[Tiazmat]

Thank you very much for your detailed response. There is one used set for sale in my country, it is an old 4040 set with headphones L404 + amp SRM 006t. For me, which already have SRS 3100, would this be an unecessary purchase? Or would the amp benefit me and fit the L700 as well? I ask because the used market isn't huge in my country and importing is way too expensive - so its important to jump on the good opportunities on the used market.

I would say only jump on it if it is a particularly good deal. It is a better amp than the 252S, for sure, but saving that money to upgrade to the L700's is probably the best move. But if it is cheap, and you can flip the 404's (or use them, but they probably aren't better than the L300's), then it's probably not a terrible idea.

If there's anyone here that has experience with the L700's and a 006t, that input would be greatly appreciated.

 

[AudioThief]

I would say only jump on it if it is a particularly good deal. It is a better amp than the 252S, for sure, but saving that money to upgrade to the L700's is probably the best move. But if it is cheap, and you can flip the 404's (or use them, but they probably aren't better than the L300's), then it's probably not a terrible idea.

If there's anyone here that has experience with the L700's and a 006t, that input would be greatly appreciated.

Its hard to say. Norwegian prices are very expensive. If I do the direct conversions into dollars it becomes the following.

A brand new 353x is 1200$
The used 4040 set is 725$
A brand new L700 is 1200$

The 353x is the cheapest available stax amp. I do not know how the 006t stacks up against the 353x, but with the used deal I do get a novelty pair of 404.. Although thats not all that interesting - I think the more important question is if the L300 will benefit from the upgraded amp at all ( I do love my L300s and anything to enhance their sound would be fantastic), and more importantly if the L700 is a good match for the 006t.

I suppose the REAL question is however

L700 with 252s
VS
L300 with 006ts

It is also worth considering that the 006t could be sold and I would perhaps not get the chance on them again - which means I would have to shell out the big bucks for a brand new amplifier in the 353x.

 

[Tiazmat]

Its hard to say. Norwegian prices are very expensive. If I do the direct conversions into dollars it becomes the following.

A brand new 353x is 1200$
The used 4040 set is 725$
A brand new L700 is 1200$

The 353x is the cheapest available stax amp. I do not know how the 006t stacks up against the 353x, but with the used deal I do get a novelty pair of 404.. Although thats not all that interesting - I think the more important question is if the L300 will benefit from the upgraded amp at all ( I do love my L300s and anything to enhance their sound would be fantastic), and more importantly if the L700 is a good match for the 006t.

I suppose the REAL question is however

L700 with 252s
VS
L300 with 006ts

It is also worth considering that the 006t could be sold and I would perhaps not get the chance on them again - which means I would have to shell out the big bucks for a brand new amplifier in the 353x.

From what I understand, the L300's will for sure sound better through the 006ts, though that combination likely doesn't sound as good as L700's with a 252s. I honestly don't know what is the better move though. It is a pretty good deal on the 4040, but it may still be the better move to get the L700's and wait to see what sort of other amps show up. I'm not sure.

 

[AudioThief]

From what I understand, the L300's will for sure sound better through the 006ts, though that combination likely doesn't sound as good as L700's with a 252s. I honestly don't know what is the better move though. It is a pretty good deal on the 4040, but it may still be the better move to get the L700's and wait to see what sort of other amps show up. I'm not sure.

Again thank you for the help. I guess we should wait and see if others with more specific experience could chime in. I guess in the end it will be a question about owning a superior pair of headphones but bottlenecking it (L700 + 252) or optimizing / "empowering" an inferior pair of headphones (L300 + 006t). So then I guess in the end its a question about how badly the L700 would be bottlenecked by the 252s. If I am to think in budget objectivist terms, the 252 should easily have enough juice to power the L700s. BenF is the odd one out for his dislike of the L700s - who knows if it is a defect unit, or if he personally just does not like the sound of the L700, or if the pairing is indeed so bad. Most others I have heard says the L700 + 252 is "fine" or "decent".

So in my head, its more a question of the scalability of the headphones. If the L300 scales massively, getting a better amp could be a great improvement to a great pair of headphones. If they don't, the L700 via the 252 would clearly sound superior either way (assuming L700 > L300, which I cannot say for sure of course).

 

[catscratch]

I had the SR-404 with the SRM-313 and SRM-007t. I didn't like it. It wasn't terrible, but the midrange tonality was screwed up and the highs were a little rough. The L700 is altogether better. I won't get into detail since I got rid of the SR-404 long before I picked up the L700, but the L700 is a lot more neutral and technically capable overall. I'd get the L700, and forget about the 4040. Picking up a used amp is not a bad idea, but keep in mind that a lot of components have a limited shelf life, so picking up an older amp might mean that you also have to service it and replace components near the end of their shelf life, and it might not be worth the hassle.

 

[Pokemonn]

If you guys get/use Stax amps, I highly recommended to use very cheap bare cork sheets under the amps/dacs.
cork sounds really really good with Stax setup!

 

[Zadok]

If you guys get/use Stax amps, I highly recommended to use very cheap bare cork sheets under the amps/dacs.
cork sounds really really good with Stax setup!

Why would that help anything? The only thing I can imagine that helping with would be high frequency ringing that some tube amps have with vibrations on the desk/shelf the amp sits on, but I haven't heard any of that with my energizer.

 

[Pokemonn]

Cork can helps to reduce amps/dacs' power transformers vibrations(maybe effect via caps ands stray capacitors vibrations which cause modulations of audio signals). It significantly improve Stax SS/tube(BOTH) amps SQ Imo.
Have you ever heard Stax SS(build in power transformer type only) amps ringing? It sure does ringing if you very close(almost need to contact to amps top plate) your ears to Stax amp during you power it on. if you turn it off its gone.
as you know, Stax amps have almost 60db(x1000 times) gains, you are actually hearing significantly amplified noises/vibrations effects. estat amps act like vibration microscope. you can use your bed and/or sofa for temporaly experiment. but i dont recommend for long time experiment, becouse bed/sofa tend to cover under plate ventilation, it can be hazardous.

 

[BenF]

BenF is the odd one out for his dislike of the L700s - who knows if it is a defect unit, or if he personally just does not like the sound of the L700, or if the pairing is indeed so bad. Most others I have heard says the L700 + 252 is "fine" or "decent".

L700 on 252S (and especially 253S) is "fine" and "decent", but it doesn't deliver SQ better or even on the same level as L300 on 252S - despite the 3x price tag.
If I didn't hear L300/003 before L700, I probably would like it a lot more than I do now
The only area in which it is better than L300 (even with L700 pads) is bass - but it's still not on TH900MK2/Pro 82 level.
It just sounds like a very good, balanced dynamic headphone, not like an estat.
TH900MK2 is around the same price, and is vastly superior in EVERYTHING, including soundstage.

So in my head, its more a question of the scalability of the headphones. If the L300 scales massively, getting a better amp could be a great improvement to a great pair of headphones. If they don't, the L700 via the 252 would clearly sound superior either way (assuming L700 > L300, which I cannot say for sure of course).

I should get a better amp by in a few weeks, will see if L300 can improve beyond the current level.
Probably not, as it's only problem is the bass, and it sounds like a pad issue, not an amp issue, since using L700 pads greatly improves it.
Hoping that L700 will improve though - if it doesn't, I will consider sending it to Stax for inspection. Doubt that there is anything wrong with them though, since Japanese usually have great QC, and I bought them brand new.

 

[Tiazmat]

Probably not, as it's only problem is the bass, and it sounds like a pad issue, not an amp issue, since using L700 pads greatly improves it.

Okay well at least this confirms that our tastes definitely differ; I found the sound of the L300's with L700 pads to be a fair amount worse (still worth using because they're so much more comfortable, but a downgrade in SQ).

 

[etiefenthaler]

Hi, I am new on this Forum. I already posted my question in introduction, help and recommondation Forum and was directed to this thread.


I'd like to ask how to change inputVoltage on SRM-006tA I bought used some days ago in Akihabra Tokyo.
I already built several Studio Tube Microphone Preamps and other Audioequipment.
Below a link to pic of AC Input and Transformer.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1GlBL_qB5Ikjvu23TLF2LQL5wSJKXZ2x7

A picture of this particular area of an 230 V SRM-006tII would be welcome

Thanks a lot
Erich

 

[kevin gilmore]

you are going to need to pop open the transformer and reattach the orange and blue wires.
the wires to the post from the transformer under the cap may also be cut.

then pop open the bottom of the unit and remove the jumpers and then wire such that orange goes to grey and
power is applied to yellow and blue. so remove jumpers at 1 and 3 and add a jumper at 2
there is another jumper you have to add, can't see from the picture

orange on the board may be labeled as purple

 

[etiefenthaler]

Thanks for support

Made two new pictures
Bottom view:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1MDeCHf7eXXADlZssCLZOwbba8-4J4j7k

Transformer connections:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1ejOnomcHt5AxR2-HXzSuZODiMN0d-dYd


When I am back home from Japan in January I'll make mod to 230V. Hope I can open plastic cover without damaging transformer..

Again thanks a lot

Erich

 

[kevin gilmore]

I believe this is right, but best to check with ohmmeter before powering up
remove 1,3,6
add 2,5

result white,green,brown not attached to anything
orange(ppl) and grey together
power on yellow and blue

internal thermal fuse on yellow and white

 

[Zadok]

Man, a personal response from Kevin Gilmore. If anyone would know, he does!