The Stax I thread

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

  1. BearFacts

    BearFacts Acquaintance

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    Just a little bit of a side point here. I have sets of SR-Lambda pros, SR-Lambda NB, 2 X SR-5 and a set of SR-3 New. I only use SRD-7 energizers (but I do use a pioneer M-22 with those), and I actually enjoy the SR-5s for a lot of casual listening. To me they are almost as good as the SR-Lambda NB, and as a plus don't make me look like I am the mad professor on "Back to the Future". The SR-5s were a smoking deal when I bought them 4 years ago - got'em for about $100 each. It seems that the prices have increased substantially since then. Even stax electrets are pricey now.

    I also bought a couple of pairs of Koss ESP-6 headvise/dumbells (all electronics in the cups) that I refurbished and actually sound decent, but the comfort issues overcome most all else. Don't ever get those.
     
  2. TomNC

    TomNC Friend

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    Hope to get some advice on a noise problem with Stax SRD-7/Mk2.

    As I like the sound of SRD-6 driving Lambda normal bias headphones better than that from Stax T1S, I recently purchased an SRD-7/Mk2 from Japan. Once having it in place of the SRD-6, I heard constant (plus an intermittent sounds like those often produced from a transformer not working properly) noise via both normal and pro bias output. The noise would get louder as I increased the volume of my Spark amp to which the SRD-7/Mk2 was connected.

    Does this mean the unit is out of order or that I might need a step-down transformer to have it receive 100V AC? On the back of the unit, AC 100V, 117V, 220V, 240V 50-60Hz are indicated, which is different from the SRD-6 which is labelled with 100-240V input. BTW, the SRD-6 is dead quiet in my chain.

    I opened the case of the SRD-7/Mk2 and saw no options to adjust voltage input. I also did not see any obvious breaking of solder joint or other things to worry about, but I have too little knowledge/skills to test what part of the circuit might go wrong.

    Any advice? Thanks!
     
  3. Tachikoma

    Tachikoma Almost "Made"

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    The SRD-7mk2 has a universal voltage input, just like the SRD-6. It seems that something isn't quite right in your unit... maybe a diode or zener in the signal path has gone bad? Does it still make that noise when it isn't plugged into an amplifier?
     
  4. elwappo99

    elwappo99 Friend

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    @Tachikoma covered it.

    My only suggestion (which you likely did already) would be to turn it on without anything plugged in and see if it's still there.
     
  5. TomNC

    TomNC Friend

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  6. Tachikoma

    Tachikoma Almost "Made"

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    Probably has nothing to do with the voltage input or bias supply then. Something is off in the signal path... hopefully not the transformers.
     
  7. elwappo99

    elwappo99 Friend

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    @TomNC

    Given that it increases with more power it does seem like it's in the signal path which unfortunately far exceeds my ability to help. You did try a different amp as well right? Bummer since the SRD-7 pro outputs are really hard to come by now.

    I'd refer you to the stax mafia and see if they can help.
     
  8. TomNC

    TomNC Friend

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    @Tachikoma @elwappo99 Thanks again for your input. It is a shame that the unit looks decent given its age but is not working well. The 7Mk2 model is more desirable to me as it has both normal and pro bias saving me the trouble of having both SRD-6 for normal bias and some SRD-7 with pro bias only. I would probably wait for another reasonably priced 7Mk2 showing up, which may be close in cost to having the current unit fixed if that is possible.

    The amp should be okay as it works all right with the SRD-6 and hard-to-drive planar headphones I used to have.
     
  9. Tachikoma

    Tachikoma Almost "Made"

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    You could also use this as an excuse to upgrade the transformers on the SRD-7mk2 to a nice pair of Lundahls or Sowters ;) The bias supply seems fine after all, and that's all that is actually different between the SRD-7 makes.
     
  10. padam

    padam New

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    After (wasting) spending countless hours with quite a lot of Stax headphones going back and forth (still struggling to make sense of which ones to keep), the X9000 came along, which I find conflicting and difficult to characterise, but at least it could be used to kind of categorise which ones I find very likeable (more musical, more enjoyable) at times, and which ones I would not choose in comparison.

    SR-X Mk3
    SR-Lambda
    SR-Gamma Pro
    SR-Sigma Pro
    SR-Omega
    SR-Lambda Nova Signature
    SR-007 Mk1

    The 007 is causing me agony: for the price it is built very well with great technical abilities, but it is amazing and annoying at the same time (also with a fiddly fit), and I am not sure how it would really change with more power. The Nova Signature is another one which I found to be surprisingly good as stated before, just might not be necessary next to the Omega. And maybe an SR-X Mk3 Pro could chime in as a substitute to reduce this number to four.
    And these are the ones I would not choose over the SR-X9000.
    I still like the Pro and the Signature (for the money), just not nearly as much as the other group.

    SR-Lambda Pro
    SR-Lambda Signature
    SR-404
    SR-009
    SR-L300 Limited

    I hope to find an SR007 Mk2.9 one day. Just to see, if they made any headphone for me after 1998 ;)


    There you go, that's my highly biased, oversimplified Stax Guide 101 in 2022.
    Happy listening =)
     
  11. TomNC

    TomNC Friend

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    @padam Looking forward to your impressions of the X9K once you have extensive listening to it.
     
  12. padam

    padam New

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    Already done and dusted. The next evolution from the 009, a lot bigger soundstage, much smoother at the top end, excellent dynamics, resolution, clarity, etc. but the sound is too quick (ethereal) not quite as impactful and a bit "empty" for me, a bit too separated and analytical in nature, that's why I wrote that it is difficult to characterise. Maybe it needs radical changes in the chain that I am not planning to perform, when there are this many other Staxes that are doing so well as-is.

    This was an earlier comparison I wrote after testing back and forth against the Omega: All the flaws the Omega has in comparison are exactly what make that sound more versatile, alive, musical and addictive. It can play in a cuddly, gentle style at one point (sometimes too much, a bit bland) but also immediately become a raging monster in another. And even if it is a power hog, it also has no trouble playing gently from the stock T1 that came with it. Just very forgiving.
    The X9000 can play "audiophile" recordings more impressively, really in its element with large scale classical, movie soundtracks etc. Just doesn't have this versatility and fun factor to it. If they start using this for mixing, I am pretty sure those recordings will sound quite amazing on it. But 95% of what I listen to is old stuff and choosing recordings for a headphone seems like doing it the wrong way.
    The 007 is a lot of fun, too. Feels like this is where they've tried to engineer an e-stat sound to have as much depth, fullness and weight as possible. Trades punches quite solidly against the Omega (the 007 is more v-shaped with more bass and treble, so can work at somewhat lower volumes), which would make it really amazing value (and obtainable). But the quality of the bass sometimes really annoys me (just lower level compared to the midrange and treble), and I am not sure by how much a top tier amp is able to improve it (definitely not forgiving on that front), and a definite tilt towards the warm/soft side. Although the upper treble sparkle does not make it feel nearly as dark as some people make it out to be.

    X9000
    + Clarity, extension, texture, cleanest bass, detail, speed, smooth treble, big stage with separation, impeccable build
    - amp requirements, source picky, tiring, tendency towards hardness, unnaturally fast, blunted transients, lack of emotion

    Omega
    + Better all-rounder, bass impact, warmer, biggest stage, biggest images, great texture, smooth, revealing yet forgiving, better transients and weighting
    - highest amp demands, imprecise bass, uneven treble, somewhat fuzzy separation, a bit less depth, somewhat less detailed, can be a little soft, not available, no spare parts, reliability issues
     
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  13. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    I'm being offered a Cavalli Liquid Lightning MK2 and Stax 007mk1 as part of a trade deal for some stuff I'm selling while I'm buying the different amps I always wanted to hear and then selling them.

    I'm pretty allured by the possibility of having a Stax rig in my home for a bit at least. But I'm not sure about that combination. My instinct says warm amp + warm headphones = too warm and the CLLmk2 would be a better match for the 009 or the 007mk1 would be a better match for the KGSSHV.

    Any thoughts? I'm not going to go hunting down a different Stax rig if this trade doesn't happen, but I'm curious if it would be a worthwhile rig. Cheers everyone.
     
  14. TomNC

    TomNC Friend

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    @rhythmdevils Find out whether the 007MK1 is one of the 70XXX series which is more highly sought after than other 007 models. As found out by a head-fi zealot, replacement of the stock earpads with something like ones sold by Thror will make the 007MK1 sound more balanced--reduction in perceived bass with increase in mids. As the new flagship Stax X9000 seems weak in dynamics to many, early 007MK1 with Thror earpad replacement has become more attractive, arguably the best sounding Stax.

    The Lightning Mk2 is yet another item may retain its value well.
     
  15. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    Do you mean the serial number being 70XXX? And do you mean these earpads?

    https://kennerton.org/category/accessories/ear-cushions/
     
  16. TomNC

    TomNC Friend

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  17. songmic

    songmic Gear cycler East Asia edition

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    A couple weeks ago a local friend lent me his X9K for an audition. After less than an hour of listening I took it off and decided it wasn't for me, and returned it the very next day. It does a lot of things well, but still somewhat bright with Carbon CC and not as natural sounding as my 007. Though not to the extent of 009, the X9K retains the thin, ethereal characteristic of e-stats that I dislike.
     
  18. GanGreinke

    GanGreinke Friend

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    You may know this already, but there are also 2 versions of the Liquid Lightning 2, one with tubes (LL2T) and one that is SS. I actually had the 007 MK1 and LL2 (SS version) several years ago, and it was not overly warm.
     
  19. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    Awesome feedback! I’ll probably go for it then if he makes a fair offer. Wow this is going to be fun!
     
  20. Zoide

    Zoide New

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    Have you tried the ES Labs ES-1 alpha?

    It's supposed to be a modern tribute to the Omega: https://www.eslabhk.com/product-page/es-1-alpha-electrostatic-headphone
     

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