sessions of the HD600.
Again, thank you for the helpful write up.
Horseknight
179
Sep 21, 2018
Thank you for the comparison and detailed information. This is so helpful. I really appreciate it.
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