Best of STAX Lambda Series?

[Hi-Fi-Apricity]

Hello everyone! I'm working on a STAX rig and im pretty set on the SR-L700 but I would like to have others thoughts on a few things. You see I like things that arent to dark or to bright. Say the HD800, Beyer, HE-6 are to bright for me in the treble. While the SR007, LCD, Monoprice planars etc.... are to dark for me.

I want something that is foward in the mids akin to say the AD2000 (or the entire AD line from Audio Technica for that matter) but keeps it reasonable in the highs. I found that the HE-560 and aformentioned AD line is around the right brightness for me but the HE-560 upper mids were to recessed for my taste.

So I come here to ask does it sound like the L700 would be the right Lambda for me or should I look into the 507 or even the SR-Lambda Nova Basic?

 

[SeaWo|f]

The l700 are known to be a bit bright, but I think though careful choices with your source and amp that can be dialed back. Good thing about them is they are relatively easy to drive.

 

[Hi-Fi-Apricity]

The l700 are known to be a bit bright, but I think though careful choices with your source and amp that can be dialed back. Good thing about them is they are relatively easy to drive.

I have actually heard them, but in show conditions so I couldn't make any concrete conclusions. They seemed relatively laidback compared to the STAX I have heard for extended time though. SR404, SR507. And most definitely less up top than say the SR-009.

Most STAX barring the 007 tend to lean to slightly bright but they never seem to fatigue me in the same way dynamics do, not sure why that is?

The source chain I decided on after much debate is my RME ADI-2 DAC as the D/A & 353X for the amp. Initially was going to go with the 727II w/ feedback mod, but I thought that they may upgrade that particular spot in their lineup.

 

[SeaWo|f]

The high-end stax will magnify upstream gear. I have not heard the l700 but I have read every review I could find in them. Laid back is not a description I have ever seen attached to them.

Your dac has a lot of options to tune the setup so that might be helpful for you.

727 needs the feedback mod otherwise it's just boring. If you are willing to mod an amp a 006ts with ccs mod might be a better match to the l700.

Another option in that price range is spritzers new octave v2. Only a few are out there so not much impressions atm.

Otherwise you are stuck spending at bit more money on a KG amp.

 

[Hi-Fi-Apricity]

The high-end stax will magnify upstream gear. I have not heard the l700 but I have read every review I could find in them. Laid back is not a description I have ever seen attached to them.

Your dac has a lot of options to tune the setup so that might be helpful for you.

727 needs the feedback mod otherwise it's just boring. If you are willing to mod an amp a 006ts with ccs mod might be a better match to the l700.

Another option in that price range is spritzers new octave v2. Only a few are out there so not much impressions atm.

Otherwise you are stuck spending at bit more money on a KG amp.

Laidback isnt the word im looking for, sorry. I guess what I would say is warmish? Euphonic in nature ; atleast compared to what I normally listen to (Main driver is an AD900X). But yea I heard the normal 727II and was not impressed at all, I was told that with the feeback mod the 727II was better than 353X (which I like) so I considered it. I decided to go the cheaper route and either upgrade to a KG amp later or wait for STAX to refresh the 727II with an improved version or something new.

 

[SeaWo|f]

Don't count on stax sta do anything worth waiting for with it. A 006ts is a T1.

I suspect what you heard from the l700 was the source. Because the way you describe it is not how I have heard anyone else talk about it.

I think with a carefully chosen setup you could put some of what you are talking about into an l700 but it's not that headphones inherent character.

 

[Hi-Fi-Apricity]

Don't count on stax sta do anything worth waiting for with it. A 006ts is a T1.

I suspect what you heard from the l700 was the source. Because the way you describe it is not how I have heard anyone else talk about it.

I think with a carefully chosen setup you could put some of what you are talking about into an l700 but it's not that headphones inherent character.

I think you are probably right about upstream equipment. But shoot I didnt know that about the 006t. Well I guess ill just have to cross my fingers and pray

 

[SeaWo|f]

If I was looking to get what you want out of the l700 and looking to spend the top end of what you mentioned, the 1600 a 727 would run you I would do this: Buy a 006ts do the ccs mod and spend 700 on an audio GD r2r 2. The r2r 2 has the audio gd sound of smooth and warm without going too far. The 006ts with the mod can perfectly control the l700 drivers and you would have the option of tube rolling to further tweak the sound.

Upgrade amp in the future I would look at a KGST or if you have the budget a megatron.