[asdwl502]

hello,everybody:
I am going to buy a stax phone and finally decide to choose
one between 2020 and 3030.but many posts say that stax phones need a good CD player to sound well,and I only have a
SONY portable CD walkman and a SHARP md-dr7.
So,which one should i choose?Does 3030 sound well on a
portable?Maybe 2020 match it better?If both are good,does 3030
worth the extra money?
I have bad a ety 4p,it does sound well.I wonder whether the stax will excel 4p.
Need help!
Thanks for advice.
I usually listen to classical music.

 

[elrod-tom]

Personally, I think I'd probably buy the 2020 and ugrade my source.

We listened to the 2020 at our Detroit meet, and it was one of the pleasant surprises of the day. I've not heard the 3030, but it is said that it's a significant improvement over the 2020. Either will be revealing of the quality of your source. Based on what I heard, a PCDP will be less than desireable in either system.

Just my $.02

 

[Mike Scarpitti]

Quote:

Originally posted by asdwl502 hello,everybody: I am going to buy a stax phone and finally decide to choose one between 2020 and 3030.but many posts say that stax phones need a good CD player to sound well,and I only have a SONY portable CD walkman and a SHARP md-dr7. So,which one should i choose?Does 3030 sound well on a portable?Maybe 2020 match it better?If both are good,does 3030 worth the extra money? I have bad a ety 4p,it does sound well.I wonder whether the stax will excel 4p. Need help! Thanks for advice. I usually listen to classical music.

HUH?

The Stax are for use with high-end systems.

 

[scottpaul_iu]

Quote:

Originally posted by Mike Scarpitti HUH? The Stax are for use with high-end systems.

Damn...........that's rather harsh.

 

[scottpaul_iu]

Quote:

Originally posted by elrod-tom Personally, I think I'd probably buy the 2020 and ugrade my source. We listened to the 2020 at our Detroit meet, and it was one of the pleasant surprises of the day. I've not heard the 3030, but it is said that it's a significant improvement over the 2020. Either will be revealing of the quality of your source. Based on what I heard, a PCDP will be less than desireable in either system. Just my $.02

Yep....that is good advice.

I really liked the 2020 at the Detroit meet as well. Very impressive sound for the money.

 

[Mike Scarpitti]

Quote:

Originally posted by scottpaul_iu Damn...........that's rather harsh.

OK, but not a PORTABLE! Fer cryin' out loud! That's like serving a $200 wine with pizza.

 

[scottpaul_iu]

Quote:

Originally posted by Mike Scarpitti OK, but not a PORTABLE! Fer cryin' out loud! That's like serving a $200 wine with pizza.

I won't disagree with you there. But let's not scare a noob off.
Have you ever looked at the amps and phones some people here have with MD and PCDPs? Pretty interesting.

 

[Hirsch]

Quote:

Originally posted by Mike Scarpitti OK, but not a PORTABLE! Fer cryin' out loud! That's like serving a $200 wine with pizza.

What's wrong with that?

The CDP is going to be the sound-limiting part of the system. You can get up to a point with a portable, and you need something better to maximize performance. However, if you're going to stipulate a portable as a source, it's not necessarily true that it's a waste to put money into an amp/headphone that would look like overkill. First, it's going to get as much out of the original source as can be done. Second, when the source upgrade finally occurs, the headphone is less likely to be system-limiting then.

Sometimes going the "cheaper" route winds up costing more money over the long term. I've had this happen more times than I care to think about...

 

[edstrelow]

There is a point to getting the best of any component you can buy and then upgrading other components later. I don't think either of these Stax systems will sound great with a portable CD player, and ASDWL52 can buy a better source later.

The problem may be that the Stax, because of their extended high frequency response and general resolution capabilities will show the harshness in the source. In which case the buyer will be frustrated with his phones, at least until he gets another source.

Another route, and probably cheaper to boot is the Stax Sr-001 portable system, generally available for less than $250.00 from Japanese dealers such as Audiocubes. It is not as good as the full-size Stax, but has a lot of their good sound charateristics.

I have used it with portables for a couple of years now and am very satisfied. They do have a rolled off treble, but that generally works well with much pop/rock where the treble is usually boosted anyway. They sound good with classical, but because of the roll-off I sometimes think I am listening to a different piece of music when I use my Stax 404's.

 

[scottpaul_iu]

Quote:

Originally posted by Hirsch Sometimes going the "cheaper" route winds up costing more money over the long term. I've had this happen more times than I care to think about...

Good observation. Even the 2020 would be a system to build future component purchases around.
Actually the 2020s, would be no more overkill them my work system:
Headroom Supreme
Sony D-EJ1000 PCDP
Etymotic ER-4S

I think the Headroom amp and Ety's cost more than the 2020 and almost as much as Japanese pricing on the 3030.

I have a lot fun with the work system.

 

[Old Pa]

Quote:

Originally posted by Mike Scarpitti OK, but not a PORTABLE! Fer cryin' out loud! That's like serving a $200 wine with pizza.

Sounds good! As long as it's a dry red and you're buyin' several bottles. Hope about a veggie with italian sausage and a little extra sauce; no pineapple or canadian bacon, thanks. I'll be right over!