[oofie810]

I've been enjoying my HD650 powered by a Little Dot MKIII for a while now and I'm thinking of buying the stax srs-005 that is currently for sale. I like the sound of the HD650 but I just can't help thinking that I'm missing out on the good sound of a Stax system. Am I right on this?

How will the srs-005a compare to the HD650? Will the two systems be redundant or will they complement each other? Also, the included amp is the srm-252a, will the amp be sufficient to power regular stax earspeakers, like the Lambda pros?

Thanks,
Ron

 

[wang228]

I was down the same road, having had HD650 for 3 years and then felt the stax urge. I snatched a SR-005 set from the for-sale forum and am still enjoying it today. It was one of the best audio decision made since I joined headfi.

Compared to HD650, SR-003 sound is flat out inyour face. It has small and diffuse sound stage. Lower midrange is emphasized. It's not as extended in the frequency response as HD650, but still manages to sound a lot more 'transparent.' It is also way 'faster' sounding than HD650 (sorry for these subjective words, can't find better ways to express what i hear.) What I found in SR-003 that is lacking in all my dynamic headphones is its ability to portray the creamy sound of orchestral violins, something I always lust after (classical listener here).

I later acquired SR-404 and SRM-313. I did not hear enough difference between SRM313 and the little SRM-252a, when driving SR404, to warrant keeping both... I ended up selling SRM-313. I'm using SRM252a to drive both SR404 and SR003 these days.

HD650 has its own merits too and I still own it today.

Hope this helps.

 

[oofie810]

Thans Wang, very helpful answer. It's so helpful that your post might just push me to buy it now.

Do you think the srm252a drives the sr404 well? And which of the two (hd650 and sr-003) do you listen to more? I think the fact that I haven't heard any other headphones except for my sr-80s and hd650s has really made me curious on the sound of stax.

 

[Oliver :)]

I'm not as qualified since I only have the HD600 and not the 650 but I would more or less second what wang228 said. The 005 is one of the best deals around, extremely musical, superbly fast. You can even counter the early high-end roll-off if you dare to EQ, yet I rarely feel the need. I tend to listen to the 005 more these days as they are my computer-rig phones and prefer the HD600 in bed. I would not want to fall asleep with the 005 on.

 

[Nikita]

I don't think that the SRS-005a is a good complement.

 

[Oliver :)]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nikita /img/forum/go_quote.gif I don't think that the SRS-005a is a good complement.

And why do you think so?

 

[Nikita]

Because HD 650 and SRS-005a have not the same sound at all !

 

[TopPop]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nikita /img/forum/go_quote.gif Because HD 650 and SRS-005a have not the same sound at all !

Hence, "complement"...

 

[wang228]

Quote:

Originally Posted by oofie810 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Do you think the srm252a drives the sr404 well? And which of the two (hd650 and sr-003) do you listen to more?

Yes I am satisfied with srm252a+SR404, granted I have never experieced electrostatic amps better than SRM-313. To me the difference between SRM252a and SRM-313 is small, and i would likely fail a blind test.

I use Sr003 and HD650 about equally. SR003 is at my computer desk at work and HD650 is my bed rig. As Oliver said, it's not very practical to go to bed and fall asleep wtih SR003. I'm scared to use SR-003 with my hair half wet after shower too.... but that's not an issue with HD650. : )

wang

 

[smuh]

I got a Darkvoice 336SE together with the HD 650 and a Stax 3030 system (SR-303 and SRS-313) and can only recommend you trying Stax. For myself I am not sure if I am going to keep the HD 650 but highly recommend trying the Stax.

I would assume (to answer your question) that both systems would complement each other, if you still have the need for one or the other after enjoying both... I am not yet able to answer that for sure for myself

I will not sell the Darkvoice, as I am in need of a closed set of cans every now and then and enjoy the 336SE with the DT250 (and cannot afford the closed Stax phones yet).

Sorry, forgot to mention I got the HD 650 only for like 7 days and the Stax arrived like 10 hours ago

 

[oofie810]

wang- I was actually planning on using it right before I go to bed because with the hd650, the pillow under my head kind of pushes it in an awkward position. Fortunately, I haven't fallen asleep yet with my headphones on. I guess I just have to buy it and try it.

smuh- congrats on the stax, I actually just read your thread. I guess I HAVE to buy it now after all the replies here and all the reading I have done. Worst case scenario is I like it so much that I'll sell my hd650... so I can upgrade stax systems

 

[smuh]

That's what I would recommend, give it a try. For myself I can say that I expected an improvement, but improvement is the wrong word, to me it is like night and day ... the difference is just greater then I would have ever expected.

I know I might sound anoying to a few people, but to me it really is such a dramatic difference and certainly was the right thing to do.

 

[oofie810]

^Nice, just what I wanted to hear. I've been questioning myself if I should buy it since I've bought a lot headphone equipment in the last few weeks. I'm just telling myself that this would be the last one and could possibly be the last piece to complete my setup. Darn you head-fi!

 

[oofie810]

So I did buy the Stax setup and it arrived yesterday. I can't believe how much good music can come out of this tiny package. It does seem a bit dark (?) to me. I am not sure however which one of my setups (hd650+little dot mkIII, stax) I like better.

The HD650 extends more than the stax which I think I'm confusing to the stax being darker and the hd650 being bright. Also, I am not sure how to recognize that the hd650s are slower and the stax faster. The soundstage on the stax is smaller but I think it is more accurate in placing the vocals and instruments compared to the senns. I think I have lazy ears, they don't know what to do with all this good sound

 

[slwiser]

Enjoy them that are very good and you got them at real nice price point.