The Entry Level Stax Thread

[spritzer]

Quote:

Why is it that an amp like the O2 measuring well doesn't sound amazing? The answer must be found in the minuscule amount if distortion, am I right? Alternatively, I guess it would have something to do with stuff we can't measure.
Above is assuming you strive for transparency and neutrality.

 
That's not it, the O2 was meant to be good at one measurement (THD) and ignore everything else.  This completely missed the point of amp design and that's why the O2 is so bloody horrible. 

 

[davidsh]

Everything else being? I guess that was one part of my question.

What should I use to clean off excess residue from the pad adhesive? Anything better than isopropyl alcohol out there,

 

[M-13]

Quote:

Everything else being?

Actually sounding good to the human ear?

 

[K_19]

So my friend has already moved on to the 4170 a month after starting off with the 2170 

  Deadly it is, this Stax bug.

 

[miceblue]

I'm going to be sticking to the SRS-2170 for a while. I might get the upcoming Alpha Dog to complete my headphone arsenal...

V-MODA Crossfade M-100: my trusty portable headphone
AKG K 701: my trusty dynamic reference
STAX SRS-2170: my trusty electrostatic reference
MrSpeakers Alpha Dog(?): planar magnetic reference(?)

 

[autoteleology]

Will your Alpha Dog be trusty once you decide to purchase it?

 

[M-13]

Quote:

So my friend has already moved on to the 4170 a month after starting off with the 2170 

  Deadly it is, this Stax bug.

Next stop: SR009!
 
I literally fear trying out Stax now...

 

[miceblue]

  Will your Alpha Dog be trusty once you decide to purchase it?

I haven't touched the Alpha Dog yet, so I can't say if it's trusty or not.

 

 

  Why is it that an amp like the O2 measuring well doesn't sound amazing? The answer must be found in the minuscule amount if distortion, am I right? Alternatively, I guess it would have something to do with stuff we can't measure.
Above is assuming you strive for transparency and neutrality.

 
That's not it, the O2 was meant to be good at one measurement (THD) and ignore everything else.  This completely missed the point of amp design and that's why the O2 is so bloody horrible. 

Well since the O2 was blind tested against the DAC1 PRE and no audible difference was heard, you're implying that the DAC1 PRE is bloody horrible too. I guess those awards must have been for the best worst product of the year.

 

[Chris J]

Quote:

 
That's not it, the O2 was meant to be good at one measurement (THD) and ignore everything else.  This completely missed the point of amp design and that's why the O2 is so bloody horrible. 

 
Surely sir, you exaggerate!
Quote:

I'm going to be sticking to the SRS-2170 for a while. I might get the upcoming Alpha Dog to complete my headphone arsenal...

V-MODA Crossfade M-100: my trusty portable headphone
AKG K 701: my trusty dynamic reference
STAX SRS-2170: my trusty electrostatic reference
MrSpeakers Alpha Dog(?): planar magnetic reference(?)

 
I'll stick with my trusty:
Q701 dynamics
SRS-2170 eletrostatic system
ATH-ESW9 portable dynamics
however I would like to upgrade my DAC from something a bit better than my trusty iBasso D12.

 

[autoteleology]

Wow, I can't believe someone actually paid $320 for an untested, beat-up SR-Lambda.

 

[miceblue]

Wait a sec......
Posted at the same time, on the same forums, with the same amount of money?

 

[NamelessPFG]

You people are quite the Internet sleuths...
 
Yes, it's risky. It always is when buying used gear. But Stax hasn't made Normal bias Lambdas for decades now, so it's not like I've got much of a choice when shopping around for 'em. My experiences with the SR-202 (and an underdriven SR-303) suggest I won't like modern Lambdas much out of a combo of higher clamping force and somewhat degraded midrange, and as you all know, SR-007 and SR-009 are out of the question entirely.
 
I've always had this one question nagging on my mind...how close is my Lambda with rebuilt drivers to a stock set? That move aims to answer that, assuming it doesn't arrive with imbalanced drivers or god knows what else. (And if it IS defective...well, he did state it was in working order, so I can always talk to eBay about that.)

 

[miceblue]

Hey I'm just checking my subscriptions and when I opened up MLE's thread and this thread, they had the same kind of stuff. XD

 

[NamelessPFG]

Well, as I'm sure you all know by now, I want to add to MLE's review list a little bit, because I know that the SR-407 and the original SR-Lambda will, in all likeliness, sound VERY different despite both being Lambda-frame models.
 
Problem is, the amp requirement puts a bit of a dent in that, especially when juggling Normal bias and Pro bias sets. While he tested the SR-407 with a little SRM-252, he's going to get something a LOT beefier this time around...

 

[steve2151]

Quote:

You people are quite the Internet sleuths...
 
Yes, it's risky. It always is when buying used gear. But Stax hasn't made Normal bias Lambdas for decades now, so it's not like I've got much of a choice when shopping around for 'em. My experiences with the SR-202 (and an underdriven SR-303) suggest I won't like modern Lambdas much out of a combo of higher clamping force and somewhat degraded midrange, and as you all know, SR-007 and SR-009 are out of the question entirely.
 
I've always had this one question nagging on my mind...how close is my Lambda with rebuilt drivers to a stock set? That move aims to answer that, assuming it doesn't arrive with imbalanced drivers or god knows what else. (And if it IS defective...well, he did state it was in working order, so I can always talk to eBay about that.)

I saw a listing for an untested set of normal bias lambdas with a snapped headband just go for $147.50.
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/231030461020?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
 
A set of replacement pads and replacement headband from Stax USA would set you back another $200-$250 or so depending on whether you use the basic or SR-507 pads. Looks like what NamelessPFG paid is about the going rate.