[NeilPeart]

Because a good Stax system costs much more than a good dynamic headphone rig.

 

[Chefguru]

Stax has it's problems to. Fragile , needs an amp, you can hear everything around you , the price range starts higher (although the value is much better then a dynamic's).
Nothing is perfect , but I guess the stax is closer then most.

 

[Spent&Bent]

Quote:

Originally posted by NeilPeart Because a good Stax system costs much more than a good dynamic headphone rig.

I can't say I agree with this, the stax classic system for example is not that expensive, especially since it includes the amp already.

I admit the omega II becomes very expensive but so is R-10, the top dynamic can.

 

[NeilPeart]

The Stax 3030 and above are the only systems worth considering, as the ones below simply cannot compete with a good dynamic combo, IMHO. The 3030 is around $1500, and that system does perform pretty well. However, I feel many other dynamic combos can perform as well or better than the 3030 system for quite a bit less dough:

K1000/RKV
W2002/MPX3
DT-880/Corda HA-2
RS-1/Gilmore V2
CD3000/PPX3
HD650/MOHR

That said I still have not heard a better system than my dad's Omega II/KGSS combo (though it is among the most expensive rigs around). This is after hearing the HP-1/Maestrobator, the HD650/Blockhead, the K1000/RKV and the W2002/EAR HP4. I have no problems with the performance of Stax's systems, but don't even try unless you have at least $1000 to start. Meanwhile, I can have plenty of fun with an HD580/PPX3 for substantially less than the 3030.

 

[Spent&Bent]

1500 $ for the classic 2 system? I have seen it for 720 dollar new, straight from japan.

audiocubes has them too btw, around 800 dollars

 

[Eagle_Driver]

Actually, the under-$1000 Stax systems are underperformance models, based on the system prices. I tried one of their full-sized models for that under-$1000 price, and I wasn't impressed one bit.

Besides, I have been doing all of my headphone listening portably, thus most of the electrostatics are out (there are a couple of Stax electrostatics that are meant for portable use, but I wouldn't be very satisfied with their comfort level or battery life).

 

[Spent&Bent]

Quote:

Originally posted by Eagle_Driver Actually, the under-$1000 Stax systems are underperformance models, based on the system prices. I tried one of their full-sized models for that under-$1000 price, and I wasn't impressed one bit.

I do not understand... are you saying if bought from audiocubes at a reduced price, compared to brick&mortar...these systems perform not as well even though they have the same looks??

 

[Eagle_Driver]

Quote:

Originally posted by Spent&Bent I do not understand... are you saying if bought from audiocubes at a reduced price, compared to brick&mortar...these systems perform not as well even though they have the same looks??

I have tried Staxes that sell in brick-and-mortar stores in the US for under $1000. They just simply perform no better than dynamic headphones that sell for half their price.

 

[Spent&Bent]

Quote:

Originally posted by Eagle_Driver I have tried Staxes that sell in brick-and-mortar stores in the US for under $1000. They just simply perform no better than dynamic headphones that sell for half their price.

Thanks, now I understand what you were saying... yes that is true, same thing over here, one could buy five or six sennheisers for one stax system, really absurd.

 

[NeilPeart]

This is the point I was trying to make.

 

[minya]

Quote:

Originally posted by NeilPeart The Stax 3030 and above are the only systems worth considering, as the ones below simply cannot compete with a good dynamic combo, IMHO. The 3030 is around $1500, and that system does perform pretty well. However, I feel many other dynamic combos can perform as well or better than the 3030 system for quite a bit less dough.

Erm, no. The 3030 can be had for little over $700 from Japan. The 404 and SRM-313 (what I have) can be had for around $800.

That's equivalent to the cost of a PPX3 and an HD650, or a used RS-1 and a Gilmore V2.

(Paying brick-and-mortar prices for Stax is dumb. The 4040 costs - what - $2,000+ from the official US Stax distributor? Again, dumb.)

- Chris

 

[Jasper994]

Quote:

Originally posted by Iron_Dreamer Now i've just got to wait for the doggone package to arrive

Did you let your 325's go?

 

[Iron_Dreamer]

Yep they are on the next mail truck out of here. No harsh feelings. Especially after another go-round with Ed's HD600, I was convinced that was where I needed to be.

 

[Jasper994]

Quote:

Originally posted by Iron_Dreamer Yep they are on the next mail truck out of here. No harsh feelings. Especially after another go-round with Ed's HD600, I was convinced that was where I needed to be.

Did you get to hear the RME with the 600's?

 

[Iron_Dreamer]

Yes indeed, both through my amp, and the Grace 901, the difference was pretty negligable, especially considering the price difference (it was mainly just a little bit of high-end definition).