The Stax Thread III

[icnaiwhimor1975]

Just sharing some photos of the Classic Brown iteration of the the ESLabs ES-2a which Benson wrote to me about overnight:

This looks more like an omega

 

[Rob80b]

I want to say that the SR-L300 ls extremely decent. A less 'warm' sound signature than say an NB Lambda, but without problematic FR issues. Not too bright, not too dark. Very detailed compared to even most good orthodynamics. Shame about the fragile arc.

I've veered from the stock tuning by putting thicker leather pads on my L300 but overall I find them very descent, still might upgrade to the L700 if it improves the overall performance, although I've read conflicting points of view.
Yep, my original arc snapped without warning, should just never have happened, totally unacceptable....Stax should take a few notes from Sennheiser, I still have a pair HD414 that I bought in the late 70's hiding some where, those could almost be twisted into a pretzel and maintain a vice like grip.

Just sharing some photos of the Classic Brown iteration of the the ESLabs ES-2a

Curious about other versions though, almost pulled the trigger on some SR007MKII last week but decided against it having read it's the darkest of the Stax, which can these ESlabs be compared to?

 

[LarsHP]

I've veered from the stock tuning by putting thicker leather pads on my L300 but overall I find them very descent, still might upgrade to the L700 if it improves the overall performance, although I've read conflicting points of view.
Yep, my original arc snapped without warning, should just never have happened, totally unacceptable....Stax should take a few notes from Sennheiser, I still have a pair HD414 that I bought in the late 70's hiding some where, those could almost be twisted into a pretzel and maintain a vice like grip.


Curious about other versions though, almost pulled the trigger on some SR007MKII last week but decided against it having read it's the darkest of the Stax, which can these ESlabs be compared to?

According to measurements I have seen (and some users subjective impressions), the Mk 1 is even darker since it has less output in the upper mids / lower treble. The Mk 2 needs some Blu-tac in order to seal the port which boosts the sub bass below 50Hz and ironing the frequency response in the bass.

 

[ericj]

You may be a fan of the Koss 95X out of a Stax amp, the included Koss amp holds the headset back. The 95X when amped properly is easily in the same league as the rest of the Lambda series and could be someone's endgame. Mine is unmodded but supposedly removing some parts of the housing makes it sound better. I don't think I am going to do anything that could potentially damage mine.

Oh i know, I've used my esp950 with my exstata amps. Sold a few adapter cables to people. Never was happy with the amphenol plug for that job. I have 3d printers these days and found a silver plated mil-spec pin sold by mouser (for about $1.75/ea) that should allow me to make a nicer plug.

I bet i could build an esp950 socket with female "db" type contacts but the dimensions might be difficult. I don't see the koss extension cable for sale on their site - 15 years ago they were $17 and you had to call them on the phone. *shrug*

 

[TheAbyss2022]

Just sharing some photos of the Classic Brown iteration of the the ESLabs ES-2a which Benson wrote to me about overnight:

It looks much better now in the new brown colour. I wish the pads were also brown.

I assume we will all get taxed from our respective governments to import it once it lands in the country.

 

[mbrennwa]

ESLabs ES-2a

Mouthwatering stuff! Are there any (independend) pre-release reports or even reviews of these available?

 

[TheAbyss2022]

Mouthwatering stuff! Are there any (independend) pre-release reports or even reviews of these available?

There will be a loaner tour but it will be after they send the first shipments for everyone that have pre ordered.

I have pre ordered and chosen the quickest delivery so I will provide some impressions against the MK1 007.

 

[alota]

There will be a loaner tour but it will be after they send the first shipments for everyone that has pre ordered.

I have pre ordered and chosen the quickest delivery so I will provide some impressions against the MK1 007.

I´m curious...

 

[ESL-1]

Direct coupled versus transformer coupled: the sonics.

I am sad to report that my Estat amp build using a Pascal 80 watt amp and a high quality toroidal output transformer is a bit too colored at least for my taste.

It sounded very pleasant with either the Stax 007 mk2 or the Audeze CRBN1. But when I moved up to the CRBN2 the amp is just too “warm” or “fat” if you will. The CRBN2 has the best bass response of any Estat phone, I am confident enough to say. It needs the most uncolored amp possible. My Mjolnir Carbon fits the bill and sounds glorious, transparent and impacting into any of those phones, with the CRBN2 on top.

Not to get me wrong, the transformer coupled amp sounds nice but too far from accurate for a phone like the CRBN 2.

I haven’t auditioned a Blue Hawaii but I’m pretty sure it will also do. But I’m not a fan of tube maintenance unless I have to.

So I’m giving up my search for making a second amp to have using transformers. Someday I guess I’ll buy another Mjolnir! A direct coupled kit in the KGSS vein sounds way too complicated for a mortal like me to build.

Always good to be working with Birgir.
The Eksonics Aeras built by Kerry does an excellent job with the new Audeze and the compact footprint is a nice plus. The Aeras does extremely well with all my pro bias Stax phones. My back up is a Stax SRM-717.

Enjoy the journey.

 

[number1sixerfan]

Always good to be working with Birgir.
The Eksonics Aeras built by Kerry does an excellent job with the new Audeze and the compact footprint is a nice plus. The Aeras does extremely well with all my pro bias Stax phones. My back up is a Stax SRM-717.

Enjoy the journey.

Had the Aeras on hand for about six months. Hell of an amp! And have you owned or listened to the original CRBN? Any thoughts? I've been curious and am hoping to hear it one day.

 

[GaryP]

Great portable combo. Now I might take my HE60 for a walk

 

[arielext]

Great portable combo. Now I might take my HE60 for a walk

Great combo to hear some dust in the wind

 

[LarsHP]

Stax Lambda Signature with SoCas pad adapter (non-vented) + third-party sheepskin leather pads with memory foam compared to with original Stax pads.

While I do think Lambda Signature in stock condition sounds highly resolved, detailed and pretty balanced, there is a marked upgrade in fidelity with the modification.

While I initially didn't hear anything odd with Lambda Signature, I found out the sound became more uncolored and "calm" while pressing the cups to the head. As many have experienced, the clamping force is quite weak in the old Lambda headphones.

When using the modified sample, it became clear that there is something odd going on in the mids that is either vibrations in the cups or an odd bump in the frequency response in the mids. Most likely it's resonances in the cups, since I think at least some (if not all) of the coloration goes away when pressing the cups to my head (with the hands away from the back of the driver).

In addition, the tonality gets a bit darker, conveying a warmer and more natural sound in the mids. The sub bass appears to be boosted as well, a result of better seal.

In short, I definitely think it's a worthy upgrade. The modification is fully reversible, since the adapter plate is mounted on top of the pad plate (using double-sided tape or similar).

 

[Kabeer]

Stax Lambda Signature with SoCas pad adapter (non-vented) + third-party sheepskin leather pads with memory foam compared to with original Stax pads.

While I do think Lambda Signature in stock condition sounds highly resolved, detailed and pretty balanced, there is a marked upgrade in fidelity with the modification.

While I initially didn't hear anything odd with Lambda Signature, I found out the sound became more uncolored and "calm" while pressing the cups to the head. As many have experienced, the clamping force is quite weak in the old Lambda headphones.

When using the modified sample, it became clear that there is something odd going on in the mids that is either vibrations in the cups or an odd bump in the frequency response in the mids. Most likely it's resonances in the cups, since I think at least some (if not all) of the coloration goes away when pressing the cups to my head (with the hands away from the back of the driver).

In addition, the tonality gets a bit darker, conveying a warmer and more natural sound in the mids. The sub bass appears to be boosted as well, a result of better seal.

In short, I definitely think it's a worthy upgrade. The modification is fully reversible, since the adapter plate is mounted on top of the pad plate (using double sided tape or similar).

Just be a little careful, the Lamda Signature has the thinnest diaphragm of any Stax (1um) and if you press the cups with highly sealing pads like that you can risk damaging them.

other than that, great !

 

[LarsHP]

Just be a little careful, the Lamda Signature has the thinnest diaphragm of any Stax (1um) and if you press the cups with highly sealing pads like that you can risk damaging them.

other than that, great !

After vacuum cleaning (!) the debris away from the protective net on the inside of the driver, I can conclude they aren't that fragile. (I do know they have the thinnest of all Stax electrostatic headphones at only 1um.)

Edit: However, that was when the headphones were unplugged. Maybe it's different when the stators are charged.