Stax electrostatic headphones . . .

[The Quality Guru]

What are the consensus on these headphones - I know electrostatic speakers are notorious for wonderful clarity, and I'm guessing the same would be true for these headphones? Anybody heard them- namely the SR-34 electret earspeakers? Are there some downsides to electrostatic headphones (I found some made by Stax on Audiogon for around $ 100) ? One downside I might guess is ear fatigue (a shot in the dark as far as guessing goes-) because I know electrostatic speakers can hae piercing treble.

Just wanna know what all of the headphone experts or some of the 'not-quite-experts' know about such headphones . . .

Thanks for any replies/comments.

 

[fjhuerta]

As a long time Ety & Sennheiser user: I heard the Stax Classic for about 5 minutes in less than ideal conditions (at the CES).

Simply put, the sonic difference is the same as the one you'd hear if you went from an excellent cone speaker to a set of Martin Logans. Very hard to describe, but electrostatics have a certain quality to them a piston cone speaker can't duplicate.

Sure, they might not go all the way up, or all the way down. But the midrange is stunning.

Would I like them more than my Etys? Hard to say from a 5 minute audition. But ever since that day, I have always known what my next headphone system will be.

 

[gloco]

Quote:

Originally posted by The Quality Guru What are the consensus on these headphones - I know electrostatic speakers are notorious for wonderful clarity, and I'm guessing the same would be true for these headphones? Anybody heard them- namely the SR-34 electret earspeakers? Are there some downsides to electrostatic headphones (I found some made by Stax on Audiogon for around $ 100) ? One downside I might guess is ear fatigue (a shot in the dark as far as guessing goes-) because I know electrostatic speakers can hae piercing treble. Just wanna know what all of the headphone experts or some of the 'not-quite-experts' know about such headphones . . . Thanks for any replies/comments.

I have been auditioning the Stax SR-40's and think they sound very nice. I don't know if they have the same build, but the 40's are not very comfortable for extending listening sessions due to the lack of any real padding. The midrange is stunning though, and yes they are a bit treble rich, and the bass levels become flabby if you try to turn the bass tone up, i leave it at '0'. Check out this link, i ran a "stax earspeaker" search:

http://headwize.powerpill.org/ubb/fsproc.php

Read up and see if you can find info on them. I think they are worth the price though if they sound as good as the 40's that i have heard, just make sure it comes with the amp so you can actually use them!

 

[setmenu]

Hi
I use a Stax 4040 system[404 earspeakers,006 tube amp]
And that goes all the way down and all the way up with no problems and never stings in the highs.
Get a suitable source,cable, and Stax combo and joy joy

.

Setmenu

 

[fjhuerta]

Quote:

Originally posted by setmenu Hi I use a Stax 4040 system[404 earspeakers,006 tube amp] And that goes all the way down and all the way up with no problems and never stings in the highs. Get a suitable source,cable, and Stax combo and joy joy . Setmenu

I'm curious. I remember rolled off highs on the Staxes. Or am I getting used to the blistering Grado high-end?

Either way, I do know I have to buy either a set of Martin Logans or some Staxes. I was actually very, very close to getting the Logans 3 years ago. Since the series before the Aerius (sp?) was being phased out, the middle range model was on sale for $1,000. And I didn't buy it!!!

So I guess in about a year I'll have saved enough money to get some very nice Staxes. Or... maybe I'll look for some discountinued ML Aerius. You see, once you listen to the Logans, your life is quite never the same (joyjoyjoyjoyjoyjoy).

 

[setmenu]

HI Fjhuerta
Yes once you hear that electrostatic sound it just kinda grabs you
doesn't it?
Missing out on the $1000 pair of logans

For that money any logan would be good!
Perhaps those smooth Stax trebles mislead after the more fronty
top end you say the Grados have,I have yet to hear grados so
can not coment on them.

Good luck with the Stax Logan quest

Setmenu

 

[The Quality Guru]

Fjhuerta,

cool picture next to your username- is that an "angry beaver" - I could of sworn I saw that dude in some cartoon somewhere . . . . .

 

[fjhuerta]

Quote:

Originally posted by The Quality Guru Fjhuerta, cool picture next to your username- is that an "angry beaver" - I could of sworn I saw that dude in some cartoon somewhere . . . . .

Yep.

I think his name is Norbert. A friend of mine gave it to me a couple of years ago, and told me we both had the same temper.

Is that a good or a bad thing???

Setmenu, if you have never heard Grados, you are not missing a lot. Simply take any headphone, turn the treble knob some 6 dB up, and you'll know what "The Grado Sound" is. Heh.

 

[wanaki]

I used to own a pair of SR-325s and I really enjoyed them, but they were a little too treble heavy. I could hear things in the high end that no engineer would let go by. I'm a recording engineer and I know that engineers of that caliber would not allow such imperfections to end up on their recordings. The Grados were unrealistically revealing.
Fjheurta, I got used to the top end of the Grados too. They sound magical on some recordings, especially darker sounding recordings. Enjoyable, yes, but I don't think their realistic.
I bought a pair of Stax Sr-Gammas and absolutely love them. There is no going back. They are less colored than the 325s so they sound better on a wider variety of recordings.

 

[RickG]

Ummm, yeah, Guru.....Once you do Stax, you'll never go baxx.

Seriously, I keep a "well rounded" herd of phones just to compare to my electrostatics. it's fun, and I enjoy hearing all the cool 'sounds available, but man....when I really want to listen , I use the Stax phones.......

 

[setmenu]

Quote:

Originally posted by RickG Ummm, yeah, Guru.....Once you do Stax, you'll never go baxx. Seriously, I keep a "well rounded" herd of phones just to compare to my electrostatics. it's fun, and I enjoy hearing all the cool 'sounds available, but man....when I really want to listen , I use the Stax phones.......

YUP

Setmeu