Entry into Stax Electrostats for <200$ possible? - Head-Fi: Covering Headphones, Earphones and Portable Audio

Jo-Vo · 05-05-2008, 04:01 PM

Hello!

I'm curios about getting an used Stax electrostatic headphone. I dived through the eBay and the FS threads but I'm a bit lost out there.
What is the stuff worth, what should I get? All I can say at the moment is that I would prefer a full size can over the SR-001 or SR-003 earphones.
If the whole experiment would cost more than 200$ respective ~150€ (in the EU/Germany) I would rather keep my dynamic phones.
Thanks in advance!

Regards
Jonas

Faust2D · 05-05-2008, 04:18 PM

You can get SR-X, SR-5 or SR-Gamma for ~$120-180 and get a SRD box for ~$50-100. With this combo you will have a very nice Stax system. With in your price range. Lets say SR-Gamma for $130 and SRD box for $60 and you are all set, just need a nice receiver and/or power amp to drive the box with.

New you can only get SR-001 system for about $250. It's a very nice system and I love mine. Big Stax phones are a bit better at some things, but SR-001 system is very enjoyable non the less.

Duggeh · 05-05-2008, 04:24 PM

SR-001 system can be had used for £100/$200. If $200 is your absolute limit, then for full size you're looking at SR-3N/SRD-6 headphone/energiser combinations, and then you'll have to hope someone doesn't go throwing the price up.

Looking at what is in your signature, either of these two options is a world of difference better than what you've got.

facelvega · 05-05-2008, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duggeh

Looking at what is in your signature, either of these two options is a world of difference better than what you've got.

You really think so? I'd take an SR-3N over an HD595 or MS-1 out of a pa2v2 any day of the week. And an SR-5/X/Gamma to my ears would easily beat an HD650 out of a $300 amp.

edit: DOH! Don't post while sleepy. Naturally I'd read in an "isn't" for the "is," and thought that our good man in Scotland had just had a change of religion.

Faust2D · 05-05-2008, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by facelvega

You really think so? I'd take an SR-3N over an HD595 or MS-1 out of a pa2v2 any day of the week. And an SR-5/X/Gamma to my ears would easily beat an HD650 out of a $300 amp.

I think that is what Duggeh was saying as well.

Quote:

either of these two options is a world of difference better than what you've got.

bjarnetv · 05-05-2008, 04:42 PM

or you could get lucky on a lambda with energizer, but that would probably involve months/years/generations of ebaying...

Duggeh · 05-05-2008, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by facelvega

You really think so? I'd take an SR-3N over an HD595 or MS-1 out of a pa2v2 any day of the week. And an SR-5/X/Gamma to my ears would easily beat an HD650 out of a $300 amp.

I'd take the SR-3N over the HD650. Now an SR-3N or an Ergo 2, that's a much trickier stat/coil choice.

scompton · 05-05-2008, 04:49 PM

There are also the SR-3 clones, which can go for under $100. The problem is, you might get the upgrade bug pretty quick.

spritzer · 05-05-2008, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duggeh

I'd take the SR-3N over the HD650. Now an SR-3N or an Ergo 2, that's a much trickier stat/coil choice.

I'd take my 40$ SFI powered Koss over the HD650 any day...

Jo-Vo · 05-05-2008, 05:30 PM

Hey guys,

thanks a lot for your advices so far. Looking forward to hear more :-)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duggeh

Looking at what is in your signature, either of these two options is a world of difference better than what you've got.

Wow, where do I have to sign? ;-)

I would sell the HD595 (which is a bit "underamped" at the moment I think) if the Stax were better but I fear selling them before getting an electrostat system that I don't know.

I have an eye on a SR-5 with SRD-6... As far as I have understood your replies that should be a nice combo. How much would you pay for that?

By the way I have a Technics SU-600 amplifier which I use for speakers at the moment. Can't say if it's good or not but we'll see.

Cheers
Jonas