NagoyaBlane
New Head-Fier
- Joined
- Oct 13, 2009
- Posts
- 6
- Likes
- 0
For the past several years my Sennheiser HD600's have been my go to headphones. I've always liked the sound of electrostatic speakers and after moving to Japan last year, I became curious and started reading up on Stax.
Thanks to information shared on this site, I decided to find a used SRM-1 MK2 and spring for the SR404 Signatures. I was able to get an SRM-1 MK2 in excellent condition for $130 and new headphones for $340. $570 total to get into a Stax system!
When I first set up the system, I ran the source through my favorite preamp - Audible Illusions L1. It sounded good - different but not necessarily better than the Sennheisers. I also read on this forum that bypassing a preamp and running directly from the DAC to the SRM-1 MK2 would likely give better sound. When I tried this, my jaw dropped. This is easily the best sound I've heard on headphones. It seems like many users prefer tubed headphone amps with the 404's; however, I am using a tubed non-over-sampling DAC, so that may explain some of the synergy. With this combo, I'm getting extreme clarity and openness without even a hint of harshness. I was expecting that they would be open sounding but probably deficient on bass. To my surprise, the bass was more natural and deeper than what I've been hearing on the HD600s.
Interestingly, I initially had to set the volume at about 2 o'clock position to get a good volume. After around 100 hours of break-in, I'm getting the same levels with the volume set to 10 o'clock.
Now my biggest problem with this system is that I am losing sleep by staying up late every night listing to "one more".
Thanks to information shared on this site, I decided to find a used SRM-1 MK2 and spring for the SR404 Signatures. I was able to get an SRM-1 MK2 in excellent condition for $130 and new headphones for $340. $570 total to get into a Stax system!
When I first set up the system, I ran the source through my favorite preamp - Audible Illusions L1. It sounded good - different but not necessarily better than the Sennheisers. I also read on this forum that bypassing a preamp and running directly from the DAC to the SRM-1 MK2 would likely give better sound. When I tried this, my jaw dropped. This is easily the best sound I've heard on headphones. It seems like many users prefer tubed headphone amps with the 404's; however, I am using a tubed non-over-sampling DAC, so that may explain some of the synergy. With this combo, I'm getting extreme clarity and openness without even a hint of harshness. I was expecting that they would be open sounding but probably deficient on bass. To my surprise, the bass was more natural and deeper than what I've been hearing on the HD600s.
Interestingly, I initially had to set the volume at about 2 o'clock position to get a good volume. After around 100 hours of break-in, I'm getting the same levels with the volume set to 10 o'clock.
Now my biggest problem with this system is that I am losing sleep by staying up late every night listing to "one more".