[daytrader]

L300 is one the most transparent headphones I ever heard, on par with 009.
It sounds very natural, and has a huuuuuuuuuuuuge soundstage - thanks to its perfect treble, which provides a lot of "brilliance" to the sound, while staying shy of introducing sibilance. It has a perfect timbre (especially in female vocals), and can create an illusion of listening to the actual concert, not a reproduciton of recorded music.
It's only con is the poor bass quantity/quality.

L700 sounds a lot darker, with smaller soundstage, not transparent at all - the sound is colored.

Here are my comparisons of L700 and L300 with L1000 (L300 + 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

This is extremely contradictory to every review I’ve ever read or heard comparing the L series Stax head speaker, my own experience Included as I have heard all three with an 353x and an 007tll. DAC is the Denafrips Ares ll. Have never heard the 007 or 009 to be clear.

 

[catscratch]

I find the L700 to be too bright with a peak at 5.5khz, bump at 1.2khz, some unevenness in the upper mids and some general treble emphasis. There is some extra midbass kick but to my ears it's certainly not too warm. This is the mk1 version. But it responds well to EQ. I think Oratory1990's measurements of it are fairly accurate though he EQs to Harman and to my ears Harman is a bit off. So I don't use his EQ but the measurements are a good reference point.

Never heard the L300.

Spoiler

no power and typing on mobile makes baby cat cry... and by "cry" I mean "want to hurl phone through wall"

 

[Mach3]

This is extremely contradictory to every review I’ve ever read or heard comparing the L series Stax head speaker, my own experience Included as I have heard all three with an 353x and an 007tll. DAC is the Denafrips Ares ll. Have never heard the 007 or 009 to be clear.

Yeah I agree, my finding don't match up with BenF statement at all. I'm got L300, L300 LE, X2 007 Mk1 and 009BK and a bunch of Stax amp and 2 KG amp.

 

[pbowne]

Let me start off with some background. I am a long-time Stax user with original Stax Lambda (normal bias) and the SRD-7SB energizer. Years ago I had heard the Lambda Pro earspeakers and was wowed by them. That put the pro's on my wishlist since I couldn't afford the earspeakers plus amp.

Now years later at the 1st AXPONA Show I listened to the SR-009 with the Blue Hawaii amp. That became my new dream. Since I could in no way afford this I figured I start small and build up in steps. Took a chance with a used SRM-T1 in great shape since it has both normal and pro bias connectors so I could use the headphones until I bought pros. I also read about the mods (CSS, etc) considered that as another possible step. Had it re-capped but the engineer refused to do any mods. Sounded fabulous with my Lambdas which, to be honest are in lousy shape. Getting a chance to buy barely used L300's I jumped on it.

So here's the situation. I've listened to both the Lambdas and the L300's a lot and the newer pro earspeakers have flabby mushy bass and have limited volume. The Lambda's are tight and really great sounding. What's wrong and how do I resolve this? Do I need to find someone to mod the amp or start looking for another amp? The reviews on the SRS-3100 System say the SRM-252S drives the L300's very well. I'm very confused at this point.

p.s. I loved the L300's when heard at AXPONA.

 

[armani006]

I also read about the mods (CSS, etc) considered that as another possible step.

you must, must and must do CCS-mode, I've done it and it is cheapest way to improve your amp's level ! CCS current mode is the way how other new modern expensive amps work.

Getting a chance to buy barely used L300's I jumped on it.

Buy new thick (2.5-3 cm) genuine leather custom pads, I've done it, it is cheapest way to get enough bass response, as the same level as dynamic headphones have.

I've done both modes and now happy, without this modes I would sell all Stax staff with no regret, now want to try Peruns )))

 

[tumpux]

Let me start off with some background. I am a long-time Stax user with original Stax Lambda (normal bias) and the SRD-7SB energizer. Years ago I had heard the Lambda Pro earspeakers and was wowed by them. That put the pro's on my wishlist since I couldn't afford the earspeakers plus amp.
.

I always love to hear the experience of old time stax users. How exactly did you exposed to stax?

 

[Tugbars]

Let me start off with some background. I am a long-time Stax user with original Stax Lambda (normal bias) and the SRD-7SB energizer. Years ago I had heard the Lambda Pro earspeakers and was wowed by them. That put the pro's on my wishlist since I couldn't afford the earspeakers plus amp.

Now years later at the 1st AXPONA Show I listened to the SR-009 with the Blue Hawaii amp. That became my new dream. Since I could in no way afford this I figured I start small and build up in steps. Took a chance with a used SRM-T1 in great shape since it has both normal and pro bias connectors so I could use the headphones until I bought pros. I also read about the mods (CSS, etc) considered that as another possible step. Had it re-capped but the engineer refused to do any mods. Sounded fabulous with my Lambdas which, to be honest are in lousy shape. Getting a chance to buy barely used L300's I jumped on it.

So here's the situation. I've listened to both the Lambdas and the L300's a lot and the newer pro earspeakers have flabby mushy bass and have limited volume. The Lambda's are tight and really great sounding. What's wrong and how do I resolve this? Do I need to find someone to mod the amp or start looking for another amp? The reviews on the SRS-3100 System say the SRM-252S drives the L300's very well. I'm very confused at this point.

p.s. I loved the L300's when heard at AXPONA.

did you try to port mod your L300? Lambda pros have closed ports as far as i remember and L300's do not. In a pressure chamber(pads + sealed port) frequencies are constant, so you can get tighter sub bass. Open ports can also result a midbass hump which is the case with L300.

as you can see in the pic, the port is blocked in 009. There are guides on how to block the port of L300 on it's head-fi thread and over the internet you can find additional guides too.

Ported L300/L500 basically looks like that.

 

[BenF]

that you all argue with no evidence, write on what equipment you listen to. Here maybe one is listening on the old multi-bit DAC and the other on the new delta sigma..

I auditioned L300, 007, 009, 009S, Shangrila Jr and Perun through Blue Hawaii + Holospring DAC + SU1 interface at Headamp in November 2018.
L300 and Perun were mine, the rest was provided by Justin.
I ended up buying 009 - next to it, 007 sounded like Walkman headphones.
Even though 009 is more than twice the price, it sounded like a bargain compared to 007.

At my office, I usually drive my electrostats using Airbow SRM253S, which is basically Stax SRM252S, but built using better components.
L300 sounds beautiful through SRM253S, but 009 sounds too clinical - I solved it by introducing a hybrid pre-amp.
Now 009 sounds very similar to how it sounded at Headamp, except for the bass - SRM253S lacks the power to produce the same slam.
L300 doesn't benefit from the tubes or additional power, Blue Hawaii didn't make it sound any better than SRM253S.

I have also shortly auditioned Stax D50 and D10 amps at Headamp - they both produced better bass than SRM253S with L300.
D50 introduced some extra warmth to the sound, D10 sounded perfectly transparent.

 

[ahmedie]

So here's the situation. I've listened to both the Lambdas and the L300's a lot and the newer pro earspeakers have flabby mushy bass and have limited volume.

L300limited has the tightest bass out of all new models especially with the L700 pads and little eq, still, 404LE was tighter ha..., also the doing above mod helps alot

 

[ahmedie]

L300 is one the most transparent headphones I ever heard, on par with 009.

Okay they are very transparent, they sound totally different from music to music, so they reveal source better? but they are not even close to 009 in term of detail retreival let alone L700

It sounds very natural, and has a huuuuuuuuuuuuge soundstage - thanks to its perfect treble, which provides a lot of "brilliance" to the sound, while staying shy of introducing sibilance. It has a perfect timbre (especially in female vocals), and can create an illusion of listening to the actual concert, not a reproduciton of recorded music.
It's only con is the poor bass quantity/quality.

I would not say they are very natural, the highs are obviously subdued with small soundstage, instruments sizes are bigger, L700 sound-stage is much larger...

L700 sounds a lot darker, with smaller soundstage, not transparent at all - the sound is colored.

L700 have much obvious tuning regarding frequency response (hence veiled?), with the darkest background out of new models

Here are my comparisons of L700 and L300 with L1000 (L300 + 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

I think BenF preference is clearly toward bright headphones that why he like 009 so much than 007 !

 

[ahmedie]

This is extremely contradictory to every review I’ve ever read or heard comparing the L series Stax head speaker, my own experience Included as I have heard all three with an 353x and an 007tll. DAC is the Denafrips Ares ll. Have never heard the 007 or 009 to be clear.

I agree

 

[pbowne]

you must, must and must do CCS-mode, I've done it and it is cheapest way to improve your amp's level ! CCS current mode is the way how other new modern expensive amps work.



Buy new thick (2.5-3 cm) genuine leather custom pads, I've done it, it is cheapest way to get enough bass response, as the same level as dynamic headphones have.

I've done both modes and now happy, without this modes I would sell all Stax staff with no regret, now want to try Peruns )))

I'd love to do the CCS mods. I think I might be able to put it together but I wouldn't know what to do if I had a problem. If I could find someone locally in the Chicago area or in the U.S. where I could ship it I'd get it done.

I was thinking about getting the L700 earpads and using blu-tack so that should help the bass.

 

[pbowne]

I always love to hear the experience of old time stax users. How exactly did you exposed to stax?

My original Stax was the SR-X with energizer which I got in the 70's from a local stereo shop.

 

[pbowne]

did you try to port mod your L300? Lambda pros have closed ports as far as i remember and L300's do not. In a pressure chamber(pads + sealed port) frequencies are constant, so you can get tighter sub bass. Open ports can also result a midbass hump which is the case with L300.

as you can see in the pic, the port is blocked in 009. There are guides on how to block the port of L300 on it's head-fi thread and over the internet you can find additional guides too.


Ported L300/L500 basically looks like that.

Never heard of porting in Stax. Thanks. I'll probably opt for the L700 earpads and use blu-tack. What did you use on yours?

 

[armani006]

I auditioned L300, 007, 009, 009S, Shangrila Jr and Perun

did you write anywhere comparison between 009 and Perun?

Airbow SRM253S, which is basically Stax SRM252S, but built using better components

here please more detailed or link please, I had 253s but sold it.. interesting to know what is the difference..