Stax SR-Lambda (Λ)

Note: The rating and pros/cons above are for the normal-bias SR-Lambda. This review also makes mention of the Lambda Pro, which I also have in my possession.

Stax has always been a vaunted and controversial name in high-end audio. Their fans claim that no dynamic headphone can so much as touch the heights reached by the cheapest electrostat; their detractors malign their plasticky build, and plasticky, unrealistic sound. (As always, the truth lies somewhere in between.) But I was intrigued enough that when I had a free moment at CanJam NYC this year, I made a beeline to the Stax room to try out a couple of Staxen. I had always thought of buying some Lambda or other, you see. And after trying the L700 (and later on reviewing it - you can find that review on MajorHifi) I was moved to buy my own budget(-ish) Stax setup, an SRM-1/MK-2 and an SR-Lambda Pro that I ordered off Yahoo Auctions.

And the Lambda Pro came, and I liked it...but not that much. I was surprised by what I perceived as a sort of V-shaped sound signature, with a really quite recessed midrange and a really sharp, annoying treble peak at around 10kHz. The resolution was there, yes, but the tonality lagged far beyond what I had experienced with the L700. After digging around online, I discovered that, yes, the Lambda Pro tends to have a reputation for having a recessed midrange, and the original Lambda might be more my speed. So, intending to sell the Lambda Pro as fast as possible, I picked up a Lambda from another user on Head-Fi.

Yes, this is closer to what I was going for. I haven't yet had a chance to compare these to the L700, but I expect I'll find them to be more similar than not, because a lot of what I'm getting from the Lambda matches what I remember getting from the L700. But that's another comparison for another time.

The SR-Lambda is not totally linear. There are some emphases especially in the mids that can throw things out of whack from time to time - more in some recordings than others, though. Generally I do find that these sound "right," especially compared with the decidedly wrong-sounding Lambda Pro. They're great for classical, not really as plasticky-sounding as I've been led to believe, and have a great and agreeable tonality. Basically, the SR-Lambda sounds like a lambda, but a very good and competent one.

Bassheads need not apply. The bass is linear (do NOT believe any measurements of Lambdas before the current generation with rolled-off bass - the bass is rolled-off in the new ones, but not the old ones, and measurements that say otherwise were taken without a good seal), going audibly down to 20Hz, though it may be slightly reduced in level by the time it gets there. It has some impact and power, but the Lambda Pro does notably better here. But it's going to be a hell of a lot better than a stock L700, that's for sure. I'd say it's a bit better than, say, the Sundara as well. It's not "subby," though, so trve bassheads will hate these. I do have some trouble really discerning what's going on in the subbass with, say, Burial, but it takes bass EQ like a champ.

The midrange has that characteristic Lambda shout somewhere between 1kHz and 2kHz. This throws the tonality of instruments slightly off (but very slightly; I don't perceive these as very unrealistic at all). More importantly, the Lambda can play vocals kind of weirdly, emphasizing "ah" sounds more than it should. For a good example, listen to "Quitting Time" by the Roches - the "AH" part of "QUITTING TAAAHHHHIIIME" right in the beginning is certainly overpronounced and a little grating with these headphones. Looking at CSDs, there is a very small amount of ringing in this region in other Lambdas - I can't find a CSD of the normal-bias Lambdas, but I suspect its driver, too, is very slightly ill-behaved in this region.

Above that little emphasis, the mids are kind of laid-back all the way up to 4kHz. So the overall tone of the midrange is pretty agreeable, with that 1-2kHz bump lending a bit of an unnatural coloration especially to vocals. Piano can also be an issue, as well as flute, or any issue that plays notes in the 1-2kHz range - these notes will come across as hard. The emphasis is something like 3-4dB - not terrible, but not slight enough to go unnoticed. Very "sweet" midrange, whatever that means - kind of like a soft yawn.

There is an emphasis on the upper treble starting at around 8kHz and continuing up indefinitely (there is no roll-off); this is accompanied by somewhat of a hole from 6-8kHz. But while the treble in the Lambda Pro was near unbearable without EQ, it's fine with the normal-bias Lambdas. You sure get a lot of detail with these things, but with recordings that already have an emphasis on air it can be overwhelming, and cymbals as realistic as they could be, since they have a lot more "air" than they do "body." There might be a little smearing going on, but that could just as easily be my DAC (the Bifrost MB; I need to upgrade).

Soundstage is good. Pretty wide, airy (I keep coming back to that word, don't I?), with good instrument placement and imaging, though maybe not quite as wide as the Lambda Pro with its recessed midrange. The high resolution helps with staging, of course, because you get more of the reverberations of the recording space, giving you more clues to help localize instruments. Imaging is perhaps not the most precise ever. Some have accused these of having a "flat" stage, but I wouldn't entirely agree - I think the stage dimensions are fine and natural, personally. These are notably better at doing intimate recordings justice than the Lambda Pro or even the SR-009s.

OK, let's talk a bit about the Lambda Pro and some of the issues I had with it. My rating of that would be closer to 3 stars, and that's mostly because of unbearable colorations in the stock sound. For a while I tolerated it by using the EQ settings from the Stax ED-1, but to be honest, that didn't sound very good either - there's a 3kHz bump with that of about 6.5dB, which helps make up for the Lambda Pro's recessed mids, but it's too much. More importantly, the headphones didn't really sound fun with the ED-1 on. Tonal accuracy was broadly there, but there was nothing arresting about what was going on. Even more unfortunately, the Lambda Pros demonstrated that they were a bit less willing to take EQ than I would imagine. With EQ, the Lambda shout was still there, just subdued, but it would rear its ugly head every once in a while; and that 6.5dB upper midrange peak would get quite harsh from time to time. Treble retained a bit of its spiciness, too.

Build: The Lambda and Lambda Pro are both the cheaply-built monstrosities we associate with Stax, but since it was the 80s, I think it's forgivable. Frankly, I think the modern Lambda designs are forgivable, too. I like the boxy look, but I recognize that position puts me in the minority.

Anyway, more importantly, these are old, so you're going to get an old product when you buy one. On mine, the earpads have hardened considerably (though not so much on my Pro as on my normal-bias Lambdas). They're still very comfortable, though, as the clamping force is very light and the headphones themselves are pretty light too. There's also a list of "rules for use," so to speak, so that you don't damage the drivers. Don't push them into your head, don't play music without the headphones on, don't listen to them with wet hair (this one might be a myth, frankly), etc. When I was showing them to a friend of mine, I relayed this list of rules, and he said with very genuine confusion: "why do you own these?" It's a good question, and one that I consider every day. But if you want great sound, and you're not paying for that sound in money (because these are very cheap for what they offer), you're gonna pay for it with the fact that you own a piece of arcane technology that's very easy to destroy if you mishandle it. Channel imbalance is apparently common, although not a problem on my pair.

Value: For the "dynamic is best" faction, the HD600 may well still be a better value proposition than the Lambda. Obviously the 600 has less resolving power than the Lambda, but some will consider the timbre better and more natural (not me, although perhaps I should wait till I can A/B the two). But considering that the Lambda pretty much performs up to the standards of today's $1,500 L700 and can be had for $300 or under if you're lucky, I'd say it's pretty damn good. 10/10 value; you will not get better for the price except through a difference in taste or a stroke of luck (I feel like the ATH-AD2000, which I got for $200, is on the level of these, for example, but not in terms of absolute performance).

Conclusion: If you're planning to use the SR-Lambdas as all-rounders, let me just stop you there. They in no way give you an accurate picture of what your recording sounds like without heavy EQ - too heavy to be worth it, in my opinion. Instead, these are headphones that you get for the experience, for the "electrostat sound," to enjoy your recordings in a new way. And for that, they work wonderfully. Yes, the treble is hashy, and the midrange is uneven in the typical Lambda-ish way. The midrange unevenness can occasionally be grating and harsh, especially with operatic vocals. That said, they're definitely a cool thing that I'm happy to own.

1 star deducted for the Lambda shout & thinned-out treble. As for the rest, it depends on your taste. For $300, I'd say they're very, very good, but something like the HD600 or maybe the HE-500 or something would be a safer choice.

Hey audiophiles.

Audio set up used:

16/24bit uncompressed lossless music,

optical TosLink cable,

Nordost Brahma power cable,

Teac UD-503,

custom solid core copper silver gold XLR cables,

Stax SRM-006T,

custom solid core copper silver gold power cable.

This is a review of the Lambda Professional. These are just my impressions, opinions, views and experiences with them. I purchase all my many cans (all blind, risky but fun), no freebies or samples.

Design, build & comfort.

Well these use a thicker and stronger plastic than the SR-202 and Lambda Nova Basic, so slightly better build than them.

The design is all about practicality, yes the ear cups are tall and large (that’s because of the large oval stator). A non-detachable cable is something I do not like on any headphone.

The stock leatherette ear pads are decent but I would prefer more depth to them, my ears do not touch the inner metal grills.

The inner foam always deteriorates, a poor choice by Stax. I know they put it there to prevent dust and debris from the stators but the material was not suitable clearly. But Stax did change that to a fabric style one on their more recent Earspeakers, credit there.

They are very lightweight, plastic all the way.

And they are very comfortable, thanks to the lack of weight and the suspension headband (which stays in place).

Stax have been using this type of headband for many decades and for good reason (so many manufacturers need to adopt this style, honestly).

I personally do not like it’s retro look but that is not an important factor to me, comfort is far more important and these are very comfortable. You do forget they are on your head after a short while, just be sure to keep mirrors away. Haha.

Sound.

My Lambda Pros (LP) are almost 40 years old, forty!

I cannot believe how good they sound, sometimes old is pure 24K gold : )

Outstanding detail, treble, spaciousness, resolution, clarity, insight, airiness, imaging, highs, transparency, separation, etc.

It’s like a Focal Utopia (which I owned) but with a taller and more grand sound stage, it is quite something and such a wonderful experience.

I’ll give you an example of what I mean, Bachelorette by Bjork is a great test for cans. It has a lot going on during many sections, it gets very busy and this song catches out many headphones. I’ve heard it sound congested on quite a few high end cans but on my LP, it may be the best interpretation I’ve heard on any headphone at any price. And I’ve owned over 200 headphones over the years, that is saying something.

My LP may be the best can I’ve heard for low volume listening too, exceptional.

It can get a little bright but only when you crank up the volume. It’s like the cans are telling you you’re listening too loud, it’s trying to protect you.

The mids and vocals are so clear and transparent, a lovely tonality too.

The weakest part is the bass, if you’re coming from a bass emphasised headphone it may sound anaemic or subtle.

It definitely lacks some impact, depth, punchiness, extension and slam. But it is again very clean, tight and controlled. It has good size, warmth and fullness. It is nice but not great (you knew a negative was coming).

Oh, almost forgot to mention it’s extraordinary transient response. If you listen to fast pace music, well you haven’t been really unless you heard it on these. The way these things “stop and start” is really amazing, reference level. A good test would be Hunter Theme by Noisia, this track has caught out many high end cans and speakers.

They are also excellent value too, if you can get a pre-owned one in good condition. And they can last for many, many years as proven with my pair.

So I really, really like my LP and I’ve “only” heard it on a SRM-323S and SRM-006T. Not a KGSSHV Carbon, DIYT2 or BHSE (far too expensive for me, maybe one day though).

Highly recommended from me, happy listening all.

Update 1.

Audio set up used:
DCS Rossini Player,
Stax SRM-252S,
iFi iPower 12V low noise power supply.

Listening to Chan Chan by Buena Vista Social Club was marvellous. Easy to discern the different layers and elements of the song with the LP. This thing is just so damn clean! There is a purity to it’s sound, listening to Hello by Adele you can really hear the power in her voice. Very airy and spacious too.
Listening to Go Ahead by Alicia Keys, there is warmth on offer. Obviously not very hard hitting in the lows but very musical with the LP. A really nice tonality I find, especially in the mids.
Listening to Unravel by Bjork, you can hear the vulnerability and delicacy in her voice. There is a rawness in her performance here, quite beautiful and sweet. The LP shows that with ease with it’s stunning resolution.
Heart of Glass by Blondie was dreamy and surreal even, really good instrument separation by the LP.
Hurt by Johnny Cash was truly moving, you can easily hear his lips moving before he starts singing. Quite an epic song though, my favourite of his.
Listening to No Reason (featuring Nick Murphy) by Bonobo, there is a fullness to the sound. Pretty atmospheric and smooth, very enjoyable. It reached pretty low, the LP just never sound overwhelmed or flustered. Excellent composure and assurance by the LP.
Hearing Insomnia (Monster Mix) by Faithless, I just wish there was more power and presence in the lows but I know that will sacrifice the very high levels of detail and clarity on offer here by the LP. I love that song a lot, for me it’s a masterpiece. I guess you can’t have everything sonically but for me the Stax SR-007 mark 1 gets the closest I’ve heard.
Time by Hans Zimmer was another great experience, sweeping and involving.
Honey by Katy B & Kaytranada was really good, surprisingly good bass impact and extension. I really like Katy B’s tone and Kaytranada is very talented too.

Quick comparison with the great SR-007 mark 1, tested on the SRM-006T:
LP has a bigger sound stage, grander and taller. A bit more airy, clear, detailed but brighter and lacks some bass quantity.
007mk1 has an even more balanced sound, it's more nuetral. More musical, forgiving and pleasing. It has more bass presence and warmth, more fuller and smoother too.

Note: this review is for a Stax Lambda Pro. I'm not certain each review is for the same model here :/

This headphone (along with a Stax SRM-727a amp) is the finest audio experience of my life. If you're used to dynamic drivers, it'll be a shock the first time you hear what music is supposed to sound like. There is ZERO muddiness anywhere in the spectrum. Every frequency is reproduced cleanly and separately from the others. Voices and instruments sound so realistic, in unfamiliar music I'll often think someone is in the room with me, before realizing it's just the recording. Most concert venues don't sound half as clear.

If the sound balance right out of the box isn't what you're looking for, not to worry, they respond perfectly to an EQ, and will take on whatever sound signature you desire, at whatever volume (these sound just as good quiet or ear-bleedingly loud). Personally I like boosting 200hz ane below by 4db or so.

Most everyone talks about the mids or the highs, which are indeed world-class, and sharper and crisper even than any planar magnetic driver can manage. But for me (an EDM & hip-hop listener) the bass was the real revelation. Where even the best dynamic speakers produce a deep indistinct boominess, these can articulate the bass exactly, and you can suddenly tell the difference between a 20hz and a 22hz tone.

Even the sennheiser HD800 sounds slow and artificial sounding compared to the Stax. I haven't heard other electrostatic headphone systems (be it other Stax models, the Koss ESP950, or the absurd $10,000 Sennheiser HE50), but no dynamic, no planar magnetic driver can come close to doing what this Stax electrostat can.

Obviously your source matters, but even streaming soundcloud from the headphone jack on my phone sounds phenomenal through these. Using a hi-fi DAC such as the Mojo or GOV2+ is even better of course, but the gap between my phone (an LG V10 with a relatively great DAC to begin with) and those hi-fi dacs isn't nearly as great as the gap sounds when using regular headphones. I prefer a DAC that gives a lot of body to the music, such as the Hifiman HM601. Using a bright DAC might not be the best pairing.

While the astounding sound quality is the most important thing, I'd like to say a few words about build quality and comfort. The build quality is nothing special, they seem to be made of a cheap plastic, but I've learned that a cheap feel does not mean it's actually flimsy, but I baby mine anyway just in case. As these are the least portable headphone type on the market, that's not much of an issue. They will never leave the room where their amp is set up.

Comfort-wise, they are exceptionally comfortable. They weigh very little, and exert almost no clamping force on your head, but somehow they never slip off while you're wearing them either. The main issue related to comfort is the fact that they rely on static electricity to produce sound, and bumping your hand to the outside of the case can cause a quick grounding on that side, and you will only hear through the opposite side for a minute while it builds up a sufficient charge again. It's a minor issue that's inherent to the technology.

IN CONCLUSION, these are the best headphones I have ever heard, they put most $1,500 pairs to shame (ahem HD800 ahem), and if you know how to EQ for yourself, there is no reason you wouldn't be blown away too.

So, you were researching this headphone...and wondered: "Should I go for it?"
 
Do you like acoustic, vocal or classical music?
Well, if you do, firstly, I would say you should probably pull the trigger before someone else does. And then you may continue reading this - in a more relaxed matter 
You should pay attention the condition though, some of the pairs I've seen here had a rough life, and might not be a faithful representative of what these are capable of.
Killing a Stax is not easy, but it is possible unfortunately. Mine was't in a nice shape either. But a standard head- and earpad replacement really gave it a new lease of life. Being an early pair, you just wouldn't believe that it is now probably more than 30 years old, let alone hear how it can just simply crush almost any modern headphones with the types of music I mentioned.
 
I mean it, seriously. Calling this a great value headphone is somewhat of an understatement.
For my taste it is one of the best I've heard. Why? Making an instrument sound like an instrument on playback can't be that difficult, right?
But the truth is, the midrange is really hard to get right. And I am happy to report that this headphone pulls this one off.
Guitars, vocals, etc. are just magical on this thing, but not because they are immerged in some virtual mass of sound trickery, it is simply because they are presented in a natural way.
The detail is there, but not in your face. The speed is very good, but does not go to extremes, very nice transients thanks to the damping. The soundstage is airy, but does not get too diffused, so you can always keep an eye - I mean two ears - on what's going on.
And here is the best thing: making an SR Lambda sounding bad is no easy task (if you like it's basic character, that is). Even when paired with a cheap (but well-thought-out) system using an adapter, it still sings beautifully.
But give it the source it deserves and drive it with a top tier amp, and everything becomes bigger and clearer, even the bass gains some snap as well.
 
So, what's not to like?
Somewhat bright sounding, so some people may find it glaring and a bit tiresome after a while. The imaging isn't nearly as good as the best out there (although more than holds its own in its price range).
Also, the damping does lower the bass output and quality somewhat. It does extend lower than you'd expect, but it is not for bass-heads. So don't put a bright DAC before it.
And really, its main positive far outweigh these on its own.
Not much to say on the comfort front. With new pads, I am finding them to be very comfortable. The older style headband allows a bit better angle adjustment than the newer ones.
Maybe I should deduct a little on the design because of it looks and its plastic construction. But, since I am not sure it would sound quite the same with this and that changed, I won't.
 
All in all, I am not quite sure of the reason why moving to the Pro standard, improving the technicalities also made a backwards step in naturalness - maybe the reason why it was still being produced until finally coming to a halt in 1994.
I don't mean at all that the rest of that Lambdas are bad, far from it - that said, I am not a huge fan of the current ones...
And imho neither of the others really seem to have that...something that this one does. And sometimes...something...means...everything. Or not?
Anyway, it's time to end, thanks for reading

Getting Your Stuff
This headphone is the true giant killer if it is obtained with an SRD-6/7 transformer box. Keep in mind that you will need at least 10 watts of power (>15 recommended) from a speaker amp to adequately power these things. Vintage amps are wonderful. If you don't have one, consider getting a TA2021 class-T amplifier which can be had for as little as $40 on Ebay. Amazingly, that combo sounds glorious and doesn't leave one wanting. If you can get the complete setup for under or around $400, you are partaking in one of greatest values that exists in the audio world. It is also a stellar first visit to the world of electrostatic technology.
 
The Sound
This review is mostly a value proposition, but it wouldn't be appropriate to leave without at least one subjective account of these headphones with some objective data of course.
 
They sound magnificent. If you are used to dynamics, these will sound more linear, open, airy, and non-fatiguing than probably anything you have heard. They are not bright headphones, being the least bright out of all Lambdas. They are not dark in the slightest. They are extremely neutral and are fantastic all-rounders that sound great from rock to pop to classical. I would have to say that these sound particularly gorgeous with good classical recordings.
 
They have a bit of very low bass roll-off, but I hardly ever notice it or find it bothersome. If you listen to dubstep 24-7, these may not be for you, but I don't think you would be looking for Stax anyway. They have a great mid-bass punch that is fun, but mild enough to not muck up the sound. They have a gentle emphasis on the mids that I find beautiful and tends to bring out voices very nicely.
 
The air on these is amazing. They are very full sounding headphones that are also the last headphones that I would call "congested". I thought the K501 was the champion of an airy sound stage until I heard these. This amount of air and effortlessness can only be created on electrostats.
 
Value VS
There are of course other options to be had if you are looking into budget electrostatics. I picked the three that I believe are the most common alternatives. I will try to briefly discuss what I find better and what I find worse about them vs the original SR-Lambda SB (standard bias).
 
Stax SR-Lambda Professional: This would be the most common alternative. After all, it is the direct successor to the original Lambda. It would follow that it would do some things better.
 
The Good: It can often be found for the same price or even slightly cheaper than the SB. Availability is usually quite a bit higher. The bass extension is a little better. The professional bias amp or transformer box that is needed with these can be used with any later Stax headphones that you may decide to purchase.
 
The Bad: The frequency response is a bit more wonky and less linear. You lose that small mid emphasis that is very appealing. The headphone is brighter with an upward tilt that is not existent in the SB version.
 
Overall: This is a great headphone that can be an even better value than the version that I am reviewing. The improvement in bass extension aside, I found the frequency response to be mostly inferior while adding a brightness that was not previously present. If you intend to keep these for a very long time, I think that waiting for a good value on an SB version would be preferred overall.
 
Koss ESP-950: This is a more expensive alternative that may be more appealing depending on your musical tastes.
 
The Good: This headphone is very linear, although not as much as the Lambda SB. It is a bit more laid back and less bright than any Lambdas. There is an emphasis on the lower mids that is more intense than the one on the SB and creates a very full and seductive tone on voices. Transparency is probably a little higher than on the vintage Lambdas, likely because of a much newer design. AMP IS INCLUDED, NO SPENDING MONEY ON AMPLIFICATION!!! Lifetime warranty, no questions asked. Parts replacements are cheap.
 
The Bad: It is hard to find a good deal. They will sell for $1000 normally, but they can be gotten for $500-$600 on amazon if you are diligent in checking and commit quickly. Not everyone wants to deal with that. Drivers have been known to squeak and drivers have malfunctioned and needed to be sent in for replacement. Amplification upgrades can be difficult.
 
Overall: It is a phenomenal headphone that is definitely worth it for $500-$600. The sound signature is more full and less airy than any Stax, which may be enough for consideration for some people. It is certainly not the most neutral electrostat, but it is one of the least fatiguing and is great for long listening sessions. The build quality is not quite up to the Stax level, but that lifetime warranty should keep your worries away.
 
Stax SR-207: This is the brand new "budget" Lambda, if the thought of buying used is distasteful to you. It can be a great value. Buying with a new amp will push these to a more expensive price range, so these are not really that good of a value compared to others. They are around $400 new for just the headphones.
 
The Good: Basically, they are more technically proficient than the older Lambdas. They are a little more detailed and have better extension. This is because of the newer technology. They also can be gotten brand new. Buying used would save you even more money, though it is difficult to find these used.
 
The Bad: They are a bit bright. They follow the ongoing trend of Lambdas having an upward tilt in their sound signature, and being susceptible to excessive brightness. The tuning is certainly not as neutral or natural sounding as the Lambda SB. Can be quite expensive with amp.
 
Overall: I cannot honestly recommend these from a value perspective. If you want a new headphone, I would wait for a deal on a Koss ESP-950 which is a better headphone IMHO. Bought as a system with amp, the cost is around $800. Paired with an SRD-7 Pro, the Koss ESP-950 competes with and beats out this system.
 
My Ratings
Here I will attempt to explain my reasoning behind the star ratings that I have given the SR-Lambda SB with SRD6/7 combo.
 
Value: I obtained my combo for $350. No dynamic headphone except perhaps the HD800 can hope to challenge the sound quality and that is more than 4x the cost. Enough said.
 
Audio Quality: The only real weakness is a slightly lacking bass extension. The tuning however, is near perfect. IMO, this is one of the top two best tuned Lambdas made, and leaves nothing to be desired. Neutrality, musicality, transparency, openness and air. No brightness. This is a sound that you can be content with for a lifetime.
 
Design: The build is very minimalist and sturdy. It is about 30 years old, and looks and behaves good as new. These older Lambdas supposedly are built even better than the new ones. I will ding it a star for just looking odd. You would not go out with these and your friends may make fun of you, but the less superficial will know that the joke is truly on them when they walk outside with their rapper phones.
 
Comfort: Quite frankly, these are some of the most comfortable headphones that I have worn. They have very low clamping pressure, but the cloth headband does a stellar job of stabilizing these on my head. Since these are so open, my ears are free to breathe easily. I dinged a half-star because the pleather may cause some skin to sweat if these are worn on a hot summer day. Not a problem to me, but others may differ.
 
Overall: I find it fitting to end this value review on the overall rating. I heavily contemplated giving this a full five stars. In a perfect world, I would have without hesitation. My half-star ding has nothing to do with the presence or lack of merit within this headphone. Rather, it is the fact that you will be investing on a 30-year old product. No matter how well built that product is, a lot can happen in 30 years. There will always be a little risk when buying a vintage product such as this.
 
As such, make sure that you ask plenty of questions about the product before you commit to bidding on it. Make sure that there is no room for the seller to short-sell you. Once you bid and win, you are obligated to pay. With enough questions, you make sure that you don't bid on a faulty or under-performing product. Even better if you can buy from someone you know or an enthusiast community such as this. For some reason, Stax vintage headphones seem to be somewhat under the radar on this site (hopefully will change), and the risk is usually much smaller than buying from other bidding sites.
 
In conclusion, this is a phenomenal value headphone that may finally cure that itch to continue spending on upgrades. At least until you decide to go to the top of the electrostatic world.