The Stax Thread III

[118900]

You can power a 007 with a kgsshv or equivalent (such as modified Stax amplifiers) I don’t think you necessarily have to reach carbon level for the 007 to sound incredible, although carbon is allegedly the TOTL amplification for it and they will sound their best on it.

I totally agree regarding the difference in the DAC being clearly audible with the 007s. I switched from a chord Hugo2 to a HugoTT2 and although I really wasn’t expecting a massive difference there definitely was and it was clearly audible on my set up.

For all the very good things I have to say about the hugo2, THE HTT2 is night and day improvement and clearly noticeable with the 007s

 

[astromaddie]

That’s interesting about the amp scaling, I keep reading really conflicting views that Stax branded amps can’t drive the omegas, and they’re perfectly fine if not the best. Some people use the D10 or 353x with their 007 and 009 and others say you need to use a Carbon or KGSSHV as a minimum.

I have no doubt that something like a Carbon would be best, but I’m curious if the 007A would sound noticeably worse than my L700 over the stock 006t or my D10, since it will be some time before I’m able to complete the CCS mod! The D10 is a really convenient piece of kit and it would be a shame to have to sell it..

 

[118900]

That’s interesting about the amp scaling, I keep reading really conflicting views that Stax branded amps can’t drive the omegas, and they’re perfectly fine if not the best. Some people use the D10 or 353x with their 007 and 009 and others say you need to use a Carbon or KGSSHV as a minimum.

I have no doubt that something like a Carbon would be best, but I’m curious if the 007A would sound noticeably worse than my L700 over the stock 006t or my D10, since it will be some time before I’m able to complete the CCS mod! The D10 is a really convenient piece of kit and it would be a shame to have to sell it..

My understanding is that the best production Stax amplifiers for the 007 is the 717 and the valve amps of the same era. Many consider that group to be the minimum acceptable level.

A massive improvement can be had with adequate modification to these Stax amps to the level that they can apparently reach kgsshv level which is very good.

from what I have been told (and I cannot say from first hand experience as I haven’t heard it myself) the D10 isn’t really a particularly worthy amp for the L700s and definitely not a good choice to drive the 007s.

 

[chocolates]

srm-252s can "power" omegas for sure but treble rolloff is pretty noticeable. not too sure about d10 but i imagine you'll get similar results. i also felt like there was a bit of rumble missing but it's been a while since i tried - i can go compare the two later on today since i've got a kgsshv carbon now

 

[118900]

srm-252s can "power" omegas for sure but treble rolloff is pretty noticeable. not too sure about d10 but i imagine you'll get similar results. i also felt like there was a bit of rumble missing but it's been a while since i tried - i can go compare the two later on today since i've got a kgsshv carbon now

Show off (that’s just my jealousy )

 

[Tugbars]

When I plug my 007 to SRM252S, instead of bass I only hear noise andno treble. There is some mid presentation going on however It sounds extremely off.

Voltage determines how loud electrostatic headphones can get. Multiplying voltages isn't really a challenge in amp making. SRM252S can drive 007 to defeaning levels. That said, what you hear will be mostly noise.

(note: I like to listen loud but not extremely loud)

 

[118900]

When I plug my 007 to SRM252S, instead of bass I only hear noise andno treble. There is some mid presentation going on however It sounds extremely off.

Voltage determines how loud electrostatic headphones can get. Multiplying voltages isn't really a challenge in amp making. SRM252S can drive 007 to defeaning levels. That said, what you hear will be mostly noise.

The bias voltage which establishes the volume for all pro amps is the same and around 580v.

If I understood correctly the problem with the 007s is that due to their physical construction (which differs from the lambdas old and new) they are particularly “current hungry” at the frequency extremes and most Stax amps simply cannot supply the current requirements to ensure the low frequencies are controlled and deep and that the high frequencies are clear and audible. This can apparently be corrected with several modifications to a select number of Stax amps, but I’m pretty sure that the problem isn’t the volume per se provided the amp has a pro bias output.

 

[astromaddie]

srm-252s can "power" omegas for sure but treble rolloff is pretty noticeable. not too sure about d10 but i imagine you'll get similar results. i also felt like there was a bit of rumble missing but it's been a while since i tried - i can go compare the two later on today since i've got a kgsshv carbon now

Yes please! There’s a 007A for sale locally for a really decent price and I’m feeling a bit antsy and getting trigger happy. I also don’t have golden ears, though I appreciate good sound with good music— I’m quite happy with the L700 except for the somewhat thin and bass-light sound it has.

 

[PointyFox]

The D50 works well with the 007.

 

[catscratch]

007A sounds worse than the L700 with the 007t, and the 006t has even less power. Having said that, I don't like the L700 with the 007t either. It's fine for low to moderate volume listening, but at anything above moderate volume the 007t just runs out of juice. Not much happens when you turn the volume up except the sound becomes brighter and more compressed. I use the L700 with the 717 and it is a very nice combo though of course finding a 717 these days is going to be hard.

I would look at something like an Octave from Mjolnir audio as a good starter amp for the L700 and a KGSS for the 007. The 717 will drive the 007 decently well, but it's a bare minimum and not ideal.

Regarding thin and bass-light sound - this is why the gods invented equalizers. But you will need an amp that has enough headroom to play above normal listening levels with no problems.

TL;DR Jeremy Clarkson was right and it all comes down to power.

 

[bigjako]

007A sounds worse than the L700 with the 007t, and the 006t has even less power. Having said that, I don't like the L700 with the 007t either. It's fine for low to moderate volume listening, but at anything above moderate volume the 007t just runs out of juice. Not much happens when you turn the volume up except the sound becomes brighter and more compressed. I use the L700 with the 717 and it is a very nice combo though of course finding a 717 these days is going to be hard.

I would look at something like an Octave from Mjolnir audio as a good starter amp for the L700 and a KGSS for the 007. The 717 will drive the 007 decently well, but it's a bare minimum and not ideal.

Regarding thin and bass-light sound - this is why the gods invented equalizers. But you will need an amp that has enough headroom to play above normal listening levels with no problems.

TL;DR Jeremy Clarkson was right and it all comes down to power.

So do you think a KGSSHV would drive the 007s well enough, or is the Carbon the minimum to "properly" drive them? I have an 006 and am interested in a KGSSHV but I'm wondering if that's only just slightly better than the 006 and I should focus on saving for the Carbon.

 

[118900]

So do you think a KGSSHV would drive the 007s well enough, or is the Carbon the minimum to "properly" drive them? I have an 006 and am interested in a KGSSHV but I'm wondering if that's only just slightly better than the 006 and I should focus on saving for the Carbon.

Both kgsshv and carbon will drive them, don’t forget that originally the kgsshv was the solid state amp of choice even in its first iteration so the latest versions are even better. Everyone I know or have read about who has used one confirm it’s perfectly good (including Birgir at mjolnir-audio) but obviously the carbon is better at a price difference.

 

[catscratch]

KGSSHV should be great.

 

[AlexmodNew]

Hello. I m newby, so Hello to all stax lovers here.
Now I have on a hands very rare item, Airbow SR-SC01 that as I know is a kind of prototype to SR-404LE. Which is very close to SR-404 and SR-4070 driver(s).
SR-4070 is very rare and expensive. So i just wamnna try to 3D print their closed back cups to try how it can sound, usind drivers from Airbow.

Unfortunatelly I just cannot find any photos of inside layering of 4070 cups. Does anybody know what laaying inside? Only dampening materials as used in Sigmas? Or something more unusual and complex? Possibly somebody can provide any photos of that, to made the project alive?

 

[Aurosonic]

KGSSHV is immensly better than the 717. I noticed the improvement within seconds. Though if not for having heard the former, I would be very happy with the 717. It's a fine little amp that allows you to enjoy the 007's, just not at their best.