The Headcase Stax thread

[HeadphoneAddict]

I have listened to it and is way overrated. Not something I would ever buy.

 

I preferred my CEntrance HiFi-M8 when tested side by side, but it didn't suck at all with the Roxanne.  Didn't try with anything else though.

[Hifi Nutter]

maybe you should put the Chord Hugo in your butt and attenuate the diarrhea that you are posting

Rob watts words not mine

[Dave R]

I went down to Hifi lounge last year and listened to the stax sr 009,abyss,lcd 3 lcd x and to be honest the only one that blew me away was the lcd x,now maybe the Hugo weren't powerful enough to drive the lcd 3 and the stax srm 727 unmodified didn't do the sr 009 justice but it sounded flat boring and so lacking in bass compared to the lcd x.

 

You should try and get to hear the 009's with a BHSE, although not while using the stock mullard tubes, IMO.

 

Rob watts states that connecting the chord Hugo directly to an amp will give the best sound quality and he said the volume has no effect on sound quality so maybe the cheaper option on the blue Hawaii could be a viable option

 

When I first tried my sources ATT with my BHSE [ that BHSE having Alps RK50 ] I found the SQ to be more or less the same, but after seeing this post of yours I decided to try my sources ATT again and this time the RK50 sounded the better. 

I was only using my sources ATT for when I had the BHSE's volume knob out of arms reach, but because it now isn't, I no longer use that sources ATT.

[Hifi Nutter]

You should try and get to hear the 009's with a BHSE, although not while using the stock mullard tubes, IMO.

 

 

When I first tried my sources ATT with my BHSE [ that BHSE having Alps RK50 ] I found the SQ to be more or less the same, but after seeing this post of yours I decided to try my sources ATT again and this time the RK50 sounded the better. 

I was only using my sources ATT for when I had the BHSE's volume knob out of arms reach, but because it now isn't, I no longer use that sources ATT.

very interesting thanks for sharing that Dave

[Hifi Nutter]

Dave i seen a post somewhere,was it your bhse with your mates kgsshv side by side

[Dave R]

Dave i seen a post somewhere,was it your bhse with your mates kgsshv side by side

 

I have heard a KGSSHV along with my BHSE, so yes, probably.

[Hifi Nutter]

I have heard a KGSSHV along with my BHSE, so yes, probably.

What's your thoughts on the sound quality side by side for comparison

[johnwmclean]

 

When I first tried my sources ATT with my BHSE [ that BHSE having Alps RK50 ] I found the SQ to be more or less the same, but after seeing this post of yours I decided to try my sources ATT again and this time the RK50 sounded the better. 

I was only using my sources ATT for when I had the BHSE's volume knob out of arms reach, but because it now isn't, I no longer use that sources ATT.

 

So the K-01’s got a crap volume control?

[Dave R]

What's your thoughts on the sound quality side by side for comparison

 

I only heard the KGSSHV that one day which was sometime ago, but to what I recall the KGSSHV gave the 009's a stronger bass than the BHSE, whereas the BHSE gave the 009's a more open sound with the closest to lifelike I've heard from any headphone system.[ obviously the only ones I've heard ]  I've since made two tweaks to my BHSE, first is using Mullard xf4's which to my hearing have given the 009's an even more open sound, sort of cathedral, and the other tweak is using Herbie HAL-O III tube dampers which sound to have given more body to the 009's.

 

 

So the K-01’s got a crap volume control?

 

When I first tried the K-01's ATT with the BHSE, the difference was very close but I slightly favoured the K-01's ATT, but the recent time I tried them both the BHSE's RK50 sounded the better, but it wasn't by a huge amount. 

Whether my hearing has changed I don't know, but try auditioning the K-01 [ including it's ATT ] with your headphone gear, then post your thoughts.

Edited May 30, 2015 by Dave R

[johnwmclean]

 

When I first tried the K-01's ATT with the BHSE, the difference was very close but I slightly favoured the K-01's ATT, but the recent time I tried them both the BHSE's RK50 sounded the better, but it wasn't by a huge amount. 

Whether my hearing has changed I don't know, but try auditioning the K-01 [ including it's ATT ] with your headphone gear, then post your thoughts.

 

...but the K-01’s got a 32 bit digital volume control, your ears though.

After hearing a few recent DACs with nicely implemented volume controls such as the NADM51 and BuffaloIIISE I’ve ditched the old analog pot.

 

Some reading;

http://www.esstech.com/pdf/digital-vs-analog-volume-control.pdf

http://resonessencelabs.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/invicta_analog_vs_digital_volume.pdf

Edited May 30, 2015 by johnwmclean

[Hifi Nutter]

...but the K-01’s got a 32 bit digital volume control, your ears though.

After hearing a few recent DACs with nicely implemented volume controls such as the NADM51 and BuffaloIIISE I’ve ditched the old analog pot.hi,that's what I thought with the Hugo,as its in the digital domain like my wadia 861se I thought by passing an analogue volume control would of been the way to go

 

Some reading;

http://www.esstech.com/pdf/digital-vs-analog-volume-control.pdf

http://resonessencelabs.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/invicta_analog_vs_digital_volume.pdf

[Hifi Nutter]

There is a stax srm 717 going on eBay for 780 quid,it's 12 years old,is that a good price?

[Dave R]

 

After hearing a few recent DACs with nicely implemented volume controls such as the NADM51 and BuffaloIIISE I’ve ditched the old analog pot.

 

 

Have you heard those DAC's with a BHSE, with RK50 pot ?

[TMoney]

[Dave R]

@ spritzer,

After recently going on your website Birgir, I saw your KGSSHV Carbon, it's a pity I haven't any spare money else I'd have it.

[spritzer]

There will be more... 

[johnwmclean]

Have you heard those DAC's with a BHSE, with RK50 pot ?

 

I have heard those DACs with my BHSE and DACT installed, and have demoed one of Justin’s units with an RK50 installed with my own NAD M51 and an Yggdrasil.

 

Most of my direct comparisons with volume control impressions have been with the DACT, it’s channel matching is within -/+ 0.05dB vs the RK50 -/+1dB -100dB to 0dB.

[spritzer]

Looking past channel matching, almost all volume controls will limit dynamic range by their design.  Only crazy stuff like the Ayre KX-R design avoids this. 

[nopants]

I thought Kevin was baking up something to challenge the KX-R

[spritzer]

Already did that but not the volume control.  No easy way to do that except with the Shallco switches. 

[preproman]

Pardon me:

 

I'm trying to find some information on the newer (2015) production units of the Stax SR-007 mkIIs (Black).  Are they any different than the earlier ones before 2015?  Like thae mid bass bloom.

 

Thanks

Darryl

[DefQon]

Thought you lost interest in your Stax in favour of your HE-6 preproman?

Edited June 2, 2015 by DefQon

[preproman]

The tides are turning...  I just scored a headinclouds KGST,  007 m1 from no pants, a 007A from birger and a fresh pair of 009s.  Now waiting on the BHSE..  

[nopants]

It's weird how everyone seems to place the KGST as something to tide them over towards a BHSE, wonder if it's the price point

 

Maybe it should be priced like the sic

[spritzer]

It's always the price point that comes to play here.  In truth they are just different, the BHSE isn't inherently better in every way.