The Stax I thread

Oh, I think you're going to be pleasantly surprised at how much better they can sound. It's not so much scaling as it's the HEV70 is just "meh".

I always hate to say it, but wait until you put it into a serious chain with something like the BHSE and a great DAC.

 

For the last week or so I've been listening to nothing but a new pair of SR-L300 Lambdas hooked up to my SRM-323 (trying to save some wear on my older SRM-313).



I feel perfectly contented.

The L700 does have a level of refinement and resolving capabilities beyond its sibling, but I find myself not missing it much if at all right now. The L300 Lambdas are so *easy* to listen with, and that most tired of audiophile clichés of just being able to enjoy the music applies here. Hey, at least I didn't say I "stayed up all night rediscovering my record collection" right? ....Right?

Seems like the Basic models have been overlooked by many e-stat vets and novices alike. Which is unfortunate, because the SR-202 and SR-207 were both among the best of what post-Nova Lambdas had to offer. I feel as though the L300 carries that tradition forward, offering even better sonics while sticking to the Basic approach of simultaneously fun and well balanced sound.

This definitely gets my vote as one of the best headphones to come out this year at any price point (along with the latest version of the more expensive Audio Zenith PMx2).

 

Question is :does it sound different from the sr-207 ? how are the differences ?

 

A bit, yes. Overall the SR-L300 is more refined, and the most noticeable difference for me is the bottom end which seems more robust. There seems to be a greater sense of air as well, but to me this is more subtle.

The SR-202 and SR-207 are both still amazing, especially if you can find a used pair at a super low price (I got my SR-202 for about $150).

For better or worse, that Z-Reviews guy from Reddit raised awareness of the SRS-2170 system toward the end of its life-cycle, so most of the remaining factory stock got bought up at around $550 USD. You can still find a brand new set, but they go for absurd prices now like $1500. At that point it makes much more sense to get the SRS-3100 for $750.

 

Solid rig there Oddone... you're in for a Christmas treat!

 

Plastic, Plastic everywhere.

@OJneg looking for the last safe place in 2017 :

 

Do note that the SR-L300 comes bundled with the smaller SRM-252 amp as the SRS-3100 package. I just happened to have the bigger SRM-323 lying around the house and didn't wanna futz with a transformer which most of my other Stax amps need.

The SRS-3100 package (about $740ish USD for both the little SRM-253 amp and L300 Lambdas) sounds better balanced and more lively than the stock ESP 950 with its little ES box. The stock ESP 950 is more laid back and euphonic, but it sounds kinda rolled off in comparison to the Stax Basic combo. Also to me, the Lambdas tend to have a stronger "out of head" effect; which isn't to say the soundstage is all that large (it's not), just that Lambdas have a strong sense of Dasein.

You guys know my gospel by now: getting an adaptor and using the ESP 950 with an SRM-717 turns it into another beast altogether.

In stock form though? I really can't think of a headphone + amp combo at this price point I'd rather listen to than the SRS-3100 right now. But that's just me.

There's a loaner tour going on right now for the SRS-3100's predecessor, the SRS-2170. If anyone is curious about e-stats and has the ability to be part of that, I'd strongly recommend it.

 

Agreed... If you're going to stick with the stock ESP 950 amp I doubt they will become your long term listen.

 

Anyone hear Birgir's Octave? At $1950 I'm betting it's pretty darned good for the $$.

 

Dunno how it performs against @JimL SRX+... I bought my own SRX+ ( the one eveybody saw and heard during last LA meet) for less than 1950$

 

Oh, I wasn't throwing it out there as the best for the $$ or anything! I've been listening to my GES a lot at work so it got me thinking about the tweaks that Birgir threw in.

That SRX+ is a nice simple circuit. Nice that it can be built point to point or with a PCB.

 

I think we had this magic discussion already? http://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/koss-esp950.95/page-3#post-88118

 

Heard myself the ESP950 from a SRM1-mkII and wasn't much more convinced than with the E90. I had great hopes in the Koss but finally it wasn't my thing. if I were you I'd follow @MuppetFace 's advice and I'd try different headphones before investing much money to "improve" one you're not in love with.

My 2 cents.

 

It does make a really big difference, the two go together like Hall and Oates, but I just don't want the relative improvement to be overstated. Sometimes I think that folks on the interwebs expect a can to completely transform, and that's never the case unless it was previously completely improperly driven.

The 717 isn't getting easier to find, that's for sure. Mine is having some issues, so it's on the bench for troubleshooting.

 

Yep... You can't make chicken salad out of chicken shit, no matter how hard you stir. That's not to say that the 950 is chicken shit, but it may not be your chicken salad.

http://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/koss-esp950.95/page-3#post-88119