The Stax Thread III

[daytrader]

Hello,
Could you please let me more details about a "speaker amp with a standalone energizer" setup? How does it works and which energizer and speaker amp combo is recommended?

I have been reading this forum for a while but this is the first time I see this recommendation.
I recently bought my first Stax 009 together with a 727II amp. Based on what I hear and read on these forums my amp is the weak link in my chain.
I am thinkin about buying a KGSSHV Carbon amp in the future but it is too expensive for me right now....so if there is any other option which might sound better than a 727II I would be very interested...

Thanks,
Zsolt

If you are not happy with the Stax 727II, then you will pay $ way up for an improvement. The 009s are not a difficult drive. Lucky you don’t have the 007s!

 

[kzs70]

Check mjolnir audio. @spritzer has some amps he has reconditioned and modified at much lower prices than his kgsshv’s and is an honest and upfront guy. It’s where I bought mine (for the same reason as you, saving for the carbon).

Thanks, I have already talked to him. As I have the feedback modded 727 he recommended the Carbon as a significant upgrade, so I am saving for that too

 

[daytrader]

Thanks, I have already talked to him. As I have the feedback modded 727 he recommended the Carbon as a significant upgrade, so I am saving for that too

Like I said, pay $ way up! The Carbon is a significant improvement.

 

[kzs70]

If you are not happy with the Stax 727II, then you will pay $ way up for an improvement. The 009s are not a difficult drive. Lucky you don’t have the 007s!

Yes, it seems the next upgrade from the 727II will be more expensive.
But I know that the Stax 009 deserves a better amp. I have gone through the same process with my ML Montis speakers too, until I got a decent amp (Aesthetix Atlas Eclipse) I did not hear their full potential.

 

[118900]

Like I said, pay $ way up! The Carbon is a significant improvement.

True but I am driving my 007 with a modified 717 (from Mjolnir Audio) and I can guarantee that as it stands it is a significant improvement (to my ears) over my Audeze LCD-4z driven direct from the Chord Hugo2.

I originally bought the set up to sit alongside my Audeze so as to have an electrostat sound when I wanted it, having owned a Stax system in the past and also using the Shure KSE 1200's in-ears as my travelling set I always thought it would be a secondary home system to the Audeze......... one week later I sold the Audeze's, hand down, no questions asked! to me the 007/717 combo is really in another league.

I will eventually upgrade to a Carbon or whatever replaces it or is an upgrade from it in future, but for now Im honesty in a very sweet place.

 

[118900]

Thanks, I have already talked to him. As I have the feedback modded 727 he recommended the Carbon as a significant upgrade, so I am saving for that too

Given what he said (which is the same thing he told me when I bought my modified 717 from him) I would suggest that you don’t "waste" money on any interim steps then, you probably won't appreciate any difference, just go straight for the Carbon when the right time comes.

Personally I am very very happy with my set-up and end game plan is eventually replace the 717 straight with a Carbon or whatever is TOTL at the time.

 

[kzs70]

Given what he said (which is the same thing he told me when I bought my modified 717 from him) I would suggest that you don’t "waste" money on any interim steps then, you probably won't appreciate any difference, just go straight for the Carbon when the right time comes.

Personally I am very very happy with my set-up and end game plan is eventually replace the 717 straight with a Carbon or whatever is TOTL at the time.

Yes, I have come to the same conclusion....hopefully it will happen sometime next year

 

[6PANDEMONIUM6]

Hey all,

Since I had 2 pairs of sr-001 mkII, and one pair had a broken cable, I decided to get myself an sr-003 mkII cable instead, to use with full-size energisers.

It's a world of difference! the soundstage increases dramatically, it feels like they got more 'oomph', and have definitely upgraded from 'nice IEMs' to 'very good headphones, period.' I should also mention that I use the ET-A1 ear tips, which makes them super comfortable (at the moment i've worn them 12 hours straight)

I have 2 setups where I run them on, namely my Teac UD-501 > ED-1 pro > srm323s, and for the bedroom FiiO M11 pro > SRD-X pro

Apart from that i've also acquired a second Lambda pro, which might be my favourite stax of the ones i have, and have tried. SR-507 being a close second.

My SR-Sigma pro has not been in use, ever really. I get why people like it, but I much rather prefer the directness of the lambdas.

I'm glad that you're enjoying your 001s. You should let me take those Sigmas off of your hands.

Hi.

Would somebody within this thread possibly be able to suggest to me a potentiometer that could be used for a replacement for the SRM-T1?

The T1 uses an Alps 50K ohm pot. Rk27 I believe? You can find them pretty easily online.

Hello,
Could you please let me more details about a "speaker amp with a standalone energizer" setup? How does it works and which energizer and speaker amp combo is recommended?

I have been reading this forum for a while but this is the first time I see this recommendation.
I recently bought my first Stax 009 together with a 727II amp. Based on what I hear and read on these forums my amp is the weak link in my chain.
I am thinkin about buying a KGSSHV Carbon amp in the future but it is too expensive for me right now....so if there is any other option which might sound better than a 727II I would be very interested...

Thanks,
Zsolt

A used Stax srd-7 mk.2, or a new Woo Audio Wee, with a quality apeaker amp of your choice. There have been some complaints about Woo Audio not using ballast resistors in their designs which may damage your drivers over a long period of time. I don't know anyone personally who has damaged their Stax because of that though. If you ever see a Stax srd-7 mk.2 on the used market jump on it.

 

[6PANDEMONIUM6]

I'm glad that you're enjoying your 001s. You should let me take those Sigmas off of your hands.

The T1 uses an Alps 50K ohm pot. Rk27 I believe? You can find them pretty easily online.


A used Stax srd-7 mk.2, or a new Woo Audio Wee, with a quality apeaker amp of your choice. There have been some complaints about Woo Audio not using ballast resistors in their designs which may damage your drivers over a long period of time. I don't know anyone personally who has damaged their Stax because of that though. If you ever see a Stax srd-7 mk.2 on the used market jump on it.

Wait, not an rk 27. Stax uses a custom alps 50K ohm because it has to be dual-concentric.

 

[chocolates]

do people here prefer the mk1 or mk2 lambda headbands? (the one that comes with the L500/L700)

i want to get a bigger headband for my L300 but not really too keen on buying an entirely new lambda for it

 

[kzs70]

A used Stax srd-7 mk.2, or a new Woo Audio Wee, with a quality apeaker amp of your choice. There have been some complaints about Woo Audio not using ballast resistors in their designs which may damage your drivers over a long period of time. I don't know anyone personally who has damaged their Stax because of that though. If you ever see a Stax srd-7 mk.2 on the used market jump on it.

Thanks! And how would you compare this setup to the 727II/009 and the Carbon/009, using with your "best" speaker amp?

 

[elton7033]

Thanks! And how would you compare this setup to the 727II/009 and the Carbon/009, using with your "best" speaker amp?

The 727A and Carbon with 009 is at total different level, i havent been using my 727 for years because i got my kgsshv but the kgsshv Carbon is just that much better than the normal hv

 

[kzs70]

The 727A and Carbon with 009 is at total different level, i havent been using my 727 for years because i got my kgsshv but the kgsshv Carbon is just that much better than the normal hv

Thanks for your reply, I can't wait to try a Carbon, hopefuly sooner then later...

 

[Aurosonic]

I do agree that if the Carbon or BHSE are the ultimate goal, it may make sense to just save up and go straight to the top. However, one should not discredit the "stepping stone" amps like a KGSS or KGSSHV.

At around $2000, a used KGSSHV is 1/2 to 1/3 the cost of the Carbon or BHSE. For someone who can't justify spending $4000-$6000 on an amp, the KGSS or KGSSHV can indeed be end-game.

 

[JLoud]

I went from a 353x to BHSE. Skipped all the steps in between. Glad I did. Very happy with the BHSE, and feel it will meet the needs of any future headphones I may purchase.