The Stax I thread

Discussion in 'Headphones' started by knerian, Mar 28, 2016.

  1. Ash1412

    Ash1412 Friend

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    Don't you mean low frequency roll off filter and high pass effect?
     
  2. dietwater

    dietwater Acquaintance

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    No. I was meaning low pass effect. The high frequencies getting smoothened off/toned down.

    They sound bright due to peaks at 1-2khz, but I didn't hear the response carry well over to the high highs.
     
  3. gefski

    gefski Facebook Friend

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    Well, I sure won’t be getting rid of my 404LE any time soon. While it, of course, won’t slam ‘Fanfare For the Common Man’, it continues to present “alive” timbre and texture, especially micro details, whether Allen Toussaint’s piano touch, Bob Brozman’s burnished guitars, Gillian Welch or Patricia Barber voices alive in their perceived space, Duke’s 1959 ‘Blues in Orbit’ sounding like a recent recording, Sonny Landreth’s Grant Street just enough in my face to have me reaching for a beer.

    In my rig, long listening sessions with it compare favorably to either my HD650 or HD800S, though they aren’t going away either.
     
  4. Scubadude

    Scubadude Almost "Made"

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    So two opportunities came up locally ... SRS-5100 new in box for 40% off normal retail price, or for 20% more the same SRM-353x but with L700, imported via eBay a year ago, so no local support. Is reliability and local support an issue with modern Stax, or should I go for the better earspeaker?
     
  5. gefski

    gefski Facebook Friend

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    When the headband on my 407 broke, the dealer I bought the 407 from new in the U.S. was no help, even though I was willing to pay for it. I ended up buying a new one from England (don’t have the details handy at this moment), along with a basic black headband to use on my 404LE, saving the limited anniversary headband from daily use. Color me not impressed with Stax U.S. service, though I still greatly enjoy the cans.
     
  6. fls.audio

    fls.audio Facebook Friend

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    I'm also looking for new set pads for my 407. Still have no idea where to look for, I've been using Stax for more than 10 years but this is the first time I have a need for spare parts.
     
  7. Tachikoma

    Tachikoma Almost "Made"

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    Blah blah fit blah blah can't account for taste *shakes fist angrily*
     
  8. Smitty

    Smitty Too good for bad vodka - Friend

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    You used to be able to get the x07 pads on ebay with the original stax packaging. The pair I got 2-3 years ago were the real deal.
     
  9. Scubadude

    Scubadude Almost "Made"

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    Thanks for that ... Been putting off sorting out a pair of New SR-03 and SRD-5 so wouldn't want to be stuck with support issues on a newer set as well. But by the sound of things that's not really a thing in the Stax universe. Any thoughts on relative price/performance of L500 vs L700? I know the answers are here somewhere ... Maybe just point me in the right direction?
     
  10. gefski

    gefski Facebook Friend

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    I’ve listened to quite a few Stax at our meets, but unfortunately not those newer Lambdas, so I’m no help on their sonic personalities. Just find as many reviews as you can online. Another source is Spritzer in Iceland; I got my 727A from him. Lots of amps he makes, as well as used Stax amps and cans. https://mjolnir-audio.com/
     
  11. dubharmonic

    dubharmonic Friend

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    My stock SR-L500 synthetic leather pads have started to disintegrate, and I'm looking for real leather replacements. I ordered the pads in the screenshot below, and what arrived were more synthetic leather pads. Justin is suggesting that it's a translation issue.

    These photos look like real leather to me, do any stax heads know if it's possible to buy them anywhere?

    [​IMG]
     
  12. ogodei

    ogodei MOT: Austin AudioWorks

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    Something mis-translating into "High quality genuine sheepskin leather" would be remarkable, eh?

    The front of those pads (part touching the ear) should be real leather, the sides should be synthetic. Are you confident that's not the case ?

    Edit:

    Here's the link to purchase in the US. And though it again says "High-quality genuine sheepskin leather", the Japanese listing for these says 'Genuine leather-sheepskin (part that touches the skin), artificial leather (mounting part)'

    Last edit:

    Something's a bit off in your add. It states "...not as thick as L700 pads," but the picture IS the L700 pad. Its the exact same image from the STAX site, complete with the tear in the back of one of the pads. So if the ad purports to be selling a separate L500 specific upgrade pad all bets are off; I've never seen that STAX product before.
     
    Last edited: Dec 4, 2020
  13. dllmsch

    dllmsch Friend

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  14. dubharmonic

    dubharmonic Friend

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    Thanks @ogodei & @dllmsch I think you're both right. It's the L700 pad that I'm after:

    [​IMG]

    These are the pads that the L500 came with, and are the same as the replacements I received:

    [​IMG]
     
  15. ogodei

    ogodei MOT: Austin AudioWorks

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    Yep, the bottom image in your post is the L500 pad @dllmsch linked to. Someone just grabbed the L700 pad text & images for the ad.
     
  16. Rthomas

    Rthomas Friend

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    Deleted
     
    Last edited: Dec 22, 2020
  17. Rthomas

    Rthomas Friend

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    SR009 with EQ - The hype is real.

    Some comparisons to Utopia, both headphones EQed to the 2018 Harman Target.

    Disclaimer: RME ADI2 DAC + Stax 353X Amp used for 009, RME ADI2 used as an AIO for the Utopia.
    Source - Deezer Hifi

    I would have loved for somebody to lend me their DSHA-3F. ;)

    I had to make do with what I had. I bet I can count on one hand the number of 3Fs in the EU. Also 353X is not considered anywhere near the best pairing for the 009 so I guess box headphones were playing below their full potential.


    Pros

    1. Incredible detail. Maybe 1% more than Utopia? I'm looking into the soul of the music whatever the f that means.
    2. Slightly larger sonic image than the Utopia. More of an out of the head experience than the Utopia which is an in your head experience. I got used to the Utopia's soundstage but the 009 is able to better convey the grandeur of orchestral music. I guess the main reason is the larger circumference of the diaphragm compared to the 40mm Be driver.
    3. Comfort
    4. Surprising amount of bass slam on some tracks. MJ's Thriller was shockingly satisfying and better on this than on the Utopia. I didn't expect that.

    Cons

    1. Slightly softer impacts on most music than the Utopia, a less aggressive listening experience. This turns into an advantage sometimes. With the Utopia I'm on stage with the band. With the 009 I'm in the 3rd or 4th row.
    2. A lot of rock music sounds like crap. Well I would take LCD4 over 009 and Utopia for something like AC/DC
    3. Less perceived warmth than Utopia. I could use a bit more.
    4. Tinnitus cause shit sounds great when you turn it up :D


    I've been comparing these two magnificent headphones for over 3 weeks now. This comparison was possible due to the generosity of r/headphones regular 07Brother who stood in a queue at the post office on Christmas eve to lend me his 009. Truly a super best audio friend.



    Conclusion:

    1. I'm probably ordering an 009S.
    2. O7brother gets to buy my Utopia, he has the 007 and wants the utopia for a different flavour of sound (I hate having two TOTLs and having to choose between them and always compare)
    3. I wonder how much better it gets with the Carbon? Hopefully I'll know next week.
    4. Utopia is probably the better all rounder but the SR009 has some magical qualities. In a quick comparison at a meet or in a store I think most people including me will pick the Utopia so I'm really glad I got to try the 009 at home for a few weeks without actually having to buy it.
     
  18. ogodei

    ogodei MOT: Austin AudioWorks

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    Good write up, and not just because I agree with pretty much all you've said.

    The 'less perceived warmth' is why I use the 009s with a tube amp more often than with the Carbon. Its very good on both but the tubes make it just that much warmer and fuller, beating out the Utopia. Then again, the Utopia on Stellaris (or probably any good DNA or other tube amp) fills out and lessens what can sometimes be too aggressive dynamics on SS.

    I give the edge to the 009 with the right amp but the Utopia is much more versatile and definitely the choice for most.
     
  19. Rthomas

    Rthomas Friend

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    Have you heard of Paultauf tube electrostatic amplifiers? Made in Austria.

    I asked Birgir about them but even he'd never heard of them.

    https://paltauf.com/index.php/en
     
  20. Tachikoma

    Tachikoma Almost "Made"

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    How much do they go for?

    Birgir would never approve of a (step-up) transformer coupled amp, though.
     
    Last edited: Jan 16, 2021

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