[Kiats]

Just a bummer that OCTAVE 4 is not with symmetric XLR inputs ... nice small amp for the desc.

yeah... Still a nice little amp that packs quite a punch.

 

[KDS315]

@Kiats: How's the ES SIGMA PRO 404 compared to the "normal" SIGMA PRO?

 

[Kiats]

@Kiats: How's the ES SIGMA PRO 404 compared to the "normal" SIGMA PRO?

It’s been a while in the rotation but I do recall that it seemed quicker, and has better extension and bass because of the 404 drivers.

The interesting thing that I read in one of the history of Stax earspeakers is that the last of the Sigma Pros actually did use the 404 drivers too because production of the earlier drivers had stopped.

 

[KDS315]

Yep, I read that too that STAX later used the 404 drivers; never heard those headphones though...

 

[Kiats]

Yep, I read that too that STAX later used the 404 drivers; never heard those headphones though...

Yeah… hence you see so many mods using the 404 drivers.

 

[oneguy]

It’s been a while in the rotation but I do recall that it seemed quicker, and has better extension and bass because of the 404 drivers.

The interesting thing that I read in one of the history of Stax earspeakers is that the last of the Sigma Pros actually did use the 404 drivers too because production of the earlier drivers had stopped.

Good to hear because I didn’t like the ES Sigma L700. The sound kept coming from various and confusing places. It wasn’t coherent. Maybe I’ll give that a shot down the road to compare with my Sigma Pro.

How does the 404 sound change in the Sigma housing be the Lambda housing? I’ve heard the Lambda 404 and it wasn’t my cup of tea because it sounded too thin and shifted towards the highs.

 

[Kiats]

Good to hear because I didn’t like the ES Sigma L700. The sound kept coming from various and confusing places. It wasn’t coherent. Maybe I’ll give that a shot down the road to compare with my Sigma Pro.

How does the 404 sound change in the Sigma housing be the Lambda housing? I’ve heard the Lambda 404 and it wasn’t my cup of tea because it sounded too thin and shifted towards the highs.

Hmmm… the Sigmas do need a fair of power to sound their best. I use the KGSSHV Carbon. I found they had a good range, not just the highs.

 

[oneguy]

Hmmm… the Sigmas do need a fair of power to sound their best. I use the KGSSHV Carbon. I found they had a good range, not just the highs.

I have 2 Sigmas so I understand their need for power. My question was about the sound signature of the 404 driver in a lambda shell vs sigma shell.

Was your response in reference to the 404 driver in a lambda shell?

 

[gammi]

Excuse the noob question but can the stax "fart" sometimes sound like peeling tape off of something? I always thought it was just a pop sound but sometimes on my Lambda pro I'll get a pop from moving and then it's followed a bit by that peeling sound, eventually going away, usually accompanied by another pop. It's like the diaphragm is sticking and then slowly peeling off. Is this normal-ish for the older stax? Haven't heard it on the 007 or X9000.

 

[yaluen]

Sounds normal to me, have experienced similar. Something to consider would be to have the phones already on your head before plugging in.

 

[simmconn]

I had that with my old Lambda Pro. My workaround is to exercise the diaphragm a little bit by pressing the headphone on the outside, like what you do to get the water out of your ear canal after swimming. That plus some light tapping on the headphone usually can fix it until the next listening session.

 

[gammi]

Thanks guys. I had always heard of the pop but never saw people discussing the "peel". Glad to hear it's normal.

 

[Kiats]

I have 2 Sigmas so I understand their need for power. My question was about the sound signature of the 404 driver in a lambda shell vs sigma shell.

Was your response in reference to the 404 driver in a lambda shell?

Ah I see! Sorry. It is very different because of the Sigma and how the shell is constructed. Nothing like the 404 lambda.

 

[Kiats]

Been spending the past few days in the world of portables with the arrival of the Luxury & Precision P6Pro Ti LE of 99.

Now back to my desktop rig. This is the SRX-Mk3 Pro. Circa 1985. Original cables and all. Running off the Mjolnir Carbon.

@spritzer has warned me that this is a very unique sound. Even though I already had the SRX-3 Mk3 NB. Well, I have to agree. The density of the sound, the bass impact and the linear sound. It was not something I had expected! I can understand why they were made for recording studios. I recall only 120-150 were made and went to recoriding studios in the US and Japan.

In the meantime, some early morning listening pleasure.

 

[Chefguru]

Been spending the past few days in the world of portables with the arrival of the Luxury & Precision P6Pro Ti LE of 99.

Now back to my desktop rig. This is the SRX-Mk3 Pro. Circa 1985. Original cables and all. Running off the Mjolnir Carbon.

@spritzer has warned me that this is a very unique sound. Even though I already had the SRX-3 Mk3 NB. Well, I have to agree. The density of the sound, the bass impact and the linear sound. It was not something I had expected! I can understand why they were made for recording studios. I recall only 120-150 were made and went to recoriding studios in the US and Japan.

In the meantime, some early morning listening pleasure.

Man I really want to try one of these - do any other Stax even sound remotely like them?