The Stax Thread III

[myheadHz]

Without the port mod the L500 bass had no real slam or rumble. I did the blu tac mod myself following screenshots and it made an immediate difference in the bass.

Yes second this. Had a love/hate relationship with my L500 (Mk1) for over a year now.

When I first got it, it was quite dissappointing. Lovely staging width/depth, nice awesome clarity/detail, albeit slightly harsh and cold due to it's forwardness. Bass while detailed/fast, had completely anemic slam/body (typical estat described bass... you can hear it but it just feels like the life has been sucked out of it). Wanted to move it on within 2 days of having it tbh.

Then did a full seal blu-tac mod and low-end was suddenly all there, completely linear right down to as low as I have heard anything. Bass weight improved also, but the texture and technicality of it was some of the nicest I had heard to that date. However, while improved, was still lacking the body and slam a bit. Overall though it feels like this is what it should have been all along... but still missing something... while enjoyable, ended up confined to a box as it didn't warrant any headtime over my other stax.

Then I used L700 pads (also replaced yokes with metal Mk2 yokes, although not too sure on the difference that made), and this increased the attack and weight noticeably (although not as noticeable change as the blu-tac mod, which basically turned it into a different headphone, while keeping all the things that the L500 was good at in the first place). Still colder sounding than vintage lambdas, some of the harshness from the highs/mids got tamed also.

Suddenly it was a decent decendant of the vintage stax (albeit a new take on the sound, but with it's own wider/deeper presentation) and imo worthy of the 'lambda' title. Almost like a lambda version of the SR-X mk3, with technical/bodied bass and actual sound staging.

It still has the overall colder/forward sound associated with the L series, but much more digestable, not as fatiguing... and the bass (which should have been there all along) was finally there, full-bodied.

Recently got an LNC, and the bass body, texture and slam is wonderful with the LNC (I think more so than L500, although still in honeymoon period with the LNC), however the L500 is not far off and in fact feels faster and clearer in the low-end with rivaling slam and weight. Combined with it's forward mids/highs gives it a much more analytical presentation and makes it certainly feel much more mature and worthy increment to the 'vintage sound'.

LNC = smooth, organic, distant, weighty, warm...
L500 = crisp, analytical, wide, clarity, technical (but still weighty)...

Both have outstanding detail and resolution, I don't think either is technically superior, just different. On the surface though, the fowardness of the L500 makes it sound more analytical.

So it went from one of the biggest headphone dissappointments I have had (although with some slightly redeeming little flirts of magic)... to possibly my favourite lambda...

Also some EQ and loudness compensation work wonders on it and take it to the next level...

 

[alota]

Yes second this. Had a love/hate relationship with my L500 (Mk1) for over a year now.

When I first got it, it was quite dissappointing. Lovely staging width/depth, nice awesome clarity/detail, albeit slightly harsh and cold due to it's forwardness. Bass while detailed/fast, had completely anemic slam/body (typical estat described bass... you can hear it but it just feels like the life has been sucked out it). Wanted to move it on within 2 days of having it tbh.

Then did a full seal blu-tac mod and low-end was suddenly all there, completely linear right down to as low as I have heard anything. Bass weight improved also, but the texture and technicality of it was some of the nicest I had heard to that date. However, while detailed, was still lacking the body and slam a bit. Overall though it feels like this is what it should have been all along... but still missing something... while enjoyable, ended up confined to a box as it didn't warrant any headtime over my other stax.

Then I used L700 pads (also replaced yokes with metal Mk2 yokes, although not too sure on the difference that made), and this increased the attack and weight noticably (although not as noticiable change as the blu-tac mod, which basically turned into a different headphone while keeping all the things that the L500 was good at in the first place). While still colder sounding than vintage lambdas, some of the harshness from the highs got tamed also.

Suddenly it was a decent decendant of the vintage stax (albeit a new take on the sound, but with it's own wider/deeper presentation) and imo worthy of the 'lambda' title. Almost like a lambda version of the SR-X mk3, with technical/bodied bass and actual sound staging.

Still got the overall colder/forward sound associated with the L series, but much more digestable, not as fatiguing... and the bass (which should have been there all along) was finally there, full-bodied.

Recently got an LNC, and the bass body, texture and slam is wonderful with the LNC (I think more so than L500, although still in honeymoon period with the LNC), however the L500 is not far off and in fact feels faster and clearer in the low-end with rivaling slam and weight. Combined with it's forward mids/highs gives it a much more analytical presentation and makes it certainly feel much more mature and worthy increment to the 'vintage sound'.

LNC = smooth, organic, distant, weighty, warm...
L500 = crisp, analytical, wide, clarity, technical (but still weighty)...

Both have outstanding detail and resolution, I don't think either is technically superior, just different. On the surface though, the fowardness of the L500 makes it sound more analytical.

So it went from one of the biggest headphone dissappointments I have had (although with some slightly redeeming little flirts of magic)... to possibly my favourite lambda...

Also some EQ and loudness compensation work wonders on it and take it to the next level...

What is LNC?

 

[myheadHz]

What is LNC?

Lambda Nova Classic

 

[KDS315]

LNS is better even

 

[LarsHP]

(...)

I see you have both Hifiman HE1000se and Stax SR-009 / 009S + Audeze CRBN. How resolving and transparent would you say the HE1000se compared to the electrostats? I am coming from the original (modded) HE-6 and want more clarity, details etc. As I understand it, the HE1000se will be an upgrade in that regard, but I wonder whether the step-up will be a slight or a very noticeable one.

 

[TheAbyss2022]

I see you have both Hifiman HE1000se and Stax SR-009 / 009S + Audeze CRBN. How resolving and transparent would you say the HE1000se compared to the electrostats? I am coming from the original (modded) HE-6 and want more clarity, details etc. As I understand it, the HE1000se will be an upgrade in that regard, but I wonder whether the step-up will be a slight or a very noticeable one.

The HE1000se is a very detailed headphone in comparison to other dynamic and planar headphones such as the LCD 4 & HE6. One could make the argument that the Utopia is as detailed as the HE1000se but I thought the Utopia was a smudge behind in detail.

Against electrostatic headphones, its not even a comparison. The bass suddenly sounds muddy and undetailed, clarity/detail in the midrange and treble falls off a cliff against something like the SR-009 & 009S. If you don't compare the HE1000se against these types of headphones, it will sound very detailed especially with the headphone you have now but stay away from electrostatic headphones if you don't want to ruin your planar headphones.

 

[LarsHP]

The HE1000se is a very detailed headphone in comparison to other dynamic and planar headphones such as the LCD 4 & HE6. One could make the argument that the Utopia is as detailed as the HE1000se but I thought the Utopia was a smudge behind in detail.

Against electrostatic headphones, its not even a comparison. The bass suddenly sounds muddy and undetailed, clarity/detail in the midrange and treble falls off a cliff against something like the SR-009 & 009S. If you don't compare the HE1000se against these types of headphones, it will sound very detailed especially with the headphone you have now but stay away from electrostatic headphones if you don't want to ruin your planar headphones.

Thanks for your quick reply.

Not only to you, but all in this thread:
Given I expect to use EQ with the setup, which electrostatic headphones and energizer will be a solid upgrade regarding details, clarity, resolution and transparency over something like HE1000se - "without breaking the bank", so to speak?

Is there consensus about which headphones and amps that are great value for money in the e-stat "world"?
I have seen the Stax SRM-717 mentioned as their "best", which apparently can be bought for about USD 1000. This seems reasonable in price and sounds like a good deal?

As it is, going to e-stats, I would need both an energizer/amp and the headphone, while if I stay with planar magnetics, I can use "all" my amps, so I am a bit hesitant spending a huge amount of money on the amp in the first round.

 

[SolarCetacean]

Is there consensus about which headphones and amps that are great value for money in the e-stat "world"?
I have seen the Stax SRM-717 mentioned as their "best", which apparently can be bought for about USD 1000. This seems reasonable in price and sounds like a good deal?

For a no-fuss option, yeah, a used 717 at $1000 or less would be a good deal. Note that they're between 15 and 25 years old now, so some of them may benefit from having their electrolytic capacitors replaced.

If you have a bit of experience with a soldering iron, it may be even cheaper to buy a 727 (they often have lower used prices) and perform the feedback mod. The resistors you need to do it are about 40 cents each (4 needed) and a decent starter soldering kit is ~$50. As of a few days ago, someone was selling a 727 for $600 in the classifieds, with another $30 for the step-down transformer. All-in with the mod it would be still cheaper than a $1000 717. I wrote a bit about my experience with the mod here.

 

[TheAbyss2022]

Thanks for your quick reply.

Not only to you, but all in this thread:
Given I expect to use EQ with the setup, which electrostatic headphones and energizer will be a solid upgrade regarding details, clarity, resolution and transparency over something like HE1000se - "without breaking the bank", so to speak?

Is there consensus about which headphones and amps that are great value for money in the e-stat "world"?
I have seen the Stax SRM-717 mentioned as their "best", which apparently can be bought for about USD 1000. This seems reasonable in price and sounds like a good deal?

As it is, going to e-stats, I would need both an energizer/amp and the headphone, while if I stay with planar magnetics, I can use "all" my amps, so I am a bit hesitant spending a huge amount of money on the amp in the first round.

I'm not that accustomed with Stax amplifiers but the general consensus is that they are not the best option for the price especially for the high end models such as the SR-009/009S.

My only experience is my current main amplifier being the iFi Phantom which drives estats and dynamic/planar headphones. Compared to my other amplifier (Topping EHA5), the difference in sound quality is quite simply "dramatic" and the Phantom produces a big jump in sound quality over the Topping amplifier with the Stax headphones.

There are some good budget options now for estats such as the Hifiman Shangri La Mini and Stax SRS-X1000. The Shangri La Mini comes with its own amplifier which costs £2,150 and the Stax SRS-X1000 bundle with the amplifier costs under £1,000.

There are also Ribbon headphones that can achieve similar levels of speed and technical performance to high end estats such as the Raal Magna & Immanis however, they are very expensive but you can run them on normal amplifiers.

 

[Svperstar]

Is there consensus about which headphones and amps that are great value for money in the e-stat "world"?
I have seen the Stax SRM-717 mentioned as their "best", which apparently can be bought for about USD 1000. This seems reasonable in price and sounds like a good deal?

I literally went down the path you are going starting last December. The only estat I owned was the Koss 95X and its amp. I decided to go with the Stax 007mk2 headphone and an unmodded Stax T1S as my starter amp. There was method to my madness. I wanted to start with an "entry level" amp so that if I went crazy and dropped like $10,000+ on a top tier energizer some day I has the T1S to compare it with.

You are right on the money starting with the Stax 717. IMO its a fine "end game" amp. According to Stax the 717 is 50% more power then the T1S. So that was my next upgrade. I got mine for less then $1k on eBay.

I found that the 007 bass hit harder on the 717 and the whole thing just sounded more refined but the basic sound signature didn't change.

You might want to start with the L700mk2 for the headphone.

 

[Kiats]

Any of you nerds want in on this fraternity?

Gorgeous!

 

[TheAbyss2022]

Any of you nerds want in on this fraternity?

Is there a jump in technical performance between each headphone/era? Which one is your favourite?

 

[harris4crna]

Thanks for your quick reply.

Not only to you, but all in this thread:
Given I expect to use EQ with the setup, which electrostatic headphones and energizer will be a solid upgrade regarding details, clarity, resolution and transparency over something like HE1000se - "without breaking the bank", so to speak?

Is there consensus about which headphones and amps that are great value for money in the e-stat "world"?
I have seen the Stax SRM-717 mentioned as their "best", which apparently can be bought for about USD 1000. This seems reasonable in price and sounds like a good deal?

As it is, going to e-stats, I would need both an energizer/amp and the headphone, while if I stay with planar magnetics, I can use "all" my amps, so I am a bit hesitant spending a huge amount of money on the amp in the first round.

Lived in Japan. Naturally gravitated to Stax while there. Issue is, I could not come to like them. Reason, I listened to them on Stax amps in noisy places. Returning to the US, I did not want to give up so I bought the BHSE with a 009. Eventually, I realized the 009 was not for me, but rather the L700 and 007.

For me, I could not settle with a cheaper amp or a non-modded stax amp. I would have sold my estat system if I settled with this. Glad I moved to my current system. Estats are similar to my vinyl setup. Need to spend some money to truly appreciate the magic.

 

[LarsHP]

I'm not that accustomed with Stax amplifiers but the general consensus is that they are not the best option for the price especially for the high end models such as the SR-009/009S.

My only experience is my current main amplifier being the iFi Phantom which drives estats and dynamic/planar headphones. Compared to my other amplifier (Topping EHA5), the difference in sound quality is quite simply "dramatic" and the Phantom produces a big jump in sound quality over the Topping amplifier with the Stax headphones.

There are some good budget options now for estats such as the Hifiman Shangri La Mini and Stax SRS-X1000. The Shangri La Mini comes with its own amplifier which costs £2,150 and the Stax SRS-X1000 bundle with the amplifier costs under £1,000.

There are also Ribbon headphones that can achieve similar levels of speed and technical performance to high end estats such as the Raal Magna & Immanis however, they are very expensive but you can run them on normal amplifiers.

Thanks.
Why do you have the HE1000se if the e-stats are superior? (Or, what are its strengths over the e-stats?)

 

[alota]

I see you have both Hifiman HE1000se and Stax SR-009 / 009S + Audeze CRBN. How resolving and transparent would you say the HE1000se compared to the electrostats? I am coming from the original (modded) HE-6 and want more clarity, details etc. As I understand it, the HE1000se will be an upgrade in that regard, but I wonder whether the step-up will be a slight or a very noticeable one.

I had he-6 original and latest version. Very close to 009 with proper amplification