The Stax I thread

Very well put @MuppetFace . That's exactly my feeling as well. Stats are a kind of island of tranquillity where audiophilia nervosa can have a rest.

@Koth Ganesh :as much as I liked he sr-l700, I don't think it will replace any omega. It still conveys that kind of lightweight lambda sound. For a change of pace from omegas I'd still choose a more fully lambdaish ones. Lambda signature is my fav'. I'd say he L700 is he best for newcomers in staxland whereas the old lambdas are more for people who specifically need their fix of classic ethereal magic stat sound. For me, a lambda sig is like contemplating the milky way during a moonless night.

 

@Koth Ganesh
The Lambdas have a very different character from the SR-007 and SR-009. Firstly, in terms of overall tonal balance, they are closer to the SR-009 / Omega than the Omega II; they tend to be on the brighter side of the Stax spectrum, tho how bright and how well behaved the treble is varies from model to model. I'd personally recommend one of Stax's tube amps like the T1W for the best synergy, but they also sound great from an SRM-313 / 323 or SRM-717.

The biggest difference to me is in presentation. Lambdas produce a very ethereal and vapor-like field of sound that seems to be the stereotypical "e-stat sound" for a lot of folks. For me, there's no other headphone quite like a Lambda (save for maybe a Sigma). It's like music materializes out of thin air all around you, instruments and performers floating there in zero gravity. The degree of this varies from model to model as well, and more recent models like the 507 and the L700 seem a bit more "grounded" so-to-speak.

Honestly the original bias Lambdas are pretty hard to beat.



@Kattefjaes
Humidity can indeed be an issue with e-stats, but in my experience Stax are very resilient. The HiFiMan / HeAudio Jades and Koss ESP 950 by contrast seem much more sensitive, and it makes sense, as they are generally not built as well. Especially the Jades which always developed crackling in the stators.

Storing them with desiccant gel packs in a drawer can help ensure they stay dry. I've actually reduced some of the crackling on a pair of Jades by keeping them in their box that way.

Also if your home is climate controlled to some degree, it shouldn't be too much of a problem.

 

More like a dream come true.

If Koss would actually spend some R&D making a new stat---and spend more than five dollars on materials to build the thing---it would be pretty great, I reckon.

I was nervous about buying my vintage ESP 9 since the newer 950s need frequent servicing due to their fondness for squealing, and Koss more-than-likely wouldn't have the replacement parts for an e-stat that old. Surprisingly the ESP 9 seems more hardy. It also sounds really, really good with its [quite decently made] energizer hooked up to a cheapo T-amp using scraps of speaker wire as interconnects.

 

A pair of Lambdas should last many decades with moderate use. The foam is usually the first to go, but that can be remedied easily enough. Same for the pads and headband which tend to get... ripe with age. My poor Sigma Pros' headband smelled of sweat and aftershave to the point of making me want to vomit when I first got them. A lot of the foam had rotted away too. They look (and smell) pristine now.

Sometimes a channel imbalance can develop in an older set. Happened to my Sigma Pros. But e-stats can be weird, mysterious buggers, and after discharging them and storing them in their box for a year or so, I discovered the imbalance was completely gone. I reckon it was due to a parasitic charge that had built up or something.

With constant exposure to extreme humidity, you *might* experience a crackling or squealing sound in one or both channels due to arcing. Of course, the best approach would be prevention: storing them in an air tight box with silica beads when not in use. If it did happen though, it would be potentially reversible.

I've known plenty of folks in humid Asian countries who used Stax relatively free of issues, for what that's worth. Houston tends to get pretty humid as well much of the year, and I've only had issues with other brands like Koss and especially HeAudio.

 

I personally feel the T1W is *the* Lambda amp as it works with both normal and pro bias, and it has a more euphonic tube sound (without being gooey), so it pairs well with the Lambda family save for maaaaybe the 404LE.

The SRM-717 is indeed a champ. It drives pretty much every pro bias Stax (and the ESP 950) well, including the SR-007 which is notoriously hungry. That being said, the SR-007 really needs the extra oomph of the BHSE to fully wake up and reveal just what it can do. I actually think a well fed SR-007 and SR-009 are a lot closer in technicalities than some may realize.

 

Anyone have an idea of what a nice condition Lambda Pro and Lambda Signature would go for these days?

I want to pick up another pair of these two. And hopefully avoid paying ridiculous flipper prices...

 

Not bad. That's around what I paid for my Pros back in 2011. I just assume they'd be like 500+ now thanks to flippers. Saw a pair of so-so condition Sigma Normals for like 900 USD. I mean wtf.

The one I'm really after is the Lambda Signature. My third favorite Lambda**

**Still living with and loving the L700. Not sure how I'd fit them into the overall ranking yet, but they're definitely keepers.

 

Found a Lambda Signature on th' bay, but it's untested, which is an automatic no-no. Especially given the asking price. Ridiculous.

Patience is key. Don't jump at the first expensive, less-than-stellar condition set. If you wait it out, you'll find that rare jewel. ...Usually.

Of course, that doesn't really apply to the Orpheus. A perfect set showed up two years back, but the time wasn't right for me financially. And now you simply can't find a set for anywhere near that price anymore. Alas.

 

@Tachikoma
A very spacious and open sound (not surprising if you look at their design), with a harder hitting and more ample bass compared to Stax. It's a very full bodied sound that is somehow sterotypical e-stat at the same time. Lows and mids are the strong point IMO. The highs can be a little hot depending on what kinda amp you plug the adaptor box into. They need a LOT of power.

Haven't tried the dedicated QUAD amps for them, mind.

They lack some of the uncanny texture of, say, the piezoelectric TakeT H2+. But they sound a lot better balanced. The TakeT H2+ can be a bass monster.

Like, people who complain about the TH900 have *no* idea lmao.