Having owned a fairly extensive list of many very end-game worthy headphones, LCD5, SR1A, Diana TC, 1266TC, susvara, sr009s and bravura, I didn't think there's anything that can be a "end-all" headphone that so much better than my previous 009s - 1266TC swap set-up, but the x9000 did it.

It's been quite a few days since I received the x9000, and it was not immediately obvious what the strengths of it were, but nonetheless it was a very spectacular performer without comparison, but after some time with it, it's clear that the sense of naturalness is superior than everything I've owned previously, with no compromise in detail and speed whatsoever.

While the 1266 being the only one that to me still holds some ground against x9000, the immense unnaturalness becomes very apparent when I compare them, where my Diana TC and 009s merely sounds flawed compared to either.

In the case of x9000 vs 009s, like many others have pointed out the x9000 does have a rather more laid back sound to it compared to the 009s, and things sound further away, yet with such width and separation it doesn't detour the center image of say like a vocalist, and doesn't leave me wanting more intimacy from it often.

Compared to 009s, which I considered to be very natural sounding to begin with, the vocal naturalness and imaging/stage sounds much more correct and well placed to me on the x9000, and it's also slightly more resolving sounding but unclear whether there are more details from x9000.

Diana TC vs x9000 is pretty disappointing on the TC side, imo a tamed version of 1266, better for lower quality recordings, but other than that not particularly notable.

Ab1266 vs x9000 is rather interesting, after being used to the bass quantity on the x9000, the 1266 does sound a little boomy in comparison, but because the tuning for mids and highs are pretty agressive it helps them to not be drowned by the bass. That was never my experience the 1266 until having being used to the x9000, but compared to the very very smooth sounding bass mid and highs on the x9000 the peaks and tuning signature of 1266 sounds much more prominent in comparison. However while the tuning is unnatural on the 1266, for the genres I listen to it is still very good at making things sound good, still very enjoyable. X9000 sounds extremely soft and smooth compared to the 1266 that sounds hyper dynamic, punchy, and uneven, and it's clear which one is much more fun sounding.

Generally speaking x9000 once getting used to is very close to the all in 1 solution for all genres that I thought couldn't exist, for now the 1266 still has its place, but the 009s is beaten by the x9000 in like almost every regard, and simply sounds some what out of tune compared to x9000.

Chain for x9k/009s: XIAUDIO sagra dac -> KGST Chain for DianaTC/1266TC: sagra dac -> formulaS

1266TC EQed -7db at 12800khz.

Few final words on fit and finish, better than 009s, bigger cups, very comfortable for up to around 6-8 hours then the clamp gets to me a little bit, but unit seems extremely new so probably comfort will improve as I wear them more. I also do prefer the looks of them by far over the 009s, the machining and chassis is very stunning to me. Flawless, luxurious look and feel, cable still bulky like every other stax but at least it's removable...