Stax Lovers: SRD 7 and which Headphones.

[Katysax]

Stax Lovers: I've been trying to score an SRD 7 on Ebay. Sooner or later I will. But then - what headphones or as Stax says "earspeakers" to use. Would it be a waste to go with the Omegas because they really need a dedicated amp?

 

[MaloS]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katysax /img/forum/go_quote.gif Stax Lovers: I've been trying to score an SRD 7 on Ebay. Sooner or later I will. But then - what headphones or as Stax says "earspeakers" to use. Would it be a waste to go with the Omegas because they really need a dedicated amp?

You would need SRD-7 pro for any Omega due to the bias difference. It is an interesting option to use it with a high slew rate speaker amp, but for a fact there exists a better adapter for this purpose (I forgot the name, Carl seems to know it well).

 

[ericj]

That's kindof going about things backwards, since stax 'phones frequently come with an SRD or SRM box.

 

[jcn3]

i agree, that it's kind of going backwards. you should buy a system to support the headphones you want. also, the srd-7s are the "old" technologies -- you need to determine the stax path you're going down.

the srd-7 are simply adapters -- they allow you to use traditional integrated amps (or preamps/amps) with the stax headphones. there are several versions of the srd-7 -- some support "normal" bias headphones and some support "pro" bias headphones.

if you want omegas, you need to make sure you get a "pro" version of the srd-7. also save up a good amp of money for a single-ended 300b-based amplifier to really work well with the omegas. otherwise you're wasting your money.

if you want omegas, you really should not bother with the srd-7 and get a good stax-designed headphone amp that will make them sing (like the kgss among others).

 

[Katysax]

I've only been looking at the SRD7s that come with the high bias. But I get the point - maybe I should just bite the bullet and get the Omegas and a complementary amp.

 

[edstrelow]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katysax /img/forum/go_quote.gif I've only been looking at the SRD7s that come with the high bias. But I get the point - maybe I should just bite the bullet and get the Omegas and a complementary amp.

However that's a very expensive bullet. I would say keep doing what you are doing. You will run any of the modern staxen and this may be all you want for a while. While I am not a transformer fan and currently have no Stax transformers, those who do use them claim they can get very good dynamics from them, more than most of the headphone amps except the most expensive.

 

[spritzer]

I have played around with the transformers quite a bit and they are a good first step if you have a very good speaker setup or even just a good amp that can feed them. The transformers aren't big enough to deliver the current the SR-007 and other hard to drive phones need as they were never designed for this kind of a load. I've never tried the Illusion model and that could be a step up. If you are handy with a soldering iron then you can convert a lot of push-pull amps to Stax duty by simply taking the signal of the output transformers primary and fixing capacitors and resistors to it. I think a triode strapped Dynaco 70 could work and some hundreds of other amps.

 

[Katysax]

Well, let me put the question this way. Among my headphones are the SR001. They are very uncomfortable, and the highs are a bit absent. However, if they are a good introduction to the electrostatic sound I do indeed like it - now I want more and better.

My question is: what makes sense for the next step. Assume that affordability is not an issue. Does it make sense to skip the intermediate steps, or does it make more sense to go for something like the 4050 set up?

 

[facelvega]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katysax /img/forum/go_quote.gif My question is: what makes sense for the next step. Assume that affordability is not an issue. Does it make sense to skip the intermediate steps, or does it make more sense to go for something like the 4050 set up?

First, do you want to go all the way up to an Omega or Omega II? If yes, you have your answer. If not, then first decide if you want some version of the Lambda, new or old, or one of the older, more conventional options like the Gamma, X, or 5. (there's also the 4070 if you need closed, and Sigma if you're a real die hard) Most people make this decision based on price, in that the older phones are cheaper than the Lambdas by and large, though they also have other virtues in relation to the various Lambda lines. Get this far in your decision-making, and then we can help you more precisely.

 

[Katysax]

Is there any reason, other than price, that I should not go all the way to an Omega or Omega II?

 

[spritzer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katysax /img/forum/go_quote.gif Is there any reason, other than price, that I should not go all the way to an Omega or Omega II?

The Omegas need a top level system feeding them and a monster amp. I'd say 10k$ would buy you an ok SR-007 system but the sky is the limit here.

 

[Katysax]

There is a guy who lives near me selling a Stax Omega II and a Woo GES for $2800. Are you saying that the Woo GES would be insufficient to drive the Omegas?

 

[MaloS]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katysax /img/forum/go_quote.gif There is a guy who lives near me selling a Stax Omega II and a Woo GES for $2800. Are you saying that the Woo GES would be insufficient to drive the Omegas?

This is spritzer you are talking to. If the Omega 2 does not make his breakfast, it is underdriven

. Honestly the GES + Omega 2 will be a ridiculous step up from sr-001, you will very much enjoy it. Just keep in mind that whatever impressions you will get from that will only give you a gist of what the headphone is capable of.

 

[spritzer]

The GES would be a good first step but it will never have the power necessary to push the SR-007 to their full potential. It's a good amp though and can be upgraded later on with some internal changes such as better resistors, wiring a coupling caps. The ultimate mod would be to replace the driver tubes with something better like ECC99's.

 

[Katysax]

Are the Stax 007t or 727 a better choice than the Woo GES?

Also, if I move to the Orpheus headphones will I just notice how horrible the sound of my source is? At what point am I going to notice that my mp3s are annoying? I ripped everything to 256 kbps and I don't want to go back to CDs. I am willing to sacrifice sound quality for a level of convenience. I am listening out of my computer through a Turtle Beach AA SRM.

Are the Omegas only for those who are willing to go any lengths in pursuit of sound?