The Stax thread (New) - Page 639

Use the headband, and use the large-sized tips. They won't go into the ear canals but rest outside the ear canals. Then, bend the headband so that it exerts the minimum amount of clamping pressure to stay in place.

There may be some slight degradation in sound quality, so you'll have to mess around with pad size, positioning, and clamping force.

I never really got used to it TBH. The fit still bothers me to this day. But, you can make it if not comfortable, then at least bearable. I have more of a problem wearing universal-fit IEMs.

The Stax system showed up today ...

I'm pretty stoked ...

...



...



...



...

I'm going to spend a couple weeks deciding whether I keep it or not ...

As discussed with a couple other Head-fi folk ... it's between keeping this and purchasing some Grado GS1000's ...

So lots of listening and considering to do.

But right out of the box ...

WOW! What an insane and unbelievable sound stage compared to my RS1's!

Really ... the sound stage on these things is down right supernatural sounding.

I didn't get it at first ... rather I wanted to focus on some of the nit picky, immediate and quibbling "negative" aspects compared to the RS1's (little less bass extension and impact ... mids a tiny bit more recessed than the Grados, etc.) ... but after spending an hour with them on my head ... those minor quibbles fade more and more into the background since the GIANT increase in soundstage is so damn fine sounding on my classical stuff and especially on my live boots and live CD recordings.

Also ... they are nearly as meticulous in the detail category as the RS1's ... but just slightly less; but the flip side is that the increased spatial performance (sound stage/3D imaging/etc.) still makes certain aspects of certain recordings stand out in a much more beautiful and noticeable way than the more narrow, slightly more detailed RS1's ...

All of that stated ... I'm also very very enthralled by the similarities shared between the Stax rig and my dynamic, Grado RS1 based rig: insane speed and detail, palpable energy and dynamics ... and a very real sense of being "close to the players" (versus, say, the uber distanced, somewhat veiled window that certain other cans yield). Both the Stax option and the RS1 option shine in the energy/"magic" department for sure ...

So lots of thinking to do ... and I've only been listening for an hour ... but as I expressed to the guy who sold me this MINT, 1300 dollar (for $750!) Stax system (with only 200 or so hours on it) ... it is, without a doubt ... a very serious competitor when sat next to my $1700 dollar, regular dynamic setup (Stello HP100/Grado RS1's) ...

So more later ...

^Im getting STAX then RAWR. the pro's i tried are pretty much a variant of the RS-1's

I think you'll find that your new setup is superior to the RS1 in almost every way, including detail.

I agree with The Monkey, and to add to that, bass extension. Impact, not so much.

the RS1 and grados in general are near unbeatable for percussion and acoustic guitar.

Having listened to my RS1 based, dynamic rig for well nigh a year now ... generally about 300 hours a week ...

I would have to agree ...

But the new Stax system which I mention above and which I've been listening too for about three hours now ... is 100% better in regards to sound stage and 3D imaging ...

That doesn't necessarily meant I'm going to get rid of my dynamic system ...

But more so ...

It means I might keep the Stax system and continue to add to/enhance my dynamic rig ...

(yes ... the Stax rig is getting me pretty hot and bothered)

Like many, I also have both the electrostatic and dynamic headphone setups. I find myself listening to the stax quite alot more. I can listen to it for hours and not feel the need to take them off. It is not that the sound of dynamic headphones is not good, but as a matter of preference for me, I always find my hands reaching out for the stax. But that is just me. All I can say is that I find them very sweet sounding.

BTW ...

Do the SR-303 headphones require much break in? How about the amps?

??

Have to agree, but they don't seem to have the versatility of the Stax?

Stax Germany recommends around 50 hours for the headphones, in my experience it takes about double that amount of time (a very rough estimation, and some very small changes may still occur after 100 hours). I've been through the process of breaking in 3 pairs of 303 drivers. I don't remember the breaking in time of the amp, but I think those 100 hours should do. Amp warm up is very important, on the other hand, and I consider 45-60 minutes on with music playing a minimum for my 313 warm up. Usually I let it on anything between 1 hour and 4 hours, then I play some music for 10-15 minutes and only then I put on my Stax phones. The sound is at least acceptable without any warming up, but the magic comes only after a while.

I don't think I like the Signature at all. It is far too unnatural sounding. Upper mids jump out like they do on a RS-1 or RS-2 which is no problem on its own. What kills it for me is the added etch. Violins sound thin, shouty and shrill.

I'm not sure owning the O2 necessarily makes the Lambda Pro redundant. The Lambda Pro still has its own merits and don't sound quite as dark. On certain setups, I actually prefer the Lambda Pro despite its shortcomings.

I Would say the best of the bunch is the Normal Bias lambda followed closely by the Original Signature. I have all three and would say that imho the signature has the better qualities of the normal bias with the extra bass of the pro's. The pro isnt a bad phone in fact better than any dynamic i've heard (not that i've auditioned that many) but the other two are slightly better. I don't hear the etch that is so commonly spoken about and i'm not sure if this is intensified by other equipment in the chain or by certain music genre's.

stupid question, which headphones are normal bias?

Stax Earspeakers - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This has most of the gear listed.