The Stax SR-L500 and SR-L700 Impressions Thread

[catscratch]

Dead thread, arise!

I finally managed to snag a dirt cheap L500 new in box so I can post some early impressions.

This is a mk1 variant which means it categorically refused to fit on my head. As a result, the stock yokes were deleted and replaced with socas3d variants. In my experience, the stock pieces would have broken within a week anyway, they're not exactly well built or designed. The entire housing looks like something that came for free with a happy value meal and the earpads are clearly not as nice as what you get with the L700. But, we all know how well built these early units are.

Right away, the I could tell the tuning was better than the L700, the mids were less shouty and the top end wasn't as bright. But, there was still some midrange shout and treble edge so the next order of business was creating an EQ profile to smooth the rough corners away. Driving everything was a bone stock 007t.

I think I can see why some prefer the L500 over the L700, and I might eventually lean in that direction too. It's a bit more natural, more full-bodied, and has more tactility and slam. There's just more weight and heft to the sound. The L700 seems thinner and more ethereal, more contrasty and oversharpened, a bit like a Focal to the L500's Sennheiser, but without quite as much slam. The L700 does have a clear advantage in resolution up top and is more extended at the bottom, it has more depth to the stage and separates better, but it also sounds more artificial and not quite as engaging, more ethereal and weightless.

It's not a huge difference however and they are closer than they are apart.

Throwing the X1 into the mix, I think the X1 might actually resolve a bit better than the L500 and it has better bass. However it also has a more withdrawn midrange and its stage is nowhere near as open and airy as either of the Lambdas, though it's still open and airy next to normal headphones.

It's a bit early to rank them by preference, but the X1 is far more comfortable than the other two so it sees a lot more use.

Cheap estats are pretty good right now, not gonna lie, but here in the land of guns and freedom we're also liable to see "cheap" turn into "real expensive" at any moment, so tighten your belts and hold on for a bit, and cheap deals should resume eventually. Fingers crossed.

 

[AnyDave]

Dead thread, arise!

I finally managed to snag a dirt cheap L500 new in box so I can post some early impressions.

This is a mk1 variant which means it categorically refused to fit on my head. As a result, the stock yokes were deleted and replaced with socas3d variants. In my experience, the stock pieces would have broken within a week anyway, they're not exactly well built or designed. The entire housing looks like something that came for free with a happy value meal and the earpads are clearly not as nice as what you get with the L700. But, we all know how well built these early units are.

Right away, the I could tell the tuning was better than the L700, the mids were less shouty and the top end wasn't as bright. But, there was still some midrange shout and treble edge so the next order of business was creating an EQ profile to smooth the rough corners away. Driving everything was a bone stock 007t.

I think I can see why some prefer the L500 over the L700, and I might eventually lean in that direction too. It's a bit more natural, more full-bodied, and has more tactility and slam. There's just more weight and heft to the sound. The L700 seems thinner and more ethereal, more contrasty and oversharpened, a bit like a Focal to the L500's Sennheiser, but without quite as much slam. The L700 does have a clear advantage in resolution up top and is more extended at the bottom, it has more depth to the stage and separates better, but it also sounds more artificial and not quite as engaging, more ethereal and weightless.

It's not a huge difference however and they are closer than they are apart.

Throwing the X1 into the mix, I think the X1 might actually resolve a bit better than the L500 and it has better bass. However it also has a more withdrawn midrange and its stage is nowhere near as open and airy as either of the Lambdas, though it's still open and airy next to normal headphones.

It's a bit early to rank them by preference, but the X1 is far more comfortable than the other two so it sees a lot more use.

Cheap estats are pretty good right now, not gonna lie, but here in the land of guns and freedom we're also liable to see "cheap" turn into "real expensive" at any moment, so tighten your belts and hold on for a bit, and cheap deals should resume eventually. Fingers crossed.

I snagged a used pair of L500s about a month ago and I've been enjoying them as well. Mine is a v2 so hopefully the yokes hold up for a while (I think they will).

 

[Rob80b]

I think I can see why some prefer the L500 over the L700, and I might eventually lean in that direction too. It's a bit more natural, more full-bodied, and has more tactility and slam. There's just more weight and heft to the sound. The L700 seems thinner and more ethereal, more contrasty and oversharpened, a bit like a Focal to the L500's Sennheiser, but without quite as much slam. The L700 does have a clear advantage in resolution up top and is more extended at the bottom, it has more depth to the stage and separates better, but it also sounds more artificial and not quite as engaging, more ethereal and weightless.

It's not a huge difference however and they are closer than they are apart.

I'm still on the fence about upgrading to the L700, as a senior I could use the extra treble and while my hearing is fine up to 10K the added detail may be lost on me but I would appreciate even more clarity and resolution over my L300, which are IMHO already very good and with the thicker leather pads and the MKII headband assembly, are essentially a L500.

 

[catscratch]

I wouldn't necessarily say it's an outright upgrade. Yes you get more resolution and a bigger stage but you trade off some impact and midrange naturalness for it.

They're fairly similar and I wouldn't feel any immediate urge to upgrade. But if you can audition the thing somewhere that should be useful. Also they come up for sale used pretty cheap, although if you get a mk1 version the headband might need modding or fixing.

 

[Svperstar]

 

[Rob80b]

I wouldn't necessarily say it's an outright upgrade. Yes you get more resolution and a bigger stage but you trade off some impact and midrange naturalness for it. They're fairly similar and I wouldn't feel any immediate urge to upgrade.

We could say that about most headphones......

But if you can audition the thing somewhere that should be useful.

Ideally yes...

Also they come up for sale used pretty cheap, ...........

That's the plan.

In the end it's usually determined if those small incremental differences or maybe improvements are worth the investment.

...and a little while later. : )
And done, another itch scratched, now waiting on delivery of a new pair.

Yes you get more resolution and a bigger stage but you trade off some impact and midrange naturalness for it.

Except for the detail and resolution I'd say most of that would be attributed to the pads but can't confirm until the L700 MKII arrive, that is if my 300s are not sold in the interim.

 

[Rob80b]

I'm still on the fence about upgrading to the L700

Direct from Japan..new pair of L700...now to let the brain decide if it's money well spent.

Initial impressions compared to the L300 with leather pads, is that the 700s are more precise, clinical, the L300 appear to round off the edges but in a good way and sound a bit more organic but it will take a few days to come to any conclusion on preferences, right now I like both but for different reasons.

But to quote "catsratch" once more, I'd say the assessment is right on.

I wouldn't necessarily say it's an outright upgrade. Yes you get more resolution and a bigger stage but you trade off some impact and midrange naturalness for it.

They're fairly similar and I wouldn't feel any immediate urge to upgrade.

 

[Rob80b]

Direct from Japan..new pair of L700...now to let the brain decide if it's money well spent.

A small comparison with the L300, all things being equal, headband, pads, energizer, source all the while simultaneously plugged into the SRM400s.

L700MKII left & L300 right w/MKII headband

All listening was done with either the stock L700 pads or the thicker Aliexpress all leather pads, the quick mount makes it easy to swap out, no comparisons were done with the stock L300 pads as they were not to my liking at all.
Tidal Mix
https://listen.tidal.com/mix/00040cdec3c41e1ce44a720f650b6e
https://tidal.com/mix/000e3179ea6ef458b459d64f81f9ae
https://listen.tidal.com/mix/008ace66dfec016a6872182060c594
Stax L700 pad left.....Ali all leather pad right*

I don't have L500MK2, but I have L300 with L500 pads, which basically makes L500.
It's a middle ground between L300 and L700 - has a better bass than L300, but loses the incredible transparency of L300 and is warmer.
Still, it's not as warm and veiled as L700.

Once getting some proper listening in to all type of genres I would have to whole heartily disagree, IMHO I'd have to say the L700 is anything but "warm and veiled", just the opposite to these ears, in fact the L300 are the more forgiving of the pair, transients are slightly rounded, detail is less precise..but it does make the L300 an easier and more comfortable listen, somewhat similar as the HD650 are to the HD800S but the two Stax are more similar than different while the Sennheisers are completely different in design and listening.

The L700 does have a clear advantage in resolution up top and is more extended at the bottom, it has more depth to the stage and separates better, but it also sounds more artificial and not quite as engaging, more ethereal and weightless.

Again I'd have to agree on most of this although I wouldn't say the L700 are an "ethereal and weightless" listen, depending on the recording they can maybe be a bit too precise, possible sounding "more artificial" relative to the L300 and yet on another track the L700 create the proverbial wall of sound, so rather chameleon in nature and more often than not a rather full auditory presentation.
One thing the L700 excel in is width and I'd almost say in height as far as headphones go, layering is also very good but much shallower than the HD800S or my AKG K872s for example.

*Interestingly enough I preferred the Ali all leather pads on both electrostatics and have a second pair on order.

Another comparison I've been working with is the HD800S which came out about the same time 2015/16

....the HD800S I've had for nine years though. Pros and cons with both but as they've different means of generating sound waves the presentation is not same so some may prefer one over the other, personally I like to have different flavours on hand so content to have both in my roster.
More later........

 

[Hubert481]

Dos you have the pads-link - thanks

 

[Rob80b]

Dos you have the pads-link - thanks

try here https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006664068060.html

*Interestingly enough I preferred the Ali all leather pads on both electrostatics and have a second pair on order.

Well that was quick, 2nd pair of all sheepskin are in, believe they're the same as the 1st but those are out on the L300 which is "sale pending".
When new the stock finish is a little on the vinyl look IMHO, so I'll let them sit after applying a little leather conditioner and we're good to go.


I use Lexol if anyone is interested.


And final shot of the Ali left and stock L700 pad right.


..and thickness difference when mounted.