The Headcase Stax thread

[Cosmopragma]

I'm not crazy... much...

If you are talking about that combo with a silver SRM-1 Mk2 then that is a real Lambda Pro. It says Professional on the top of the earcups so they are the real deal. If yours are unmarked then they are Normal bias Lambdas that could have been upgraded as they are the only Lambdas with unmarked top plates.

Oh, I've misinterpreted the pics at my first quick glance.

I've thought the imprint is at the sides but a closer look revealed it's really at the top and mine are the same.

Regarding the Pro's then I'm far from the only one that doesn't like them. They were slammed by the reviews back in the early 80's but seeing that there was no competition they sold a huge number of them.

Originally I did like the modern SR-303 I also own better but during the last months the specific sound grew on me.The old Pros do provide more "body" and are therefor better suited for rock music IMO.

In the end it doesn't matter though since the Omegas do get 90 % of my listening time at home anyway.

[slwiser]

This has been some of the best and most detail discussion about Stax headphones I have ever read. Mostly before the impressions were always that Stax is the best. Therefore, I had always kept my distance from them. Given this type of discussion I can understand more what each has to offer and what people see in some of them.

[spritzer]

Oh, I've misinterpreted the pics at my first quick glance.

I've thought the imprint is at the sides but a closer look revealed it's really at the top and mine are the same.

I was a bit worried that you had a Lambda Pro Classic as they are often sold in Germany as the real thing. I like the Pro Classic/Spirit though, maybe even more then the normal Pro's.

Originally I did like the modern SR-303 I also own better but during the last months the specific sound grew on me.The old Pros do provide more "body" and are therefor better suited for rock music IMO.

In the end it doesn't matter though since the Omegas do get 90 % of my listening time at home anyway.

The Normal Lambdas are even better at doing the rock thing with the 2um diaphragms.

[milkpowder]

So thicker diaphragms = better for rock?

[spritzer]

So thicker diaphragms = better for rock?

They can be if everything else is equal as thicker diaphragms give the bass more thump and an open backed SR-lambda does plenty of that. The fiber glass muddles it up a bit though

[Nanoha]

The SRM-1 Mk2 is a better amp then the SRM-252 but it depends on which version of the amp you would buy. There are A, B and C revisions with significant variations depending on when they were built.

Would it be safe to assume that the later revisions © are better?

[milkpowder]

Yup. I remember reading something like that in Jahn's Curse You Head-Fi thread. High S/N revision Cs are meant to be the best. IIRC, I vaguely remember the post 6xxx S/Ns to be the best?

Auctions rarely state the S/Ns, so it's never a stupid idea to ask.

[spritzer]

There were some slight changes in the 12 year lifespan of the SRM-1 Mk2. The boards were slightly altered, components upgraded and the internal wiring upgraded to the PC-OCC stuff used in the T1. There were also 4 different versions of the SRM-1 Mk2, normal bias only, Pro with one pro bias socket and one normal, P.P. with two pro sockets and ATR with two pro sockets and a stepped attenuator for the pro market.

Would it be safe to assume that the later revisions © are better?

C with a very high (5500>) serial number should be the best

[Nanoha]

ATR with two pro sockets and a stepped attenuator for the pro market.

Oh! I haven't seen that before. Interesting!

[milkpowder]

Is the T1 still the better amp? I'm thinking of getting a T1 or 007t (maybe the former because it's much cheaper).

[Duggeh]

Pah just wait for a KGSS or KGBH milkpowder, you only got an HE60 anyway, you can run one of those from an SRM-001 with flat dry cell batteries!

[milkpowder]

I'm waiting for KGST (Justin says it's coming next year along with an upgraded KGSS!) and maybe an O2 after that. I'll be in heaven then. Need to find a way to make some money though.... :'(

[Duggeh]

You need to craftily sell things you buy on ebay for more than you paid after tidying them up, and work a few crappy jobs about the place.

I'm going further speaker-fi all the time, I think its a matter of time before theres downsizing of the collection to the all important ones. The O2 and the Surrounder.

[Nanoha]

I'm waiting for KGST (Justin says it's coming next year along with an upgraded KGSS!) and maybe an O2 after that. I'll be in heaven then. Need to find a way to make some money though.... :'(

By the way, milkpowder, how are you liking the HE60 out of the 006t? I had planned on creating a very similar rig (T1 -> HE60), but recent financial troubles are creating some doubts. I was wondering if you could provide some thoughts on how other dynamic headphone rigs you've heard in the past compare.

[Duggeh]

What does KGST stand for anyway?

[milkpowder]

By the way, milkpowder, how are you liking the HE60 out of the 006t? I had planned on creating a very similar rig (T1 -> HE60), but recent financial troubles are creating some doubts. I was wondering if you could provide some thoughts on how other dynamic headphone rigs you've heard in the past compare.

The 006t + HE60 is a superb combo. I have to say it's not cheap (at least not for a university student with no income), however well worth it! I recently attended a UK meet and got a chance to compare it to various highly regarded headphones, including the W5000, R10, K1000, L3000, HD650/SAA, K701/ALO, etc. I spent the most time listening to them out of the Single Power Extreme Platinum sourced by the Meridian G08 (most of the time anyway). K1000 was powered by a cheap but capable tube amp (honestly don't remember the name). I was silly not to try the Yamamoto HA-02 which was literally beside me.

I'm usually don't brag, but out of all the headphones I listened to, only the K1000 and R10 really impressed me. The other headphones just weren't as refined, resolving as the HE60. Music didn't quite flow as effortlessly either. Listening to a few tracks which I'm familiar with, the bulk of the "mainstream" dynamics couldn't reproduce all the nuances which the R10, K1000 and HE60 could. The R10 is the best of the three, even when amped by relatively modest Meier amps. The instrument separation is unrivalled. Sadly, the price is simply beyond my reach and will be for another decade :'( The K1000 was great and really made me think twice about my HE60 ownership. Even amped by a cheap tubey, the K1000 was at least 90% of the HE60. What it lacked was a bit of detail and it wasn't quite as fast as the HE60.

Admittedly, the HE60 is not necessarily a headphone for everyone despite being a terrific all-rounder headphone. The bass extension is slightly lacking amped by the 006t, but I'm told a KGSS (or better) amplifier will change things positively. I personally don't find the slightly premature bass roll-off an issue for what I listen to (mostly Classical with a bit of rock, guitars, vocals, jazz, etc...). If you prefer a more liquid, smooth and bassy listen, the HD650/SAA sounds great. However, I wouldn't hesitate to say that the HE60 is how the HD650 should've sounded - fast, detailed, effortless musical production. Anyway, you'd also have to be mad to choose the HD650 (or K701 for that matter) over the HE60, but then again, I've yet to hear the HD650 out of a top amp like the SDS XLR. Just going from the HE60 (or any great headphone) to a mainstream dynamic headphone will make your ears wonder where most of the musical information went.

Spritzer seems to like the T1 more than the 006t. The former is supposed to use better parts or something. Why HE60 and not O2? The O2 is superb too, although more laid-back and not quite as aggressive in the treble range.

Goodness knows what KGST stands for. All I know is that it is a vastly simplified KGBH, something which I won't be able to afford until I actually start working as a junior foundation year 1 doctor in three years time (if I manage to graduate that is!). The KGSS is a much more realistic target for the time being ($1.5-2k vs $3k+?), but still very expensive.

[Duggeh]

With the USD sinking like it is, soon I'll be able to afford a KGBH for the price of a tin of spam and a pencil.

[milkpowder]

Haha. Oil prices are on the (mad) rise too. Am I in the wrong business? Or maybe I should get into the Russ Andrews business. He seems to do amazingly well

Oh, relocating to a tax free haven might be a good idea too. I'm not liking the way Gordan Brown sleeps in your bank account and feeds on it.

[humanflyz]

With the USD sinking like it is, soon I'll be able to afford a KGBH for the price of a tin of spam and a pencil.

Ouch, hurts so much because it's true

I feel bad as an American.

[Duggeh]

Haha. Oil prices are on the (mad) rise too. Am I in the wrong business? Or maybe I should get into the Russ Andrews business. He seems to do amazingly well

Oh, relocating to a tax free haven might be a good idea too. I'm not liking the way Gordan Brown sleeps in your bank account and feeds on it.

Our esteemed chancellor Darling has actually done some people a great service in propping up the Northern Rock like he has. getting into their bank accounts and keeping their money safe. Gordon Brown is PM now, cant make all those money grabbing jokes anymore.

Nevertheless the government could face some very very very very bad times if Northern Rock goes bad. It'll certainly be the most catastrophic government financial mismanagement since Black Wednesday and that was a massive factor in the Tories falling from power under the massive Labour landslide in 1997.

Do you get to vote in the elections Milkpowder? The choice is hardly brilliant at the minute, but at least we were spared the November General. That could have been messy.

Taxes are high, but they aren't crippling, not yet. Ancillary taxing policy gets a lot of flak but it does work on a social as well as financial level for many things (alcohol and tobacco for example) (petrol for another, although different).

So long as the SNP don't achieve success in an independence referendum. If Scotland goes independent I'm jumping ship to England on the first boat. I'll be at least graduated by the time it happens though.

[Nanoha]

Milkpowder, thanks so much for the opinions! I really appreciate it. I guess I'll give the HE60 rig a go then.

[Cosmopragma]

With the USD sinking like it is, soon I'll be able to afford a KGBH for the price of a tin of spam and a pencil.

Maybe when they invade Iran and lose that war, too.

[Duggeh]

oh, we won the Iraq war, it was the peace afterwards that we lost.

Can you lose something when you didn't have it to start with?

I supported Tonys decision to go with the USA into Iraq, not because I agreed with the pretext, but because it is the correct thing for a citizen to do in the circumstances. There's no debate though that its been a massive balls-up.

It is getting better though. Slowly.

[Duggeh]

I wasnt sure how to take it, off the cuff, dismissive or a casual aside reflecting a real opinion. So I kept the diatribe in check.

[milkpowder]

Our esteemed chancellor Darling has actually done some people a great service in propping up the Northern Rock like he has. getting into their bank accounts and keeping their money safe. Gordon Brown is PM now, cant make all those money grabbing jokes anymore.

Nevertheless the government could face some very very very very bad times if Northern Rock goes bad. It'll certainly be the most catastrophic government financial mismanagement since Black Wednesday and that was a massive factor in the Tories falling from power under the massive Labour landslide in 1997.

Do you get to vote in the elections Milkpowder? The choice is hardly brilliant at the minute, but at least we were spared the November General. That could have been messy.

Taxes are high, but they aren't crippling, not yet. Ancillary taxing policy gets a lot of flak but it does work on a social as well as financial level for many things (alcohol and tobacco for example) (petrol for another, although different).

So long as the SNP don't achieve success in an independence referendum. If Scotland goes independent I'm jumping ship to England on the first boat. I'll be at least graduated by the time it happens though.

Yes I do get to vote (in three "countries": triple nationality- Hong Kong, UK, USA ), but I'm honestly not someone who holds strong political views. I do watch BBC parliament occasionally and love Prime Minister's questions when Labour thrash it out with the Conservatives. Brown is in knee deep shit with all the recent scandals. Lose a couple more disks and hire a few more illegal immigrants and I can't imagine what opinion polls would look like... In all seriousness, I don't particularly dislike him.

Goodness knows what would happen if Scotland becomes independent. I for one can't see it happening, ever.

Bad news if US is going into Iran. The UK will basically have to follow Bush Jr's lead. Afghanistan and Iraq are quite a handful already. Add in the fact that we have non-functional helicopters which crash every now and then...

Nanoha, no problem! You'll be in for a pleasant surprise. BTW, what source do you use? I was able to give my dad's Esoteric X-03 SE a good few weeks of usage during the summer hols and the HE60 really opened up. Don't forget to roll in some NOS tubes when you get your T1. I've tried Raytheons and RCA and prefer the more mellow sound of the Raytheons.