The Stax Thread III

Jul 30, 2024 at 10:47 PM Post #25,891 of 27,317
It's a very different presentation. The 007 is more technically capable than any Lambda and has more solid bass, richer mids, more pinpoint imaging and better resolution at the frequency extremes. At the same time, Lambdas have more openenss and clarity, and a better sense of air. Their upfront mids might be preferable over the 007's more laid back mids for some music, and they resolve midrange nuances and detail very well, or at least the L700 does. It's been a while since I heard some of the others.

Unfortunately, I can't tell you any of this in any more detail since I haven't heard the CRBN and I don't know how it fits into the picture. It's in the plan to get one at some point but that'll have to wait a while.

The 007 also needs a nuclear reactor of an amp and using it without one is a waste of money. Lambdas though are generally far easier to drive.
Thats a big claim over L700s lol
 
Jul 30, 2024 at 11:39 PM Post #25,892 of 27,317
The 007 also needs a nuclear reactor of an amp and using it without one is a waste of money.

I would dispute that it needs a nuclear reactor amp. I started with the Stax T1S and 007 mk2, not considered a good match. I then upgraded to the Stax 717, which was literally released to go with the 007. The sound did improve for sure but the core character of the 007 was unchanged. Same with the Blue Hawaii/Carbon. They both sound better then the 717 but the difference between them and the 717 is smaller then the T1S/717

The Stax 717 is imo a great "sweet spot" and a good stopping point if someone doesn't want to spend thousands of dollars.
 
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Jul 31, 2024 at 12:24 AM Post #25,893 of 27,317
I would dispute that it needs a nuclear reactor amp. I started with the Stax T1S and 007 mk2, not considered a good match. I then upgraded to the Stax 717, which was literally released to go with the 007. The sound did improve for sure but the core character of the 007 was unchanged. Same with the Blue Hawaii/Carbon. They both sound better then the 717 but the difference between them and the 717 is smaller then the T1S/717

The Stax 717 is imo a great "sweat spot" and a good stopping point if someone doesn't want to spend thousands of dollars.
Does the 007srmt1s sound overly dark sloppy?
 
Jul 31, 2024 at 12:29 AM Post #25,894 of 27,317
The 007 sounds fine with a stock 007t at lower volumes. But push it higher and the amp goes into distortion pretty quick. The sound gets harsher and brighter the louder you go. With Lambdas and other easier to drive estats, the 007t has a lot more volume to play with.

I think the T1s is more like the 006t so a bit weaker than 007t.

The issue for me is whether or not a 007 is worth the money if you'll be underdriving it, and IMO it's not. There are other headphone/amp combos you can get for that money that won't have these issues.

The 717 is a pretty good combo, I agree. I used it for years. But the 717 is not exactly a weak amp already.
 
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Jul 31, 2024 at 12:48 AM Post #25,895 of 27,317
What about CCS modded T1? How's that hold up against 717? That might be the most cost effective route.
 
Jul 31, 2024 at 1:22 AM Post #25,896 of 27,317
Does the 007srmt1s sound overly dark sloppy?

It does sound dark and not very estat like. There is a ton of bass but not well controlled compared to on the 717
 
Jul 31, 2024 at 2:51 AM Post #25,897 of 27,317
It does sound dark and not very estat like. There is a ton of bass but not well controlled compared to on the 717
This is what I would expect, what other people are describing doesn’t make sense unless it is dramatically different from my SRM-1 as the higher frequencies are the first to fall off as the amp runs out of steam…
 
Jul 31, 2024 at 7:16 AM Post #25,898 of 27,317
So I'm done with the new Lundahls for now, will speak to them next week and feedback results but I couldn't do any better than this and they just seem to miss the mark unfortunately unless I'm missing something that they can suggest. Used my usual 120pF capacitor load, not that well behaved transformers seem to really care about them usually…

A 24K resistor in parallel with the output taps tames the frequency response but it falls off a cliff far too early and doesn't hold a candle to the LL1630's bandwidth and flat response, except in outright bass performance. Out of the box, with no modifications, it would be dangerous to estats and the driving amplifier.

Lundahl_Test_50v.jpg
Lundahl_Test_150v.jpg
 
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Jul 31, 2024 at 7:43 AM Post #25,899 of 27,317
It does sound dark and not very estat like. There is a ton of bass but not well controlled compared to on the 717
This was what 007/727 sound like when I had them many years ago. Now I won't dare to revisit 007 without changing my t1S which is a good match with SR009S
 
Jul 31, 2024 at 8:47 PM Post #25,900 of 27,317
What about CCS modded T1? How's that hold up against 717? That might be the most cost effective route.

There is a ton of sometimes contradictory info floating around, from what I've read the T1 only has .5-3 ma to drive headphones because most of its power is driving the plate resistors without the CCS mod, with the CCS mod it can apply 6-9ma to the headphones. Then the 717 6.4 ma by still applies 50% more voltage so still is a superior amp for driving hard to drive headphones.

The CCS modded T1/T1S can probably be found for cheaper then the 717 if you watch classifieds

Sources:
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/attachments/stax_mods-pdf.1327438/
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/electrostatic-amplifiers-voltage-ratings.582518/
 
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Aug 1, 2024 at 6:45 AM Post #25,901 of 27,317
Not really. I had the boards and still have tubes and many components so I did this KGST with CCS. You can never say never, but it depends on getting the urge!

It all started in 2012 when I heard a Stax combo which was nice but very weak and I discovered Kevin's designs. I made a KGSShv on-board heatsink and it went down well at a meet we had in London. I'll post that in under the hood.
You can check-out any time you like...

Always great work, Geoff.
 
Aug 1, 2024 at 3:10 PM Post #25,903 of 27,317
I just won an eBay auction for the Stax 009 for £1,400.

I feel like I just got myself a bargain at that price!
 
Aug 1, 2024 at 3:13 PM Post #25,904 of 27,317
I just won an eBay auction for the Stax 009 for £1,400.

I feel like I just got myself a bargain at that price!

I thought about getting an 009 but l figured that money would better be spent on a X9000, still curious how the 009 sounds out of the Carbon since it's "the most estat like estat" and at one point Jude said it was better then the HE90( a claim he later retracted as his tastes changed)
 
Aug 1, 2024 at 3:32 PM Post #25,905 of 27,317
I thought about getting an 009 but l figured that money would better be spent on a X9000, still curious how the 009 sounds out of the Carbon since it's "the most estat like estat" and at one point Jude said it was better then the HE90( a claim he later retracted as his tastes changed)
Out of curiosity, why do you have and keep the Topping EHA5 when you have the Blue Hawaii and Carbon energizers.
 

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