Stax Portable Adaptor-SRD-X

[Scottsmrnyc]

Could anyone tell me why the owners manual for this adaptor states that you can not use the normal bais-non pro Stax Sigma headphones with this adaptor???? What might happen if I do indeed use my non pro Stax Sigma's with the SRD-X Adaptor???? Is there anything else I should be aware of??
Thanks
Scottsmrnyc

 

[Meyvn]

If it's a non-pro SRD-X, it'll be just fine. If it's a pro bias SRD-X, and a non-pro Sigma, DO NOT do it.

 

[edstrelow]

For a start the plug should not fit. The normal plug has 6 pins, the pro (high Bias) has 5. This was doen by Stax to prevent using a normal set with a high bias amp.

The pro system uses a bais voltage more than 2 times that of the normal and would probably cause arcing and burn-out on normal phones. You don't want that happening next to your ears.

 

[Meyvn]

Quote:

Originally Posted by edstrelow For a start the plug should not fit. The normal plug has 6 pins, the pro (high Bias) has 5. This was doen by Stax to prevent using a normal set with a high bias amp. The pro system uses a bais voltage more than 2 times that of the normal and would probably cause arcing and burn-out on normal phones. You don't want that happening next to your ears.

'Should not' being the operative term here. The sixth pin on the normal bias is not needed, so a few fools here and there have removed them. I figured I'd just account for the 'in case' scenario.

 

[Scottsmrnyc]

I know about the pro bais and non pro bais. I have the owners manual which says that the Stax SRD-X Portable Adapter NON PRO- should not be used with the Stax Sigma NON PRO Headphones. But the adapter and the headphones have 6 prongs. This is what I find very weird about it? Any advise or ideas. Thanks Scott NYC

 

[thrice]

There are two models:

SRD-X:

SRD-X Pro:

Notice that the non pro model has one 6-pin plug. This can be used with non-pro headphones. The Pro model has one 5-pin plug (for Pro headphones) and one 6-pin plug, for non-pro headphones.

If by adapter you mean the extention cable then here's the thing. The extension cable has a 5-pin male side and a 6-pin female side (at least mine does). So you can use it with both pro and non-pro headphones, but you must be careful to plug it into a 6-pin socket when using it with the non-pro headphones.

 

[Scottsmrnyc]

In the small print of the owners manual for the non pro STax SRD-x adapter it says that you can't use the non pro stax sigma headphones with this the Stax non pro SRD-X adapter. This is what I am saying!!! Any ideas why. Other stax non pro headphones are okay, but not the Sigma non pros???? Scott NYC

 

[Scottsmrnyc]

"you can use Regular STAX Earspeakers except the SR Sigma in the SR Series." The Sigma is depicted as a greek letter not written out as a word. Thanks Scott

 

[Carl]

Quote:

Originally Posted by thrice There are two models: SRD-X: SRD-X Pro: Notice that the non pro model has one 6-pin plug. This can be used with non-pro headphones. The Pro model has one 5-pin plug (for Pro headphones) and one 6-pin plug, for non-pro headphones. If by adapter you mean the extention cable then here's the thing. The extension cable has a 5-pin male side and a 6-pin female side (at least mine does). So you can use it with both pro and non-pro headphones, but you must be careful to plug it into a 6-pin socket when using it with the non-pro headphones.

There's also an SRD-P with two Pro outputs, and an SRM-X with a single Pro output.

 

[Duggeh]

Theres also the scientologist studio limited edition ones.

 

[audiomagnate]

Maybe there's some fundamental difference between the Sigma and the Gammas. I know for a fact the SRD-X was sold with Gammas. Those are Gammas, not Sigmas in the photo above. The caption is wrong.

To further add to the confusion, the Stax historical site http://www.stax.co.jp/ENG/History.html states "Any of Stax Earspeakers can be connected to the SRD-X" and the SRD-X came out two years after the Sigmas. Why not plug 'em in and see what happens? I kid!

 

[Meyvn]

I can't think of any reason it shouldn't be able to drive the Sigmas just fine, since the bias voltage is the same across the board. Perhaps the Sigmas are harder to drive since the diaphragms are farther from your ears, and Stax doesn't think the SRD-X is capable of doing it?

 

[Duggeh]

Actually that picture doesnt say gamma or sigma, it says alpha, which was used to market the gamma in the usa i believe, although Carls yoru man for that sort of nickpicking. There was also a moving coil stax headphone which was the alpha too though.

 

[Meyvn]

Quote:

Originally Posted by audiomagnate Maybe there's some fundamental difference between the Sigma and the Gammas. I know for a fact the SRD-X was sold with Gammas. Those are Gammas, not Sigmas in the photo above. The caption is wrong. To further add to the confusion, the Stax historical site http://www.stax.co.jp/ENG/History.html states "Any of Stax Earspeakers can be connected to the SRD-X" and the SRD-X came out two years after the Sigmas. Why not plug 'em in and see what happens? I kid!

Actually, the photos above depict the alfa pro excellents. Notice the 'a'-like Greek symbol. Then again, they're part of the Gamma series, I think? Either way, those are pro bias, and the SRD-X this guy has is a non-pro unit.

 

[Carl]

Quote:

Originally Posted by audiomagnate Maybe there's some fundamental difference between the Sigma and the Gammas. I know for a fact the SRD-X was sold with Gammas. Those are Gammas, not Sigmas in the photo above. The caption is wrong. To further add to the confusion, the Stax historical site http://www.stax.co.jp/ENG/History.html states "Any of Stax Earspeakers can be connected to the SRD-X" and the SRD-X came out two years after the Sigmas. Why not plug 'em in and see what happens? I kid!

All low bias Staxes are completely interchangable. All pro bias Staxes are completely interchangable.

The only difference you'll encounter going between a Gamma and a Sigma is in terms of efficiency, but that's easily fixed with a slight twiddle of the volume knob.


Quote:

Originally Posted by Duggeh Actually that picture doesnt say gamma or sigma, it says alpha, which was used to market the gamma in the usa i believe, although Carls yoru man for that sort of nickpicking. There was also a moving coil stax headphone which was the alpha too though.

Alpha is the Japanese name, Gamma is the American and German name.

The only descernable reason for the difference is that there was never a low bias version of the Alphas (ie, the Alpha is the same as the Gamma Pro). The low bias gamma used the same drivers as the SR-5N and SR-Xmk3.


Quote:

Originally Posted by Meyvn Actually, the photos above depict the alfa pro excellents. Notice the 'a'-like Greek symbol. Then again, they're part of the Gamma series, I think? Either way, those are pro bias, and the SRD-X this guy has is a non-pro unit.

Indeed, those are the Alpha Pro Excellents. One of two headphones on my "want" list.

The Apero Alpha is a different and inferior headphone, and isn't electrostatic.