The Stax Thread III

[martin778]

Just a quick response to the respondents to my post--comments about trusting my own ears and enjoying the journey are totally valid...that said, I really would welcome subjective opinions.

I may be misrepresenting how I make an audio (or any) decision. To clarify: I don't copy and paste the opinions of others, then go buy what someone else tells me to do. I'm one tier higher than that in the "fool and his money" spectrum

The opinions of people with more experience don't create my own opinion--they provide indicators for what I should look for when listening. I've read several reviews on the HeadCase forum, for example, that the x9000 has imaging and brightness issues, but that it's also of better build and neutrality than the 007 or 009. I'm going to look out for that, and doing so will surely help me train my ears.

There's an x9000 sitting in the shop down the street, so there's no concern about shipping delays. I'd just feel more comfortable doing the demo with more experienced, non-bot observations.

And as an (ex-)owner of many, many different Staxes and now 007mk2 and X9000 I will tell you that they all are too bright, with the old Lambda's being the worst. The newer ones at least have the quality to the treble that makes the overdone treble less obvious (more airy for some LOL). This is how opinions can differ.
Fun experiment - listen to any Stax and then quickly swap it for a HD600-650. The second will be near unlistenable, ha.

Regarding the 700T, I'd say it's fine but a bit rough, the T8000 is darker, more 'mature' as some would say. Following the general consensus of SS vs tube sound it should've been otherwise but there we go.

 

[DeweyCH]

The natural thing happened, and I am now the owner of a pair of L700 mk2s and a Woo WEE. WEE is connected to the speaker taps on my Mogwai SE (I'll try with the Timekeeper tonight). They sound excellent. Hard to say what's new-toy-syndrome - which I have in spades - but they really do sound excellent.

 

[number1sixerfan]

And as an (ex-)owner of many, many different Staxes and now 007mk2 and X9000 I will tell you that they all are too bright, with the old Lambda's being the worst. The newer ones at least have the quality to the treble that makes the overdone treble less obvious (more airy for some LOL). This is how opinions can differ.
Fun experiment - listen to any Stax and then quickly swap it for a HD600-650. The second will be near unlistenable, ha.

Regarding the 700T, I'd say it's fine but a bit rough, the T8000 is darker, more 'mature' as some would say. Following the general consensus of SS vs tube sound it should've been otherwise but there we go.

I do generally agree that most stats in general are brighter than non-stats. More treble energy, clarity etc. This is the second time however that I've heard the 007 MK2 is bright, and it's just really surprising to me given how warm and borderline dark the MK1 is (I know they differ from the MK1 in other ways). Very interesting.

I think if you find the x9000 bright, you might just prefer a warmer and darker sound, which the HD650 definitely has. It's so much more relaxed than the average stat--and definitely beyond what I prefer. I prefer the general stat presentation that's a bit more forward/neutral in positioning with a bit more treble energy, although it does come at the tradeoff of brightness to varying degrees. Definitely not as warm and thick as my MK1, but definitely is warmer/more relaxed than the 009/L300/HE60/SGL I have on hand.

 

[eskamobob1]

I think if you find the x9000 bright, you might just prefer a warmer and darker soun

I think this will also depend on the chain tbh. For example on WES I certainly found x9000 leaning bright but on bhse it was much more balanced (same with 009S).

 

[catscratch]

Well I can only report on my current 007A, which was purchased around 2015-2016, but it has a lot of treble emphasis past 10khz, though it has a dip in the lower treble around 5. It's definitely different from the Mk1, which was dark in general but with a peak around 10k.

Yes, I do prefer the HD650 sound and equalize everything to have a similar response, but I also take that into consideration in comparisons. For instance, the L700 has more lower treble sharpness than the 007A, with a peak at 5.5khz where the 007 has a dip, but it's also less bright past 10k.

 

[number1sixerfan]

I think this will also depend on the chain tbh. For example on WES I certainly found x9000 leaning bright but on bhse it was much more balanced (same with 009S).

That's so odd, as the WES is definitely a bit warmer than the BHSE. But definitely agree that ultimately it comes down to the overall chain.

 

[eskamobob1]

That's so odd, as the WES is definitely a bit warmer than the BHSE. But definitely agree that ultimately it comes down to the overall chain.

Yah, I see this said a lot. I do wonder if maybe the Wes I have access to (at tsav) has something going on with it but it's on stock tubes. Ultimately its super airy and not super well controlled imo. It is a bit warm in the mid range but ends up being quite flat texture wise which makes it kinda moot tbh

 

[CT007]

I am now the owner of a pair of L700 mk2s and a Woo WEE. they really do sound excellent.

Went for L700 over 007? Or you didn't like how 007 sounded?

 

[Aspirant Audiophile]

Current or former BHSE owners:

Did/do you have a preference for the DACT 24-STEP versus ALPS RK50 STEPLESS volume controls?

A thousand bucks extra for granular volume is difficult to stomach, no?

 

[nepherte]

I found the ALPS RK50 to be well worth the money.

 

[DeweyCH]

Went for L700 over 007? Or you didn't like how 007 sounded?

Honestly a non trivial amount of the decision was that I wanted my first e-stats to have that classic Stax look. Also I wanted to use a new energizer with my existing amps and Woo recommends against the WEE with 007/009.

 

[DeweyCH]

Honestly a non trivial amount of the decision was that I wanted my first e-stats to have that classic Stax look. Also I wanted to use a new energizer with my existing amps and Woo recommends against the WEE with 007/009.

Also I like a more analytical sound, so the l700 signature appealed more than the apparently warmer 007

 

[CT007]

Also I like a more analytical sound, so the l700 signature appealed more than the apparently warmer 007

Very interesting... Yes, L700 and 007 are the 2 that I would/will choose to try/buy. But that L700 better be a hell of a lot better than L300/300LTD. . .

 

[DeweyCH]

Very interesting... Yes, L700 and 007 are the 2 that I would/will choose to try/buy. But that L700 better be a hell of a lot better than L300/300LTD. . .

I picked it because it’s apparently got a membrane more along the lines of the 007/009. Reviews called it the mini-009. It sounds really good, extremely detailed, possibly beyond the Susvara but I haven’t given it enough heads time

 

[bearFNF]

Current or former BHSE owners:

Did/do you have a preference for the DACT 24-STEP versus ALPS RK50 STEPLESS volume controls?

A thousand bucks extra for granular volume is difficult to stomach, no?

I also found the Alps well worth the money. Never have liked "stepped" volume control.