The Stax thread (New) - Page 551

Don't forget you're saving the SR-007 hybrids for me!

Hero.

fwiw i did try my srd-x directly out of my DAP's line-out, and it does work, but sounds basically like, well, my dap.

So, here's my thoughts on the sonic qualities of the SRD-X: It doesn't add much positive influence aside from being able to plug into anything and run electrostatic earspeakers. The bass has some good punch to it.

So, while not necessary for the purposes of amplification, plugging it into something that has a positive influence on the sound - like a good tube preamp or headphone amp - makes it much more nice to use.

Note that I'm not saying it's source dependent. I think you could plug it into a TOTL dac and it would still just sound dry with some good bass punch.

The SRD-X isn't fast enough or clean enough to take advantage of a top-quality source. But it's also not slow enough or crappy enough to screw up an audio signal that is reasonably good.

So is it a net gain, Eric? Glad you sprung for it?

It seems like a possible alternative to a more traditional amplifier for someone without an existing speaker amp in their setup.

That is, if they can find/afford one.

Plugged into the Bijou tube headphone amp, it sounds quite lively and pleasant. And it's pretty convenient in that position - moreso than trying to rig a transformer box to the relatively crappy sony HT receiver that is also in the bedroom.

My other option there - that i was seriously considering - was using the bijou as a preamp for a Kenwood power amp i picked up, plus an SRD-7. I might still do that and re-sell the SRD-X at some point.

So, yeah, I'm glad I've got it.

It's also good proof-of-concept for my plans to build a 'stat transformer box into the same enclosure as my M^3 headphone amp - which, maxed out, is more powerful than the car radio chips in the SRD-X.

The sticky wicket in that plan, though, is still what the step-up ratio of the transformers needs to be. That, and I've managed to destroy at least one of my Koss transformers.

Yes - I would recommend it to anyone on a low budget who wants to try 'stats, but has no speaker amp. Especially if they already have a dynamic headphone amp that they like.

If they can find one, and if the price is right. The $50 i paid is probably the right ballpark.

Some SR Gammas (a bit dilapidated) plus SRD6SB are on sale for £60 at a popular auction site
I don't know whether this is a bargain or not - I post merely for the benefit of others who may wish to buy.
I might be tempted myself if I didn't have a lovely pair of SRX-MkIIIs and hadn't blown all my money on building my Pluto 2 speakers.

See, I told you so. Plugged into any of my good tube headphone amps wakes up the SRD-X sound, but connected to most sources directly sounds too dry.

I have never compared the SRD-6 or SRD-7 with a good speaker amp vs SRD-X, but I suspect SRD-6/7 will always be better because you basically improve the quality over the "car stereo opamps". With either type of of these transformers you get "the better the amp the better the sound", but the SRD-6 can actually sound good with a very neutral SS speaker amp - the SRD-X really needs a warm tube amp to make it pleasant.

117 ->230 Volt conversion ?

Hello

I am considering a 117 V (US) second-hand SRM-007t. Would it be possible to convert it to 230 Volt. ?

I can have a professional do the conversion, but he would probably need some
schematics or guidance.

cheers

Tom

I'm not being harsh when i say that the SRD-X is powered by car radio chip amps.

The datasheet for the parts on the board is literally titled "5.8 W POWER AMPLIFIER" "CAR STEREO CAR RADIO AUDIO OUTPUT".

It's not a fantastic chip. I think Stax chose a very neutral chip for the era they built it in, but it's nothing special.

A talented hacker could wedge one of the better tripath class-D amps into the same space as the existing amp board. have to put the bias circuit somewhere, though.

Just got my SRM-T1 in the mail today. I opened 'er up, for fun, and found the biggest resistors I've ever seen. Rather dusty, but everything looked as I assumed it should.

After the 45-minute warmup, I started listening.

Aside from bass punch, this thing is superior to my SRD-6SB in every way. I can't say I miss the bass much at this point, but I'm still all star-eyed.

The detail through my SR-lambda's is stunning, and my records have never sounded better. The tiny, microscopic details are all there in force. From wha I can tell, Gene was using RCA cleartops in there before, which are well-regarded but not generally thought to be optimal. I cobbled together a pair of the Japanese Raytheons so highly regarded here from Ebay, and I'll give them some time when they come in.

Better impressions are fothcoming, but for now all I can say is "WOW". I'm pretty thrilled with components that, at this stage, are all older than me. Funny.

It should be pretty easy to do since the 120v windings are in use. The 100v units can be a pain though.

Thanks Birgir

Thats also what my technician friend surmised - but good to have confirmation from an expert.

Curious to find out the difference to my SRM-t1S when driving LNS and 404
and to the 717 when driving 007s.

cheers

Tom

My SRM-007t (and also the SRM-717) was easy to change the voltage settings. It was just a matter of changing some jumper bars inside. I have a PDF file with the instructions that I can email anyone.

It's most often pretty easy to do either by changing jumpers or soldering wires but Stax does have an annoying practice to cut the 120v windings on the transformer on 100v models.

I used my sony DVD player as source. I found that the sound was too bright and the bass was lacking. I biased my T1s and the sound was much better, it was not as "shouty" and the bass was deeper. The sounbdstage was also much wider and I found that I could sing and follow the tunes easier. However, I was not convinced that I had paid $X for this quality. I went to audition the bluenote stibert and the koala tube. I tried them both with balanced and normal rca inputs. My, my, the sound was fantastic with the balanced inputs. In short, the source with the balanced inputs made a huge difference to the drive. It was like the LNS had come to life suddenly. Not saying that the RCA was bad, but the balance input was a clear step ahead in all departments. I believe, normal RCA output may be 2v but the balanced is double that, but I stand corrected. Yes, I will be bying the koala tuibe.