[Tinkerer]

I wear glasses and both my old Lambda Spirit and 007 Mk I seal fine. The pads are usually soft enough to accommodate.

 

[Ali-Pacha]

Difference on SR-507 between seal and no seal :

Courtesy of @Sorrodje

Ali

 

[ToroFiestaSol]

With the SR-007 seal makes big difference, at least in my experience.
My pair has the port mod and the big metal arcs of the MK1 brown pads instead of the small ones that come with the black pads (I'm using the black pads with the bigger metal arcs), also I bended a bit the headband arcs to get the best possible seal. The sound difference after that was a more linear and impactful sound, plus a bit more precise imaging.

 

[tempocalypse]

Thanks for the feedback gents.

Difference on SR-507 between seal and no seal :

Courtesy of @Sorrodje

Ali

I ran across this graph or similar earlier, during my research which is part of what prompted this question. However, I did see one comment (either here or possibly another forum, I can't seem to trace it back) stating that the L700 is unlike other Lamdas in that it is vented... I haven't been able to corroborate that.

Anyway I guess I will see how the L700 and Sr-007 Stax's fare with the best seal I can get against the other headphones when I audition them. Thing is since I can only buy on trips abroad (no dealers where I live) I like to clear up niggling questions like this in advance.

Cheers all.

 

[statfi]

With the SR-007 seal makes big difference, at least in my experience.
My pair has the port mod and the big metal arcs of the MK1 brown pads instead of the small ones that come with the black pads (I'm using the black pads with the bigger metal arcs), also I bended a bit the headband arcs to get the best possible seal. The sound difference after that was a more linear and impactful sound, plus a bit more precise imaging.

I have 009s and had good luck improving the sound quality by increasing the clamping force with rubber bands. I have posted a lot on this topic, but you could start here: Post #12954 https://www.head-fi.org/threads/the-stax-thread-iii.677809/page-864#post-13740585

 

[joseph69]

I have 009s and had good luck improving the sound quality by increasing the clamping force with rubber bands. I have posted a lot on this topic, but you could start here: Post #12954 https://www.head-fi.org/threads/the-stax-thread-iii.677809/page-864#post-13740585

Good luck?
Didn't you break your headband doing this?

 

[statfi]

I did no damage this way, and believe that there is low risk with just rubber bands. I tried to go beyond this, and ran into trouble.

 

[ToroFiestaSol]

I have 009s and had good luck improving the sound quality by increasing the clamping force with rubber bands. I have posted a lot on this topic, but you could start here: Post #12954 https://www.head-fi.org/threads/the-stax-thread-iii.677809/page-864#post-13740585

Look, it's no secret that I'm not a fan of the 009, but I wouldn't do that to one even if it insults my mom while playing polka, looks like it will break one moment or another.

 

[wuwhere]

Question to experienced SR007 Mk1 users:
What is the difference in sound between early 70xxx, 71xxx and late SZ1? I have the opportunity to buy a minty SZ1 but understand the early variants are more sought after. Would there be a good reason to avoid this mint SZ1? Is it closer to Mk2 than early Mk1?

I have an SZ1-1096 and another that I believe is older, however it doesn't have a serial number any longer (I guess it was stripped). I older one is a little less dark. I prefer it.

 

[Zadok]

Hey y'all. Pseudo new stax owner here, chiming in. Every time I use my LCD3 for awhile and wonder if I should prune down into just one rig, I listen to my stax setup and am reminded why I like them.

I do have a question though. I've read great things about the L700, but I've also heard that "all lambdas are in the same ballpark really". Did any of you notice a large difference between the l700 and previous lambdas?

 

[oneguy]

No real experience with the older lambdas except the 507 but I can tell you there is a difference between the L700 and the others. I prefer the L700 to the rest of the L line. The 507 would rank above the L500 and L300 for me.

 

[Pahani]

I have only heard (own) the 207 and L700. L700 is definitely better to my ears. A fair bit, actually.

Both 207 and L700 scaled up with my 3 amps. 252S, SRM-1 Mk2, and 353X, in that order. Though my SRM-1 may need to be recapped. Though the 207 did benefit from a better amp, my preference for L700 remained constant at each step, IMO.

Haven't heard L300 or L500, so can't comment.

 

[hpeter]

Greetings!

I am considering a headphone upgrade and am evaluating Stax in addition to LCD-X and HD800S. I will be able to audition the SR007 mkII and the SR-L700 in December. Been reading up in the meantime and would like to clarify something...

I am gathering that with a lot of Stax headphones achieving an airtight seal is important for producing quality bass. However is it correct that the L700 and SR007mkII do not seal fully by design (unless the SR007mkII has received the bass port mod)? Requiring a tight seal is a bit of a concern for me as I wear glasses full time.

I've done a bit of searching but haven't managed to read through all 800+ pages!

i posted few pictures how i intentionally worsened seal, to improve bass (207,l300) (bassfart mod)
but there is a small sweet spot, basically in between no seal and full seal.

 

[Zadok]

Both 207 and L700 scaled up with my 3 amps. 252S, SRM-1 Mk2, and 353X, in that order

What about the 353 do you like better than the srm-1? I have the srm 006ts, which I've read has similar if not identical parts of the circuitry to the srm-1. I am running a SR 407 too, which sits right between the 207 and l700. It's curious that I've read another review that preferred the solid state to the tube energizer.

I also wish the bass would punch a little harder. I've read that chasing bass in stax is a bad idea since the drivers are different, but I've also read that the L700 and SR007 will punch harder than the others, hence most of the reason I was considering them. Otherwise, I enjoy my 407's just as much as my LCD3.

 

[wuwhere]

What about the 353 do you like better than the srm-1? I have the srm 006ts, which I've read has similar if not identical parts of the circuitry to the srm-1. I am running a SR 407 too, which sits right between the 207 and l700. It's curious that I've read another review that preferred the solid state to the tube energizer.

I also wish the bass would punch a little harder. I've read that chasing bass in stax is a bad idea since the drivers are different, but I've also read that the L700 and SR007 will punch harder than the others, hence most of the reason I was considering them. Otherwise, I enjoy my 407's just as much as my LCD3.

I just prefer round vs rectangular drivers.