The Headcase Stax thread

[mypasswordis]

I sure hope not since graphite is a very bad choice for diaphragm coating (it absorbs moisture and is far from stable) but I just chalked this up to Fang trying to peddle his overpriced crap. One can just imagine how little the Jades cost to produce given the very cheap labor...

Yeah that was the joke. I'm guessing something on the order of $50USD to produce, including cost of parts. $50 is a lot in China, it can be what some people earn in an entire month.

Anyway, I did more modding on the ET1000. Removed the stock gold colored grilles you see in pic 2 and replaced with some speaker cloth. Smoothed out sound more. It's starting to be nothing like a stock ET1000 and will continue in this direction when I make the adapter and run it like a normal bias Stax.

[cetoole]

I can't wait to hear them.

[mypasswordis]

Aye, I'll let you know when I've "finished" modding it, and making the SR-X Pro. Still trying to decide if I should man up and mod the stock cable for pro bias or wuss out and just use a pro bias ribbon cable.

[padam]

If keeping the original looks are not important, I would just get the Gamma Pro cable from eBay as it is better than the SR-X cable.

[mypasswordis]

Heh, I already bought a normal bias and pro bias ribbon cable from him. It's like he's a second Birgir or something, he just exudes Stax parts from his pores. What's annoying is he lists the cables one by one so I already wasted on shipping once.

[padam]

He told me that he will run out of stock soon but he will likely to list a few more. I wanted to save up on shipping as well when I bought the SR-5NB headband but I had to pay it soon after, too.

[deepak]

Rudi of Rudistor's new 'stat. Haven't heard much at all about it since a couple months ago, though.

This gives you a better sense of size:

Just based on their sheer size plus circular shape I want to hear them

[mypasswordis]

He told me that he will run out of stock soon but he will likely to list a few more. I wanted to save up on shipping as well when I bought the SR-5NB headband but I had to pay it soon after, too.

Yeah that dude does NOT like it when you pay any after than the day after an invoice is sent. I told him to chill the second time around after explaining to him my power was out due to blizzard #1.

Just based on their sheer size plus circular shape I want to hear them

I kind of want to hear them, too. But if you want to listen to some headphones with drivers that are actually big, I've still got my Jecklin 'stats.

[Elephas]

Just based on their sheer size plus circular shape I want to hear them

Does it seem very large? It doesn't seem exceptionally big to me, at least not much bigger than HE90, Jade, O2 or SR-Omega.

The housings do seem thick/deep.

[Smeggy]

bigger is obviously better.

[Kabeer]

Has anyone tried Stax earphones out of a Koss E/90 amp? (mainly thinking O2mk1)

[padam]

Birgir did, but the result was terrible afaik so there is not much point in it.

[spritzer]

Yeah, it wasn't much to write home about. Still if you have no amp then it is better then nothing.

[Kabeer]

Heh thanks for the fast reply guys. Yeah its just that im ampless atm. May be worht a try, will it damage the O2? (i know birgir said the O2 can take higher bias, but Im not sure if it will eat away at its life?)

[spritzer]

20 extra volts will not damage the SR-007 or any Stax headphone. 700+ and they will start complaining...

[deepak]

Does it seem very large? It doesn't seem exceptionally big to me, at least not much bigger than HE90, Jade, O2 or SR-Omega.

The housings do seem thick/deep.

You're probably right, it might be that picture has some distortion going on since the cups do fit in the Beyerdynamic assembly.

[fierce_freak]

Has anyone compared the 404 LE's to the ESP 950's?

[Voltron]

404LE is the better headphone to my ears. Although I am not sure what amp you are using with the 950s and they can sound pretty good not on the Koss POS

[fierce_freak]

Argh, seems like the 404 LE's have dried up. Anyone have any leads on a pair?

[padam]

There is one at Yahoo Japan which might go for a good price (and I think there will be in the future, too) but I think you can find within the USA as well.

[fierce_freak]

I think I might just spring for the O2 now that it's tax refund time and be done with it. I'm going to post a WTB over at HF, but I appreciate anyone pointing me in the right direction (I've taken a look at what's currently on yahoo japan).

[padam]

The cheapest is currently at here: Fujiya Avic

You can buy it or ask more information via KuboTEN.

[fierce_freak]

Thanks a bunch for the help padam. I went ahead and submitted a shop order with Kuboten.

-edit- Anyone have a junker pair of stats they wouldn't mind letting go? I need a pair for testing on new amps.

[padam]

Sometimes you can pick up an SR-003 from Japan for dirt cheap so it seems like a good option (it will probably fit in your other package without problems, too).

[JimP]

FYI - I was able to pick up the 2nd 404LE locally. I think DC was interested in them first, let me know. If not, then Fierce Freak. otherwise, anyone else? or I'll keep as backup pair.