The Stax thread (New)

[ericj]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Blue /img/forum/go_quote.gif Also, don't use a transformer: they degrade the sound quality which you've just paid good money to get! Search this thread for info on re-wiring the amp so you can use your normal voltage supply (although, on second thoughts, if you've never seen a phono socket before, perhaps leaping around with a soldering iron ain't a good idea... ).

Whoa. Hold on there.

I think when the OP said "transformer" he meant adapter - the stereo-mini to RCA adapter.

If he meant an audio coupling transformer, that might degrade the sound slightly.

You seem to mean a power transformer to adapt a foreign market amp to the locain mains voltage. This would NOT degrade the sound. At least, an actual, you know, magnetic transformer would not. Dunno about those tiny voltage converters that lack an actual transformer, though iirc spritzer seems to say they work fine.

 

[twestby]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Blue /img/forum/go_quote.gif Surely any Stax system running off a mini-jack (3.5mm or 1/8th jack) needs, at the very least, this!

... or a Moon Audio Silver Dragon mini-to-RCA adapter ...

Moon Audio

 

[PeterDLai]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Blue /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'm still amazed that someone can buy a Stax system and never have come across RCA (phono) plugs and sockets before!

I'm guessing it was confusion caused by the two pairs of RCA jacks, not the RCA jacks themselves.

 

[plaidplatypus]

Yes, you can use either set of RCA jacks as an input, the other set you can use as a "tape loop" to send the audio signal to another device such as an integrated amp for your speakers.

The only other thing I've seen with a ground lug is a record player but that was years ago. I think it's suppose to give a common ground to multiple devices. I've never had to use one.

Check the definition of transformer: Transformer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I wouln't spend big money on a 1/8" stereo to RCA stereo cable or adapter; almost any brand cable will do.

You might want to try using an external DAC with your X-fi. I found the analog output from the X-fi to be noisy and unrefined compared to all of the DACs I've tried.

 

[gimmish]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Blue /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'm still amazed that someone can buy a Stax system and never have come across RCA (phono) plugs and sockets before! Also, don't use a transformer: they degrade the sound quality which you've just paid good money to get! Search this thread for info on re-wiring the amp so you can use your normal voltage supply (although, on second thoughts, if you've never seen a phono socket before, perhaps leaping around with a soldering iron ain't a good idea... ).

Hey Johnny blue were you the one who bought a T2? So what up with it?

 

[spritzer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ericj /img/forum/go_quote.gif You seem to mean a power transformer to adapt a foreign market amp to the locain mains voltage. This would NOT degrade the sound. At least, an actual, you know, magnetic transformer would not. Dunno about those tiny voltage converters that lack an actual transformer, though iirc spritzer seems to say they work fine.

The ones I use are great old hunks of iron (my 100v unit is about 10kg and has taps for every 5v increment so that the output voltage can be precisely adjusted) and don't really degrade the sound when fitted with some decent sockets and wiring. Transformers can in fact be beneficial by blocking out all of the crap present on the AC lines i.e. isolation transformers. Most of the cheap ones are just crap though.

 

[treebug]

Is there a big advantage in paying the extra for the SRM-007tII system when compared to the 4040 system?

 

[wizia]

Already got the Qunex. I just need a transformer to use the amp, it is 100W and in my country we use 220W, I have already got one but I do not know if I need something special (high quality).

 

[Faust2D]

I was listening to my LNS with SRM-1Mk2 Pro and I really like this Lambda variation. I have SRM-T1S coming in few days (hopefully). As far as I know LNS was matched with T1S and/or T1W when Stax sold them as a system, so hopfully LNS would sound it even better with T1S.

If you have LNS and tried it with different amps, please tell me what amp was a good match for LNS.

 

[HeadphoneAddict]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Faust2D /img/forum/go_quote.gif I was listening to my LNS with SRM-1Mk2 Pro and I really like this Lambda variation. I have SRM-T1S coming in few days (hopefully). As far as I know LNS was matched with T1S and/or T1W when Stax sold them as a system, so hopfully LNS would sound it even better with T1S. If you have LNS and tried it with different amps, please tell me what amp was a good match for LNS.

It was matched with the T1S and T1W when they cam eout, if I recall from the Stereophile review a ways back.

I know the Lambda Signature (no Nova) sound very good with my SRM-1 Mk2 Pro, the Woo GES Prototype, and a Nuforce Icon driving the SRD-7 Pro, and they're not even bad from the HEV70 either. I even liked them with Elephas's multi-thousands dollar ES-1 at the Colorado Meet in July.

 

[bralk]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Faust2D /img/forum/go_quote.gif I was listening to my LNS with SRM-1Mk2 Pro and I really like this Lambda variation. I have SRM-T1S coming in few days (hopefully). As far as I know LNS was matched with T1S and/or T1W when Stax sold them as a system, so hopfully LNS would sound it even better with T1S. If you have LNS and tried it with different amps, please tell me what amp was a good match for LNS.

I bought the SRM-T1S/LNS combo last week and have tried it also with my
717 and 523 amps. To me the LNS sounds best with the SS amps - better grip at the lower octaves. My 404 on the other hand benefits a lot from the more relaxed highs when coupled with the SRM-1TS.

The cheapest way to get close to the 007 sound would be an LNS driven by a 523.

cheers

Tom

PS. The 523 is more refined than the SRM-1Mk2 Pro, so perhaps the SRM-1TS/LNS is better in this case.

 

[marcus1]

I`m in Japan at the moment and am thinking about buying the Stax 3050A system as they are alot cheaper here than where I`m from.
I`m also　contemplating really emptying the wallet and getting a set of dynamic phones to go with them so would anyone care to comment on which of these phones might complement the Stax system best:

ATH AD-2000
ATH AD-900
or
Denon D-2000

Unfortunately I have only had the chance to listen (briefly) to the Stax and not the dynamics listed above. I found the Stax great for classical and female vocals but maybe a bit to refined for　rock etc although as I said it wasn`t much of an audition and I really didn`t have the time to try them with a resonable range of music.
Any thoughts on the above dynamics to go with the Stax? Maybe some of you have (or heard) the Stax and one or more of the dynamics?

 

[dvse]

Quote:

Originally Posted by marcus1 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Any thoughts on the above dynamics to go with the Stax? Maybe some of you have (or heard) the Stax and one or more of the dynamics?

If you want something for rock music, Stax SR-X Mk3 should be quite pleasant, out of dynamics I've heard Grado HP-2 is somewhat similar. If you want to go with second hand SR-X, also look for an amp with normal bias. Cheap ATs don't really do anything better than 3050.

 

[wizia]

Already got these working

Is it common that the volume is high but not THAT high? I mean, I'm using them at 6.5/10 but I tought the amp would make the volume much more high.

About my X-Fi XtremeMusic, is it good enough or should I get something better? What would a DAC do?

 

[dvse]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wizia /img/forum/go_quote.gif Already got these working Is it common that the volume is high but not THAT high? I mean, I'm using them at 6.5/10 but I tought the amp would make the volume much more high. About my X-Fi XtremeMusic, is it good enough or should I get something better? What would a DAC do?

Not to be mean, but this is about as far from 'discussion of high-end audio' as it gets.