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Originally Posted by mikeg  There's never been any clipping with my EA-4/HE90 combo, or with various EA-4/Stax headphone setups used at several meets.
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Well... one would hope not. The issue isn't about volume, it's about controlling a large diaphragm with a mass of a few milligrams using only electrostatic force. There are other ways to do this than just large power reserves perhaps, but high voltages and fast slew rates are typically how it's done.
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Originally Posted by mikeg I'm fairly sure that my EA-4 puts out 500v at the HE90 outlet, and 580v at the high voltage Stax outlet. It also has a second Stax outlet, which is low voltage.
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He was talking about the voltage swing of the amplifier (the one fed to the stators), not the fixed bias voltage fed to the diaphragm. Stax's own amps do 280-450Vrms depending on the model. The EA-1 does... what was it again? ~350Vpp? I've forgotten the equation for converting root mean square values to peak-to-peak values, but that would put it around the same as Stax's weaker amps. (Of course, being Peter you could just ask him to use beefier tubes).
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Originally Posted by derekbmn You are correct for the most part,but when those things happen(lack of dynamics,etc.)A person generally will try and make up for it by increasing volume, and that's when clipping will rear it's ugly self.
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And when you're on a desperate quest to lower the SPL without reducing musical involvement, it starts to become an issue. Most good headphones work well with the volume cranked.
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Originally Posted by Veniogenesis Try to sell the Sigma Pro and hope for a minimal loss?  |
Listen to them through a good, powerful amp before you do. I just bought my pair because they were on my "want to hear" list, but it'd take an extreme act of willpower to try and sell them now. They may not quite be in the HE60/Omega II/4070 class, but they're bloody good nonetheless.
They sound rather retched underamped, though, so make sure you drive them from something with plenty of guts.
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Originally Posted by mirumu Yes, given it's the bias supply that transformer is overkill but I have my doubts about suitable transformers being generally available here in NZ and I suspect when shipping is factored in buying the lot from Lundahl wouldn't end up being that much more expensive. Besides, this is head-fi. 
Still, I'll look around and see if I can find a cheaper option for a 230V supply. |
You don't necessarily need to go Lundahl anyway. With the transformer specs in hand you can get just about any custom winder to make one for you, be it Tribute/Electra-Print/Sowter/etc. I'd imagine Tango and Tamura would have something suitable on their books, too.
I went into a bidding battle against someone and managed to somehow exchange bids so much that we raised the price by 15k in 15 minutes. It was horrible. I hate how YJA keeps extending the time if anyone bids within the last 5 minutes of the auction. The auction ended up extending at least 8 times. Arghhh. Gah....... *pout*
Try to sell the Sigma Pro and hope for a minimal loss? 
