Got them! (Entry into Stax Electrostats for <200$ possible?) - Page 8 - Head-Fi: Covering Headphones, Earphones and Portable Audio

scompton · 05-20-2008, 01:24 PM

Originally Posted by E.B.M.Head

The Stax to avoid are the Electret Headphones (SR-10, SR-20, SR-30, SR-40, SR-50, SR-60, SR-70, SR-80). Only the SR-80pro are nearly comperable to a real stat, but electrets drivers could loose the permanent charge if they haven't been used for a long time and their sound could have deterioreted because of this, or in worst case they don't work at all anymore.

I've read this numerous times. Have you ever seen it or have you just read about it? I have numerous electrets, some of which I'm sure have not been played for a while. They all sound fine. They sound as good or better as my low end stats. As good as my Magnavox SR-3 clone and better than my Playback 70.

That said, avoid the Stax electrets because they are overpriced. The Audio Technica electrets are about 1/3 the price of the Stax and IMO are a good value.

Tachikoma · 05-20-2008, 01:43 PM

The SR-50 is a particularly interesting electret though, since it is the only closed headphone stax has other than the 4070

Faust2D · 05-20-2008, 03:27 PM

Originally Posted by scompton

I've read this numerous times. Have you ever seen it or have you just read about it? I have numerous electrets, some of which I'm sure have not been played for a while. They all sound fine. They sound as good or better as my low end stats. As good as my Magnavox SR-3 clone and better than my Playback 70.

That said, avoid the Stax electrets because they are overpriced. The Audio Technica electrets are about 1/3 the price of the Stax and IMO are a good value.

I heard SR-40 and if you can get it for about $80 with the srd-4 it's a good deal. It's however objectively sounds few levels below SR-X, SR-5 and way below SR-Gamma and SR-Lambda. With that said SR-40 sounds way better than conventional dynamic phones you can get used or new for $80

. If I had choice I would get an old ortho like YH-1 or T20 instead, much better value for the price.

bjarnetv · 05-20-2008, 03:32 PM

Originally Posted by Faust2D

If I had choice I would get an old ortho like YH-1 or T20 instead, much better value for the price.

or an old float, like the qp85, pmb 85 or model two

spritzer · 05-20-2008, 03:33 PM

Originally Posted by Tachikoma

Between me, Carl and Evil-Zen, we've picked up (I think) 3 SR-Xmk3s in horrible condition out of 5. Zen and I picked up one dud and one working one respectively, while the one Carl got seems to be a dud. I'm not sure whether he got it functional again at last, though. Getting the dust out of the drivers does wonders for them.

I've bought 5 SR-X Mk3's over the years and 3 had at least one failed driver. I did buy those cheap though to replace the drivers with Pro units but they were all beyond repair.

scompton · 05-20-2008, 03:35 PM

Originally Posted by Faust2D

I heard SR-40 and if you can get it for about $80 with the srd-4 it's a good deal. It's however objectively sounds few levels below SR-X, SR-5 and way below SR-Gamma and SR-Lambda. With that said SR-40 sounds way better than conventional dynamic phones you can get used or new for $80 . If I had choice I would get an old ortho like YH-1 or T20 instead, much better value for the price.

I aggree 100%. Lately, they've been going for well over $100 though. The most I paid for one of my AT electrets was $40, which I consider a good deal. SQ is at the same level as SR-40 or SR-30. I still think that if you can afford a SR-5, that's the way to go. Inexpensive electrets are a good introduction on a budget if you can get them cheap, which is hard to do if they have the name Stax on them.

ericj · 05-20-2008, 04:00 PM

Originally Posted by scompton

I've read this numerous times. Have you ever seen it or have you just read about it? I have numerous electrets, some of which I'm sure have not been played for a while. They all sound fine. They sound as good or better as my low end stats. As good as my Magnavox SR-3 clone and better than my Playback 70.

That said, avoid the Stax electrets because they are overpriced. The Audio Technica electrets are about 1/3 the price of the Stax and IMO are a good value.

The only plausible theory for electret film 'losing charge' is if it's severely abused.

Sony's experiments that led to the development of the ECR-500 indicated that the problem is exactly the opposite - capacitance builds up between the film and the stators, and there's no way to drain it off in most electret designs. So the ecr-500 is constructed out of a resistive plastic that acts as a drain resistor for the film, stators, and shields.

fwiw we've yet to hear about a failed ecr-500, iirc.

I guess i was just lucky that my $90 sr-x 3 was in perfect shape aside from the earpads.

spritzer · 05-20-2008, 07:36 PM

Originally Posted by ericj

The only plausible theory for electret film 'losing charge' is if it's severely abused.

Sony's experiments that led to the development of the ECR-500 indicated that the problem is exactly the opposite - capacitance builds up between the film and the stators, and there's no way to drain it off in most electret designs. So the ecr-500 is constructed out of a resistive plastic that acts as a drain resistor for the film, stators, and shields.

fwiw we've yet to hear about a failed ecr-500, iirc.

I guess i was just lucky that my $90 sr-x 3 was in perfect shape aside from the earpads.

I have a failed ECR-400 here which uses very similar drivers. The driver isn't totally dead but has channel imbalance.

krmathis · 05-20-2008, 08:26 PM

Originally Posted by John E Woven

Just gotta ask:
1. Seems like the sr-5's are the way to go for someone like me on a low budget?
2. Assuming proper use (Plugging it in, turning it on, and putting it on), there's no risk at all for death?
3. In terms of vintage stax, could someone tell me all about which ones to look out for and which to avoid?

Thanks.

1. Yes, that might be the budget Stax.
2. I am quite sure you are right. There are simply not enough current to kill you.
3. Look out for the Lambda's (SR-Lambda, SR-Lambda Pro, SR-Lambda Signature) and SR-X/MK3 (Pro). Avoid the SR-Omega, if you don't have too much money or/and are willing to take the risk involved.

Originally Posted by ericj

Really? How many failed SR-X III's have we heard about here on head-fi?

I own one.
One of my pairs worked like a charm for 6-9 months after I got it, then slowly started to build up an unbalance. Until a point where they now are unlistenable.

They are ~30 years old though. So one day had to be their last.

eeerie1 · 05-20-2008, 08:52 PM

How do these compare to the full sized electrostats? Years ago I auditioned a set of Martin Logans and Quads, and was not blown away by either. I remember the sweet spot was the size of a marble (shouldn't be an issue with headphones, I would think). I also remember feeling that they were a bit bright and fatiguing.