The Stax I thread

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

  1. songmic

    songmic Gear cycler East Asia edition

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    Here's a photo of my current system.

    [​IMG]

    One interesting thing I noticed about the SR-007A was that it is quite sensitive to changes in its surrounding environment. For example, if I were to cover both outer grills with my hands, the soundstage shrinks dramatically. This may not be so surprising, considering it's practically turning an open-back into a closed-back headphone. However, compared to other open headphones such as Utopia or HD800, the SR-007A's soundstage is significantly affected by this.

    Another factor that altered the soundstage was whether I have a fan turned on when listening to music. I tend to sweat a little when listening to over-ear headphones for an extended period of time, so I usually use a fan to keep my head cool. The fan does not noticeably impair the sound quality with other headphones, but for SR-007A, it does at an audible level. The stronger the fan, the flatter the stage becomes.

    This could be troublesome during hot and humid summer season, as I heard stats are sensitive to moist and should not be worn when your head is wet.

    Did I just say moist?
     
    Last edited: Nov 14, 2018
  2. maverickronin

    maverickronin Friend

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    Definitely. You can kill them without paying careful attention to moisture and humidity.

    My HD650s are quite literally my "rainy day" headphones. I don't energize my Lambdas when the humidity is above 65% or so.

    If your air conditioning doesn't cut you may want to invest in an hygrometer and/or dehumidifier.
     
  3. Tachikoma

    Tachikoma Almost "Made"

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    That's exaggerating things somewhat, I live in Malaysia and my Staxen are quite alive.

    I prefer to have the A/C on when I'm listening to electrostats, but that has more to do with my personal comfort than anything else.

    Also, I remember Spritzer mentioning that Stax's modern headphones could tolerate bias voltages up to 1KV or more (based on driver spacing), so changes in humidity aren't enough to cause dielectric breakdown (arcing). The bias supplies (in Stax amplifiers at least) also have ballast resistors to limit current.
     
  4. maverickronin

    maverickronin Friend

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    I may be a little paranoid since I had a driver die on me a few years ago...
     
  5. Tachikoma

    Tachikoma Almost "Made"

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    How so? and which headphone? Cable failure seems more likely than catastrophic arcing (which would be audible if not very loud).
     
  6. maverickronin

    maverickronin Friend

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    A Lambda normal bias. One driver just stopped making any sound after a unusually humid week. It worked fine when I put it away and was stone dead the next day. May or may not be related, but I've heard other horror stories as well and when dropping so much on a 'stat rig I'd recommend caution.

    It wasn't a cable issue either since swapping drivers to opposite channels didn't change anything. I've had to fix cable issues a few different times...
     
  7. Tachikoma

    Tachikoma Almost "Made"

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    Maybe a connection broke off or got excessively corroded inside the driver.

    In any case, the insides of the earcup become quite humid regardless of ambient humidity, so the phones do have to be designed to handle that.

    On an unrelated note, I remember reading about ants inside an sr009...
     
  8. MuppetFace

    MuppetFace Sultana of Seafoam Green - Moderator

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    I mistakenly thought it was a limited version of the SR-009S instead of the original SR-009. I’ve been planning to get the 009S this season anyway, so yeah, looks like I’ll be giving the 009BK a miss. But it looks really swank.

    Really looking forward to hearing the newest high end Stax. The impressions I’ve been seeing of it versus the HE-1 are intriguing.
     
  9. phaeton

    phaeton Acquaintance

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    ouch. newest highend? can you elaborate, I'm veeeery interested. also pm if you prefer :)
     
  10. songmic

    songmic Gear cycler East Asia edition

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    Read her first paragraph, it’s right there...

    ...and if you want insider info on a product that you think is on press embargo and not meant to be discussed in public (which wasn’t the case here), then just send a PM first instead of asking for it in public.
     
  11. phaeton

    phaeton Acquaintance

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    you're right, cheerio and carry on.
     
  12. MuppetFace

    MuppetFace Sultana of Seafoam Green - Moderator

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    Yeah, sorry for any confusion! I meant the SR-009S. To me it’s still new.
     
  13. hykhleif

    hykhleif New

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    Greetings, please advise as I few questions

    how does stax 407 compare to stax 404 LE sound wise

    Also is the stax 323s amp more powerful than 007Tii

    Any thoughts bout new stax amp D50 is that good to drive 007mk2, I know its not a carbon,

    I seek to buy a carbon or a KGST soon any new suggestions of whom to contact as a diy builder that offers great prices for performance,I am just trying to figure out which to buy, if in the future I will also add 009S, but in general how would those 3 amps rank ( 007TII, 323s, D50 ). I really like the tonality of my 007Tii amp so I am reading bout some kggst, carbon, or kgst and some say its powerful but not that musical or cold sounding, I am in real need to figure out what to buy. I have been also looking at ifi iesl to pair with speaker amps, but many said not to go that route unless I have a better great power amp for speakers and those cost alot

    Any mods for stax 407, like changing pads that improves it sound


    As for l300 LE I expected better and more bass I like it though, strangely I find the 407 has more bass than the L300LE, is there a mod to be done on l300 LE
     
  14. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Don't bother with SRM323. It was recommended to me on HC because of its voltage swing. But it sounds like shit. Just this weird hollow in-the-bathroom coloration with not very much grip.

    Keep 007Ti. I owned it with Lambda Signature Pro many moons ago. It's very good with Lambdas.

    Look on HF for reputable deals on the DIY stat amps, all better than what STAX makes. If you want, some dude in Iceland makes them on a non-profit basis. Honestly, I'd stick with the 007Ti.
     
  15. Mr.Sneis

    Mr.Sneis Friend

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    Unless you want the convenience, I would say the D50 is less suitable than these other amps you mention for a 007mk2. I believe it is a lowered power version of the 323s circuit.

    I think it could also be possible to mod your 007tii to be a KGST, but lacking in the power supply regulation.
     
  16. hykhleif

    hykhleif New

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    is there a post that details how to mod 007tii
     
  17. Mr.Sneis

    Mr.Sneis Friend

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  18. microCuts

    microCuts Acquaintance

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    I modded my 007tii. And owned KGST too. To me two of these are very differently although the mod is said to be similar to what KGST has done. Modded 007t still sound like the stock one, ethereal, smoother and also softer. The unmodded 007tii is not far from modded one too. On the other hand KGST is much more powerful which soundstage, impact, transient are significantly improved. But it also lose some ethereal quality that I personally like it a lot, make it sounds more like Dynamic headphones. If you like speedier amp then non-Stax amp is the way to go.

    Details of the mod can be found on head case too.

    I sold my modded 007tii and regretted the other day. The ethereal and very relaxing tones is what i missed a lot although I also owned KGST, KGSSHV later. A lot of them crapped on the 007tii But -

    "One man junk is another man treasure."
     
  19. hykhleif

    hykhleif New

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  20. hykhleif

    hykhleif New

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    now that is exactly what is holding me back from buying another amp, as I adore the sound signature that 007tii offers, and I keep reading that other amps yes they are more powerful but the sound signature becomes different , definitely i do not want to loose that signature of my 007tii

    honestly the more I read the more making a buying decision becomes more difficult
     

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