The Stax Thread III

[paradoxper]

Multiple amps.

Definitely arcing. Obviously not as violent or loud as the Youtube clip you posted. It runs up and down the left driver after powering up the system. I was sitting with the headphones on with no music playing now and it lasted for a good 2 minutes before quieting down. Sounds like a little mouse running around squeaking inside the left ear cup. It seems to be quiet for a bit and then start again and it comes and goes.

If I unplug the cable and touch it with my finger to remove the electrical load it goes quiet. As soon as I plug it in again, the arcing starts.

Is this something I can fix myself (i.e. cleaning) or should I go back to the dealer?

Good news it isn't what I presumed which may be a failing transformer in the amp. It does sound like dust.

You need to return them to your shady dealer, demand a replacement or a refund.

 

[givmedew]

I have a dilemma… I know nothing about Stax but I wanted a decent pair of headphones that could make me feel special like my speakers do but without being loud and waking my wife and child…

I have bought so many $200-2000 headphones and returned them to Amazon that I’ve started to worry that Amazon would ban me. To be clear the most I’ve spent on a single pair has been $1300 but they where open box headphones that normally go for $2000. Most of my purchases have been open box in hopes I wouldn’t feel as bad about returning them all.

While my first impression of the HiFiMann Sundaras where that they are better than my 19yr old Sennheiser HD590… they didn’t sound good enough to exit the realm of I HATE HEADPHONES…

I was starting to get to the point where I just didn’t think headphones could do it!

Then I read a little about Stax… and I said F it…

I bought the Stax Lambda Pro Classic / SRM-Xh bundle…

My jaw dropped! They can’t do what a properly imaged speaker can do… BUT they HAVE THERE OWN MAGIC!!!! Dare I say it was like when I heard the $80,000 Martin Logan speakers AT MARTIN LOGAN… it was an absolute shock!!!

Problem is that they fall flat on their face around 75-80dB… I felt this just had to be the amplifier…

So I quickly doubled down!!!!

I haven’t owned my headphones even a month yet!

I found this tube amp on reverb for $505 shipped!

I’m really hoping it’s money well spent….

I’m wondering if I should invest in an SRD-7/mkii as well….

I ask because I have tons of really high end 2CH and mono block amplifiers and I want to also play around with my Tripath “T-Class” and maybe even buy some A class amps. I’m also eventually going to buy one of the more affordable ancient McIntosh 2CH amps. One of the old ones with the old terminals and everything… whatever the cheapest decent one I can get in the door with.

What should I expect out of the SRD-T1 and are the SRD7/mkii worth looking at as well?

 

[thinker]

Stax Lambda Signature/CL (closed)

The prototype testing showed that the traditional closed design is not ideal for electrostatic headphones. Made a complitely new design with new thoughts.
It's a wooden case wich has three departments bass,midrange and highs. Each department has a hole with a plug wich you can close . The design is slightly angled
towards the top wich let the highs breath. You can use the phone without plugs or adjust it with two plugs etc., this acts also as manual frequency adjustment. To my ears this is the one of the most realistic sounding headphones. Inside i use wool wich is slightly oiled to get more soundproofing , as a wooden design this is a very light weight headphone and the sound leakage is minimal.

 

[mulveling]

I have a dilemma… I know nothing about Stax but I wanted a decent pair of headphones that could make me feel special like my speakers do but without being loud and waking my wife and child…

I have bought so many $200-2000 headphones and returned them to Amazon that I’ve started to worry that Amazon would ban me. To be clear the most I’ve spent on a single pair has been $1300 but they where open box headphones that normally go for $2000. Most of my purchases have been open box in hopes I wouldn’t feel as bad about returning them all.

While my first impression of the HiFiMann Sundaras where that they are better than my 19yr old Sennheiser HD590… they didn’t sound good enough to exit the realm of I HATE HEADPHONES…

I was starting to get to the point where I just didn’t think headphones could do it!

Then I read a little about Stax… and I said F it…

I bought the Stax Lambda Pro Classic / SRM-Xh bundle…

My jaw dropped! They can’t do what a properly imaged speaker can do… BUT they HAVE THERE OWN MAGIC!!!! Dare I say it was like when I heard the $80,000 Martin Logan speakers AT MARTIN LOGAN… it was an absolute shock!!!

Problem is that they fall flat on their face around 75-80dB… I felt this just had to be the amplifier…

So I quickly doubled down!!!!

I haven’t owned my headphones even a month yet!

I found this tube amp on reverb for $505 shipped!

I’m really hoping it’s money well spent….

I’m wondering if I should invest in an SRD-7/mkii as well….

I ask because I have tons of really high end 2CH and mono block amplifiers and I want to also play around with my Tripath “T-Class” and maybe even buy some A class amps. I’m also eventually going to buy one of the more affordable ancient McIntosh 2CH amps. One of the old ones with the old terminals and everything… whatever the cheapest decent one I can get in the door with.

What should I expect out of the SRD-T1 and are the SRD7/mkii worth looking at as well?

I have a friend very into his 2ch (like me) who dislikes headphones (not like me) and has similar family constraints as you. I felt the best bet to wow an anti-headphone guy was Stax. However he reacted very positively to the ES Lab ES-R10 (out of a Headroom Balanced Max), and not as much to the 007 Mk I out of a KGSShv. That really surprised me. So maybe it's either Stax, ES-R10, or MDR-R10 for guys like that. Anyways, glad you found pleasure in Stax, and you have a lot to look forward to from here

Your volume problems - and more - are definitely the fault of your subpar Stax amp. I'm not familiar with it but the T1 should be a huge improvement and good match to the Lambdas, which are far easier to drive than the Omega-types. If you want to do this "really right" in the future you'll need to look at the "KG" type amps with circuits either designed or improved by Dr. Gilmore, and/or the Mjolnir amps. Those are the amps you'll need to explore the potential of the omega class headphones, but they can also extract more from your lambdas too.

The amp for electrostatic setups is a FAR more important component than the amp for dynamic headphones. Prepare to be blown away by the differences.

 

[thinker]

-

 

[jjshin23]

I have a dilemma… I know nothing about Stax but I wanted a decent pair of headphones that could make me feel special like my speakers do but without being loud and waking my wife and child…

I have bought so many $200-2000 headphones and returned them to Amazon that I’ve started to worry that Amazon would ban me. To be clear the most I’ve spent on a single pair has been $1300 but they where open box headphones that normally go for $2000. Most of my purchases have been open box in hopes I wouldn’t feel as bad about returning them all.

While my first impression of the HiFiMann Sundaras where that they are better than my 19yr old Sennheiser HD590… they didn’t sound good enough to exit the realm of I HATE HEADPHONES…

I was starting to get to the point where I just didn’t think headphones could do it!

Then I read a little about Stax… and I said F it…

I bought the Stax Lambda Pro Classic / SRM-Xh bundle…

My jaw dropped! They can’t do what a properly imaged speaker can do… BUT they HAVE THERE OWN MAGIC!!!! Dare I say it was like when I heard the $80,000 Martin Logan speakers AT MARTIN LOGAN… it was an absolute shock!!!

Problem is that they fall flat on their face around 75-80dB… I felt this just had to be the amplifier…

So I quickly doubled down!!!!

I haven’t owned my headphones even a month yet!

I found this tube amp on reverb for $505 shipped!

I’m really hoping it’s money well spent….

I’m wondering if I should invest in an SRD-7/mkii as well….

I ask because I have tons of really high end 2CH and mono block amplifiers and I want to also play around with my Tripath “T-Class” and maybe even buy some A class amps. I’m also eventually going to buy one of the more affordable ancient McIntosh 2CH amps. One of the old ones with the old terminals and everything… whatever the cheapest decent one I can get in the door with.

What should I expect out of the SRD-T1 and are the SRD7/mkii worth looking at as well?

Based on having high end 2CH amps, the SRD7 mk2 might be a good option to take advantage of some of them.
I have the SRD7 MK2 and recently picked up a KGSSHV to compare and they are very close and a matter of preference I think.
The SRD7 MK2 is connected to a PassLab INT150 with Stax 007MK1 which is still my favorite setup over the KGSSHV. I like the 007MK2 and ES1a better on the KGSSHV.

The SRD7 MK2/PassLab INT150 has a deeper sound stage, more separation of instruments, more holographic or 3D sound. Bass has a little bit better impact, mids are pushed back a little with nice sparkle up top without sibilance. I do think I am not getting the most out of the amp through the SRD7, maybe 90% of the amps potential, because I've hooked up speakers as well as the HE6 OG and felt I got more out of it. But the 007 mk1 just disappears and becomes like speakers on this setup which I have not heard anything else like it so far.

The KGSSHV, compared to the SRD7, feels a little more forward, wider soundstage, excellent imaging, not as much separation of instruments, and very good over all dynamics. It is an excellent amp and enjoying them more I listen to it. Just giving it more time to see between the two but I think it will be hard to beat the SRD7 and 007mk1 setup.

It really seems to be a matter of different flavors where not one is better than the other but what seems to pair with each well for me.

 

[lma333]

Hi everyone,
i’m new in the world of Stax, just got an 009 and waiting for my x9000 to arrive.
I’m searching for the perfect amp that i can use for the x9000.
for all my other headphone/amps combo that i bought in the past i always do an A/B test comparison using a switch.
so i was wondering if there is any type of source switch that i can buy somewhere to A/B test stax amp?
i spent some time with google to find this switch but no luck…
i’m looking for something similar as this but for Stax :
https://www.sescom.com/products/vie...-audio-mp3-flac-wma-player-ab-switch-35mm-18-

if anyone knows that would be very helpful.
thank you very much in advance

 

[ufospls2]

Hi everyone,
i’m new in the world of Stax, just got an 009 and waiting for my x9000 to arrive.
I’m searching for the perfect amp that i can use for the x9000.
for all my other headphone/amps combo that i bought in the past i always do an A/B test comparison using a switch.
so i was wondering if there is any type of source switch that i can buy somewhere to A/B test stax amp?
i spent some time with google to find this switch but no luck…
i’m looking for something similar as this but for Stax :
https://www.sescom.com/products/vie...-audio-mp3-flac-wma-player-ab-switch-35mm-18-

if anyone knows that would be very helpful.
thank you very much in advance

Zynsonix might be able to build you a switcher of some sort that would help?

https://www.zynsonix.com/AdaptersSwitchers_c_12.html

 

[catscratch]

I have a dilemma… I know nothing about Stax but I wanted a decent pair of headphones that could make me feel special like my speakers do but without being loud and waking my wife and child…

I have bought so many $200-2000 headphones and returned them to Amazon that I’ve started to worry that Amazon would ban me. To be clear the most I’ve spent on a single pair has been $1300 but they where open box headphones that normally go for $2000. Most of my purchases have been open box in hopes I wouldn’t feel as bad about returning them all.

While my first impression of the HiFiMann Sundaras where that they are better than my 19yr old Sennheiser HD590… they didn’t sound good enough to exit the realm of I HATE HEADPHONES…

I was starting to get to the point where I just didn’t think headphones could do it!

Then I read a little about Stax… and I said F it…

I bought the Stax Lambda Pro Classic / SRM-Xh bundle…

My jaw dropped! They can’t do what a properly imaged speaker can do… BUT they HAVE THERE OWN MAGIC!!!! Dare I say it was like when I heard the $80,000 Martin Logan speakers AT MARTIN LOGAN… it was an absolute shock!!!

Problem is that they fall flat on their face around 75-80dB… I felt this just had to be the amplifier…

So I quickly doubled down!!!!

I haven’t owned my headphones even a month yet!

I found this tube amp on reverb for $505 shipped!

I’m really hoping it’s money well spent….

I’m wondering if I should invest in an SRD-7/mkii as well….

I ask because I have tons of really high end 2CH and mono block amplifiers and I want to also play around with my Tripath “T-Class” and maybe even buy some A class amps. I’m also eventually going to buy one of the more affordable ancient McIntosh 2CH amps. One of the old ones with the old terminals and everything… whatever the cheapest decent one I can get in the door with.

What should I expect out of the SRD-T1 and are the SRD7/mkii worth looking at as well?

The T1 should be enough for a Lambda Pro, but it's still one of the weaker amps in terms of raw output power. However there are mods for it that can make it much more powerful, if you've got some DIY skills. If it ends up not being powerful enough, I'd look around for a used 313, 323, or 353x, that should have more than enough power for a basic Lambda and still be reasonably affordable. The older amps do have capacitors that will dry up over time and might need replacing so bear that in mind also. If you can find a used 717, that's more or less the best amp Stax ever put out aside from the legendary - and ridiculously expensive - T2. There are also aftermarket options from places like Mjolnir Audio or Headamp but they're usually very expensive, and way overkill for a Lambda Pro.

The transformer boxes will work but you do give up some resolution and performance at the frequency extremes. On the plus side you gain more system matching freedom as you can use a variety of speaker amps.

 

[oneguy]

Hi everyone,
i’m new in the world of Stax, just got an 009 and waiting for my x9000 to arrive.
I’m searching for the perfect amp that i can use for the x9000.
for all my other headphone/amps combo that i bought in the past i always do an A/B test comparison using a switch.
so i was wondering if there is any type of source switch that i can buy somewhere to A/B test stax amp?
i spent some time with google to find this switch but no luck…
i’m looking for something similar as this but for Stax :
https://www.sescom.com/products/vie...-audio-mp3-flac-wma-player-ab-switch-35mm-18-

if anyone knows that would be very helpful.
thank you very much in advance

Or goldpoint can help.
https://goldpt.com/

 

[hifixman]

Just like to share:

Viva Egoista 845 System （ Susvara & Playback Design MDP-8 Dream DAC）Versus Viva STX System （ Stax 009 & DCS Bartok）

with very short sound demo ( 845 at 1:42; STX at 3:08)

https://b23.tv/IiT9tEs

 

[Kiats]

Just got this on loan yesterday. Having a listen to it right now. I noticed though that the cable is not as wide as that on other Stax I have.

 

[Kiats]

Going to break out the Stax SR 404 to give to them a run out. Interestingly, the the 404 seems to be more impactful and have a bigger soundstage too.

 

[Sandro Sena]

We have something like this in the works. I'll keep you posted.

Let’s call it the Kaydee and pitch it to Headphones.com or Headamp. But seriously, thank you. I recently had my Electra serviced fo add a Normal Bias Jack and realize the Kaydee would let me hear a NB on a Carbon

I can see the stylish logo in front of my eyes. How much would it cost to make, like really and properly? No cutting corners?

Any news, Kerry? I am sure this converter would be very well received by the Stax community.

 

[KDS315]

Hi everyone,
i’m new in the world of Stax, just got an 009 and waiting for my x9000 to arrive.
I’m searching for the perfect amp that i can use for the x9000.
for all my other headphone/amps combo that i bought in the past i always do an A/B test comparison using a switch.
so i was wondering if there is any type of source switch that i can buy somewhere to A/B test stax amp?
i spent some time with google to find this switch but no luck…
i’m looking for something similar as this but for Stax :
https://www.sescom.com/products/vie...-audio-mp3-flac-wma-player-ab-switch-35mm-18-

if anyone knows that would be very helpful.
thank you very much in advance

That would require a High Voltage (Relay based) Switch, but with some clever high voltage electronics to avoid any spikes to protect the STAX headphones AND the amplifiers. The headphones should be quickly discharged within the switchover sequence I guess (?)
I have a similar passive system using gold pin relays for a 4-1 RCA switch system with IR remote. Quite nicely built in Germany by DODOCUS. They could possibly built one, as they do a lot of custom projects.