The Stax Thread III

[Tinkerer]

Damn, alright here's to finding something. Is my understanding correct here:

LPS (Linear power supply) is synonymous to Regulated Power supply?

Regulated power supplies can be switching or linear. A regulated wall wart will likely be switching due to the small size.

Regulated just means you get the same voltage no matter the power draw. Unregulated depends on the power draw for the right output voltage.

 

[TypodCrowd]

Regulated power supplies can be switching or linear. A regulated wall wart will likely be switching due to the small size.

Regulated just means you get the same voltage no matter the power draw. Unregulated depends on the power draw for the right output voltage.

Ah I see - I was talking to KG and he was saying that the Stax amp should be fed with a linear power supply - And idea on how much of a difference I'd hear between a regulated and a linear regulated PSU?

Also, any chance you can share some info on your 212 amp mods?

 

[Tinkerer]

Something like the GRLV is linear. And it's tops. But like I said, replacing the original wall wart with anything regulated with enough current overhead will make you go "Whoah, didn't know that little thing could sound like that that". The amp pulls about .4 Amps so anything regulated and rated about triple that is great. Like the one I tested was the Ktech that came off my old WD Mybook drive. Like this https://www.ebay.com/itm/Ktec-KSAS0...ER-80BH-For-external-Hard-Drive-/271126543302 I made a little polarity adapter and instant global voltage compatible amp with upgraded sound.

Amp itself is vanilla. I just open the volume pot all the way to open and control the volume from upstream. GRLV is definitely the best sound but the main wow jump is just from the standard unregulated brick to literally anything else.

 

[AudioThief]

Something like the GRLV is linear. And it's tops. But like I said, replacing the original wall wart with anything regulated with enough current overhead will make you go "Whoah, didn't know that little thing could sound like that that". The amp pulls about .4 Amps so anything regulated and rated about triple that is great. Like the one I tested was the Ktech that came off my old WD Mybook drive. Like this https://www.ebay.com/itm/Ktec-KSAS0...ER-80BH-For-external-Hard-Drive-/271126543302 I made a little polarity adapter and instant global voltage compatible amp with upgraded sound.

Amp itself is vanilla. I just open the volume pot all the way to open and control the volume from upstream. GRLV is definitely the best sound but the main wow jump is just from the standard unregulated brick to literally anything else.

are you telling me I can go to the hardware store and pick up another wall wart and I will improve the sound?

 

[Tinkerer]

Yes. Except you probably don't even have to do that. You probably have one laying around. 12VDC is super common for any computer stuff and being sensitive to voltage levels is usually regulated. Even my monitor has a 12 volt external brick.

 

[SeaWo|f]

Yes, this is the mini version of the KGSS Carbon I believe. Just wish there were more options on the market is all.

It's a standard kgss, not a kgsshv or carbon.

 

[bmichels]

Thank you for the info. I am using the KS M-03 Amp and the KS-H4. Using an Iphone 7 as the source. Find that it sounds in terms of volume low, but clear. Is the I-phone the limitation ? What should I change/incorporate ? Can the KS M-03 really handle the Stax - SR 009 ? Thanks and regards.

Yes, the M-03 can really drive the SR009 to a surprising level of quality and volume. Quite a good Amp !

 

[rpeebles]

Yes, the M-03 can really drive the SR009 to a surprising level of quality and volume. Quite a good Amp !

Thank You, very informative and useful. Any few of that list which you would specially recomend ? Thanks !
Best regards

 

[bmichels]

Any few of that list which you would specially recomend ?

?? what list ? how can I help ?

 

[rpeebles]

If you're cranking your phone to max then yes, this is most likely a phone volume level issue. The ideal solution would be to get a portable DAC that has a line level output (which is definitely going to be louder than your phone's output) and run that into the M-03.

I have some dacs I can reccomend but I'd rather you do some digging online (perchance look at this: https://www.reddit.com/r/Zeos/comments/66xylk/guide_dac_amp_combo_units/)
A DAC/Amp will probably be the most versatile so you can use it with regular headphones too. I just want to avoid turning this thread into a DAC shootout.

Any few of that list which you would specially recomend ?

 

[rpeebles]

?? what list ? how can I help ?

Thank you...I meant this list: https://www.reddit.com/r/Zeos/comments/66xylk/guide_dac_amp_combo_units/ which

TypodCrowd kindly mentioned

Which portable Amp+Dac would you recommend. I want to get higher volume from a Iphone 7+King Sound M-03 Amp and the KS-H4 Headphones. Good quality but low volume.

Thanks and best regards.
Robert

 

[bmichels]

Any few of that list which you would specially recomend ?

the only one I heard or owned are the Mojo and Woo WA8. And I can recommend booth.

 

[rpeebles]

the only one I heard or owned are the Mojo and Woo WA8. And I can recommend booth.

Thank You !

 

[TypodCrowd]

Any few of that list which you would specially recomend ?

I've had experience with the Odac/O2 combo, most of the fiio line, the Nuforce combos. It depends on your price range and your approach to audio.

I myself am a reference lover (I want my source and amp to be "perfect" (flat EQ, low distortion, no fancy crossfeed stuff) and then my load (headphones) to color the sound as I please.

For reference audio, the price to performance ratio of the Odac/O2 combo is to die for. It's awesome and a very good entry/mid level combo. I still own one today (though maybe not for long so if you're interested, let me know ). It's not the most portable (dac is usb powered so it'll drain your phone, and the amp can only be better powered if you have the dac in a separate chassis), but it's amazing to use on campus for me for example. It's audibly very VERY close to studio reference gear, so I absolutely love it.

The NuForce dac amp is a little noisy, but is a really nice slightly V shaped combo. Again, no battery, but great volume. This one can be all USB powered. Really good if you have not-so-sensitive IEM's. Don't know how it would do with the stax.

The Fiio e17k is really cool to me. Lots of features, and I got one for 99cad about a year ago off the local classifieds. Cool bass boost (I've heard better but it's pretty good). Good volume, again a slight bit of noise on really sensitive stuff but overall a good experience. Treble boost was useless to me, but that's a personal qualm.

If you're willing to spend a little more money, I'd say pick one of the trifecta:

Bass/warm tilt: Chord Mojo
Neutral/reference grade: LH Labs GO2PRO/GOV2+
Treble tilt: ifi Micro iDSD Black Label

If you want more info on this stuff and some more suggestions please do PM me. I'd like to avoid derailing this topic into general DAC talk.

 

[Pokemonn]

[QUOTE="TypodCrowd, post: 14040776, member: 481126"

I myself am a reference lover (I want my source and amp to be "perfect" (flat EQ, low distortion, no fancy crossfeed stuff) and then my load (headphones) to color the sound as I please.

For reference audio, the price to performance ratio of the Odac/O2 combo is to die for. It's awesome and a very good entry/mid level combo. I still own one today (though maybe not for long so if you're interested, let me know ). It's not the most portable (dac is usb powered so it'll drain your phone, and the amp can only be better powered if you have the dac in a separate chassis), but it's amazing to use on campus for me for example. It's audibly very VERY close to studio reference gear, so I absolutely love it.

If you're willing to spend a little more money, I'd say pick one of the trifecta:

Bass/warm tilt: Chord Mojo
Neutral/reference grade: LH Labs GO2PRO/GOV2+
Treble tilt: ifi Micro iDSD Black Label
[/QUOTE]

sorry, such a refernce thing never happned on the earth. any gear has colors and sounds diffrent.
as KG said, "there is no such a thing as normal".
and ANY headphone are already phisically EQed. accordinglly you have no reason to dislike EQer.

1EQ(headphone) x 1EQ(EQer) = 1EQ

its simple equation.