The Stax Thread III

[TheAbyss2022]

The only reason I have the 009 over the 007 is because it holds its own better against today's absolute TOTLs because its a bit more resolving. It's more detailed than the TC/Susvara and it's not just about tonality/brightness. It's only slightly behind the Shang Sr./Immanis/x9000 and I wouldn't be able to say the same for the 007. That said, they are totally different and the arguments on here have been brutal at times lol. I enjoy both and think they're both amazing. I've also trended in the direction of more appreciation for the 007 and more scrutiny for the 009 over the past few years in the hobby. The 009 has more tradeoffs for sure and is less of an all rounder.

Whilst the 009 is very detailed, its a bit too sterile on solid state amps like the Carbon. It needs some flavour and warmth to make it more musical.

If anyone is looking to get into the 009, make sure to have a tube amp otherwise...

 

[number1sixerfan]

Whilst the 009 is very detailed, its a bit too sterile on solid state amps like the Carbon. It needs some flavour and warmth to make it more musical.

If anyone is looking to get into the 009, make sure to have a tube amp otherwise...

I'm a big south park fan so lmao lol. Well played. And very true, that's one of the tradeoffs I was speaking of and I appreciate how that matters to others more than I these days.

 

[WILLJS]

Those won't be the last tho...

definitely not!

 

[Svperstar]

The only reason I have the 009 over the 007 is because it holds its own better against today's absolute TOTLs because its a bit more resolving.

Not the first time I've read this. Can you point out specific songs where you can find details that "resolve" on the 009 but don't on the 007?

 

[TheAbyss2022]

Not the first time I've read this. Can you point out specific songs where you can find details that "resolve" on the 009 but don't on the 007?

I'm not pointing out any specific songs but the 009 has better depth and imaging. This makes it a more holographic and deeper stage which aids in layering over the 007. Images within the soundstage are more apparent on the 009 especially in busy passages in songs.

 

[hasnath]

Not the first time I've read this. Can you point out specific songs where you can find details that "resolve" on the 009 but don't on the 007?

I think the live album "Stop Making Sense" by Talking Heads is a great benchmark record to test out the technical capabilities of headphones like imaging, microdynamics and such. The production is excellent and there's a ton of minute details coming from the crowd cheering/whistling/shouting in the background that can be easily picked up if your headphone is capable of it. My first listen of this album on the Aperio was mind-boggling, there's so much I was picking up for the first time even though I've routinely listened to the album to test out nearly every headphone I've purchased in the past. I'm sure I'll be able to hear those details on other headphones now that I know they're there, but the ability of the Aperio to make you aware of even the quietest element in the music and imaging it with pinpoint precision makes it very easy to pick out microdetails in a song even on a casual listen.

I think any well-produced live album should be a good benchmark but I don't usually listen to them, maybe other members can share some additional ones.

 

[Svperstar]

I think the live album "Stop Making Sense" by Talking Heads is a great benchmark record to test out the technical capabilities of headphones like imaging, microdynamics and such. The production is excellent and there's a ton of minute details coming from the crowd cheering/whistling/shouting in the background that can be easily picked up if your headphone is capable of it. My first listen of this album on the Aperio was mind-boggling, there's so much I was picking up for the first time even though I've routinely listened to the album to test out nearly every headphone I've purchased in the past. I'm sure I'll be able to hear those details on other headphones now that I know they're there, but the ability of the Aperio to make you aware of even the quietest element in the music and imaging it with pinpoint precision makes it very easy to pick out microdetails in a song even on a casual listen.

I think any well-produced live album should a good benchmark but I don't usually listen to them, maybe other members can share some additional ones.

Nice, I will need to download that album in FLAC. My Carbon has 2 jacks, so I can plug in two estats at the same time and swap them without hitting pause. Then turn off EQ and see if I can hear differences. Would love to sit and do that with the HE90 vs the X9000, or HE1 running off its own amp and a splitter. Its how I try and compare everything.

 

[number1sixerfan]

Not the first time I've read this. Can you point out specific songs where you can find details that "resolve" on the 009 but don't on the 007?

It's not really about specific songs, it's just more resolving overall. Should be pretty apparent on most tracks. But it's also not about details not showing up in the 007, rather as others have pointed out that some details are more apparent and that the staging/imaging is a bit more refined, which amplifies the sense of resolution.

 

[LarsHP]

... Can you point out specific songs where you can find details that "resolve" on the 009 but don't on the 007?

This is practically never the case with any audio components. However, highly resolving units will present details more clearly than lesser ones.

For instance, I remember hearing the first movement of Mahlers 8th Symphony conducted by Georg Solti with HiFiMan HE-6 and suddenly discovered that one of the soloists is recorded in a different room than the rest. When going back to other transducers (speakers etc.), the sonic information was there, but it wasn't as clearly presented, so I didn't notice it until I had the HE-6.

 

[hutzelmeier]

For instance, I remember hearing the first movement of Mahlers 8th Symphony conducted by Georg Solti with HiFiMan HE-6 and suddenly discovered that one of the soloists is recorded in a different room than the rest. When going back to other transducers (speakers etc.), the sonic information was there, but it wasn't as clearly presented, so I didn't notice it until I had the HE-6.

I found the same thing using my X9000: sadly, Rene Kollo sounds like he was recorded in a cave behind the stage. For listening to this record, deep layering of the soundstage is clearly not helpful ...

 

[Svperstar]

To sum it up, my feelings right now are that the 007mk2s are the best headphones I've heard to date.

You should listen to the CRBN if you get the chance. I love my 007mk2 but the CRBN is like the same general thing but fits way better and is just a bit more refined. Can't wait for the CRBN2 upgrade.

 

[abalone542]

Hey guys, first time posting here - I considered writing to some code to analyze the Stax threads and come to my own conclusions, but I thought asking a question directly here would be faster.

I am the owner of the Stax 4040 combo. What an amazing find, by far surpasses any non estat I've heard. I am now a missionary for the Stax cult.

However, my amp is fairly old, and I suspect it needs maintenance. At high amplification, for instance on classical music, I hear some distortion. I always read that estats are very very low on distortion, so I suspect that something needs to be fixed.

Do you guys have an idea where to start? Should I bring it to a repair shop? Would a standard electronic shop cut it, or should I try to find some good audio shop? I live in France, near Strasbourg, if anybody has a recommendation.

I would also assume that it's possible to make some modifications to the electronics to have something better sounding. The simplest would probably to get new tubes. Any recommendations of tubes, or modding?

 

[ericj]

Hey, long time. Hi there. Got a sorta oddball request.

Can someone with a Sigma provide me with some rough dimensions of the, ah, driver boxes?

Every now and then i get crazy ideas. I've kinda wanted a Sigma for like 20 years now, and the prices just keep going up.

I'm familiar with experiments some have performed transplanting drivers from various Lambda models into Sigma frames. The crazy idea i had was, what if i design boxes that i can laser cut from thin plywood, glue up, and give a nice piano-black paint job, and then transplant Lambda drivers into it? Sure it won't sound exactly like any genuine Sigma model, may sound great anyway. May be a fun project. idk. Who knows how far i would get with it.

Some nut even published printable 3d models of the Sigma arch, yokes, and sliders, though if i get a donor lambda i could potentially use the arch and yokes from that.

 

[timb5881]

Hey, long time. Hi there. Got a sorta oddball request.

Can someone with a Sigma provide me with some rough dimensions of the, ah, driver boxes?

Every now and then i get crazy ideas. I've kinda wanted a Sigma for like 20 years now, and the prices just keep going up.

I'm familiar with experiments some have performed transplanting drivers from various Lambda models into Sigma frames. The crazy idea i had was, what if i design boxes that i can laser cut from thin plywood, glue up, and give a nice piano-black paint job, and then transplant Lambda drivers into it? Sure it won't sound exactly like any genuine Sigma model, may sound great anyway. May be a fun project. idk. Who knows how far i would get with it.

Some nut even published printable 3d models of the Sigma arch, yokes, and sliders, though if i get a donor lambda i could potentially use the arch and yokes from that.

Check out this:
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/3d-printed-stax-sigma-enclosure.874606/

 

[ericj]

Check out this:
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/3d-printed-stax-sigma-enclosure.874606/

Lol. of course it's been done. Thanks!