The Stax I thread

Yeah, the Stax in-ears will never have the punch of a dynamic driver IEMs. It's a matter of physics. However I was surprised by how satisfying the low end on them is inspite of that. That's why I'm especially curious to try those Audeze in-ears: such a small planar driver is going to have inherent limitations, and I'm curious as to how their engineers tried to handle these.

I'm much less familiar with Stax's tube amps (save for the T1W), but with the SRM-323 and SRM-717, they definitely scale upward. To a point. Their characteristics are less like the Lambda family and more like the round flagships, funny enough. Think of it as a mini-mini-mini SR-009. And I do mean mini: they really don't share the resolving power and transparency and refinement, but they have a similar tonality and character to my ears. Just really scaled down, with that same Stax magic that makes music seem so effortless.

If you like collecting Stax, it's definitely worth grabbing a pair IMO. Just make sure you get the version with the proper plug instead of the micro plug if you plan on using it with a full sized amp. They go by different designations depending on the plug type.

 

I've always been a fan of the 002 as a portable rig at hotels and remote offices when I travel. The success of it, IMHO, is that it captures the stat signature sound in an IEM. Mids are, I think, just dandy. I'm lucky that the old style rubber plugs fit my head holes perfectly.

I thought the cable that "converts" the 002 from portable connection to full size came with the package, but I must have picked one up separately. Anyway, with both cables you can easily swap back and forth between portable amp and full sized.



On a completely different note, the ear pads on my HE-60 are finally falling apart enough that I am willing to change them out with my spares. I took them home from work yesterday until I have some time for the swap.

I decided to take the 007 MK2 in to replace them . They're not a great match with the GES (not enough juice) but I'm pleasantly surprised with the set up this morning. Far better than I had remembered. While the GES might not be ideal to drive the 007 to their potential, the fact that the combo comes across a bit relaxed seems to make it a good candidate for long listening sessions. Just what the doctor ordered for work!

 

This morning I unearthed my old SRM-313 amp. It was the first Stax amp I got back when I was an undergrad, and really my first serious headphone amp in general. Plugged in my trusty SR-303, which is still my favorite Lambda from an aesthetic standpoint (something about that sandy colored plastic and slate blue-gray headband / pleather speaks to me).

Ah, memories.

Only difference is I'm using a Sonic Frontiers SFD-1 mkII now instead of a Sony CD player.

I still remember that amazement I felt, hearing the music materialize all around me---seemingly out of thin air---like some kind of cloud. Talk about vaporwave hurr hurr.

The Lambdas are among the best headphones I've experienced when it comes to placing music *outside* your head. The overall size of a perceived soundstage doesn't really matter much to me, but it's definitely nice to not feel like canned music is being shoved into your ears. It makes for a certain effortlessness that I really like.

Yes, I'm a proud member of "team plastic" alright.

 

A few new additions to the Stax collection:

~> SR-L300 (newest Lambda Basic that I fell in love with after trying Odd's SRS-3100)
~> SRS-2050 (got a lightly used set for an amazing deal; SR-202 is a fantastic Lambda)
~> SR-Sigma (normal version with old style cable; rare; prices are crazy these days)
~> SR-5 (a Staxsmas gift from my pal Odd; great, smooth vintage sound and looks)

Aaaand lastly, a non-Stax addition:
~> HE60 "Baby Orpheus" with additional pads, o-rings, and headband.

Running it straight from the included HEV70 with the original pads results in a nice, forward kind of presentation. There's a definite lack of refinement and control over the drivers that I'm fairly certain is due to the HEV70. Highs sound a little rough (especially coming from the better Lambdas). I still need to make a Stax adaptor with the necessary resistor. With some better control behind it, and possibly new o-rings and pads, I suspect the sound will tighten up and be much more articulate.


On the non-Stax front, I've got several additional pet projects in the works:

1. Auditioning the Sonoma Model One system
2. Possibly modifying a beat up set of Jades to make them into the Unicorn version.
3. Auditioning a certain DIY pair of stats by a certain someone you guys prolly know.
4. Auditioning the Shure KSE1500 in-ears *at some point*
5. Contacting the Phenomenon guys to ask about reviewing their two work-in-progress e-stats. For those who aren't already familiar due to the "crazy Russian planar" thread: http://phenomenon.su/phenomenon-001/#

That's quite a lot of exciting stuff going on in the world of Team Plastic. Mind, some of this stuff isn't gonna be happening until the first quarter of next year, if then. Plus I do play for other teams now and then... like Team Ortho and the very solitary Team Piezo (of which I'm probably the only member).

However I will endeavor to keep you charming folks up-to-date on my misadventures in Plastic Land. I really should try my hand at blogging again...

 

MF, are you rocking the o-rings that came installed or did you change them out?

I'm kinda of excited about #3 as well

 

Haven't changed them out yet. The pads are really well worn (all the pleather is gone), so I'm assuming the o-rings could do with a change as well. I'm waiting to hear them in their current state on a better amp, after which I'll most likely swap everything out for fresh parts.

Changing the pads out is a definite priority, as they are flaking on the inside curve, and I don't want any bits to fall into the cups.

 

The cushion of the headband was the first thing that needed replacement on mine. And just recently the earpads have started to really flake so I'm getting ready to make the swap.

I checked my o-rings a while back and left them in place because they looked good, but I'm thinking of going ahead and swapping them out at the same time. Heck, the originals lasted this long, I think I can count on the new ones lasting for a while too. I may pick up another set of o-rings to go with the spare drivers in case I ever need to use them.

I just re-terminated my pair because I don't have the HEV70. Let me know if you need any help getting your adapter set up.

 

Yep. i think as well worn flaked pads don't do justice to what the HE60 is capable of.

 

That might explain why I think I felt like my HE60 was a little off after the move back to the USA. During the move the ear pads just started to go away. I think it is having a pretty big impact.

 

Briefly compared the SR202 and the HE60 today and the HE60 is better than the SR-202. My HE60 is in mint condition but the SR202 is less so. I didn't measure the Stax yet . I'll see if measurements will show something strange

 

I would hope so considering you can get the SR-202 for ~$200 today, whereas the HE60 adds another zero onto that.

 

Sure. but i was actually reacting to that :

it made me curious to compare with my own HE60.

 

Well, keep in mind I'm running the HE60 from the HEV70 which isn't doing it any favors.

I'm not expecting it to scale as dramatically as the ESP 950 did going from its amp to the SRM-717, but I'm expecting better control over the drivers.