Stax SR202/SRM212 Loaner [EU]

Discussion in 'Closed Loaners' started by sphinxvc, Nov 29, 2016.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. pedalhead

    pedalhead Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2015
    Likes Received:
    2,046
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Oxfordshire, UK
    Boxed up and ready to go to @Cspirou. Apologies for slight delay, I was called away to Slovakia for work at short notice. On the bright side (for me) the beer is really cheap (1 euro 30 cents for a nice one!)
     
  2. sorrodje

    sorrodje Carla Bruni's other lover - Friend

    Staff Member Pyrate MZR
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    2,812
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Dijon / Burgundy / France / EU
    No problem. Good to know my Stax is not lost somewhere ; )
     
  3. pedalhead

    pedalhead Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2015
    Likes Received:
    2,046
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Oxfordshire, UK
    All in good hands ;)
     
  4. Cspirou

    Cspirou They call me Sparky

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    8,200
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Northwest France
    Stax received today! Everything looks like it's in good shape.

    I'll try to send it off to @sorrodje on Friday/Saturday.
     
  5. sorrodje

    sorrodje Carla Bruni's other lover - Friend

    Staff Member Pyrate MZR
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    2,812
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Dijon / Burgundy / France / EU
    Cool :)

    I'll receive & check it, I'll apply a pair of brand new pads and I'll sell the whole combo. Let me know if someone here is interested before I'll open an official classified.
     
  6. sorrodje

    sorrodje Carla Bruni's other lover - Friend

    Staff Member Pyrate MZR
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    2,812
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Dijon / Burgundy / France / EU
    The Stax combo is back home . Thks guyz ;)
     
  7. Priidik

    Priidik MOT: Estelon

    Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    2,153
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Estonia
    Now that the loaner is over I think it's ok to share notes.
    It was my first ever contact with electrostatic transducer, so my opinion here is of rather limited value.
    I liked the looks and comfort was ok to me. Build quality is questionable, but nothing nearly as bad as Hifiman.
    The amplifier it came with is really tiny. It's like a cable accessory.

    The Stax had sound reminiscent of BA drivers to my ears (as noted by many before). Quite quick and clean transients, but somehow felt like the transient effect had limit where it had restricted to move over, like ceiling or something. Even without comparing to anything I noticed that they sound flat dynamically. The dynamic range was severely limited. Even more so than planar el-mags (impossible, right?). Tonally the Stax system was reasonably neutral. Colder and less mid-bassy side of things, some metallic hue was present. Timber rendition could be better. These lack the proper ability to convince me of acoustical instruments realism.
    These have sense of clarity in high mids - low treble that HD650 struggles with.

    I compared this combo directly to HD650 and NBM, which is fair budget wise, these systems are roughly the same price.
    The HD650 and NBM is easily higher class of music reproduction system to my ears. Dynamic scale was so much better proportioned and larger, microdynamic shading is no contest. Even though HD650 nor NBM neither are impressive in soundstage qualities, the Stax was easily beaten here too. One strong point that I could give to the Stax would be the cleaner transients, esp in bass. The other being the lack of veil that the HD650 has with everything other than god-mode amplifiers. I felt the Stax combo did alright with some electronic music, but not so much with acoustical stuff. Most of all it's lack of slam and effortlessness distracted me. I guess I'm spoiled dynamic lover.
    To hear a Stax at last was useful data point for me and I am glad that it happened. Blessings to you @sorrodje and @MrButchi .
     
    Last edited: Mar 22, 2017
  8. shipsupt

    shipsupt Admin

    Staff Member Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 25, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,119
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Bay Area CA
    Thanks for sharing your impressions Pridik! It's great to actually hear what folks are thinking about their time with the STAX!
     
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.

Share This Page