The Stax Thread III

[thinker]

The best Stax ever, to get it you void the warranty and don't do the mod if you are not handy. I have listened to this now for some weeks

I bought a cheap used Stax SR-009 phone and decided to figure out if it can be modded to sound better. This mod showed up that the 009 can sound much better and is even better than the new X9K.

1. remove the stock leather pads
2. remove the protection grille and the rubber ring inside including the screws
3. Install Stax 007mk2 latest stiff pads straight to the cup.

So what are the benefits. It's a much smoother sound without sibilance still transparent and detailed. Soundstage has improved vastly and is on par with X9K.
Very natural sound, slightly more balanced than X9K and overall very compellling sound. Bass has better definition, tighter, and the sound is more dynamic throughout all frequencies. Now this phone can handle large orchestras without loosing positioning. The sound is also exciting and interesting and not boring like the stock unit.
This phone is now much better, i estimate 20% better than stock unit and it looks also better.

 

[thinker]

a few more words about this mod. If you thought the stock 009 is transparent this mod is the ultimate of transparency. Interestingly the new transparent "see trough" feature makes the phone sound smooth, also this mod makes the phone litterally disappear.

The digital source sound is suddenly 3 dimensional as if listening for a great analog system.

The new X9K does not reach this level neither other previous Staxes. The "new" transparency of this mod doesn't make the phone sound faster, it's the opposite, it sounds slower, it sounds right.

A new feature is increased ability to show instruments "real" character. The mod sound has "strech" , this is obvious because the stock 009 cuts tones short and appears in comparison quick-tempered or nervous.

The increased soundstage of the mod keeps tones (performance) harmonically together, the coherence here is stunning. In comparison the new X9K shows the same performance somehow as scattered.

I don't use any dust covers or grilles on the mod and have removed everything wich is possible . It appears that the 009 driver has stellar quality and it's potential performance ability was ruined by dust covers, grilles, screws , rubber bands and wrong pads.

 

[KDS315]

The STAX engineers working on such estats headphones over decades now are seemingly all kretins I would guess from your findings - right?? I’m sooo happy to have such a genius here now!!

 

[BenF]

a few more words about this mod. If you thought the stock 009 is transparent this mod is the ultimate of transparency. Interestingly the new transparent "see trough" feature makes the phone sound smooth, also this mod makes the phone litterally disappear.

The digital source sound is suddenly 3 dimensional as if listening for a great analog system.

The new X9K does not reach this level neither other previous Staxes. The "new" transparency of this mod doesn't make the phone sound faster, it's the opposite, it sounds slower, it sounds right.

A new feature is increased ability to show instruments "real" character. The mod sound has "strech" , this is obvious because the stock 009 cuts tones short and appears in comparison quick-tempered or nervous.

The increased soundstage of the mod keeps tones (performance) harmonically together, the coherence here is stunning. In comparison the new X9K shows the same performance somehow as scattered.

I don't use any dust covers or grilles on the mod and have removed everything wich is possible . It appears that the 009 driver has stellar quality and it's potential performance ability was ruined by dust covers, grilles, screws , rubber bands and wrong pads.

Using 009 with dust covers - would could possibly go wrong?

 

[thinker]

Using 009 with dust covers - would could possibly go wrong?

The driver needs to be protected, dust covers, grilles etc. safety standard etc. the factory doesn't like to have returns. The mod has it's own risks , it's a study or explore how to change the phone better, if it breaks it's my fault. If somebody likes to experiment give it a try you will be suprised

 

[BenF]

The driver needs to be protected, dust covers, grilles etc. safety standard etc. the factory doesn't like to have returns. The mod has it's own risks , it's a study or explore how to change the phone better, if it breaks it's my fault. If somebody likes to experiment give it a try you will be suprised

I'm glad you understand the risks, but in your previous posts you were presenting the mode as X9K-killer with no downside...

 

[mulveling]

I'm glad you understand the risks, but in your previous posts you were presenting the mode as X9K-killer with no downside...

The high risk of damage is implied when he said to remove the inner protective grill lol. Anyone with the skill to remove them is going to realize this. I'm interested in reading about the results, but I wouldn't do it myself. I like my stuff to keep working.

 

[eskamobob1]

The high risk of damage is implied when he said to remove the inner protective grill lol. Anyone with the skill to remove them is going to realize this. I'm interested in reading about the results, but I wouldn't do it myself. I like my stuff to keep working.

I agree tbh. I don't realy feel that any further disclaimer was needed

 

[hifixman]

 

[BenF]

The high risk of damage is implied when he said to remove the inner protective grill lol. Anyone with the skill to remove them is going to realize this. I'm interested in reading about the results, but I wouldn't do it myself. I like my stuff to keep working.

It's best not to assume that EVERYONE knows what you know, especially when high risk is involved.
Not every Stax owner is aware that modding electrostatics is much more dangerous than modding dynamics/planars - which they may have done in the past.

You don't want someone to post in this thread "I tried the mod shortly, and now my right channel is significantly quieter than the left one...".

 

[mulveling]

Part of what's great about the Stax user community is its rich DIY branch and a philosophy of "hey this isn't like your other headphones - learn first, then play at your own risk". We don't need every other post to be about, hey did you know there are deadly voltages in these amps?

 

[thinker]

I'm sure Stax engineers at some point in the development apartment have to make a compromise between safety standards and ultimate soundquality, they just try approximate two factors as close as possible.

It appears that the mod removed the other and kept the ultimate soundquality. Threre is no reason that i write something on Head-fi if it's not a significant improvement, that's why i waited some weeks to be sure i my opinion.

Stax developed an ultimate driver but to implement it with safety standards and durability is the worst part in development. This phone could be my last , the satisfaction level couldn't be higher.

If you are careful i can not imagine that something goes wrong with this mod, i have had similar mods before, you have just to remember not to stick your fingers through the driver

 

[BenF]

I'm sure Stax engineers at some point in the development apartment have to make a compromise between safety standards and ultimate soundquality, they just try approximate two factors as close as possible.

It appears that the mod removed the other and kept the ultimate soundquality. Threre is no reason that i write something on Head-fi if it's not a significant improvement, that's why i waited some weeks to be sure i my opinion.

Stax developed an ultimate driver but to implement it with safety standards and durability is the worst part in development. This phone could be my last , the satisfaction level couldn't be higher.

If you are careful i can not imagine that something goes wrong with this mod, i have had similar mods before, you have just to remember not to stick your fingers through the driver

Outside of listening to the modded headphones only in an ISO 1 (https://www.clean-rooms.org/cleanroom-classifications/) clean room, how can one avoid getting dust on the drivers, causing degradation in performance? It's only a question of time...

 

[thinker]

Outside of listening to the modded headphones only in an ISO 1 (https://www.clean-rooms.org/cleanroom-classifications/) clean room, how can one avoid getting dust on the drivers, causing degradation in performance? It's only a question of time...

There is still film in place to protect the driver from dust, you just have to be careful not to break it.

 

[ufospls2]

Well, my BHSE which I have sold shipped out today, and interestingly enough the timing worked out that my replacement amp also arrived this morning.

I had been looking for a KGSSHV Carbon, and reached out to @headinclouds who I thought had stopped doing commissioned work, and as far as I know
that is true. However, as luck would have it, he was selling his personal KGSSHV Carbon, so I ended up buying it from him.

Will report back with how it sounds.