The Stax thread (New)

[milosz]

Quote:

Obviously you dont want to spend a lot of money (who does?) but these parts dont come cheap.
For ESP-950 (Cha-Ching !$!$!) cable adapters, go here: http://apuresound.com/ehrc.html
 
The following requires decent DIY skills -
For just a six pin connector you will pay around $20 to $35 plus shipping and need to do some soldering and minor modification
to the connector housing so it can be used with a Stax box. These are chrome metal mil-spec connectors originally made by Amphenol for microphone use.
Newark Electronics carries them, part # 38F1543. For the Stax Pro five pin variant, just take a six pin jobbie and cut out the center pin. Viola!
Link: http://www.newark.com/cooper-interconnect/91-mc6m/connector-din-audio-plug-6way/dp/38F1543?Ntt=38f1543
 
I've used these extensively, here is a pic of one mated to my stat amp.
 
                                    


 
 

I can't thank you enough!  That Newark info is EXACTLY  what I need!  Now, this is not going to be any problem.  I am happy to modify things, make things, etc, this will be just great.
 
THANKS AGAIN!!!!!!

 

[milosz]

I bought two connectors, Newark still had some left!  FYI Newark's corporate HQ is about 6 blocks from me here in Chicago.... but they don't actually have any parts there these days. No "counter service" or "will call" like in days of old.   I see the Newark folks at the Dunkin' Donuts across the street getting coffee and snacks when I drop in there for a coffee on occasion. [Newark   4801 N. Ravenswood  Chicago, IL 60640]  
 
I see that you have an ESP-950.  What do you think of them, driven by Stax amp or other decent gear?
 
 

 

[Gradofan2]

 
Quote:

"I bought two connectors, Newark still had some left...  
 
... I see that you have an ESP-950.  What do you think of them, driven by Stax amp or other decent gear?"
 
 

Yes... is it worth the time and money to get the ESP-950 to connect it to the SRM-323S?
 
I've seen some much earlier comments that suggest that it sounds as good as the 02's, when driven by Stax, or better, amps.  Are those comments accurate?
 
If so, I may give it a try, before upgrading my Stax stuff.

 
 

 

[livewire]

Quote:

I can't thank you enough!  That Newark info is EXACTLY  what I need!  Now, this is not going to be any problem.  I am happy to modify things, make things, etc, this will be just great.
 
THANKS AGAIN!!!!!!

You're welcome!
 
A few notes as to the conector mods, this will make more sense when you have it in your hands.
The design of this connector has the pins recessed in the outer shell.
To make it work with the Stax "female jack" the pins must be protruding, their base flush with the front edge of the outer metal shell.
 
There are two ways of doing this.
One is if you have a lathe, trim down the outer shell then use the supplied set screw to hold everything together.
The second method which I used (because I dont have a lathe at my disposal right now) is to ditch the set screw
and use epoxy to hold the plastic pin base flush inside of the metal shell. (after soldering the wires to the pins, of course)
I then back-filled the soldered pins/wires side of the shell with hot glue as a strain relief. Epoxy could be used here too
but is permanent. With hot glue, if there is a problem with a soldered connection, it can be reheated and disassembled.
I used the included spring style strain relief as well, but not the included threaded metal lock ring. (Not needed for Stax jacks)
 
 

 

[livewire]

 
Quote:Originally Posted by milosz /img/forum/go_quote.gif

I see that you have an ESP-950.  What do you think of them, driven by Stax amp or other decent gear?
 
 



They are ok, nice sound for the money. I do like my Stax better.
I think the ESP-950's sound decent with the cheapo plastic energizer box that they came with.
The only benefit driving them with the KGSSHV is that the bass is stronger, that is a good thing for stats.
I can also run the volume up to ear bleeding levels (see my avi, he-he) and that is not a good thing
except for the extra headroom afforded by the higher than normal rail voltage. (+/- 450 volts)

 

[livewire]

 
Quote:

 

Yes... is it worth the time and money to get the ESP-950 to connect it to the SRM-323S?
 
I've seen some much earlier comments that suggest that it sounds as good as the 02's, when driven by Stax, or better, amps.  Are those comments accurate?
 
If so, I may give it a try, before upgrading my Stax stuff.

 
 

See my last post for my opinions on that.
As for sounding as good as 02's? No way.
I've only heard Omegas a couple of times, once on n3rdling's Blue Hawaii.
I've never heard better. ESP-950's dont come close.
 
But hey, I picked up my ESP-950 setup new for $500.
I have no regrets, they are a great sounding stat for the money.
 

 

[milosz]

Quote:

....if you have a lathe, trim down the outer shell then use the supplied set screw to hold everything together.
The second method which I used (because I dont have a lathe at my disposal right now) is to ditch the set screw
and use epoxy to hold the plastic pin base flush inside of the metal shell. (after soldering the wires to the pins, of course)
I then back-filled the soldered pins/wires side of the shell with hot glue as a strain relief. Epoxy could be used here too
but is permanent. With hot glue, if there is a problem with a soldered connection, it can be reheated and disassembled.
I used the included spring style strain relief as well, but not the included threaded metal lock ring. (Not needed for Stax jacks)
 
 

Yeah, I see what you mean, I am familiar with this type of mic connector, a similar Amphenol type is used with 2 way radios / ham gear / CB.
 
I do have a lathe. But I was thinking to use a cutoff wheel or diamond saw and just cut the shell shorter, then grind / file / sand the cut edge smooth.  And I have "potting epoxy" for strain relief / potting the thing inside the shell once I'm sure it's wired right and everything works. Potting it is irreversible, but if I need to replace it I'll just cut off the old one and buy a new one.
 
 

 

[livewire]

Sounds like you know what you're doing. Should be a "slam-dunk".

 

[svyr]

heh... I still want to try a pair of ESP-950 one day, but so far the horror stories of build quality and squeaking problem have scared me away every time

 

[Tidal]

Can anyone tell me the differences between 2050A and 2170 ?
I know that the numbers go to SR-207 and SRM-252S (from 202 and 252A). That's only thing I know.

 

[svyr]

Can anyone tell me the differences between 2050A and 2170 ?
I know that the numbers go to SR-207 and SRM-252S (from 202 and 252A). That's only thing I know.

different amp and earspeakers... Slightly more powerful amp and new driver enclosure/most likely a different diver

 

[Tidal]

Quote:

different amp and earspeakers... Slightly more powerful amp and new driver enclosure/most likely a different diver

Thank you svyr.
I would like to ask some questions
I think that the voltage is equivalent between the 2 drivers, 400 Vrms. So, the power added in the new model is not electrical but by other mechanism?

 

[svyr]

Thank you svyr.
I would like to ask some questions
I think that the voltage is equivalent between the 2 drivers, 400 Vrms. So, the power added in the new model is not electrical but by other mechanism?

http://www.stax.co.jp/Export/SRS2170e.html
Maximum output voltage: 280 V r.m.s. / 1 kHz

http://www.stax.co.jp/Japan/srs2050a.html
●最大出力電圧 280Vr.m.s.


That's interesting... Both say 280v. Wonder why I thought 252s had higher output

 

[HeadphoneAddict]

Quote:

 

Yes... is it worth the time and money to get the ESP-950 to connect it to the SRM-323S?
 
I've seen some much earlier comments that suggest that it sounds as good as the 02's, when driven by Stax, or better, amps.  Are those comments accurate?
 
If so, I may give it a try, before upgrading my Stax stuff.

 
 

Out of a good Stax amp I thought the ESP-950 were as good or better than my old SR-Lambda Signature Pro, but my ESP-950 were re-cabled with a PC-OCC cable and de-foamed by APureSound.com
 

 

[HONEYBOY]

Quote:

http://www.stax.co.jp/Export/SRS2170e.html
Maximum output voltage: 280 V r.m.s. / 1 kHz

http://www.stax.co.jp/Japan/srs2050a.html
●最大出力電圧 280Vr.m.s.


That's interesting... Both say 280v. Wonder why I thought 252s had higher output

There are reports that the 252S has a higher gain. In fact, on a German forum, someone hinted that the gain was set too high on the 252S and that they were experiencing distortion.......