The Stax Thread III

[Schelp san]

I sort of missed the CRBN release, and now that I'm playing with my T2 again I've realized I may be looking for something different than 009 - finally, after 10 years. The Lambda 404LE is hitting the spot for now, but I'd like to try something else eventually. X9000 may not be the right fit given what I've read about them. I would be looking more for fun / interesting / engaging sonic perspectives rather than pursuing the ultimate in resolution / technical acuity.

Lambda Nova Signature. Got it few weeks ago and not only 009 still competes for getting head time. I only had the standard 404, but for me this was a bit fatiguing with rock/metal at healthy level. Not so LNS, it is more balanced with silky smooth treble, a little less edgy sounding yet never boring. Just a Lambda, but...

 

[jody2k]

Might not be mentioned alot but I game quite often too as a hobby and I found that the stax sr 009 gives a immersive experience one step closer to realism.
Every detail like for example voices, wind, footsteps, accoustic instruments in games are rendered in such "real life" realism I feel immersed by it.

My hifiman HE1000SE was already very good in this, but the SR 009 just takes it to another league now my HE1000SE sounds slightly "veiled" in direct comparison.

 

[timb5881]

Question:
Differences between Stax SRM 313 and 323?

 

[makbrown]

That moment when I can listen to 009 even outside the house. Kingsound M03 works wonders.

 

[TheAbyss2022]

That moment when I can listen to 009 even outside the house. Kingsound M03 works wonders.

This is amazing and insane at the same time.

 

[bobkatz]

Good point about the lack of overvoltage protection in these modules. What would be a good overvoltage protection circuit for 580 V DC? If anyone has one I'd be grateful. Thanks.

 

[bobkatz]

you all wanted a rationally priced transportable electrostatic amp.
here it is. (work in progress)
similar in concept to srmxh,srm252,srm270s etc. but +/-400v power supplies, triple the power.
should be less than $250 in parts. unless you decide to use a tkd pot or other such fancy thing.
(actually getting the super small alpha pot might be a problem now)

lots of surface mount, but should be buildable by most people. nothing super tiny.

large squares are 1 inch.

i forgot. balanced or unbalanced input.

Wow! Keep on keeping on, Kevin.

 

[mulveling]

I just picked up L700 on a whim (of course). Gosh, I really like these. Shouldn't have sold my old pairs. The midrange is noticeably fuller & fatter than 009, and yes there's a bit of bass bump. But it retains most of the smoothness and speed of the 009's driver element. Yes, at the end of the day, 009 is still more precise. L700 sounds more like "tubes" versus the 009's "solid state". Just a bit more vibrant and fun, in ways that engage me. And it scales up on all the great amps.

I'd briefly tried my old L700 years ago on the T2, and decided back then, it was just a bit too much bass - to where it overpowers the music. I'm guessing this pair is no different sonically, but tastes & perspectives change. As my speaker setup has evolved so much in the last 8 years - The L700 + T2's voicing is now closer to what my Tannoys render, versus the 009.

Of course you get the usual, taller lambda "headstage" shape versus the 009's more expansive spherical shape. But honestly, this is far down my list of priorities for headphones. I have speakers when I want to hear space For me headphones have to have engagement factor, in a voicing a like, to go along with their typical coherence and precision. Dynamics which have that "engagement factor" are simply too fatiguing at higher SPL's (Grados being an extreme example here). Electrostats are the ones that can approach that engagement factor (very dependent on amp) while keeping fatigue as low as possible for a headphone.

 

[Kiats]

Been listening to the Omega after a week on the Brise Fugaku demo unit (on loan from @Uncle Wilson of Jaben SG). In between was on the Senn HE60.

Off the KGST and Bricasti M1. Gorgeous. Rediscovering the Bricasti M1 before it gets taken away when the M1 series II is delivered in a few weeks. It has served me well for more than 10 years now.

 

[Kiats]

Been listening to the Omega after a week on the Brise Fugaku demo unit (on loan from @Uncle Wilson of Jaben SG). In between was on the Senn HE60.

Off the KGST and Bricasti M1. Gorgeous. Rediscovering the Bricasti M1 before it gets taken away when the M1 series II is delivered in a few weeks. It has served me well for more than 10 years now.

Now switched over the Mjolnir Carbon. I always enjoy the KGST for its tonality, but the Carbon reminds me why it remains one of the best amps from @spritzer

 

[Kiats]

Rotating to early Sunday afternoon listening with the X9K off the Mjolnir KGST and Bricasti M1. Nice and rich tonality to add to the excellent sense of space that that the X9K brings to the table.

 

[Svperstar]

So months ago someone posted I think in this thread that before you get into estats you need to "set aside $5,000 for an energizer" and was rightly criticized by a lot of people.

Someone on another site has been sending me DMs asking me to sell him either my Carbon or Blue Hawaii because he is 100% convinced he has to have one of those at a minimum. I showed him that there is a KGSSHV on sale, but apparently that won't do because he was worried the KGSSHV "wouldn't have enough power"....... at one point wasn't the KGSSHV the most powerful amp you could get?

Tonight I've been listening to my X9000 mainly off of the "entry level" Stax T1S, doing my best to volume match between the Blue Hawaii and Carbon and switch between them. The T1S is the first non-Koss estat amp I owned. The X9000 is the same headphone off of the Carbon that is off of the T1S, no they don't sound exactly the same, the T1S is darker for sure, but the crazy wide field of sound that the X9000 is known for is still there, the bass is better off the Carbon too, but the bass isn't bad off of the T1S.

The higher end amps are better yes but you don't need to an end game amp to enjoy estats. I don't know why people think that.

 

[Chefguru]

So months ago someone posted I think in this thread that before you get into estats you need to "set aside $5,000 for an energizer" andwas rightly criticized by a lot of people.

Someone on another site has been sending me DMs asking me to sell him either my Carbon or Blue Hawaii because he is 100% convinced he has to have one of those at a minimum. I showed him that there is a KGSSHV on sale, but apparently that won't do because he was worried the KGSSHV "wouldn't have enough power"....... at one point wasn't the KGSSHV the most powerful amp you could get?

Tonight I've been listening to my X9000 mainly off of the "entry level" Stax T1S, doing my best to volume match between the Blue Hawaii and Carbon and switch between them. The T1S is the first non-Koss estat amp I owned. The X9000 is the same headphone off of the Carbon that is off of the T1S, no they don't sound exactly the same, the T1S is darker for sure, but the crazy wide field of sound that the X9000 is known for is still there, the bass is better off the Carbon too, but the bass isn't bad off of the T1S.

The higher end amps are better yes but you don't need to an end game amp to enjoy estats. I don't know why people think that.

It’s the 007 that set the need. That one really does perform differently imo. Because that was the flagship from 98-09 it’s understandable why people felt so inclined that more power is needed. And it’s not even that the 007 sounds horrid off the lower amps but it just slips into the “okay but why go estat at all” thought process when similar priced dynamic systems compete well against a 007 off let’s say an un-modded T1. I’d be more interested to hear your thoughts on the mk2 off the Carbon vs T1

I found the x9k best off my weakest amp, the novem.

 

[Gradostax fan]

007 sounds okay ish with weaker amps , just abit soft sounding. It really needs kg amps. 009 x9000 and the lambdas don't nessarily need more powerful aftermarket amps.

 

[Kiats]

007 sounds okay ish with weaker amps , just abit soft sounding. It really needs kg amps. 009 x9000 and the lambdas don't nessarily need more powerful aftermarket amps.

Well, I do enjoy the 007 off the refurbished and modded (with CCS) 007t from @spritzer . But, yes, it does scale up with the Carbon. Does not mean you cannot enjoy it nonetheless.