The Stax thread (New)

[Dr Atom Magnum]

Quote:

Originally Posted by no1likesme /img/forum/go_quote.gif I just started to notice a quiet buzzing/clicking noise with my lambdas. It has been coming and going for about an hour. Is this a sign that they are at the end of their life? Or is this my amp? Or could it be something like power surges? I have my amp plugged into a surge protector but the wiring in my house is so horrible that the place should be condemned.

After a few years of using a pair of 303s they developed this problem in the right speaker. I replaced them with a pair of 404s but they experienced the exact same problem in the left speaker, but while the 303s took a few years to develop this problem the 404s had it immediately. The problem was also much more severe in the 404s and after six weeks of listening to clicking and buzzing instead of the actual music my new 404s met their demise.

Aside from the problems the 404s sounded significantly worse than the 303s. At the same volume they produced considerably less sound than the 303s and what sound they did produce had discernibly less detail and sounded rather muffled. With the poor sound quality and reliability issues I was unenthusiastic to buy another pair of Stax so I went for a pair of Sony MDR-SA5000s. Unfortunately I have problems with headphones that apply too much pressure to your head and after an hour they ended up back in their box and are going on eBay tomorrow (can’t put them in the For Sale forum because I don’t have 50 posts

).

I’m back using my 303s which sound fantastic after the 404s but the clicking is bothering me and it won’t be long before I get the hammer out again. I have comfort problems with most other headphones so it looks like I’ll have to buy another pair of Stax.

I was considering the Omega II Mk IIs but couldn’t pay that price without first trying them on and I can’t find anywhere to try them. I wouldn’t like to order a pair over the Internet and find I couldn’t wear as I have with many other headphones. Plus the comments about the Omega II Mk IIs I've read in this thread seem less then enthusiastic. I might have to go for another pair of 303s because at least I know they’re comfortable and they’re priced at a disposable level so you can throw them away and get a new pair when they break a few weeks after arriving.

 

[billinkansas]

Sorry that you are having such troubles.

Any chance that your Stax amp is not working properly?

 

[Faust2D]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr Atom Magnum /img/forum/go_quote.gif . I might have to go for another pair of 303s because at least I know they’re comfortable and they’re priced at a disposable level so you can throw them away and get a new pair when they break a few weeks after arriving.

Priced at a disposable level you say?

I guess to each it's own. I think something is wrong with your amp.

 

[cosmopragma]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Faust2D /img/forum/go_quote.gif I think something is wrong with your amp.

Probably not since the 303 has a faulty right driver and the 404 a faulty left driver.
Might be hairs.Also unlikely but possible.

 

[cosmopragma]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr Atom Magnum /img/forum/go_quote.gif I was considering the Omega II Mk IIs but couldn’t pay that price without first trying them on and I can’t find anywhere to try them.

The Omegas probably won't do it for you unless Stax has vastly improved the comfort.
I do own the SR-007s and they are far less comfortable than the Lambdas (far better sounding though).
No big deal for me but if you can't stand the SA5Ks which do make it easily onto the top ten list of the most comfortable headphones, low weight, low clamping force and soft leather pads .....

 

[Faust2D]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cosmopragma /img/forum/go_quote.gif Probably not since the 303 has a faulty right driver and the 404 a faulty left driver. Might be hairs.Also unlikely but possible.

Maybe, or maybe just damaged wire connection

.

 

[cosmopragma]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr Atom Magnum /img/forum/go_quote.gif (can’t put them in the For Sale forum because I don’t have 50 posts ).

That's no problem.There are a few threads dedicated to pushing the post count.
"What are you listening to right now", "What are you drinking right now", "What are you eating now" and so on.
There you can get a sufficient post count within a few hours without getting on my nerves .......

 

[cosmopragma]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr Atom Magnum /img/forum/go_quote.gif After a few years of using a pair of 303s they developed this problem in the right speaker. I replaced them with a pair of 404s but they experienced the exact same problem in the left speaker, but while the 303s took a few years to develop this problem the 404s had it immediately. The problem was also much more severe in the 404s and after six weeks of listening to clicking and buzzing instead of the actual music my new 404s met their demise. Aside from the problems the 404s sounded significantly worse than the 303s. At the same volume they produced considerably less sound than the 303s and what sound they did produce had discernibly less detail and sounded rather muffled. With the poor sound quality and reliability issues I was unenthusiastic to buy another pair of Stax

This is the worst case of bad luck I've heard about in the Stax realm.
In fact the Staxes are famous for longevity.I've recently sold some more than 30 years old Stax SR-X MKIIIs in good working order to head-fi member facelvega and I do stíll own ~ 25 years old Stax Lambda Pros in perfect condition.I do or did also own SR-5, SR-5 Gold, Lambda Nova Basic, SR-303 for many years and no single failure.

 

[Dr Atom Magnum]

Thanks for the replies. I don’t think it’s an issue with the driver unit because 1) as cosmopragma pointed out the problem was with the left speaker on the 404s and the right on the 303s and 2) the problem was much more pronounced on the 404s than on the 303s and if it was the driver unit you’d expect it to be about the same on both.

Once they’re broken they can produce quite the variety of sounds and I can’t imagine what would cause some of them. There’s one where it starts clicking at an interval of about 800ms but as it continues the interval between the clicks gets progressively shorter until it’s clicking very rapidly. Maybe I’m insane and I’m hearing things

Thanks also for the advice about the comfort of the 707s. I found the SA5000s to be a lot more comfortable than something like the Sennheisher HD600 head vice and it was only the pressure applied in front of the ears that made them uncomfortable. I’ve noticed that on the 707s the pads get narrower towards the front as they do on the 303s and 404 and that may make them viable. On the down side the 707s appear to spread the pressure over a smaller area than the 303s/404s so that may lead to discomfort.

I did want to buy the Omega IIs when I originally bought my Sax but when I check I found they’d been out for quite a while and for some reason I like to have the latest model. I decided to I’d hold off my purchase until they were updated or replaced and now that they have been I’m sorely tempted to buy the Mark IIs, especially now I’ve been reassured about the reliability of Stax products. However, it looks like I’m going to lose half of what I paid for the SA5000s when I put them on eBay so bearing that in mind I think it might be best to get a new pair of 303s until I get the opportunity to try the Omega IIs on.

 

[edstrelow]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr Atom Magnum /img/forum/go_quote.gif Thanks for the replies. I don’t think it’s an issue with the driver unit because 1) as cosmopragma pointed out the problem was with the left speaker on the 404s and the right on the 303s and 2) the problem was much more pronounced on the 404s than on the 303s and if it was the driver unit you’d expect it to be about the same on both. Once they’re broken they can produce quite the variety of sounds and I can’t imagine what would cause some of them. There’s one where it starts clicking at an interval of about 800ms but as it continues the interval between the clicks gets progressively shorter until it’s clicking very rapidly. Maybe I’m insane and I’m hearing things Thanks also for the advice about the comfort of the 707s. I found the SA5000s to be a lot more comfortable than something like the Sennheisher HD600 head vice and it was only the pressure applied in front of the ears that made them uncomfortable. I’ve noticed that on the 707s the pads get narrower towards the front as they do on the 303s and 404 and that may make them viable. On the down side the 707s appear to spread the pressure over a smaller area than the 303s/404s so that may lead to discomfort. I did want to buy the Omega IIs when I originally bought my Sax but when I check I found they’d been out for quite a while and for some reason I like to have the latest model. I decided to I’d hold off my purchase until they were updated or replaced and now that they have been I’m sorely tempted to buy the Mark IIs, especially now I’ve been reassured about the reliability of Stax products. However, it looks like I’m going to lose half of what I paid for the SA5000s when I put them on eBay so bearing that in mind I think it might be best to get a new pair of 303s until I get the opportunity to try the Omega IIs on.

Could be a short circuits in the phones, possibly hair, mositure, or even blown diaphragms. You should really state what you are using to drive them.

I have both an old Lambda Nova and 404 of some years vintage and they work flawlessly. I have even older fully functioning Sigmas, 30 plus years on the oldest. The drivers on the Sigma and Lambdas are very reliable compared to the earlier Stax and short of physical destruction are rather like the energizer bunny.

 

[Don Quichotte]

Quote:

Originally Posted by no1likesme I just started to notice a quiet buzzing/clicking noise with my lambdas. It has been coming and going for about an hour. Is this a sign that they are at the end of their life? Or is this my amp? Or could it be something like power surges? I have my amp plugged into a surge protector but the wiring in my house is so horrible that the place should be condemned.

I'm afraid it's the headphones. See below.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr Atom Magnum /img/forum/go_quote.gif After a few years of using a pair of 303s they developed this problem in the right speaker. I replaced them with a pair of 404s but they experienced the exact same problem in the left speaker, but while the 303s took a few years to develop this problem the 404s had it immediately. The problem was also much more severe in the 404s and after six weeks of listening to clicking and buzzing instead of the actual music my new 404s met their demise. Aside from the problems the 404s sounded significantly worse than the 303s. At the same volume they produced considerably less sound than the 303s and what sound they did produce had discernibly less detail and sounded rather muffled. With the poor sound quality and reliability issues I was unenthusiastic to buy another pair of Stax so I went for a pair of Sony MDR-SA5000s. Unfortunately I have problems with headphones that apply too much pressure to your head and after an hour they ended up back in their box and are going on eBay tomorrow (can’t put them in the For Sale forum because I don’t have 50 posts ). I’m back using my 303s which sound fantastic after the 404s but the clicking is bothering me and it won’t be long before I get the hammer out again. I have comfort problems with most other headphones so it looks like I’ll have to buy another pair of Stax. I was considering the Omega II Mk IIs but couldn’t pay that price without first trying them on and I can’t find anywhere to try them. I wouldn’t like to order a pair over the Internet and find I couldn’t wear as I have with many other headphones. Plus the comments about the Omega II Mk IIs I've read in this thread seem less then enthusiastic. I might have to go for another pair of 303s because at least I know they’re comfortable and they’re priced at a disposable level so you can throw them away and get a new pair when they break a few weeks after arriving.

I had a similar problem with my 303's soon after buying them new. The buzz appeared only now and then, very rarely at first (during the first few months), sometimes to the left, sometimes to the right. In the end, I sent them to the German service along with their 313 driver unit (nice guys btw., thumbs up!). They said the driver unit was OK, but replaced both drivers or "sound elements" inside the headphones. Almost a year later, I was having the same problem again!! The cure was again the replacement of the drivers, but this time they also replaced the inner brass, black painted protective mesh with a stainless steel one - they said it's more rugged and not prone to oxidation, as opposed to the old one, and it's been used by Stax since about a year ago. This happened in May this year. The headphones are still trouble free at this moment.

I'm very much surprised that your 404 had a lower sound quality than your 303. Have the 404 been sufficiently burned in and charged when listening?

 

[spritzer]

Having two headphones break like that is a clear sign it's due to some external factor, most likely dust, some other debris or hairs. There is most likely nothing wrong with the drivers but since they can't be opened, Stax replaces them just the same as Sennheiser does with the HE60.

The SR-007 can be very comfortable but the pads can be a bit small, something that is fixed with the Mk2. You need to bend the arcs to get the right fit or they will be too loose or compress too much as well as to find the correct position for the earpads.

Quote:

Originally Posted by audiod /img/forum/go_quote.gif I measured the level difference between the SR-007 and mk2. The mk2 is 3.7db lower in level using pink noise than the 007. I talked to Stax USA today. I discribed the problems that I am having with sound quality (read earlier in this forum) and drop in level over the 007. They stated that they are getting the same results. They think that more breakin is required. They are in the process of contacting Japan for some answers. I should have a response by early next week. Has anyone else gotten their mk2 yet?

I still don't think this is normal and more breakin his hardly going to fix it. I wonder if Stax has another 4070 snafu on their hands...? For those that don't know, when stax released the 4070 in 2001 it had a major flaw because the housing was too wide and it couldn't swivel freely and thus severely limiting the usage of the headphones. Only those with fairly large heads could use them but this was fixed in 2002.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 88Sound /img/forum/go_quote.gif The recommended O2 mk2 seller sent me an e-mail telling me that all items had shipped and gave me a tracking # for a package that arrived today! The package contained only a headphone stand. When I called the seller they told me the headphones were dropped shipped....ok.... I asked them for an e-mail with a tracking # or an explanation that they could not get a tracking #... that was over four hours ago. They must be doing great business!

I've had this happen twice... not pleasant. I will be great to have some feedback on how they sound with the Blue Hawaii.

 

[Johnny Blue]

Not checked in here for a few days and catching up is like reading a gripping page-turner: what's going to happen next? Taking a hammer to a set of 404s! (By the way, can I have the cable from the smashed up pair?!)

Meanwhile, I have some corrections to make: just under a year ago I scored my 3030 system, and wrote here that the SRM-313 wasn't much different to the SRM-1/Mk2 (although the 303s were a step up from the 202s), so that the 3030 became my main system. (The SRM-1/Mk2 and the 202s went into my office.)

Having recently got some near-new 404s (just the 404s, no amp/energiser), I was initially disappointed that they weren't such a leap up from the 303s, but this changed rapidly as they warmed up. It didn't take long for the improvement to show through, although it's not a vast gulf between the two (I'd found the step from 202 to 303 was greater a year ago).

The only problem I had was with the colour: in all the snaps I've seen here and elsewhere, the 404s look an insipid brown, not far removed from the insipid green of the 303s. When they arrived, they were a deep, almost chocolate, brown: how could I possibly fool SWMBO into thinking that they were the same 'phones as before? That evening, when she came in the room, I sat as nonchalantly as possible with the 404s on my head, ready to justify my expenditure by trotting out the old, "don't worry, I'll sell the old ones" line. My heart was pounding... phew! I got away with it: she didn't notice the colour change!

That was a week ago. Last night, having left the 404s plugged into the 313 for days, with it switched on, I again did a comparison with the SRM-1/Mk2 (also left switched on for an hour or two previously). It didn't take me long to discover that my summary judgement of almost a year ago (that the 313 wasn't much different to the old amp) was completely wrong: the SRM-1/Mk2 sounds much better (more dynamic, more presence, more bass, much clearer!).

The upshot is that the SRM-1/Mk2 now sits with my main hi-fi, and the 313 is relegated to office use. Now my problems are, a) will SWMBO notice if I swap the 202s I was using in my office to the 303s (that IS a big colour change!) and, b) I'm not so happy to leave the SRM-1/Mk2 on all the time (as I did with the 313) because it runs so much hotter, and those holes in the top are an invitation to dust/cat hair/my 9 year-old daughter!

 

[audiod]

Quote:

Originally Posted by spritzer /img/forum/go_quote.gif I still don't think this is normal and more breakin his hardly going to fix it.

I agree. Stax USA offered to exchange. Since they are having the same problem it seems like an exchange at this time would be useless. I decided to wait for a response from Japan. If anybody is planning to buy the mk2 I would hold off till this problem is resolved. At this point the resale value of the 007 is likely to go up not down.

 

[Johnny Blue]

Quote:

Originally Posted by audiod /img/forum/go_quote.gif ... At this point the resale value of the 007 is likely to go up not down.

Curses!