SR-007 MKII and Distortion

[M3NTAL]

I am getting some distortion in low bass and midrange vocals when the volume is at higher levels. Is this an attribute of the Stax itself? My dynamic setup does not break up like this with the same volume levels.. or even louder.

ie Imogean Heap - Headlock, the intro bass (only the one before the song really gets going, it is really low 30hz-ish) and the "effects" on her voice break up also.

 

[spritzer]

The SR-007 will reach 100dB+ without distortion so something is wrong with either the phones or the amp.

 

[edstrelow]

I can get painfully loud peaks on mine such that that I have to turn them down. So unless you need massive volume in lieu of a hearing aid there must be something wrong somewhere in the set-up.

Also stats sound very clean and I find people sometimes underestimate their volume levels. I did this in my early listening days until I started to get ear pain. Fortunately I learned to back off the volume and my hearing seems to be holding up pretty well.

 

[M3NTAL]

I am hoping it is just my amplifier "breaking in" or possibly the tubes that are in use.

Im going to listen to some more familiar tracks tonight and see if I can catch anything. I usually use my ER4-S as a "reference" point since there are very revealing.

 

[M3NTAL]

Yes, something is defiantly wrong. It gets muddled up as **** when the volume is up.

Damage tubes or something else? At low volume it sounds fine, but everything gets all muddled and confused + distorted as hell.

 

[derekbmn]

Welcome to the wonderful world of "the O2s are a biatch to drive"
Oh ...I have heard it before... and its your amp... running out of power and begging for mercy.

....(I'm not kidding)

 

[spritzer]

It's well documented that the GES is unsuitable for use with the SR-007 but you could also have a bad tube somewhere.

 

[catscratch]

There certainly wasn't any distortion in that pair with the SRD-7 Pro that I used at the time. I'm willing to bet that there is something wrong with the amp. If you do find that it's the headphones, they're still under warranty. Shoot me a PM and I can send them off for repairs.

 

[gp_hebert]

Quote:

Originally Posted by M3NTAL /img/forum/go_quote.gif Yes, something is defiantly wrong. It gets muddled up as **** when the volume is up. Damage tubes or something else? At low volume it sounds fine, but everything gets all muddled and confused + distorted as hell.

I've experienced the exact same thing when I had my SRM-T1S and the problem was a bad tube. Even if the GES is said not to be powerful enough for the SR-007, it shouldn't cause the kind of distortion you're talking about. I tried the O2 out of a SRM-Xh once and nothing distorted so it shouldn't happen with the Woo. I'd try changing the tubes and then try the Stax on another amp, it should give you the answer.

 

[Larry I]

Is the distortion in both channels? Is it about even in both channels? If the answer is that only one channel is distorting, switch around the tubes to determine if it is a tube that is at fault.

I have begun to get severe distortion in one channel of my setup as I advance the volume, but, I've determined that it is a bad potentiometer (if I advance the volume on my linestage instead of the amp, there is no problem).

Still, it is clear that the amp/interface is really not up to the task, so I am looking into alternatives rather than a replacement for the pot.

 

[M3NTAL]

The GES Drives the crap out of the headphones up until this get really loud.. The distortion is coming from both sides, but seems that the left side comes up earlier. I'm not adjusting volume with the POT, but instead using my squeezebox for digital volume control.

 

[HeadphoneAddict]

Well, last time I checked I can get the Woo GES to clip with the O2 when the volume is at about 2 o'clock, and I'm sure the volume is at least 100 db by that point. Are you sure this isn't just clipping at high volumes, and that your dynamics are simply louder before that system clips (as are mine)?

I think my other stats can make the GES clip at around the same volume knob position, but give more decibels at that position too. I can get slightly more out of the O2 with my 12 watt Nuforce and SRD-7 Pro at 3 o'clock volume, right before clipping (using the same DAC source/input voltage).

In my case I have learned to use my stats for the more polite acoustic and real-instrument music that doesn't need high volume, and use my dynamics when I want head-shaking electronic and rock music.

 

[M3NTAL]

That is possibly the case. I thought the Stax would be the "End All Replacement" for my Dynamics, and I guess I am glad I kept them all around.

They are in the For Sale forum now and going to see about a return on the GES. Electrostatic must just not be for me.

 

[HeadphoneAddict]

Oh great - I don't wanna be the reason you return it.

 

[ak40ozKevin]

Have you tried without using digital volume control? Directly from the source to the amp?