padam

The reason I ask is that the pads that I have with them are probably original pads which look more like flat pads but without any hole in the middle, do I guess right that the slight muddiness would disappear with flats but it also might become very uncomfortable to wear as the ears would touch the drivers.

Anyone can tell me how the SR-200 /w HP-1000 ranks up against other Grados (I mean HF-2 and HP-1000/HP-2). Just listening to a set of these (my first Grado) and in many ways it is seriously lagging being the HD250II which remains my favourite but the midrange is very nice so I might be interested in the other two mentioned. Also, what pads to use with these?

Those prices are way two much, Sigmas can be had for a lot less and the SR-307 is also a lot cheaper while probably having the exact same driver and precious little difference, maybe I should have written Sigma 307 in the first time.

It would be surely nice to compare but I like it as it is. By the way, do these newly constructed drivers like in the 507 fit in the shells the same way? On poorly recorded/mastered recordings where my favourite overall phones (HD250II) kill me with the highs I can just enjoy the sound of the Sigmas, so they are just fine for what they are in this form. If I want I just EQ it a little, it doesn't seem to work in a natural way with my other phones but it does here. And yes the two previous pairs I had definitely had more bass than this or I had very bad synergy at that time (probably both). If only it had firmer imaging but there is no point in complaining instead of just listening to the music.

Maybe (much) later on when the nicely built amps appear, I am not in a rush and I am sure I would still miss the tweaking a little with the EQ (although when I finally switch to PC there will be new options). And yes of course that XLR connection on the DAC is going to be used later on, but I have a slight noise issue with it (very likely one connector is a bit iffy) which will need fixing later (RCA is dead quiet so I don't care now). These are very nice as it is and I looked it up on that document, they were serviced in 2009.

I am very satisfied now, and if it would be my main headphone (it isn't) I would go for the 717 at least but really this is fine, Sigmas are more comfortable with adapters than other Staxes as the detail is limited anyway. And at one point I might feel reaching for a slight EQ-ing that isn't there while the signal always goes through this with the Creek so using it doesn't degrade the sound further. In contrast the SRM-T1 sounded terrible with the Sigmas. Albeit yes an SRM-1 Mk2 should be a bit better and those pairs probably never had a service.

Yeah sure but I am staying at under 500$ with the amp included and the little fiddling with the EQ works very well but it is nice even without it. With a BHSE or other higher grade amp, I would need to put at least a 4 (or something else) before those numbers which is a bit different and I still would not have that much better extension overall even with a Sigma 404 (for that I have a completely different hp) so I think I stay where I am now, maybe try them other speaker amps and change to an SRD-7 Mk2.

I was planing on having them converted but I am definitely off from it now, these are way too good sounding on their own so I guess it has a full service at some point and the damping seems to be in nice shape as well and the pads are almost new. If these would have more extension they would be almost flawless but you can't have everything, they are great for what they are, "tiny" electrostatic speakers near the ears ) And my friend told me the Sigma 404 has a honky quality to the upper midrange so might have a bit more extension but the overall sound is not as nice.

Listening to an SRD-7 plus normal bias Sigma combo. Now theses are very nice phones, I had two other normal bias Sigmas before and a Pro but this one seems to sound better than all of them, my favourite electrostatic perf/price setup. There seems to be less mid-bass and slightly more highs and also only slightly muddy overall (and I alter the treble and bass a bit further using the speaker amp's tone control, helps it further as these phones seem to take this a lot better than others). I can only imagine that the damping material is just in the right quantity in the shell. The serial is in the 3000s by the way so it might have a service at some point as I got a Japanese document as well with something Chinese in it.

EIFL Japan is your best bet. But if the hinges are intact you might be able to use the rest of the arc assembly from a vintage Lambda.

Probably it's just me but I don't find the newer arc comfortable as it doesn't allow to bend the cups enough. It was not a problem with the SR-404LE's leather earpads but it is with the normal pads. Luckily, I have a Sigma headband which I can use on the Signature/404, that's much more like it.

And it is great that the SR-307 may well be nearly as good for much less (the pads probably make some difference though, cable should mean little). I guess the SR-207 does not use the same drivers like with the previous generation (despite looking more similar).

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It is a studio monitor designed in the early 90's. They made it for 5 years then dropped it (1991-1995). Then brought it back again and a few years ago they discontinued it again (1998-2007). Unsurprisingly that means there were some changes during production, more or less affecting the sound. There is one at head-fi and it is not too far from you, just buy it (I almost did but the one I have is supposed to be identical). You need to source new (original!) pads and foam, the local distributor probably has those on stock or can be ordered. Without those it doesn't sound that hot.

Why would they continue making the previous generation oval drivers if they replaced them in every other model?

You could try asking this seller as well, maybe he still has them on stock: STAX Replacement Earpads for SR-404 LIMITED EARSPEAKER - eBay (item 170537758509 end time Sep-13-10 09:44:50 PDT)

I really like the HD250II, best phone I heard that isolates well and very comfortable. There is one at H-F currently, I think someone should give those one try(and fit it with new original pads and foam, it doesn't sound that good without them), apart from being a bit u-shaped they are very nice.

And easy to drive.

New Omega prototype (?, doesn't look prototype to me, probably close to production)

I would pass it, the SRM-3 is said to be one of the worst amps, an SRM-1 Mk2 should be much better.

Depending on the condition, yes. But come SR-X sets are plagued with arcing on the drivers (creates imbalance). But if this one was only driven with a direct drive amp, there shouldn't be any issues. Oh, and they are not comfortable - at least for me..

Later on I imagine this amp combined with the new 24/96 USB DAC in a slightly bigger form factor, it would be a worthwhile replacement for the Pico AMP/DAC.

Enjoy your stay - while it lasts.

Yes, I guess a better deal can be found (like that SR-Lambda I posted earlier which is a bit pricey but comes with a better amp as well, if not Pro bias) but if you could buy from the directly I guess it would be similar as buying one from the auction (as you skip the deputy fees and domestic shipping) but the main problem is the exchange rate being too bad.