STAX SR-1 (Vintage) ' 1st Electrostatic Earspeaker'
Apr 16, 2017 at 6:07 PM Thread Starter Post #1 of 44

protoss

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Hello Audiophile enthusiasts,

The mighty Staxs has arrived! The mother that gave birth to all other Staxs headphones!
The one and only STAX SR-1. Release or introduce in 1959. Sale 1960.

STAX SR-1
Model:
Electrostatic Type
Release Date: 1959
Discontinue: 1968
Lifespan: 10 years
Weight: 320g
Diaphragm: About 5 microns thick
Sensitivity: 95 dB / 100 Vr. ms
Impedance: 130 K / 10 KHz
Frequency Band: 20 - 20,000
Bias Voltage: 150V/DC
Units: ?
Retail price: 6,000 Yen / USD $50 (Keep in mind this is 60 years ago!)

STAX_SR-1_01.jpg


A beautiful display of a legendary Ear-speaker

STAX_SR-1_02-618x464.jpg


A closer look to identify the Stax SR-1 Model.

The Stax SR-1 is an electrostatic headphone. It was manufactured from 1960.
There were up to 3 different versions that was produce in the original series. And up to 45 different models continuing the legacy of staxs. The current newest model is the little powerful boy call the SR-009.

SR-1 was produce in the 1960s until 1968

The SR-1 was powered by the SRA-4S/SRA-6S, this was a Vacuum tube and the Amp was SRD-1


SRA-4S (Integrated amplifier for SR-1)
image.jpg



SRA-6S (Integrated amplifier for SR-1)
sra-6s.jpg


(Adaptor for Earspeakers) Down below

SDR-1 and SDR-2

There was a lot of problems with the SR-1, so they tried to fix it by introducing the SR-2,3

SR-2 was produce in around 1968

stax_sr-2_electrostatic_headphones.jpg


A black and White picture of Stax SR-2. Stax SR-2 is one of the rarest finding for headphones out there. Next to the SR-1


SR-3 was produce around the same time as the SR-2 1968

STAX SR-3
Model:
Electrostatic Type
Release Date: 1968
Discontinue: ?
Lifespan: ?
Weight: 375g
Diaphragm: About 5 microns thick
Sensitivity: 95 dB / 100 Vr. ms
Impedance: 130 K / 10 KHz
Frequency Band: 20 - 20,000
Bias Voltage: Stax standard (230 V bias) 6-pin adapter, energizer or amplifier.
Units: ?
Retail price: ($100usd -1970)
STAX_SR-3_01.jpg


Stax SR-3
STAX_SR-3_02.jpg


A closer look to identify Stax SR-3

Stax SRD-5 Energizer - Was used for the SR-3
 
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Apr 20, 2017 at 8:52 AM Post #4 of 44
These wouldn't be considered audiophile quality by today's standards but they started it all. There were other Electrostatic headphones around during the 60's and 70's but Stax is the only ones that are still around today.
 
The original Lamaba earspeaker released in 1979, a great headphone even by today's standards!
 
It wasn't until the 1990's that other companies finally caught up and surpass Stax. But only in the very high end.
 
Now you don't need Stax to have great sound anymore, but many still prefer the original audiophile headphones since nothing else sounds like them.
 
Apr 20, 2017 at 10:28 AM Post #5 of 44
Not audiophile quality but an amazing collector item! Bragging rights! And yes the sounds the 70s or 80s and early 90s produce was pretty unique.
 
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Apr 20, 2017 at 2:48 PM Post #7 of 44
Lots of legendary headphones, like the Sony mdr-r10 that was considered a holy grail for awhile there.

I am enjoying this series btw. Keep it up!


Its the most talked about and has the biggest love affair worldwide. I'm more after stuff that people forgotten and need to know. And never knew about.
 
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Apr 21, 2017 at 11:18 AM Post #8 of 44
  Hi,
 
The Sony MDR-R10 will actually be my final last post in this series! Why because the MDR R10 approval rating is near perfection with low disapproval rating. Its the most talked about and has the biggest love affair worldwide. I'm more after stuff that people forgotten and need to know. And never knew about.
 
Thanks 

 
Really? How many have actually heard it? It was pretty rare back in the old days, it must be even rarer now.
 
Apr 21, 2017 at 1:20 PM Post #10 of 44
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Apr 21, 2017 at 1:56 PM Post #11 of 44
  Also this is another reason I might never do an article on the Sony. There's pretty much no reason once you see this!!!!!
 
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/511141/review-sony-mdr-r10-vs-r10-the-dark-vs-light-side-of-the-bass-56k-warning
 
 
 
Thanks 

 
Nice review! BTW, I have heard the MDR-R10. It was a long time ago, so I don't remember the sound to be honest, I just remember that they were super comfortable. LOL.
 
Aug 13, 2017 at 8:02 PM Post #14 of 44
Very nice indeed. You have one SR-1 and one SR-3 ! That's impressive!
How's the sound like? What's the sound improvement between the two?
 
Aug 13, 2017 at 8:14 PM Post #15 of 44
They very similar.They are like time machine ,you put them on your head and you go back to the sixties :)
Sound is not very good compare to Lambdas.They have poor stereophony compare to later Stax so it is time machine,part of a histry,colectors item more then for listening.
So many years since the was born and drivers still work well.
 
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