The Stax Thread III

[3X0]

Did you guys see @n3rdling's Orpheus clone from the wikia meet impression thread? Unfortunately, very few are reporting on it but I am still very curious to hear it...

Yes. Haven't had time to report in detail, but I can say it sounds very similar to the original HE90 (based on my experience with my own on the same BHSE).

 

[purk]

No chance to hear the clone but I am curious about it as usual. I actually do have a clone made by Mr. Chinsettawong and it sounded very very nice indeed. I am sure that Milos's version will be very similar sound wise. Did u guy able to do an AB comparison between the original and the clone? I am not sure if the clone is completely identical to the original Orpheus or not or just very close to the original. I hope Ne3dling can elaborate some. I sure wish that I am in the west coast from time to time.

 

[Rossliew]

I didn't hear 007 today, but based on memory and my personal experience with my 007 Mk I and Carbon, I'd definitely go BHSE there. The 007 Mk I w/ BHSE was an amazing match when I heard it. Stock tubes will probably take it down a notch. And 007 w/ Carbon is excellent. But I'd still go for BHSE there.

Thanks for the recommendation. Best I can afford now is the 007. By the way, where do you guys source the aftermarket xf2/4 tubes from? Don't seem to see them for sale on eBay.

 

[Spork67]

Found some 404's, as suggested by several people.
They must be some of the ugliest damn headphones ever made!
I hopel that their sound is at the other end of the spectrum.
Now the hardest part - waiting for new gear to arrive.
Hopefully, these will satisfy my audio upgrade itch, for a while at least...

 

[yates7592]

 
Spritzer can rant about how crappy my particular Carbon build is; fine. I think it's quite nice. But the fact is it still sounds a good deal better than any KGSShv build I've heard, including 3 minis from him. And the Head-amp BHSE with these particular Holland tubes sounds a good deal better than my Carbon. And the DIY T2 is better yet (no superior T2 examples from Mjolnir audio here). 

 
What build / spec is your Carbon? What does Spritzer not like about it?

 

[Blackmore]

Holy moly, it's like 2 years salary of my in there, amazing stuff

 
Regarding tubes for BHSE, I have posted this on BHSE trhread, but will do here as well, if anyone can get NOS, Brown based Tesla's and try them on that amp, I do suspect great results. They are much cheaper, but they are great value, imo.
 
 
Thanks for sharing.
 
 
Quote:

  I had a nice day with Purk and got to recalibrate my ears a bit with his BHSE, DIY T2, Aristaeus, Carbon, and Mjolnir KGSShv mini on 009 and he90. Yggy source; Holland brown-base EL34 xf4/xf5 tubes on the BHSE.
 
The BHSE/009 really impressed me this time, more than prior listens with a NAD M51 source. The Yggy is a great match here. The BHSE and the T2 are a clear cut above the other amps. It's better than any of the amps I own. Yes, the DIY T2 is still better than BHSE -- it's always the best amp, and anyone who says otherwise obviously hears very differently than me. 
 
The 009 and he90 are both insanely good on the T2 -- and honestly not that far from each other. Just amazingly perfect in all respects (I'd probably pick 009 in a toss-up there, because I love that headphone so much). The 009 w/ BHSE + Holland EL34 and he90 w/ aristaeus are just below that (I didn't try he90 on BHSE) -- but of those 2, I prefer 009 w/ BHSE. From there, the 009/Carbon (i.e. what I have) is next best. Very excellent. I would place my DIY hev90 balanced w/009 on this level, though I often prefer the latter for its gorgeous mids & tone w/ Mazda silver plate 12ax7. The 009 w/ KGSShv mini and 009 w/ Aristeaus are below that. They lose a good deal compared to the above (better) pairings. But the 009/mini is actually quite good, excellent dynamics & detail -- it's just a bit shouty in the upper mids, which will get fatiguing over longer listening sessions. 
 
Spritzer can rant about how crappy my particular Carbon build is; fine. I think it's quite nice. But the fact is it still sounds a good deal better than any KGSShv build I've heard, including 3 minis from him. And the Head-amp BHSE with these particular Holland tubes sounds a good deal better than my Carbon. And the DIY T2 is better yet (no superior T2 examples from Mjolnir audio here). 
 
If Spritzer's predications that BHSE owners will be selling them en-masse for his Carbons is true, then good! Can't wait to bite on them BHSE ads -- no build wait!
 

 

[lojay]

I'm very lucky to have the best sounding amp / headphone combo of the bunch

 

[potkettleblack]

Any impressions on the L300 yet?

 

[Pokemonn]

Really want to hear a DIY T2 someday... Thank you for sharing your impressions as usual!

Arnaud

I am planning to build a DIY T2

 I was a electronics DIY guy since teenager. probably I can build at least one unit.
so I will let you hear yggy + DIY T2 + 009 combo when my DIY T2 is finished.

 

 

[HemiSam]

Thanks for sharing, Mulveling and purk.  Always good to read impressions from those that are able to do some back to back listening.  It may be subjective...imperfect, but it is indeed interesting and hopefully telling for those with similar tastes.  
 
I look forward to reading more impressions like these with the 007A's in play.  They cater to my personal tastes.  Also, it'll be good to read more impressions from KGSSHV Carbon owners as their numbers in the wild grow.  I've been impressed with the Carbon > Ygg > 007A chain.
 
HS

 

[LaCuffia]

Does anybody know whether the Woo Audio amp advertised for $499 can be configured to handle both normal and pro bias or just one of them ? I am looking for an economical adapter that can handle both the older and newer Stax earspeakers.

Also, I have the SRD-7 now with the SR-5. Would there be any appreciable difference in performance with the Woo amp?

 

[astrostar59]

Does anybody know whether the Woo Audio amp advertised for $499 can be configured to handle both normal and pro bias or just one of them ? I am looking for an economical adapter that can handle both the older and newer Stax earspeakers.

Also, I have the SRD-7 now with the SR-5. Would there be any appreciable difference in performance with the Woo amp?

I would spend some time reading hear on that. There have been 'issues'.... see answer in post after mine (I don't get specific on hear anymore, let others do that).

 

[Arthrumus]

Does anybody know whether the Woo Audio amp advertised for $499 can be configured to handle both normal and pro bias or just one of them ? I am looking for an economical adapter that can handle both the older and newer Stax earspeakers.

Also, I have the SRD-7 now with the SR-5. Would there be any appreciable difference in performance with the Woo amp?

If you are talking about the Woo Wee then you are probably better off saving your money and sticking with your SRD 7. The Wee is just a transformer box like the SRD-7 and has been found with out of spec bias circuits that can destroy diaphragms over time.

 

[bosiemoncrieff]

What's the best amp pairing for the original omega?

 

[3X0]

T2 by a landslide for me but I've only owned the SRM-323S and BHSE before. I briefly tried it with a KGSSHV and wasn't a huge fan of what I heard.

Shouldn't be a huge surprise since SR-Omega + SRM-T2 was the statement pairing from the original Stax (before they went under).