The Stax Thread III

[astromaddie]

Doesn't look beat up in the photo, actually looks better than most Mk1 that get sold on head fi or ebay.

Also, given how Yahoo auctions works (most bidding activity happens as/after the auction was scheduled to end), I’m surprised it’s already had so much bidding activity, and don’t expect it to stay so cheap by the time the auction is over.

 

[chocolates]

looks similar condition to mine actually, though i should be getting new pads and headband in the next couple weeks

 

[ye.]

I have a SRM1/MK2, SN A86**, which sounds as if it could need repair.
The spectrum of a 1k-test tone has a lot of x*50Hz artefacts up to high frequency. Especially the right channel (blue) has 100Hz multiples in the region of 5000Hz which the left channel has not (see attachment).
A part of the x*50Hz artefacts could be due to the measurement setup, but not the difference between left and right channel.

First suspects would be the electrolytics. They were changed to high quality types many years ago and capacitance and ESR measure still fine (in circuit). Measuring the supply voltages I see a 700mV 100 Hz saw-tooth ripple at C008 is this normal?

Any other hints what I should check?
Thanks

 

[BowWazoo]

i have a question about sr009. is the 009 capable of delivering energetic, punchy bass if I adjusted it to the Harman curve?

 

[Aurosonic]

Recent Harman target curves call for boosting frequencies below 40 Hz by as much as 6 dB. Looking at the frequency response graph of the SR-009 before and after equalization, there is a bump in frequencies below 125 Hz. I would expect more amplified deep bass, but not neccessarily more punchy bass. The SR-009 is not a bass heavy headphone to begin with. Graph prepared by jaakkopasanen.

 

[Moak]

I had a L500....I have a SR-303 and a L700 MKII.
Beautiful sound with the L700 but the ear pressure from the the left/right earcups is stronger than from both otherheadphones. I can‘t hear longer than one hour.
Has someone the same problem? Could I prepeare something on the headphone that it will be better?

 

[sinefine]

Hello,

Newcomer here. I got an opened box SRM-D50 for and a new L700MK2. The left channel seems to have a faint buzzing/humming noise. Not noticeable when playing music but audible when nothing is playing. The noise is there without USB connection and when the amp is turned on. I left it on for an hour and it was hot to the touch and the noise was still there. I tried plugging the AC to different wall outlets and it didn't make a difference.

Is this normal?

 

[6PANDEMONIUM6]

Hello,

Newcomer here. I got an opened box SRM-D50 for and a new L700MK2. The left channel seems to have a faint buzzing/humming noise. Not noticeable when playing music but audible when nothing is playing. The noise is there without USB connection and when the amp is turned on. I left it on for an hour and it was hot to the touch and the noise was still there. I tried plugging the AC to different wall outlets and it didn't make a difference.

Is this normal?

No, absolutely not. Sounds like you got a broken D50.

 

[6PANDEMONIUM6]

I had a L500....I have a SR-303 and a L700 MKII.
Beautiful sound with the L700 but the ear pressure from the the left/right earcups is stronger than from both otherheadphones. I can‘t hear longer than one hour.
Has someone the same problem? Could I prepeare something on the headphone that it will be better?

Are you trying to say that the clamp is too tight? Not sure what you mean by "can't hear for longer than an hour."

 

[elton7033]

I had a L500....I have a SR-303 and a L700 MKII.
Beautiful sound with the L700 but the ear pressure from the the left/right earcups is stronger than from both otherheadphones. I can‘t hear longer than one hour.
Has someone the same problem? Could I prepeare something on the headphone that it will be better?

may be 3rd party pads will help?

 

[Deolum]

Can anyone tell me which Stax would fit the best with my setup?

I use Lumin U1 Mini -> Metrum Pavane -> Audiovalve Solaris.

In other words my streamer is very good, my Dac is endgame and my amp should be around midrange?

The Solaris costs 4500 € while a BHSE costs 6000 $. The Solaris is an all in one device with dynamic headphone out + preamp + driving passive speakers + stax output whereas the BHSE is purely for Stax output. So it would be really weird if the Solaris would come close to those Amps purely dedicated to e-stats.

Which would be the best fitting Stax for this?

007 Mk I, 007 Mk II, 009, 009S?

Purely on harmonizing with the system. I know about the differences in sound signature.

Or are all around the same?

 

[Tugbars]

Solaris isn't really a pure "electrostatic headphones" amplifier. It's a headphone amplifier with a transformer added after the output stage. Such setup can't be even comparable to BHSE.

 

[Deolum]

Why is it not comparable? Both drive e-stats and one does it most likely better than the other so it should be comparable.

Edit: Oh you're saying that the BHSE is miles better right? Yeah that's what i was assuming.

 

[Velomane]

Hello,

Newcomer here. I got an opened box SRM-D50 for and a new L700MK2. The left channel seems to have a faint buzzing/humming noise. Not noticeable when playing music but audible when nothing is playing. The noise is there without USB connection and when the amp is turned on. I left it on for an hour and it was hot to the touch and the noise was still there. I tried plugging the AC to different wall outlets and it didn't make a difference.

Is this normal?

Try unplugging the headphones and touching its pins with your finger. Shorting them out this way worked for my 009S' when the left ear started making noise as you described.

 

[chocolates]

Why is it not comparable? Both drive e-stats and one does it most likely better than the other so it should be comparable.

Edit: Oh you're saying that the BHSE is miles better right? Yeah that's what i was assuming.

i may be wrong, but it looks like the solaris has a normal bias output? that definitely won't be enough to power any of the omegas (5 pin pro bias vs 6 pin normal bias)