[tigon_ridge]

Mids are my problem just a bit. I have a feeling that Audeze offered a bit more refined and structured mids. More rich. (I may be wrong, this may be also due to Audeze's warmness. I need some more time to come to final conclusion). But this was something I valued LCD-X the most and it's missing here a tiny bit.

It's likely you interpret a sucked out upper midrange (common among Audeze and Hifiman headphones) as "rich." Enhanced "thickness" in the lower mids is also described as rich. Both of these things are considered colorations. Not to say that your preference is wrong, but let's be very clear--what people describe as "rich" most of the time is just coloration, not fidelity. You mentioned the HD600, which I also own. To me, it has one of the most accurate tonality of any headphones I've ever heard. I prefer it to Hifiman's HE-560. How would you compare the L300 to the HD600?

 

[ahmedie]

It's likely you interpret a sucked out upper midrange (common among Audeze and Hifiman headphones) as "rich." Enhanced "thickness" in the lower mids is also described as rich. Both of these things are considered colorations. Not to say that your preference is wrong, but let's be very clear--what people describe as "rich" most of the time is just coloration, not fidelity. You mentioned the HD600, which I also own. To me, it has one of the most accurate tonality of any headphones I've ever heard. I prefer it to Hifiman's HE-560. How would you compare the L300 to the HD600?

i read multiple post says that L300 is a direct upgrade to HD600, search reddit !
https://www.reddit.com/r/headphones...r_a_long_journey_from_japan_the_stax_srs3100/

 

[tigon_ridge]

Already came across that post, but thanks anyway. I'm interested in Masolski's opinions about the difference.

 

[Pahani]

I actually contend that Stax need a decent amount of brain burn-in. For myself, and for whatever reason, it seemed to take 2 weeks. My enthusiasm for impressions spanning a few hours or a few days of listening is thus tempered.

I do encourage initial (comparative) impressions, however, I suggest taking notes and re-visiting those impressions after a more extensive (and exclusive) time with your Stax. I think you'll be quite pleasantly surprised.

 

[XLR8]

Stax L300...
Beautiful electrostats..

 

[masolski]

How would you compare the L300 to the HD600?

I was impressed by HD600 sound signature. Balance is perfect there. I loved HD600 (sold them but now I regret). First impression - L300 are brighter but then you realize that it's actually the air which L300 is able to reproduce. I guess now HD600 would sound a bit veiled to me with smaller sound stage and worse dynamics. HD600 are great but L300 are better in every aspect (maybe except comfort).

Speaking about dynamics, I guess LCD-X offered a bit more of it than Stax (which would be also nice to have)

I would never say I can hear the difference between cans around $1000. And that's amazing how different they are.

 

[masolski]

I do encourage initial (comparative) impressions, however, I suggest taking notes and re-visiting those impressions after a more extensive (and exclusive) time with your Stax. I think you'll be quite pleasantly surprised.

Sure, I have notice it with my HD600 before. I needed time to fully appreciate. I'm sure it'll be the same here.

 

[Music Alchemist]

I actually contend that Stax need a decent amount of brain burn-in.

Actually, the STAX SR-207 was the first headphone that instantly sounded "right" to me; similar enough to the way real instruments sound that I had no major complaints. And I am very picky, since I've been a musician since the early '90s. My general reaction to non-electrostatic headphones (even the best ones) is that they may sound good, but in the end, they sound totally fake to me and not transparent at all. I guess for those who don't have a lot of experience listening to real instruments and are more used to the presentation that typical headphones give them, they could need more time to get used to the fidelity of electrostats.

 

[masolski]

That's an interesting input, Music Alchemist. I'm starting to enjoy my L300 even more (and more) every day! I've come across to Tyll's impression on L300. He says: "Presence region is nicely balanced, and treble tonality seems good, but for a slightly hot mid-treble and a somewhat more troublesome tendency to be grainy in that area" (full article here). I'm now listening to "Dialogues With Double Bass" Jeremy McCoy and I find L300 truly awesome! I haven't experience any grain from Stax. Rich, open and fast! Have you?

 

[funkforfood]

I haven't experience any grain from Stax

Me too, no problem at all...

 

[nazrin313]

Limited version of L300 - SR-L300Limited: costs same as L500 , but has L700 driver (which shares technology from 009). Only 800 pieces will be made.

https://stax.theshop.jp/items/9564837

Just ordered this, will post impressions once it comes..the wait will hurt

 

[alfmoonspace]

If anyone else has a different experience than this let me know, but I haven’t heard anything else that sounded close to a electrostatic.

 

[SeaWo|f]

Step out of stats threads and post this in other areas and tons of people who prefer other types of headphones will respond. Utopia users are particularly militant these days.

 

[Music Alchemist]

I haven't experience any grain from Stax. Rich, open and fast! Have you?

He may have been referring to the peaks around 7-10 kHz.

Running frequency sweeps with all three Lambdas I had, this was the area where it got the peakiest, so to speak.

The overall frequency response is so linear that this isn't an issue for me. (And it's easy to fix with EQ.) If the peaks were at 3-6 kHz (which is common with other tech), it would be a different story.

 

[hpeter]

Limited version of L300 - SR-L300Limited: costs same as L500 , but has L700 driver (which shares technology from 009). Only 800 pieces will be made.

https://stax.theshop.jp/items/9564837

bit weird combination