Stax SR-507 - Sept. 1, 2010 , Stax SR-207 - Oct. 1, 2010 What!! - Page 37

Just got a 507/006t rig -- incredibly amazing sound!  I now understand why they call these headphones "earspeakers".

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Quichotte 

There's another phenomenon that caught my attention, however: I seem to be hearing... overtones? It's like there's another "buzz"-like sound on top of the basic frequency (only for low bass tones). I'm aware of the fact that the tracks are made of pure sine waves, and I'm wondering if this is some kind of harmonic distortion in the phones, a sort of parasitic vibration in their structure or a normal acoustic effect of listening to sine waves (I doubt that, but maybe it's possible, I don't know). I haven't tried with my other (dynamic) headphones, I will do it tomorrow.

Yes, you are hearing the harmonic distortion. Headphones, and speakers also, have a higher distortion in the low bass frequencies. I have heard it on many dynamic headphones as well. It the same phenomenon that you see on graphs of distortion tests: one big bar for the test tone and smaller bars for the distortion frequencies. We get the same distortion when we play music but it melts into the music, and the effect is rather diffusion of details and bass lines.

Overall, thanks for the impressions in the thread of the 507 headphone, very promising.

Can anyone tell how the lambda x07 compares the old x02 or what the new 207 compares to e.g. the old 303. Something tells me the bass is somewhat improved as result of the increased distance in the diaphragm.

I am considering purchasing a Sigma Professional or a SR-507.   Has anyone heard both of these and can you comment on which you prefer and why.

Thanks..

Quote:

Originally Posted by rsbrsvp 

I am considering purchasing a Sigma Professional or a SR-507.   Has anyone heard both of these and can you comment on which you prefer and why.

 

Thanks..

This is a tough call as they are totally different animals.

The 507 I heard briefly one evening sounded much like the 2 Lambdas I have here for comparison (Lambda Nova Signature and a 202 driver pair in an LNS shell/cable). This is a very nice, even sound and can't be really faulted. They may be considered a little brightish, but certainly not like the reports of the sharp frequency peak of the 404. Great bass and treble extension without any real frequency that stands out as an emphasis.

The Sigma series, on the other hand, is rolled at both frequency extremes, and has somewhat of a bass hump prior to the roll off at the bass end. However, it really does have something about it that seems to get up and boogie without being bright or too boomy. J. Gordon Holt once said ,"Get the midrange right and all else will follow." The Sigma series gets the midrange sooooo right. Vocals and piano are absolutely wonderful and virtually sibilant free. It seems to forego a clinical examination of the performance and makes you want to get up and dance.

Warning - the Sigma series needs lots of power to run well. Stax SRM T1, T1s, 006 or 007 won't really do it. The Stax SRM 1 Mk 2 (or equivalent I have) is borderline. A Stax SRM 717, 727 or any of the Kevin Gilmore electrostatic designs (Blue Hawaii, Blue Hawaii Special Edition, Kevin Gilmore Solid State or the T2 revamped) will really get this headphone up and dancing.

I sold my SR-007 Mk 1 rather than part with the Sigma/404. 

Of the 3 main Sigma variations so far, the 404/Sigma is better than the Sigma. The Sigma Pro is, apparently, somewhere in between the two. The 404/Sigma best repairs the treble roll off heard in the Sigmas. There is also a slight reduction in the bass hump and possibly a slightly greater bass extension. The Lambda series are still more extended at both extremes.

I listened to the Sigma/404s and Lambdas just after a live piano recital in a biggish hall. I was certain that the Lambdas would sound more realistic as they seem to have a more balanced frequency response. That was not the case - the Sigma/404s stomped 'em. 'Nuff said!

Sigma Professional values are escalating, so you really can't lose even if you didn't like them.

Thanks.  I see a Sigma Pro for sale.   I don't know if 40drivers are available any more.   I wonder how the 507 dtivers would due?

Thanks.   I see a Sigma Pro available for sale on Audiogon.  Looks brand new- almost.   But 404 drivers may not be available any more.  How do you think 507 drivers would preform?

Why is a Sigma Pro not as good as a Sigma 404?

Quote:

Originally Posted by rsbrsvp 

Why is a Sigma Pro not as good as a Sigma 404?

The sigma pro sounds darker and slower to me.  I borrowed plaidplatypus's Sigma Pro for a couple of weeks, and then later I heard the same pair with the 404 drivers and the detail and treble was much better.

Hello everyone ! new audiophile here,what would be the difference between the stax sr-307 and the sr-407 i already have the money to get the sr-307 including the amplifier but before i take a bad  decision i would like to know if its worth to keep savig to get the sr407s?

Many thanks

Hamid

Edstrelow agrees with you here. I went Sigma -> Sigma/404, and there is no real treble lack i.e. they are no longer a dark phone as the low bias Sigma was (I'm listening to them now). It extends the midrange magic outwards to a broader range of excellence. There is still no sibilant tendency compared with the Lambda Nova Signature - a phone not really noted for that tendency.  Haven't heard the Sigma Pro, but some of the Sigma/404 magic should be there. Reports seem to suggest that there is still some extreme frequency range roll off that is lessened still by using a 404 driver.

The 507 drivers are not glued together and sit in a compression box like affair that is part of the base plate, IIRC. Spritzer has taken one of these apart and has put up pix. The Sigma needs the older glued together versions, because the whole driver needs to be one piece and is "glued" with 2 sided adhesive to the base plate. I'm not sure if the 207/307/407 are glued together, but you could use any Lambda Professional driver in theory up to and including the 202/303/404 series. As I inferred, I'm not sure about the 207/307/407. If the drivers are glued to the baseplate and glued together, they should be compatible.

The Lambda Nova Sig is excellent, but the Sigma/404 is better. Maybe the chain driving it helps a bit? Must try the LNS in that chain also.

Quote:

Originally Posted by HeadphoneAddict 

The sigma pro sounds darker and slower to me.  I borrowed plaidplatypus's Sigma Pro for a couple of weeks, and then later I heard the same pair with the 404 drivers and the detail and treble was much better.

I wouldn't mind if the 407's are the same inside when I get them because they are going to be a copy of Sigmas also but I don't plan on

taking the drivers out of there housing. My question is if the wires are switched around is it pretty much guaranteed you will get the same

sound from the back of the driver as you would normally from the front?

Better yet I am hoping that it will not be too hard to separate the plastic case from the aluminum plate that the ear pads are on.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaycalgary 

Better yet I am hoping that it will not be too hard to separate the plastic case from the aluminum plate that the ear pads are on.

I don't see any way of doing that since it is all the same molded piece. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by HamidGal 

Hello everyone ! new audiophile here,what would be the difference between the stax sr-307 and the sr-407 i already have the money to get the sr-307 including the amplifier but before i take a bad  decision i would like to know if its worth to keep savig to get the sr407s?

 

Many thanks

 

Hamid

Hi!

Yes, it seems that, unlike the 303 vs. 404, 407 is a significant step up from 307 and worth saving for - see here. As for the amplifier, 323S is a current favorite of many.