[JayKay47]

I've got my L300 LE and measured it against L300:


L300 LE sounds pretty much like L300 with L500/700 pads - I'll measure these next week, along with L700.
Stock L300 has hyper clarity which L300 LE is missing.The only other headphone I have that is capable of such clarity, is Pro 82.
Stock L300 also has much airier presentation than L300 LE.

I had similiar measurements with my 300LE when I first got them... They looked like Lambda's with a very poor seal.

Then I orderd L700 pads and remeasured when they arrived. Even the stock 300LE pads sealed better after almost 50hrs of play time than they did orginally, maybe they softened up...

Anyway, they sound better behaved now with the L700 pads and the bass extends further down low.

Green L700 pads
Yellow Stock pads

No Stax fart with stock pads, Stax fart with L700 pads.

 

[BenF]

I've pre-ordered an L300 LE, but the things you mentioned (a downgrade in clarity and air compared to the L300) is a bit of a downer for me. Are there other things that you feel the L300 LE does "better" than the L300's - even if it doesn't fit your own preferences? Thanks,

So far it looks like a pure money grab by Stax.
Look at this horrible THD around 22Hz:
Left:

Right:

L300 measures 27.8% and 22.8% at worst points.

 

[catscratch]

Tyll's L300 measurements show 2-3% THD at 20hz at 90db. What volume are the above measurements at? Also, are these uncompensated measurements?

 

[Hi-Fi-Apricity]

I had similiar measurements with my 300LE when I first got them... They looked like Lambda's with a very poor seal.

Then I orderd L700 pads and remeasured when they arrived. Even the stock 300LE pads sealed better after almost 50hrs of play time than they did orginally, maybe they softened up...

Anyway, they sound better behaved now with the L700 pads and the bass extends further down low.

Green L700 pads
Yellow Stock pads


No Stax fart with stock pads, Stax fart with L700 pads.

What type of rig do you use if you dont mind me asking?

 

[JayKay47]

What type of rig do you use if you dont mind me asking?

Umik and REW

 

[Pahani]

Umik and REW

Can I have your UMIK and REW to calibrate my Home Theater with?

I want to kick Audyssey to the curb and, for lack of a better word...un-fetter my speakers. You have the equipment there to do it

 

[ahmedie]

All the comparisons are against L1000 (L300 with L700 pads):
L700 with L700 pads - warm sounding - tonality is too sweet, small soundstage, excellent bass. Boring sounding
L1000 is superior in everything but the bass - L700 has thicker bass with better decay

L700 with L500 pads - soundstage increases (still smaller than L1000), mids are not as warm, more clarity. Bass quality is degraded to somewhere between L300 and L1000 levels
L1000 is clearly superior in everything

L700 with L300 pads - Sounds much better when the headband is fully opened (with less pressure), especially the bass.
soundstage increases (equal to L1000), clarity is as good as L1000. Tonality is a bit sweeter than L1000 - I like it, it's perfect (same as L300?). No warm veil whatsoever.
Bass - surprisingly good, at or slightly below L1000 level .
Comfort - not great, ears are touching the protective layer, especially when the headband is in the closed position (not recommended anyway).

L300 with L300 pads - amazing soundstage and clarity, largest wow factor.
Bass is underwhelming in both quality and quantity. Too thin with little decay.

L300 with L500 pads - soundstage is increased over L1000, so is the clarity. Not as warm as L1000.
Bass quality is about as good as L1000

These comparisons were done on Stax SRM-252s, using Oppo HA-2 as a DAC.

buy a 323s or better amp and l700 destroy l300 in all aspects, bass soundstage mid treble everything, while i can see someone prefer l300 tonality bcz flatter mids

 

[ahmedie]

Ok, here's my impression...keep in mind I've been listening to the new setup constantly for about a week every night, and just now reconfigured back to the SRM-323S with the system off overnight other than DAC (which I leave on) let it play for the entire album off head to warm up, put on the L300 and went back to the begining of the album and played the first 3 songs to get a feel for the SRM-323S, then played song 6 while fully concentrating on listening. Then powered down the SRM-323S, reconfigured back, powered up, let it play the first 3 songs off head, then put on the L300 and played song 6 while fully concentrating on listening.

I will say noticed a difference right off the bat when first listening to the SRM-323S after exclusively using the C275BEE/Mjolnir SRD-7... seemed not as detailed, but how much was not sure. Sound also seemed more recorded, but bass seemed good. When swapped back to the C275BEE/Mjolnir SRD-7 setup and listening to it again after the SRM-323S, the differences seemed more apparent... definitely seems like a good bit of microdetail increase (string harmonics - sustain & intonation, better finger on string details, clearer detail and finesse in a quick double note hit) background/echo detail also enhanced, definitely was a more live/realistic sound, and the bass seems more dynamic, solid, and punchy.

I definitely do hear a noticeable improvement with the new setup... but it would be easier to quantify how much of a difference if I had a second L300 and a clean way to run both simultaneously off the DAC...if I use the loop out of the SRM-323S the downstream amp is affected some - it does slightly smooth out the sound and also seem to reduce the dynamics just a tad (which was fine for my TH-X00PH dynamic rig, but is not fine going to another Estat rig, especially one that seems to be of better sound quality). I will say the NAD C275BEE is probably the main factor in the sound difference, it's a phenominal 'affordable' amp known for its detail and bass. I picked mine up factory refurbished for a little over $800 from an authorized dealer a few years back when a vintage used NAD 2200PE I had started going out.

P.S. And boy does everything get better with more runtime in a session....yeah about 2 hours in is when the sound really starts getting GOOOD....

I agree with last point longer playing just before listening session improve sound. As if they need temporarily burn in and rebound after no use. this phenomenal decreases as they burn in slowly.

 

[JayKay47]

buy a 323s or better amp and l700 destroy l300 in all aspects, bass soundstage mid treble everything, while i can see someone prefer l300 tonality bcz flatter mids

Yeah, the 252 and Oppo DAC are a serious bottleneck in that system.

I curently use a SRM-T1S that I re-capped and replaced the tubes, as well as a Schiit Gumby. I had a 252 at one time and sold it because I compared it to a 313 and it was no contest. Then sold the 313 because I bought a SRM-1 mkII Professional that was better than the 313, and finally sold that as well, and I enjoy the T1S the most of these lower end Stax amps.

 

[JayKay47]

I should add I have also had the SR-202 and SR-207 and sold them, I still have Lambda Pro that I have replaced the old pads with leather 507's, an Airbow SC-1, and the SR-300LE w/L700 pads which I prefer over the stock pads. I have not heard the L300. L500, or L700. I invited a local L700 owner to compare against the 300LE, but so far have been refused on the premise they are worried the 300LE sound close enough to them at roughly half the price. I would like to listen to them both side by side, and measure both side by side.

 

[ahmedie]

I have both l700 and l300le with l700 pads and they do sound roughly the same lol l700 more refined treble and smoothiness details while l300le have more bass and punch.

 

[VRacer-111]

YESSS - I should have the L300LE I ordered in January soon...

 

[natto lover]

YESSS - I should have the L300LE soon...

looks like i was 2 days too late then, rip me

 

[daniel1111]

New happy L300 Limited owner here. I originally went out to buy SR-007A, but had the chance to listen to the whole Stax Line-Up at the store I went to. After listening to the 009 it became apparent to me I wouldn’t walk out with an 007A as planned So I decided to save up a bit more, but also didn’t want to go home empty handed. I listened to the L700, L500, L300 and finally got told that my dealer had a single pair of the limited edition which however I couldn’t audition. Decided to take the gamble and I’m happy I got them.

To me, midrange clarity, bass and soundstage are a significant improvement over the L300 and L500. I also have the feeling the bass is a little tighter compared to the L700 (which might however be due to different amps. L700 auditioned with an 007tII, at home I run the L300 LE with an SRM-600 Limited). Detail and smoothness in treble is still better with the L700, no doubt about that, but overall a great value proposition. Another thing that stands out to me is that on the L700 the bass seems a little „detached“ from the rest of the music, while on the L300LE I really enjoy the cohesion of the sound and overall musicality.

All in all, makes waiting for the SR-009 a lot easier at half the price of an L700. At this price, a no brainer for me.

 

[VRacer-111]

Got in my L300LE this afternoon. Definitely better comfort, no more smashed ears into the driver screen protector! Need to get some more runtime on them but they seem to be coming around very well - bass does seem better than L300.