Electrostatic headphones

[Jamh]

So in a garage sale I came across a pair of Numark ESP-860 Professional headphones. I opened them up and the thin electrostatic membrane was in a nice shape. They have a 1/4" headphone jack that doesn't appear to be hacked in. Doesn't it need its own amp/transformer? How were they supposed to be used? Obviously they don't work in a regular headphone jack.

[stratus46]

Originally Posted by Jamh

So in a garage sale I came across a pair of Numark ESP-860 Professional headphones. I opened them up and the thin electrostatic membrane was in a nice shape. They have a 1/4" headphone jack that doesn't appear to be hacked in. Doesn't it need its own amp/transformer? How were they supposed to be used? Obviously they don't work in a regular headphone jack.

They might. Koss ESP-6 was self energized (not the best) and worked with a standard 1/4" TRS. Electrostats use at least 5 wires like my Koss ESP-9s but they require an external power supply and connect to the speaker terrminals, not a headphone jack.

I'm still toying with the idea of building Kevin Gilmores direct drive solid state electrostatic headphone amplifier.

G²