STAX SR-009S new flagship electrostatic earspeakers released (with impressions)
Dec 18, 2018 at 4:40 PM Post #691 of 1,367
Maybe you could post the schematic for your tube amp, but I suspect it cannot do the 007 justice - I get that things are subjective but it is surprising to hear that someone preferred the SRX MK3, Lambda and Nova Sig to the 007. That usually points to the amp.

I have compared the 007, SRX,Lambda, Nova Sig on SRM-007T, SRM-XH and my own tube amp before deciding on buying the 007 or the 009. I was really surprised that all other Stax sound better clearer and more detailed than the 007 in the midrange. The 009/009S are in different class.

stax_007test.jpg
 
Dec 18, 2018 at 5:08 PM Post #692 of 1,367
I almost did not get an SR-009 because of posts saying it is bright. After an audition with a KGSS-HV and an Audioquest Dragonfly ($99), I actually liked it and ordered one for myself :)

However, I wish the SR-009 pads were thicker. I can only wear it for an hour before looking for a comfier headphone (like an HD650). If the SR-009s indeed has thicker pads, I may have to find a way to audition one myself (or figure out how to replace the SR-009 pad with the new ones from SR-009s).
 
Dec 18, 2018 at 5:24 PM Post #693 of 1,367
I have compared the 007, SRX,Lambda, Nova Sig on SRM-007T, SRM-XH and my own tube amp before deciding on buying the 007 or the 009. I was really surprised that all other Stax sound better clearer and more detailed than the 007 in the midrange. The 009/009S are in different class.


That is not surprising. The SRM-007T would have even more difficulty with the 007 than the even the T-8000 does. There are a lot of better options out there, but if you like the sound you are getting with the 009, then no need to look further. That said, the 009 (have yet to hear the 009s) still has more "sparkle" than the 007 with the Carbon and the T2.
 
Dec 18, 2018 at 5:28 PM Post #694 of 1,367
I use my 009 with an MSB Analog + a KG Grounded Grid or a Stax T1W, all PCOCC Silver cables, and I have never ever heard any fatigue or too much "brightness". indeed, this is one of the most enjoyable setup I have.

I think source is important, but IMHO the amplifier is the main responsible with 009 "bright" performances. I have actually heard the 009 being too "bright" and fatiguing with several all-ss amplifiers, whatever the source in front....
 
Dec 18, 2018 at 10:08 PM Post #695 of 1,367
I think source and amp are very important with stax.

A problem is that most seem to think source starts, centers and ends on a dac.

This is a mistake.
 
Dec 18, 2018 at 11:44 PM Post #696 of 1,367


I have listened on 2 different occasions at two different stores with SR-007, SR-009, SR-009S driven with STAX SRM-T8000 and from what I heard is totally different: STAX SR-009 do not sound Bright, the SR-009S has even more detail than the SR-009, it never sounded warmer or smoother. The SR-007 is not revealing like the 009/009S, it sounded dull, some detail are lost, some might prefer 007 as warm sound.

This is my second amp that I built for driving the STAX, it is a three stage design and can swing to 600V peak, on the scope, with 300V swing it is louder than you want to listen to. With the right amp and sources STAX never sounds Bright, even at louder volume setting within amp limit, it sounds more dynamic, but never Bright. It is just more revealing than any other headphones on the market. It can magnifies problem upstream, DAC, Preamp....

Remember, if STAX sounds irritate you, then you have problem with your signal chain.


Are you using step up transformers for the output to the Stax headphones?
 
Dec 19, 2018 at 1:19 AM Post #697 of 1,367
I think source and amp are very important with stax.

A problem is that most seem to think source starts, centers and ends on a dac.

This is a mistake.

Sure. It should at least start with the quality of source media available to the consumer and everything that’s in the path all the way to the DAC.

Of course, I guess you could also consider going all the way back to how the recording was mastered, too, but we don’t get much say in that process outside of what’s available for purchase.
 
Dec 19, 2018 at 9:17 AM Post #698 of 1,367
I think people do often talk about the quality of recordings and mastering for particular releases, either positive or negative.
 
Dec 19, 2018 at 5:14 PM Post #700 of 1,367
That is not surprising. The SRM-007T would have even more difficulty with the 007 than the even the T-8000 does. There are a lot of better options out there, but if you like the sound you are getting with the 009, then no need to look further. That said, the 009 (have yet to hear the 009s) still has more "sparkle" than the 007 with the Carbon and the T2.

I have built a Stax adapter to test to a variety of STAX headphones driving with different tube amplifier, I have in my possession about 50 amplifiers. Using this adapter, I test few tube amps that I am very familiar with sound quality, and the result is the same, the STAX 009 outperformed the 007 in the midrange, which very important to me, I end up buying STAX 009, and I am very happy with it.

The STAX 009 and my adapter is now my benchmark to test and tweak tube amplifier that I design because it is so revealing, it would also tell me the weakness of my sources, DAC, phono cartridges, phono preamp, tubes rolling, and tube circuit. STAX 009 is that good!

Sta_adapter.jpg
 
Last edited:
Dec 19, 2018 at 8:11 PM Post #701 of 1,367
I have built a Stax adapter to test to a variety of STAX headphones driving with different tube amplifier, I have in my possession about 50 amplifiers. Using this adapter, I test few tube amps that I am very familiar with sound quality, and the result is the same, the STAX 009 outperformed the 007 in the midrange, which very important to me, I end up buying STAX 009, and I am very happy with it.

The STAX 009 and my adapter is now my benchmark to test and tweak tube amplifier that I design because it is so revealing, it would also tell me the weakness of my sources, DAC, phono cartridges, phono preamp, tubes rolling, and tube circuit. STAX 009 is that good!

There are a lot of people who prefer the 009 to the 007, when properly amped, and probably just as many in the other direction. I have both and cannot decide which I prefer. It was your comment on the other Stax headphones that raised questions about how you are amping them. And I do not dispute that you find your adapter to be awesome.
 
Dec 20, 2018 at 1:12 AM Post #705 of 1,367
I have compared the 007, SRX,Lambda, Nova Sig on SRM-007T, SRM-XH and my own tube amp before deciding on buying the 007 or the 009. I was really surprised that all other Stax sound better clearer and more detailed than the 007 in the midrange. The 009/009S are in different class.


Is the 007 a mk1 or mk2?
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top