It also has RCA inputs so even if a DAC was actually constructed as pure balanced you have a choice. You could consider looking for a second hand one, they are definitely worth it. Even the Mojo is an excellent DAC that punches above its weight.
I currently own a Modi 2 Uber. It works fine, but I think it's holding the rest of my equipment a little back.
I think the same regarding the Ares II, moreover because I have to get all this kind of stuff via an audio and musical equipment importer which doesn't deal with second-hand stuff. I can understand, they don't want problems, and much rather have a warranty in case something happens.
On a local online marketplace, there's one second-hand Schiit Gungnir MB, but not only is a bit too expensive* for me now, but, get this: the seller doesn't ship via mail or any sort of parcel delivery company. So, you have to pick it up personally at the seller's home. The excuse he uses is that "it's too fragile".
*Not only that. I consulted my trusty importer, and for about the same price that mulebrain asks for his second hand Gunmby, I can get a brand new one from Schiit via the importer.
Another guys on the same marketplace was selling a Magni 3 amp at a very good price, but that guy at least had the courtesy of clarifying that the low price was due to a small defect on the amp (humming or buzzing sound on high volume or in hi-gain mode).
Kinda hard where I live, and most dealers that could get them from marketplaces abroad won't deal with second hand stuff. EDIT: Right now, at least on eBay, they are asking about the same price as a brand new one from Vinshineaudio. I rather have a fresh warranty.
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Besides that. I have another question.
On that same online marketplace from my country, one guys for a couple of years now has been trying to sell a vintage STAX combo: SR-X Mark III earspeakers and SRD-7 energizer.
I was tempted a couple of times, but the main turn off is the SRD-7 which requires either a receiver or a dedicated speaker amp. That energizer doesn't have RCA, XLR or any other modern inputs.
Suffice to say, both units look in great shape. Sure, the energizer has some very minor scuff marks, but that pretty much it, the earspeakers look really good, almost brand new, the owner sure is taking good care of them.
They aren't cheap, but way more affordable than, let's say, the 007 or the 009.
They also look built like a tank, much more sturdy than any of the Lambdas.
Do they really worth it? I already own the L700 MkII, which I'm surprised that not only the earcup retention studs, but also the yoke are made of metal. They are still frighteningly lightweight.
I would only need the SR-X, because I can plug them to the SRM-353X I ordered.
Another thing I read is that these old Stax earspeakers can have channel imbalance. Not really a dealbreaker since the SRM-353X has a channel imbalance offset or correction dial. Another thing to considerate is that the membrane isn't as protected as in modern earspeakers. One needs extra care.
They look so cool and old school.
On that same online marketplace from my country, one guys for a couple of years now has been trying to sell a vintage STAX combo: SR-X Mark III earspeakers and SRD-7 energizer.
I was tempted a couple of times, but the main turn off is the SRD-7 which requires either a receiver or a dedicated speaker amp. That energizer doesn't have RCA, XLR or any other modern inputs.
Suffice to say, both units look in great shape. Sure, the energizer has some very minor scuff marks, but that pretty much it, the earspeakers look really good, almost brand new, the owner sure is taking good care of them.
They aren't cheap, but way more affordable than, let's say, the 007 or the 009.
They also look built like a tank, much more sturdy than any of the Lambdas.
Do they really worth it? I already own the L700 MkII, which I'm surprised that not only the earcup retention studs, but also the yoke are made of metal. They are still frighteningly lightweight.
I would only need the SR-X, because I can plug them to the SRM-353X I ordered.
Another thing I read is that these old Stax earspeakers can have channel imbalance. Not really a dealbreaker since the SRM-353X has a channel imbalance offset or correction dial. Another thing to considerate is that the membrane isn't as protected as in modern earspeakers. One needs extra care.
They look so cool and old school.
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bigjako
100+ Head-Fier
if you’re using the 353, a solid state amp, I’d very much recommend the BF2. I just recently got the Jolida Glass FX tube dac (did you hear it won the AZ audiophile DACoff?!?!) too, with my SRD-7 and Emotiva Basx A-100 combo and its quite amazing as well, a lot more 3D holographic than the BF but less forceful. it’s still quite nice. My worry is that listening on the 006ts, I’m doubling up the tubiness and losing some of the Staxen’s magical capacities up top. I am on the hunt for a Topping D90 just to see what exact opposite of the BF2 would sound like. I may sell it but I just want to floor the high end detail to put the Stax through the paces.
I’ve also used the Modi MB, Khadas Toneboard and Modius with the Staxen. The Modius was the most analytical and large of the three - the Khadas was small but detailed and the Mimby was small and smooth, to my recollection.
BTW, are Staxen the Stax owners or the earspeakers themselves?
edit to comment on your point about the SRD-7. As long as it has the bias to play the cans you have and you have a good speaker amp, it is absolutely wonderful. I’ve been revisiting mine with the Emotiva and Jolida and I bang the desk a lot.
I’ve also used the Modi MB, Khadas Toneboard and Modius with the Staxen. The Modius was the most analytical and large of the three - the Khadas was small but detailed and the Mimby was small and smooth, to my recollection.
BTW, are Staxen the Stax owners or the earspeakers themselves?
edit to comment on your point about the SRD-7. As long as it has the bias to play the cans you have and you have a good speaker amp, it is absolutely wonderful. I’ve been revisiting mine with the Emotiva and Jolida and I bang the desk a lot.
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DesignTaylor
100+ Head-Fier
I've recently moved from a Qutest to the Border Patrol for my STAX rig. I love the Chord sound but with the e-stats the details were being emphasized too much, it was loosing its musicality and sounding a bit over produced.
bigjako
100+ Head-Fier
The right DAC for Stax is probably the least-exploited content mine in audiophilia. Would love to hear about the Border Patrol compared to others, especially the ubiquitous BF2. Maybe a future episode?
If I were starting from scratch, I would be very interested in the Soekris 2541 right now. EJ may have better luck importing it to Argentina, too. Or even a deal on an old 1541.
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chocolates
100+ Head-Fier
what are the differences between dacs people find most noticeable?
bigjako
100+ Head-Fier
I think it’s best to always compare the extremes first, then refine where you end up liking it. Imagine the A to Z spectrum - it’s better to test between A and Z, or between A and M and Z, instead of testing A vs B or X vs Z. Not sure if you know what I mean, but I imagine testing the Ares vs the Mimby vs the BF2 is a lot more nuanced then the Ares vs the D90. Then hone in on the part of the alphabet you gravitate to.
Right now I worry that I’ve overtubed the Stax path and have walled off some of their magical ability to sparkle without fatigue, so I’m interested in testing the polar opposite of the BF2 or Jolida, which I believe would be the D90. I’d buy it planning to sell it again unless it tickled my treble fancy. I’ve never heard Chord so can’t comment about that relatively popular path.
My only real strong opinion is that Stax can really present what a particular DAC is giving it, so don’t run them off your phone or a BTR5 or even a Modi. In hindsight, going from Mimby to BF2 was a massive, high value upgrade. Minor confession, I found the Uptone ISO regen improved the BF2, separating everything better and giving it stronger transients (I think), even with Unison. Im going to move it over to the Jolida this week to see what it does for that.
Right now I worry that I’ve overtubed the Stax path and have walled off some of their magical ability to sparkle without fatigue, so I’m interested in testing the polar opposite of the BF2 or Jolida, which I believe would be the D90. I’d buy it planning to sell it again unless it tickled my treble fancy. I’ve never heard Chord so can’t comment about that relatively popular path.
My only real strong opinion is that Stax can really present what a particular DAC is giving it, so don’t run them off your phone or a BTR5 or even a Modi. In hindsight, going from Mimby to BF2 was a massive, high value upgrade. Minor confession, I found the Uptone ISO regen improved the BF2, separating everything better and giving it stronger transients (I think), even with Unison. Im going to move it over to the Jolida this week to see what it does for that.
catscratch
Headphoneus Supremus
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Bifrost 2 is very good for the price. I downgraded to one, if you can call it that, from more expensive dacs and I don't really feel like I'm missing much, except maybe some dynamic punch. It's got great mids and a very good tone to it and pairs nicely with Stax or just about anything. If the Yggdrasil is anything like it but with improved dynamics, then it should be my next dac.
When upgrading to my current set up I got floored by the 3D imaging and the apparent space between instruments. Some live recordings went from hearing crowd noise to actually being seemingly placed within the crowd (around you and between you and the band) with the band in the (near) distance. Music feels more realistic. Transients being clearer, something you hear very well with electrostats.
One thing that also became really apparent was that on recordings I had know for decades, sung words suddenly became clearer and easy to discern. I was beginning to understand all the lyrics of songs I had had difficulty with before.
Maybe you should also consider the Gungnir MB (or Gunmby). Nicknamed the "Yggy Jr". Some consider it to be 90% of what the Yggy is capable of, but at half the price. The delta-sigma variant of the Gungnir is even cheaper, right between the BF2 and the Gunmby.
In my case, I'll put the BF2 in the list. It's slightly cheaper than the Ares II, both are R2R, have RCA and XLR outs, and have an internal PSU. The BF2 comes with a remote control, which is nice, specially for speakers users. The Ares II has a voltage selector so it can be used everywhere, whereas the BF2 you have to order it specifically for either 120 or 230 volts.
The Ares II also has DSD support and different sampling filters. I think it mostly boils down to which one sounds better.
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Thank you for sharing that information with me. I certainly would consider enquiring regarding that alternative head band, in the case that I order a set of ES-1as, at some point of time within the future.The ES-1a are not light but they are pretty comfortable. I can wear them all day without issue (although I am accustomed to some heavy woody headphones). The 007 seem crazy light and super comfy when I had them. Haven't tried the 009.
I have never liked the feel of the headband on the ES-1a. From the minute I got them out of the box it felt a bit floppy and the clamp as a little too loose (slippy) for my taste (but maybe I have a tiny head). I worked with Beson (the guy behind the ES-1a) to develop a revised version of the band that is a little more stout. If you end up ordering one and you are concerned about it you might inquire if he is willing to provide the alternative band, I gave him my CAD.
See if you can spot the difference
I do need to admit to you, however, that I am not able to spot the difference for your alternative head band.
A feature of the design for the ES-1a that I now did notice, from looking at your picture, is that space that exists within the enclosures for the drivers. I previously had not realised that that space existed. It appears that the SR-Omegas also possess that space on the enclosures.I have never liked the feel of the headband on the ES-1a. From the minute I got them out of the box it felt a bit floppy and the clamp as a little too loose (slippy) for my taste (but maybe I have a tiny head). I worked with Beson (the guy behind the ES-1a) to develop a revised version of the band that is a little more stout. If you end up ordering one and you are concerned about it you might inquire if he is willing to provide the alternative band, I gave him my CAD.
See if you can spot the difference
Would anybody within this thread know what the reason is for that design?
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DesignTaylor
100+ Head-Fier
Yes, sorry, that was a joke. We tried to make it look very much like the original. It is a little thicker and has slightly different geometry.
Allows you to listen with earrings
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