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The Stax thread - Page 21  

post #301 of 2675
8/15/06 at 1:16am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Azure
I'm NOT talking about charge up time

Obviously the sound will change after they are fully charged up (Which should take less than an hour from what I've read). I doubt there'd be such a huge difference between 2 units, fully charged, one with ~10 hours and the other with ~200 hours.
http://www4.head-fi.org/forums/showt...ght=stax+break

And others' comments - feel free to search

Gear mentioned in this thread:

Koss ESP-950 Electrostatic Stereophone
$632.45 at
See it »
post #302 of 2675
8/15/06 at 1:26am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lloyd297
But then I may be wrong. But then I can't be. It's ALL subjective. Which means everybody's equally right...or wrong. I forget which.
I've just remembered! It's neither! BOTH are equally meaningless.......
post #303 of 2675
8/15/06 at 1:28am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lloyd297
I'm sorry to rain on Snake's 404 Burn-In Parade but there is NOT a huge difference between the 404 out-of-the-box and the 404 after 300 hours. The weaknesses of the 404 are still the same: the FR irregularities, the suckout, the fine haze and grain.......and keeping a stable reference (SRX-III anyone?) at hand throughout will keep acclimatization issues (getting used to the 404 sonic signature) at bay.

But then I may be wrong. But then I can't be. It's ALL subjective. Which means everybody's equally right...or wrong. I forget which.


See above
post #304 of 2675
8/15/06 at 2:05am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Snake


See above
After reading all the comments testifying to the righteousness of 404 burn-in I've changed my mind!

Democracy IS objectivity! A show of hands is the only way to ascertain truth!

Even so, I'm still troubled by Snake's comment that " It's all in the eye of the beholder". If there is ONLY subjectivity and everybody's equally right or wrong or meaningless then even a show of testifying hands on behalf of 404 burn-in is still only in the eye of the beholder and therefore equally meaningless. So I'm still confused......
post #305 of 2675
8/15/06 at 2:57am

Hey Lloyd297

Back on the subject of Headphones as opposed to heads, I recall the thread you had about the SRXmk3's and I can't remember if you were comparing them to 404's or Lamda pro's. I'm pretty sure it was the 404's though and was wondering if you have done a comparison with the old Lamda pro's. If so, did you think that they were much better than the 404's. I've been looking for a pair of the lamdas but have gotten out-bid and the SRX's have been a little iffy looking lately (kinda worn for the price). So, I'm still waiting to take the es plunge but, I've only been happy with planar or esl speakers for the past 26 years so I think it's pretty safe to say that it will be more to my liking.
post #306 of 2675
8/15/06 at 8:43am
Quote:
Originally Posted by earjam
the sony 5000 was my favorite can until the 404 came my way. you will hear all the detail of the 5000 without the harshness. The 313 will sound a little etched in the treble but will smooth a little with breakin. The 313 is able to drive the 404 to very high levels so watch your ears. Since i also had the mcalister amp i dont listen to the 313 very much. The mcalister adds more clarity and volumn in the bass and makes the 404s really perform with more resolution and separation in the treble without being harsh. The mcalister amp cannot drive the 404 as loud as the 313. If you turn up the mcalister to much, you will hear clipping and distortion. I think most people would find it has ample volume though.
Which McAlister?
post #307 of 2675
8/15/06 at 9:22am
Stax rules.
post #308 of 2675
8/15/06 at 10:13am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lloyd297
I'm sorry to rain on Snake's 404 Burn-In Parade but there is NOT a huge difference between the 404 out-of-the-box and the 404 after 300 hours. The weaknesses of the 404 are still the same: the FR irregularities, the suckout, the fine haze and grain.......and keeping a stable reference (SRX-III anyone?) at hand throughout will keep acclimatization issues (getting used to the 404 sonic signature) at bay.

But then I may be wrong. But then I can't be. It's ALL subjective. Which means everybody's equally right...or wrong. I forget which.
It's surprising: this is axactly the description of my first sr303s! Stax Germany changed them for another pair without discussion and they now sound wonderful.
I was recently said that the Stax's control quality was not top level...

Olivier
post #309 of 2675
8/15/06 at 11:27am
Jpak. I had peter mcalister build me a ea1 with balanced xlr inputs about 18 months ago. At that time i wanted to try some of his equipment so i ordered an ea-1 and a pl-10. He said that he could add balanced inputs on the ea-1 so he did, for lack of better words we called it an ea-2. His latest amps may be superior to mine, I dont know as i have never heard them. The pl-10 is marvelous with dynamic phones.
When i listen to a sweep signal on the 404s i notice a little too much response around 4k. if you equalize this down a few decibels you will have a very smooth listening experience. Indeed i think that this exaggerated treble response on the 404s is the reason many listeners dont like them on first listen because it makes them sound a little analytical.
post #310 of 2675
8/15/06 at 1:11pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Carl
To hear the effect of the cerebral side of break in, try switching back and forth between HE60s and SR-Xs. After you get used to one the other will sound awful until you get used to the other again. You can go back and forth and marvel at how your brain accustoms itself to things.
I used to get that when swapping the HD650 with the SR-202. Going from one to the other would either mean the sound was boomy and muddy, or thin and uninvolving. For a period anyway.
post #311 of 2675
8/15/06 at 10:49pm
Thread Starter 
This SRA-3S looks unusual...

http://page10.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/m32312256

http://earsp.web.fc2.com/kako-d/sra-3s/sra3s-m2.jpg
post #312 of 2675
8/15/06 at 10:55pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Carl
That amp spelled my name wrong.
post #313 of 2675
8/15/06 at 11:45pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lloyd297
After reading all the comments testifying to the righteousness of 404 burn-in I've changed my mind!

Democracy IS objectivity! A show of hands is the only way to ascertain truth!

Even so, I'm still troubled by Snake's comment that " It's all in the eye of the beholder". If there is ONLY subjectivity and everybody's equally right or wrong or meaningless then even a show of testifying hands on behalf of 404 burn-in is still only in the eye of the beholder and therefore equally meaningless. So I'm still confused......
"It's all in the eye of the beholder" is the politician's way of saying "YMMV"
post #314 of 2675
8/15/06 at 11:57pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by oso
It's surprising: this is axactly the description of my first sr303s! Stax Germany changed them for another pair without discussion and they now sound wonderful.
I was recently said that the Stax's control quality was not top level...

Olivier
Yes, there is that. It has been noted that this is a possibility...then again, try making a consistent, coated 1.35 micron element, the precisely milled spacers and the electrodes en masse as see how far most people get.

Quad's QC wasn't perfect either. Electrostatic is a very difficult driver design to manufacture correctly via assembly line procedures while still keeping the price below that of a small automobile, and while keeping a working profit margin to boot (look how much the modern Quad ESL-989's are, and the company had to be saved from failing by two successive investor groups)
post #315 of 2675
8/16/06 at 12:00am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jahn
That amp spelled my name wrong.
Yesh, that system looks like it's seen better days (but, given, it IS pretty old!!)
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Gear mentioned in this thread:

Koss ESP-950 Electrostatic Stereophone
$632.45 at
See it »
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