Mad Lust Envy's Headphone Gaming Guide: (Updated: 5/17/13. Skullcandy PLYR 1 added) - Page 747

I've been listening to a lot of vocal music lately, and switched back to the SR-Lambda for a comparison.

 

The HE-400, while not bad at all, also seems to have a similar issue to the SR-202 in that voices seem to sound...slightly textured/grainy, maybe? I can't quite find the words, but it makes the voices sound a bit artificial...or maybe I'm just really, really used to the SR-Lambda's presentation after having used it as my primary headphone for so long. Regardless, I still consider the old Lambda to be a superior headphone for vocals, even taking into account the mid-emphasized frequency response. No other headphone I've heard yet renders vocals quite like it does.

 

The best comparison I can think of, even though I haven't heard the other headphone in question, is how Mad Lust Envy compares the HE-400's mids to the HD650's. To paraphrase, the HE-400 has well-integrated mids with the whole spectrum that make vocals sound good, but the HD650 has this sweet, upfront presentation of vocals that puts the singer in the spotlight. (I have to audition the HD650 one day to make my own comparisons...)

 

I also can't shake this overall impression, even though it's been a while since I listened to one, that the current "numerical" Stax Lambdas (at least SR-202, maybe SR-303 too) are more like electrostatic HE-400s in overall presentation, just with bigger soundstage and slightly less tactile bass.

 

Also, it's now become apparent to me that both headphones can deliver proper punchy bass when it's called for, but the HE-400 will emphasize it more because of its frequency response.

Edited by NamelessPFG - 1/24/13 at 1:39pm

Coqui's are awesome

NamelessPFG,
I know how you feel. I listened to the AD700, quite often, for three years before buying Mad's Q701. I do love the Q701, but much more often with the AD700 I think I hear someone behind me and I turn around in real life, to see nobody. Maybe the bass is really quick and cold, maybe the upper-mids are colored, but I am definitely attuned to them. The Q701s dominate music time, but sometimes I get in a groove of playing the AD700s straight out of the recon3D so the AD700 gets around 50% of my gaming time.
Edited by Evshrug - 1/24/13 at 12:55pm

Don't even need the mixamp? What am I missing here?

Edited by SoAmusing777 - 1/24/13 at 10:49pm

Thats exactly what i did to my turtle beaches when they broke. Now I connect my hd558 to it. Huge improvement

Oh man, do I wish I had the money to bid on this right now...

 

This is a Normal-bias Stax SR-Lambda, the one I keep raving about, with an SRD-7/SB transformer box that's shoved into a nice headphone stand. Hopefully, one of you here can win this auction, though I wouldn't count on winning with a max bid of significantly less than $400-450 given how expensive these things tend to sell on eBay.

Nameless,
Again, wish I could though I don't really need to. I'm curious though, if you already have the SR-Lambda (and love it), why do you wish you could buy this? So that you could have Stax's amp and their whole collection kit?

I have a feeling that Mad would jump on this, if he sold his HE-400 (again) and since he already has a Marantz receiver on the way. But who knows, someone else may jump first?
I believe Roger was suggesting if someone was thinking they would have to buy something (Mixamp/DSS, Marantz or vintage receiver, Xonar sound card) just to hear what Dolby Headphone was all about, they could instead watch the video posted in Mad's guide (and mine) to contrast DH to stereo or another virtual surround algorithm they have on hand. He makes a decent point, though if the tester likes the sample he or she will obviously then want to make a purchase choice.
Roger may even have been partially responding to me, but I've already seen the video, and I want to hear the processing "live" with games I'm more familiar with to get a better feeling for THX TSP vs DH. It's a first world dilemma XD

...

Maybe I should try waiting tables again? I'm home sick, things'll get going in earnest again when my face wouldn't scare a potential employer, LOL!

Sennheiser HD 419 vs Beyerdynamic DT 235 for PC games?

I like the superlux 681 and panasonic RP-HTF600-S too, but I prefer velour ear pads and would have to pay $20 more for the pads...

Edited by jazh23 - 1/25/13 at 8:25am

Sshhh nameless, it's going to be mine, lol. You wanna talk about a deal, in November a Lambda with SRM-1 Mk2 went for 450 with an extension cable. Wish I had seen that one :

-Erik

43 Watchers, probably going to go for WAY too much
Edited by burritoboy9984 - 1/25/13 at 7:42am

Lol that's funny I'm one of those watchers for 3 days now!! 8hrs left to bid.. Wow I would love to try the amp out from the lambda with my esp-950's..

Well it seems for me this might be the end of the road with buying n trying commercial products left n right. I'm about done with it and I'm going the DIY route with the enlisted help of a friend. Wish me luck on my endeavors.. Lol

I've been watching it since the day it popped up. I have a saved search that shows pretty much everythig stax and electrostat, lol.

-Erik

 

My SR-Lambda isn't exactly factory-spec. The drivers were rebuilt by someone at some stage of its life, and the cable must have been replaced too, given that it's actually a 5-pin cable meant for Pro bias sets. The mineral wool inside the earcups is also missing.

 

That's why I want to get one that's still in its stock state, to compare how similar-and different-they sound. That, and since it's a discontinued model, and I don't like the numerical Lambdas I've auditioned quite as much, I naturally want a backup in case the worst comes to pass.

 

That SRD-7/SB isn't a standalone amp, by the way. It's a transformer box that needs speaker-level input. I already have one of those and wouldn't really need it, though the headphone stand around it is really nice.

 

 

Heh, and I saw a deal where someone sold a Lambda Pro with an SRM-1/Mk2 Pro for $400 shipped. No extension cable, but between my $250 SR-Lambda + SRD-7/SB and that, I thought vintage Stax prices were supposed to be lower than they currently are...

 

Best of luck to you! eBay's competition is fierce...

 

 

This one's Normal bias (230V), NOT Pro bias (580V), and the Koss ESP/950 runs at around 600V if I'm not mistaken. You're asking for trouble just thinking about mixing and matching equipment here.

Ouch, that really blows. What a raw deal, isn't there some sort of Ebay/Paypal protection you can invoke? I've never really bought anything over $50 on Ebay, never had such a terrible experience either (yet).

 

First off, calm down and don't worry. Try resetting the microprocessor, I always do this first thing when I purchase a used receiver, someone might have changed all the assigned inputs. If not, as said above, ebay buyer protection will cover you if the item is not as described. I had an issue with the PS3 not liking the Marantz as well, try a different HDMI cable, it worked for me. One thing of note, the GUI won't work via HDMI, so you need to run an analog (I used composite) to view the GUI and change settings easier.

 

-Erik