That would be ace - I'm in North London! Where are you? I'm in N7
Schelp san
100+ Head-Fier
About the metal spring, few years ago I read about the so called spring mod. Some were liking the sound better that way, so I tried it. The earpad has to be removed and the spring as well. The spring has to be bended slightly in that direction, so that the mesh comes closer towards the driver. So not bending at the outer circle but on the part where the spring leads to the pad attachement plate. The degree of bending has to be "found out" by listening tests.Regarding the metal spring inserted in the pads and pressing against the metal pad attachment plate (with many large holes) in the SR-007, SR-007A and SR-007 Mk 2 models: Anyone here who knows what this construction is for? Is it there for sound quality?
I understand the spring helps keeping the pads away from the cup, but the pad does that fine already, at least if we don't have large ears sticking out. It could be about stabilizing the cups or killing vibrations while playing loud and bass heavy music, but I honestly have a difficult time understanding this construction. I mean, these metal edges well away from the driver membrane must create some diffraction, reducing clarity, so to me, it would make more sense to leave out the metal plate and spring all together.
My 007A from 2016 seems to have the same factory tuning as the current last ones, just the pads were modified a bit (thats at least what I read). In stock condition there was a peak somewhere in the treble, which annoyed some, me included. With a.m. mod this peak was gone, respective the treble energy of this peak like spread to a wider frequency band. So for my taste this easy and reversible modification was a no brainer and made the 007A simply better (together with the port mod).
I cannot speak of the 007 MK1, the one I heard did not have that issue in the treble. Whether the spring was in original condition, modified or even completely removed, I do not know.
Highly recommend the SR-009 which is imo technically superior to ES1A, also quite clearer and faster and has better bass texture compared to ES1a. Not that ES1a is bad but I think technically it's more in the league of SR-007 also one of the few estats that wants to sound like a planar. Also I want to mention there is something special that the SR-009 does with the soundstage, not only it provides a large imaging but it sounds very "3D-ish" soundstage wrapping around your head with endless depth in the stage.
Schelp san
100+ Head-Fier
Some years ago I went though a similar Stax journey. The thing is, if you really like what the Lambdas do, a direct upgrade is not always easy and straight forward. You already found out that the darker and in comparison less "engaging" 007 is not for you. For me the next logical step would be trying a 009. It should be a relatively respective balanced sounding combination with your KGST (want to say the amp fits IMO). If you can combine this with a warmer sounding source, even better.
I heard many Lambdas, and while most of them shared a certain sound characteristic and qualities, there is enough of a difference between them. I did never listen to the Lambda Signature you have, but read "good things" about it. I said it here some time ago, my favorite Lambda is the Lambda Nova Signature (LNS). It is simply its balanced tuning in combination with the typical Lambda qualities. Its tuning reminds me of the SR Omega, which from memory and based on a short listening session I prefer over 007/009/9000.
The 700 is also highly rewarded among Lambdas and worth a try. I found it a little less exciting sounding as others, but cannot deny its technical qualities. 404 on the other hand I found a little too exciting, but anyway impressive.
But if it is about Lambdas, probably @oneguy is the one to ask, as his impressive collection indicates
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Great feedback - it certainly sounds appealing. Another member has kindly agreed to let me have a listen to his collection which includes both the 009 and 009s so as soon as I can find a moment I plan to take him up on the offer and hopefully that will provide me with another steer.
Thank your for all that feedback too. I might reach out to @oneguy (or perhaps they will see the mention here!) and get some well informed opinions on the Lambda range. The Lambda Nova Signature has not been on my watch-list...I've set up a few alerts on ebay since it does seem very feasible to grab bargains from the Lambda range - if one of the models I've heard good things about comes up I can always grab them to try.Some years ago I went though a similar Stax journey. The thing is, if you really like what the Lambdas do, a direct upgrade is not always easy and straight forward. You already found out that the darker and in comparison less "engaging" 007 is not for you. For me the next logical step would be trying a 009. It should be a relatively respective balanced sounding combination with your KGST (want to say the amp fits IMO). If you can combine this with a warmer sounding source, even better.
I heard many Lambdas, and while most of them shared a certain sound characteristic and qualities, there is enough of a difference between them. I did never listen to the Lambda Signature you have, but read "good things" about it. I said it here some time ago, my favorite Lambda is the Lambda Nova Signature (LNS). It is simply its balanced tuning in combination with the typical Lambda qualities. Its tuning reminds me of the SR Omega, which from memory and based on a short listening session I prefer over 007/009/9000.
The 700 is also highly rewarded among Lambdas and worth a try. I found it a little less exciting sounding as others, but cannot deny its technical qualities. 404 on the other hand I found a little too exciting, but anyway impressive.
But if it is about Lambdas, probably @oneguy is the one to ask, as his impressive collection indicates
One nice side effect of this exporation is that I've now got a whole spare stack sitting around which I'm tempted to put in another room in the house for listenening in a different context - so if I end up with a few different cans around they'll get used I'm sure. That said, it's not like this is a cheap fancy to get a taste for is it?
LarsHP
Headphoneus Supremus
Ken Rockwell has a fairly good reputation regarding camera equipment, but headphones? I have read enough of his nonsense to steer away from him in that category.
Regarding your headphone journey, I suggest trying EQ'ing those you already have. You might find out there's no need to look any further. This of course requires software playback or very specific DACs that include PEQ, such as the RME ADI-2 DAC FS.
Yeah I did have a little foray down that road earlier today inspired by a similar comment elsewhere. I found some interesting tooling that I will play with some more: this tool in particular is pretty neat. When I get a moment I might do some experimentation with one more of the EQ utilities on this list. Definitely something to spend some more time with (even though I feel for some reason naturally disinclined towards EQ as a solution...I've no idea why given that I'm currently using room correction on my monitors which is effectively just fancy EQ).
DougD
1000+ Head-Fier
Excellent for you, AND an exceedingly kind offer by "another member."
Your karmic debt will be noted on the Pay It Forward scoreboard somewhere.
I'm personally keen to learn what you think, after an audition. I have also been living on Stax Lambda Signature plateau and wondering whether I'd really appreciate the climb to higher technical levels in e-stat-land. I REALLY like the Nova Signature with a good (but not TOTL) amp, but have only heard the 007/009/x9000/Corona briefly, under show conditions. (But for me the question is probably more a question of relative timelines ... 007/009/etc first, or a ZMF first ... I move slowly on expenditures like this. Planning is half the fun. According to some.)
Groot Geluid
New Head-Fier
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I own both 009s and 9000. I only listen on solid state and cannot understand your remark about sub bass as technically there is reason why sub bass could not be reproduced by solid state amplification as well as by tube design amplification. You find solid state to sterile sounding (?) so I presume that the tubes add (harmonic distortion?) that gives you the impression of more sub bass and less sterile sound? Even the SRM 525 s with the 009s sounds excellent and is not lacking anything in the bass. I use that on recording location and precisely the lack of distortion and the great resolution is very pleasing and makes it possible to clearly identify different aspects of the sound. Compared to the 009s I do find the 9000 a step up in evenness of frequency response and it does not have the slightly more emphasized treble that the 009s produce (which I get used to quickly and helps with the clarity). The 9000 for me is the best headphone I ever heard. The lack of distortion allows really good recordings to sound anything but sterile to me.
Misunderstanding
Misunderstanding maybe - I've never heard the 009s or the 9000 - so I can't say anything about either yet but appreciate the feedback. In a week or so hopefully I've had managed to sound-test the 009 and 009s at least and then I might be better informed. Will report back!
I am using the iFi Phantom which allows me to switch between solid state and tube mode instantaneously. Perhaps its the JJ tubes in the Phantom that have a good sub-bass reproduction which allows the sub-bass to be filled in on the 009S which is missing on the solid state mode.
For me, the decay on solid state was far too quick and made the 009S sound too thin for my liking. On tube mode, the decay on instruments lasts longer and gives more body to the music plus the technical ability on tube mode is just as good as the solid state whilst also providing a slightly wider soundstage. Its strange because on the regular 009, I much prefer the solid state mode. The 009 has better treble extension so the solid state mode gives me the ultimate extension and clarity in the treble.
number1sixerfan
Headphoneus Supremus
Whether it drills down to harmonic distortion or not, tubes (depending on the amp and tubes) tend to add a bit of thickness to the overall timbre, which then in turn can make perceived bass a bit improved--just from my experience. With stats, which are generally leaner in overall timbre (not specifically talking about instrument or vocal timbre), this tends to be a really good combination. Not saying SS can't be great with stats, but tube amps tend to shine, which is why most of the popular amps are indeed tube amps.
Also, I do agree that the x9000 is a step up from the 009 (one of my former favorites), but the presentation of the x9k just wasn't for me. I do hope one day that we get a 009/s successor with the same level of overall performance, but I'm not holding my breath for any time soon.
I agree, I would like a more direct and energetic presentation of the 009 in the next flagship.
I think you should really try the 009S as it sounded very similar in terms of timbre and detail to the X9000 but providing that more direct and energetic presentation of the 009. The instrumental/vocal timbre on the 009S is what I believe are the biggest improvements over the 009.
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