The Stax thread (New)

[n3rdling]

Just got my HE60 to Stax adapter from Dinan. Running them out of my 717 right now, here are my initial impressions that I sent to him:

This is a completely different sound from the O2, but still excellent. I think it's a near perfect compliment to the O2. Very "clear" sounding, a little on the bright side of neutral, there's a spike in the low to mid highs, timbre is excellent, detail excellent in mids and highs, bass is rolled off and lacks presence and detail, soundstage pretty diffuse without being annoyingly large. These are just initial impressions, we'll see what I think when I get more time with them.

 

[Dinan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by n3rdling /img/forum/go_quote.gif Just got my HE60 to Stax adapter from Dinan. Running them out of my 717 right now, here are my initial impressions that I sent to him: This is a completely different sound from the O2, but still excellent. I think it's a near perfect compliment to the O2. Very "clear" sounding, a little on the bright side of neutral, there's a spike in the low to mid highs, timbre is excellent, detail excellent in mids and highs, bass is rolled off and lacks presence and detail, soundstage pretty diffuse without being annoyingly large. These are just initial impressions, we'll see what I think when I get more time with them.

I'm glad you like it. Keep in mind that the adaptor is going to break-in and smooth that top end out. I really like my HE60 through the 717. The combo renders an amazing amount of detail and speed. To me, the HE60 is the ultimate for classical and jazz while I go to the O2 for rock and blues.

 

[edstrelow]

My Signature is somewhat tizzy. When I put in new foam backing I couldn't stand the sound at all. However removing the back foam helps the sound quite a bit and reduces the tizz.

 

[Michgelsen]

Ah, I was not familiar with the word 'tizzyness'. Judging from the word alone, I thought it meant a pleasant/smooth sparkle in the highs. Apparently it doesn't. I guess I'll have to agree then, that the Lambda Signature can sound tizzy.

 

[XXII]

Quote:

Originally Posted by XXII /img/forum/go_quote.gif I have an sr-007 mk1 on its way. The only thing I have to drive it is a srd-7 pro out of my Balanced Beta22 (2 x Sigma22). This is obviously not ideal but will it give me good taste of what the sr-007 can do? I'm guessing that my HD800 would be significantly better since it's properly amped.

I received the sr-007 and have been listening to them for about a week. I was utterly surprised by how good they were even underdriven. In the mean time, I have already sold my HD800

!!

Actually, the sr-007+srd-7+Beta22 was definitely not as good in most areas compared to HD-800+Beta22 especially in terms of detail and soundstage but it was good enough for me to want to hear them out of a proper setup... so I sold my HD800 to fund a used KGSS which should arrive sometime next week. I'm pretty sure that I will buy another HD800 eventually but this might change if the KGSS+O2 is REALLY good.

So what improvements can I expect from the srd-7? Basically I'm hoping for a bass that trumps the HD-800 bass (which is probably the best I've ever heard) and more detail.

 

[Dinan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by XXII /img/forum/go_quote.gif I received the sr-007 and have been listening to them for about a week. I was utterly surprised by how good they were even underdriven. In the mean time, I have already sold my HD800 !! Actually, the sr-007+srd-7+Beta22 was definitely not as good in most areas compared to HD-800+Beta22 especially in terms of detail and soundstage but it was good enough for me to want to hear them out of a proper setup... so I sold my HD800 to fund a used KGSS which should arrive sometime next week. I'm pretty sure that I will buy another HD800 eventually but this might change if the KGSS+O2 is REALLY good. So what improvements can I expect from the srd-7? Basically I'm hoping for a bass that trumps the HD-800 bass (which is probably the best I've ever heard) and more detail.

If you are anything like me, you will abandon ship. Myself and anther form member got our 02 rigs about the same time and pretty much bailed out on dynamic cans after that.

In fact, the O2 purchase lead me to by the portable SR-001 which I also love after only 8 hours of burn. They are not perfect but do go low and sound 100% STAX. THe big complaint on these is the softer top end but this is good to me as it eliminates listening fatigue and there is no detail missing.

Enjoy!

 

[krmathis]

Quote:

Originally Posted by XXII /img/forum/go_quote.gif I received the sr-007 and have been listening to them for about a week. I was utterly surprised by how good they were even underdriven. In the mean time, I have already sold my HD800 !!

..way to go!

β22 -> SRD-7 Pro -> SR-007 is very nice indeed, although it certainly can be improved on. So parting with the HD800 to go KGSS seems like a smart choice.

Makes me wonder if I really want to part with the O2 anyway. It is not like I really need the money... Hmmm

 

[les_garten]

Quote:

Originally Posted by XXII /img/forum/go_quote.gif I received the sr-007 and have been listening to them for about a week. I was utterly surprised by how good they were even underdriven. In the mean time, I have already sold my HD800 !! Actually, the sr-007+srd-7+Beta22 was definitely not as good in most areas compared to HD-800+Beta22 especially in terms of detail and soundstage but it was good enough for me to want to hear them out of a proper setup... so I sold my HD800 to fund a used KGSS which should arrive sometime next week. I'm pretty sure that I will buy another HD800 eventually but this might change if the KGSS+O2 is REALLY good. So what improvements can I expect from the srd-7? Basically I'm hoping for a bass that trumps the HD-800 bass (which is probably the best I've ever heard) and more detail.

Let us know what you think after you listen to the KGSS. Very curious...

 

[edstrelow]

I can't tell from your posting if your SRD7 transformer is low or high bias. If low, them any of the bigger high bias amps will be a revealation with an 007. If it's high bias, there seems to be a consensus that dediacted headphone amps give more detail, sometimes at the expense of some dynamics, unless you go for one of the super amps like the BHSE.



Quote:

Originally Posted by XXII /img/forum/go_quote.gif I received the sr-007 and have been listening to them for about a week. I was utterly surprised by how good they were even underdriven. In the mean time, I have already sold my HD800 !! Actually, the sr-007+srd-7+Beta22 was definitely not as good in most areas compared to HD-800+Beta22 especially in terms of detail and soundstage but it was good enough for me to want to hear them out of a proper setup... so I sold my HD800 to fund a used KGSS which should arrive sometime next week. I'm pretty sure that I will buy another HD800 eventually but this might change if the KGSS+O2 is REALLY good. So what improvements can I expect from the srd-7? Basically I'm hoping for a bass that trumps the HD-800 bass (which is probably the best I've ever heard) and more detail.

 

[sup?]

I dont know if this is the right topic to ask, I guess it is...


The danish prices are a little random, and are often way overpriced and sometimes cheaper than the rest of the world. So i'd like to know, is Stax SR-202& SRM-310 for 1100$ a good offer? it has to be a fair bit cheaper in the rest of the world for me to uy outside denmark, to avoid additional transport fees and such.

 

[edstrelow]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sup? /img/forum/go_quote.gif I dont know if this is the right topic to ask, I guess it is... The danish prices are a little random, and are often way overpriced and sometimes cheaper than the rest of the world. So i'd like to know, is Stax SR-202& SRM-310 for 1100$ a good offer? it has to be a fair bit cheaper in the rest of the world for me to uy outside denmark, to avoid additional transport fees and such.

That seems high, but not ridiculously so if the amplifier voltage is set for your area (220 volts I guess?).

I have seen these sets going for a lot less, I think one is still on Audiogon and Headfi sales for about $600.00. The downside is that it is set for 100 volts (Japanese voltage) and it uses an outboard transformer. You would probably need to buy another such transformer.

 

[sup?]

Quote:

Originally Posted by edstrelow /img/forum/go_quote.gif That seems high, but not ridiculously so if the amplifier voltage is set for your area (220 volts I guess?). I have seen these sets going for a lot less, I think one is still on Audiogon and Headfi sales for about $600.00. The downside is that it is set for 100 volts (Japanese voltage) and it uses an outboard transformer. You would probably need to buy another such transformer.

Guess its not so much a rip-off then

. yeah the amp voltage is probably set for my area. So the question is then, is this setup worth 1100$ ? havent actually had the chance to hear them

 

[Tidal]

hmmm, I am looking for the limited 404 from Japan.
Will the SRD-7 not pro not mkII not SB work with the earspeaker without an amp? (Directly paired from PC or tiny-USBDAC)

 

[Tidal]

hmmm, I am looking for the limited 404 from Japan.
Will the SRD-7 not pro not mkII not SB work with the earspeaker without an amp? (Directly paired from PC or tiny-USBDAC)

 

[Tachikoma]

Quote:

Originally Posted by edstrelow /img/forum/go_quote.gif That seems high, but not ridiculously so if the amplifier voltage is set for your area (220 volts I guess?). I have seen these sets going for a lot less, I think one is still on Audiogon and Headfi sales for about $600.00. The downside is that it is set for 100 volts (Japanese voltage) and it uses an outboard transformer. You would probably need to buy another such transformer.

I would say that approximately 90% of all Stax amps ever made can be configured for another voltage without doing that much work, so you would just about never need to buy a stepdown for stax amps.