[wae5]

It's been a while since I've been here and I'd like to ask a Stax question but Stax topics seem to be dead so I'm asking my question here. If I've violated Head-fi protocol, please accept my apology.

Can I power Stax SR-80 electret headphones with the Stax SRM-1/MK-2 Pro amplifier which has pro and normal bias outputs?

 

[nick n]

The electret headphones do not need to get any bias since they are permanently charged.
therefore they do not need to connect to any bias charges in the normal or pro sockets.

Basically this means yes, they will work in both normal and pro sockets since the SR80's only need 4 wires, and connecting the 80's up is safe , none of their pins are designed to connect to any bias in the adapter / amp units, just grabbing the signal like a regular headphone with 4 wires ( but stepped up signal obviously )

 

[wae5]

Thanks Nick but according to this found in the comments below the answer is no.

So I'm still confused.

https://www.headfonia.com/stax-srd-7/


And from the SR-404, SR404LE, and Lambda Pro review:

The Pro model requires a higher bias voltage of 580 volts, compared to the 230 volts normal bias non-Pro models. (It is important to note that the Pro and non-Pro models are non-interchangeable. The non-Pro models come with 6 pins on their plugs, so you won’t make the mistake of plugging them into Pro amplifiers which comes with only 5 pin connectors. The connectors simply won’t fit. However, you can accidentally plug in a 5-pin Pro model into a non-Pro amplifier. The resulting sound will be very low in volume, and it’s not recommended because damage may occur when you try to turn up the volume excessively.

On a side note, the Stax electrets use 5 pins connector but they must not be mixed with the Stax Electrostatic amps.
https://www.headfonia.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/…

 

[nick n]

Well it is kinda confusing,but understanding how they work makes it simple.
===Plain and simple ===
Electrets only use 4 of the 5 pins on the Stax ends. One is not hooked up and only for fitting in. This extra 5th pin is a dummy pin.

I fit the Stax electret 5 pin cables into the NORMAL BIAS sockets of my adapter units here all the time.
I had done so also with my SRD-7 PRO adapter when I had it as well.


= Electrets have permanent charge do not need bias applied.
This paragraph has nothing to do with Electrets , only full bias ( normal/pro ) that build up the charge on the drivers each time it is used:



The Pro model requires a higher bias voltage of 580 volts, compared to the 230 volts normal bias non-Pro models. (It is important to note that the Pro and non-Pro models are non-interchangeable. The non-Pro models come with 6 pins on their plugs, so you won’t make the mistake of plugging them into Pro amplifiers which comes with only 5 pin connectors. The connectors simply won’t fit. However, you can accidentally plug in a 5-pin Pro model into a non-Pro amplifier. The resulting sound will be very low in volume, and it’s not recommended because damage may occur when you try to turn up the volume excessively.


So, to keep it simple.

• electret cable you have there has 4 strands/wires if you look at it, so only 4 of the 5 pins are hooked up. 5th pin is a dummy pin.
  
• 5 pins end itself fits both pro and normal sockets.
  
• ignore talk of bias pro or normal, electrets do not use bias from either the Adapter or Amp units and can be used with both

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/stax-compatability-question-sr-30-with-srm1-mk2.622035/

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/stax-sr-30-5-pin-connection.215971/#post-2605209


https://www.head-fi.org/threads/amp-or-adapter-for-stax-electret.33849/#post-384819

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/the-stax-thread-new.223263/page-665#post-5435060

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/fs-...phone-with-srd-4-adapter.220901/#post-2675150

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/sale-pulled-stax-sr-34-electret-setup.50426/#post-846633

I don't know why they say otherwise in your link ( link doesn't work for me ) they must be completely and totally confused.

Even my SR-50 electret instruction manual states and shows the units it can be used with, both transformer adapters and amp units

 

[wae5]

I plugged the Stax SR-80 electret headphone into the Stax SRM-1/MK-2 Pro amplifier and they work well together.

Thank you Nick for sharing your encyclopedic Stax information.

 

[plogmannen]

Does this mean that I could take a pair of

 

[plogmannen]

The electret headphones do not need to get any bias since they are permanently charged.
therefore they do not need to connect to any bias charges in the normal or pro sockets.

Basically this means yes, they will work in both normal and pro sockets since the SR80's only need 4 wires, and connecting the 80's up is safe , none of their pins are designed to connect to any bias in the adapter / amp units, just grabbing the signal like a regular headphone with 4 wires ( but stepped up signal obviously )

So does this mean I could have a converter from 5 pin to 3.5mm and use a pair of electret headphones like Stax Sr 80 Pro in my Xonar STX soundcard? Any benefits?

 

[padam]

No, they still work like electrostats apart from the bias, so don't even think about anything like that, you need a speaker amp and an adapter of some kind.

 

[plogmannen]

No, they still work like electrostats apart from the bias, so don't even think about anything like that, you need a speaker amp and an adapter of some kind.

Okay, thx. The ones I'm looking at comes with a srd4. Much appreciated answer.