The Stax Thread III

[gepardcv]

This is the adapter I use for the 252S in the US: http://www.digikey.com/product-search/en?KeyWords=T1135-P5N-ND — works perfectly. I double-checked that the pin has a negative center and that it delivers 12V before plugging in the amplifier.

 

[RAZRr1275]

I've decided that after I move my HE-6 I'm going to go for the 2170 setup. From what I've read I need a transformer to fit USA voltage since the kit I'd be buying would be an import from japan.. If someone could link me to such a product for a decent price that would be great. Thanks!

 

[Tachikoma]

Dude, the  3 posts before yours were just talking about that...

 

[RAZRr1275]

Sorry - I had a glitch with the website where it was showing an archived version of the site

 

[milosz]

I've read a number of people mentioning channel imbalance with Stax 'phones.
 
I've had 2 Lambda's - a Lambda Pro and a Lambda Signature -  and I've had two SR-007's - a mk II  and my current mk I.  I have not heard any imbalance in any of these, and they were all purchased used.
 
I'd say that if you are worried about buying a Stax headphone because you fear a quality issue in terms of channel  imbalance- well, while I'm sure it can happen, none of the four pair I've owned had any issues with channel imbalance. (Neither do my Koss SEP-950s, by the way.)
 
 
Just my 2 cents worth.

 

[Ali-Pacha]

My SR-5 Gold has noticeable imbalance, right channel takes 2-3 min to get as hot as left one.
My SR-5 is very (very) slightly hotter on the left. But I'm used to, since I've been living with this one since more than 30 years.
My SR-X/mk3 is toasted : crackle sounds on both sides, most likely holes in the drivers. My father certainly used to hear it far too loud with SRD-7 box. Thus too much voltage, arcing, end of the story.
No problem with SR-009, SR-Lambda and SR-Sigma Pro.

Ali

 

[rx79ez08]

  I've read a number of people mentioning channel imbalance with Stax 'phones.
 
I've had 2 Lambda's - a Lambda Pro and a Lambda Signature -  and I've had two SR-007's - a mk II  and my current mk I.  I have not heard any imbalance in any of these, and they were all purchased used.
 
I'd say that if you are worried about buying a Stax headphone because you fear a quality issue in terms of channel  imbalance- well, while I'm sure it can happen, none of the four pair I've owned had any issues with channel imbalance. (Neither do my Koss SEP-950s, by the way.)
 
 
Just my 2 cents worth.

 
What you are saying is like I heard of people being struck by lightning, but I never been struck so it is all good.
 
I think it is fairly to say this is a known issue and risk with Stax headphones, particularly older one. It is not necessarily easily fixable once that happen. So while older Stax are widely accepted as being better than those in the current generation, there are certain known risk in buying them.
 
To a certain extend it is a risk that you have to take with any vintage gears that are no longer manufactured. Then it is up to others to decide whether it is right for them.
 
I am speaking as a person who do have Stax headphones with balance problem.

 

[milosz]

   
What you are saying is like I heard of people being struck by lightning, but I never been struck so it is all good.
 
I think it is fairly to say this is a known issue and risk with Stax headphones, particularly older one. It is not necessarily easily fixable once that happen. So while older Stax are widely accepted as being better than those in the current generation, there are certain known risk in buying them.
 
To a certain extend it is a risk that you have to take with any vintage gears that are no longer manufactured. Then it is up to others to decide whether it is right for them.
 
I am speaking as a person who do have Stax headphones with balance problem.

 
I wonder if channel imbalance is 1 in 10, 1 in 100, 1 in 1,000.....
 
How many dB is your imbalance? 
 
Oh, and by the way, I HAVE been struck by lightning.  

 

[rx79ez08]

I have not measure the problem as analytically, but it is noticeable.
 
The probability of imbalance happening is probably not high, given a lot of the headphones are still going strong after more than a decade or two. But there are enough reports out there that I think people should be aware that it is a real potential problem.

 

[3X0]

  I have not measure the problem as analytically, but it is noticeable.
 
The probability of imbalance happening is probably not high, given a lot of the headphones are still going strong after more than a decade or two. But there are enough reports out there that I think people should be aware that it is a real potential problem.

The number of cases of temporary imbalance far outweigh the number of cases of permanent imbalance.
 
Given the former, I simply could not do without an energizer with independent channel control.

 

[Michgelsen]

  Oh, and by the way, I HAVE been struck by lightning.  

 
By a DIY T2 perhaps?
 
 
More on topic, none of my four second-hand Staxen have ever had an imbalance problem. My HE60 did, very very little, but once you hear it, it becomes very distracting because voices aren't centered in your head anymore, and you go searching for a possible imbalance everytime you listen, even though sometimes a voice is purposely recorded louder in one channel.

 

[milosz]

Originally Posted by milosz 
 
Oh, and by the way, I HAVE been struck by lightning.  

 
Originally Posted by Michgelsen /img/forum/go_quote.gif
 
 
By a DIY T2 perhaps?

 
Hahaha
 
Although I have had my share of "bites" from tube gear -  most recently from my Citation II -  YEOUCH  that hurt!-  the lighting thing was meteorological, not electronic-
 
I was driving a car in a storm in 1987 and the car was struck by a lightning bolt as I crested a hill.  It shut the car off, but it started right back up.  Left a little burn on the roof of the car.
 
Since that day, I've  preferred electrostatic speakers / headphones... maybe the voltage gave me a bias....

 

[rgs9200m]

I'm on my 3rd Stax (Lambda Nova, SR007 mk 1, now SR009) and never noticed an imbalance (this is over 15 years).

 

[David1961]

I had the 007mk1's for 11 years before letting them go, and the only problem I had with them was with the cable which occurred after about 7 years. I also got my 009's in 2011 from PJ and have had no problems with those Earspeakers.

 

[paradoxper]

Forgive me. Can anyone provide a thorough comparison of the T2, BHSE and KGSSHV. Using either/both 009/mk1.