The Headcase Stax thread

[Audiojunkie]

I’ve never considered the β22 shelved down or dark.

Same.

Compared to the Dynalo (GS-1), Dynamid (GS-X) or Dynahi it was to my ears, regardless of headphones. It is a very nice sounding (warm and musical amp), but not the last word with regards to transparency.

Edited May 22, 2012 by Audiojunkie

[grawk]

were those dynas actual headamp GS-1, GS-Xs, or built by someone else?

[Audiojunkie]

were those dynas actual headamp GS-1, GS-Xs, or built by someone else?

Actually GS-1 and GS-X. For me, they are the standards I use for SS amps.

Edited May 22, 2012 by Audiojunkie

[Torpedo]

I’ve never considered the β22 shelved down or dark.

Not either here. In fact I think it's a tad bit brighter than the GS-X equivalent I have.

[Audiojunkie]

Not either here. In fact I think it's a tad bit brighter than the GS-X equivalent I have.

I guess that's part of the issue with a DIY amp...they can vary by certain degrees.

[Torpedo]

The "GS-X equivalent" I'm speaking of isn't DIY, it's a Headamp's Gilmore Reference, which is the same balanced circuit of the GS-X but with some differences in components and such. Justin may say way better.

If you're referring to the B22, then yes, however it's a well known circuit which a lot of people builds on kit boards using the same sourced parts. If made right, should sound very much the same I guess. However my experience is very limited, I've only listened to mine and a friend's one, made by a professional builder. I think they sound quite similar, being the differences more attributable to the source used than anything else. Both, the B22 and the GS are quite good showing upstream components differences, and can drive about anything.

[Audiojunkie]

Thanks for the clarification. Yes I was referring to both the GSX equivalent and B22. I like and respect both amps, I happen to prefer the GS-1/X.

[The Monkey]

Out of curiosity, what amps do you like but NOT respect?

[Audiojunkie]

Out of curiosity, what amps do you like but NOT respect?

I'll have to think on that one.

[wink]

Would Mikhail's Singlepower creations serve as a good/bad example?

[Audiojunkie]

Would Mikhail's Singlepower creations serve as a good/bad example?

I think it would, very much!

[Tachikoma]

Looks like the cable curse holds true. Gotta love mad design moments coming back to haunt us.

Ugh, yeah. It feels more like putty than cable right now. Is it possible to salvage the original plug though? I want to keep using the ECA-80.

[spritzer]

Can you post some pics of the plug? Most of these have some solid core which is then covered in plastic material so if you can simply peal off the cover, install new wires and then glue it all back together again then it wouldn't be too hard.

[padam]

I loved my SRX MkIII Pro when I had it. I just wished it was more comfortable as it killed my ears and head wearing it. I preferred it to even a 507.

I think with new pads it is not obtrusive at all, I will probably wrap the headband with something, for me that will be enough.

It still sounds marvelous, it is detailed but in a natural way, not overly emphasizing or focusing on anything.

Maybe because it is supra-aural my protruding ears don't have a chance to distort the sound?

I am starting to get very interested in the 4070s now, a real pity that Stax has completely killed off the studio line...

Edited May 24, 2012 by padam

[purrin]

Does anyone know if SR009 dis-assembly (removal of earpads and driver unit) is any different from the 007? I doubt getting to the stators or diaphragm will be necessary. A friend on mine on HF somehow had ants crawl through the cable entry:

I blow on it, hoping it will get dislodged, and it did - but out now come tens of ants, if not over one hundred. Like Ellen Ripley in Aliens I realized in horror that I finally found the nest of ants - in my SR-009.

Anyways, since I don't have my 009s anymore, I was wondering if they are similar to the 007s in terms of opening up the cable entry and a removing a couple of screws to get the driver assembly out of the frame. I assume the 009s have the dust covers just like the 007. Any helpful pics would be appreciated.

I wonder if STAX used some kind of sauce on the diaphragm or dust covers of the 009 that attracts ants.

Edited May 25, 2012 by purrin

[spritzer]

The assembly is more like the SR-Omega but with screws this time around. He's sent me a PM on the other site so I'll take it from here...

[Tari]

That video is horrifying.

[Torpedo]

OMG how did those tiny bastards get in there?

[deepak]

Not that we have many ants here (and the black ants that there are, are huge), but I'm glad I always store the Staxen back in their flight cases when not in use.

[arnaud]

Even these ants keep coming back for the 009, what an atypical endorsement .

[Tachikoma]

Can you post some pics of the plug? Most of these have some solid core which is then covered in plastic material so if you can simply peal off the cover, install new wires and then glue it all back together again then it wouldn't be too hard.

Sorry for the late reply, but here they are:

After the headphones have been properly charged up, the highs aren't wooly anymore and I'd describe these headphones as a more pleasant sounding SR-Xmk3 pro. Tracks which I couldn't really stomach on my staxes sound a lot nicer on these, possibly because the penta-shaped driver has fewer innate resonance peaks? Mind you, all of these impressions are still being based off a Lepai 2.1 amp driving the ECA-80.

[spritzer]

That does look an awful lot like a 6 pin din with a different collar. That would be my first place to look as you can get nice metal ones for not a whole lot of cash.

It's hard to compare these with the Stax since the design is so vastly different. I'd also venture a guess that the actual diaphragm material and its tension is far more important than the pentagon stuff.

[Tachikoma]

Ugh, one of the headphone struts just went "snap" while I had the headphones on my head. Why the hell did Sony choose to use metallic struts for their lower end ECRs and plastic for the TOTL ECR-800?

Edited June 3, 2012 by Tachikoma

[obiwan]

The person who buys these phones will be in for a surprise when they try them on their normal bias socket.

http://www.ebay.com....=item2ebdb1a9d3

Sorry I'm new to electrostatic headphones and I was thinking of buying this particular unit , are you saying there may be something wrong with it ?

Hope somebody can enlighten me.

Thanks in advance.

[obiwan]

double post