The Stax Thread III

[bajaed]

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/the-stax-thread-iii.677809/post-18659341

They look like great headphone stands. I like the strap modification. I rarely use headphone stands, though I own a few, built an all-tube headphone amp in a frame that doubles as a headphone stand years ago. I'm seeing how i feel about using the SRM-300 as a headphone stand with a large plastic bag over it to keep the dust out.

My collection is far too vast. Sometimes i think about building a wall-mounted display case for the good ones with 30 or so hooks in it. It'd only have to be about 6 inches deep.

Thanks. Just got my H2 today and the quality is beyond impressive for the price.
Would I rather have an exotic wood ZMF Salire? Yes but this is a great stand.

 

[oneguy]

Thanks. Just got my H2 today and the quality is beyond impressive for the price.
Would I rather have an exotic wood ZMF Salire? Yes but this is a great stand.

Grumpy Goose has some beautiful stands but at up to 10x the cost ($200-300) it can begin to hurt the pocketbook real quick, hence why I almost only use the H2. I actually drew my strap inspiration from the Grumpy Goose stand.

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/the-stax-thread-iii.677809/post-18659341

They look like great headphone stands. I like the strap modification. I rarely use headphone stands, though I own a few, built an all-tube headphone amp in a frame that doubles as a headphone stand years ago. I'm seeing how i feel about using the SRM-300 as a headphone stand with a large plastic bag over it to keep the dust out.

My collection is far too vast. Sometimes i think about building a wall-mounted display case for the good ones with 30 or so hooks in it. It'd only have to be about 6 inches deep.

I use this.

https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/milsbo-glass-door-cabinet-anthracite-30396448/

You can fit 12 per case without it feeling crowded.

$360 worth of stands and $230 for the case so $590+tax for a 12 headphone storage solution that looks pretty professional.

If you don’t want to use plastic bags you could find something similar to this.

https://a.co/d/4EOrgZd

Not for sale anymore but you could probably find a comparable 14”x14” bag to use. When they were selling them they were $16 for 20. Not plastic bag cheap but still highly cost effective.

Edit:
If you search “extra long adhesive hook” on Amazon you’ll find quite a few options like this

https://a.co/d/1g7DwzG

You could put those on the back wall of the glass case to reduce cost even further if you wanted.

 

[WILLJS]

Yep....Long before personal listening devices became the norm we went to audio shops to listen to these, Stax ELS-8X...the 70's were fun. : )

I’m sure they were, no Metallica though.

 

[Rob80b]

This is what I'm really liking about Stax..or at least the L700 with the SRM400.

Listening to this recording of "Oiseau de Feu", conducted by Stravinsky, which I've used for decades as a reference, it's as if one is listening from the podium as you can hear the pages of the score being turned and the orchestra spread put in front in a very linear fashion. Dynamics could be a touch better but as an older stereo recording from 1962, overall fairly smooth sailing.
https://tidal.com/browse/album/1116995?u


And then switching over to a much more modern recording, Agne Obel's "Citizen of Glass" dynamics and depth are greatly increased, more expansive and full overall, instruments and performers maintain their individuality and again very clean treble, sibilance kept nicely under control.
https://tidal.com/browse/album/66288722?u


Maybe not solely an attribute of electrostatics but each recording has their own distinct personality, more so than many dynamic headphones, an extreme would be the highly coveted HD600/650 and similar phones for example which always overlay their personality on each and every recording. It could be the fact that the sound is less in the head, no 3 blob as often quoted, the L700 offering a more at arms length, rather very wide... and at times, depending on the recording, an encompassing sound stage with proper layering but not too deep. That's not to say that the Stax sound signature is not easily recognizable, it is very much so but "psycho-acoustically" it impedes less into the overall listening experience, IMHO.

 

[Aryzon]

Hello fellas,

I would like to have some insight on padrolling for Stax Lambdas. I have the Lambda Pro in this case but I may consider getting L700 as my Pro has channel imbalance and some strange corruption on the drivers. But otherwise it works fine.


Anyway. I don't like the stock pads and want to get much thicker ones. Probably from Vesper Audio but I am open to other options if available. My original idea was to use Hifiman Mini Shangri-la with Dekoni Elite Hybrid Pads. I really like those pads and they improve the comfort so much with all Hifiman egg headphones I have put them on. But turns out Hifiman Estats are effectively on a death timer, so I am abandoning that idea. Planar headphones are too heavy for me. So i am back to looking at Stax Lambda headphones as they much lighter despite still being quite big headphones.
So I want to know if it is feasible to request a similar kind of pads but for the Lambdas. Or will it totally destroy the sound? Has anyone tried something similar? Dekoni egg hybrid pads are very thick and Vesper Audio said they aren't sure about the results as so far nobody has requested such thick pads before.
I have seen measurements of Hifiman Jade 2 with hybrid pads and it actually fixed it's bass extension (so it probably solves the seal problem).
The pads measure 19mm front thickness and 28mm back thickness.
https://dekoniaudio.com/product/dekoni-audio-elite-hybrid-replacement-ear-pads-for-hifiman-arya/

Any input would be greately appreciated.

 

[hiso67]

Grumpy Goose has some beautiful stands but at up to 10x the cost ($200-300) it can begin to hurt the pocketbook real quick, hence why I almost only use the H2. I actually drew my strap inspiration from the Grumpy Goose stand.


I use this.

https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/milsbo-glass-door-cabinet-anthracite-30396448/

You can fit 12 per case without it feeling crowded.

$360 worth of stands and $230 for the case so $590+tax for a 12 headphone storage solution that looks pretty professional.

If you don’t want to use plastic bags you could find something similar to this.

https://a.co/d/4EOrgZd

Not for sale anymore but you could probably find a comparable 14”x14” bag to use. When they were selling them they were $16 for 20. Not plastic bag cheap but still highly cost effective.

Edit:
If you search “extra long adhesive hook” on Amazon you’ll find quite a few options like this

https://a.co/d/1g7DwzG

You could put those on the back wall of the glass case to reduce cost even further if you wanted.

nice storage indeed

 

[icnaiwhimor1975]

does anyone know any alternatives to stax that are competitive?

except es lab, there are only 2 models

i sold all my stax headphones
i want more and i can't find anything

 

[Aryzon]

does anyone know any alternatives to stax that are competitive?

except es lab, there are only 2 models

i sold all my stax headphones
i want more and i can't find anything

Do mean electrostats or headphones in general? Out of electrostats I can recommend Audeze CRBN if your neck is up to the task.

 

[Rob80b]

I’m sure they were, no Metallica though.

Metallica weren't invented until 1981 though. : )

 

[icnaiwhimor1975]

Do mean electrostats or headphones in general? Out of electrostats I can recommend Audeze CRBN if your neck is up to the task.

only electrostats.

>Audeze CRBN

I prefer only round drivers with a diameter of at least 90mm

 

[oneguy]

only electrostats.

>Audeze CRBN

I prefer only round drivers with a diameter of at least 90mm

Soltanus Euridiche
DCA Voce
DCA Corina
Phenomenon Canorum

Not sure on the diameter but those are all round and fairly large looking cups.

 

[Chefguru]

does anyone know any alternatives to stax that are competitive?

except es lab, there are only 2 models

i sold all my stax headphones
i want more and i can't find anything

It’s a Stax but have you heard sr-lambda nb? Most people over look it since it’s normal bias.

Sennheiser he60, he90 and he-1

What’s been your favorite estat so far

 

[honse]

Or will it totally destroy the sound?

As far as I'm aware lambdas take well to pad rolling. As long as you can make em fit.

Planar headphones are too heavy for me.

Metal headband lambdas aren't all that lighter. At least by the manufacturer's specs. It is a different weight distribution though.

does anyone know any alternatives to stax that are competitive?

I heard people list Perun, Kaldas, Warwick, ...

 

[LarsHP]

Hello fellas,

I would like to have some insight on padrolling for Stax Lambdas. I have the Lambda Pro in this case but I may consider getting L700 as my Pro has channel imbalance and some strange corruption on the drivers. But otherwise it works fine.


Anyway. I don't like the stock pads and want to get much thicker ones. Probably from Vesper Audio but I am open to other options if available. My original idea was to use Hifiman Mini Shangri-la with Dekoni Elite Hybrid Pads. I really like those pads and they improve the comfort so much with all Hifiman egg headphones I have put them on. But turns out Hifiman Estats are effectively on a death timer, so I am abandoning that idea. Planar headphones are too heavy for me. So i am back to looking at Stax Lambda headphones as they much lighter despite still being quite big headphones.
So I want to know if it is feasible to request a similar kind of pads but for the Lambdas. Or will it totally destroy the sound? Has anyone tried something similar? Dekoni egg hybrid pads are very thick and Vesper Audio said they aren't sure about the results as so far nobody has requested such thick pads before.
I have seen measurements of Hifiman Jade 2 with hybrid pads and it actually fixed it's bass extension (so it probably solves the seal problem).
The pads measure 19mm front thickness and 28mm back thickness.
https://dekoniaudio.com/product/dekoni-audio-elite-hybrid-replacement-ear-pads-for-hifiman-arya/

Any input would be greately appreciated.

There are thicker pads available on Aliexpress that fit Lambdas. Another option is getting a pad adapter from SoCas which will allow you to mount oval (and circular) pads.

However, be aware that the arc assembly may break when getting too much pressure. For this reason, I recommend getting the Mk2 version of the L700, or buy the original and then get the Mk2 arc afterwards, if choose to get that headphone.

 

[ericj]

Grumpy Goose has some beautiful stands but at up to 10x the cost ($200-300) it can begin to hurt the pocketbook real quick, hence why I almost only use the H2. I actually drew my strap inspiration from the Grumpy Goose stand.


I use this.

https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/milsbo-glass-door-cabinet-anthracite-30396448/

You can fit 12 per case without it feeling crowded.

$360 worth of stands and $230 for the case so $590+tax for a 12 headphone storage solution that looks pretty professional.

If you don’t want to use plastic bags you could find something similar to this.

https://a.co/d/4EOrgZd

Not for sale anymore but you could probably find a comparable 14”x14” bag to use. When they were selling them they were $16 for 20. Not plastic bag cheap but still highly cost effective.

Edit:
If you search “extra long adhesive hook” on Amazon you’ll find quite a few options like this

https://a.co/d/1g7DwzG

You could put those on the back wall of the glass case to reduce cost even further if you wanted.

I'm familiar with that ikea cabinet and I've considered it. I'd need two if i wanted to have one for planars and one for vintage AKG. 4 would be better.

Generally, headphones i am not currently grooving on are stuffed into gallon zippered bags (or 2 gallon for the sturzhelm variety) and piled into plastic storage bins. We're talking about over 100 pair, but obviously maybe a third of them are greats that maybe should be on display.

The adhesive hooks look like a great option. Maybe combined with smallish velvet bags to hold the cables. I can sew, have a sewing machine, and it wouldn't be a big deal to make bags that slip over those hooks. I figure if the headphones are enclosed on all sides, with minimal gaps, there's no reason to further cover them.