The Headcase Stax thread

[manaox2]

I would only call the 009 the O3 if STAX refers to them in their literature as Omega 3 as they did in the past with the Omega 2/SR-007. To me, the SR-009 seems more similar to an improved Omega then the O2 did. I'm more interested on what affect these will have on the price of the original Omega then the O2 myself. Based on the large price gap, I don't know how much I'd wager on a huge impact on current O2 prices.

[complin]

The price of old 70's receivers is unbelievable.

i had a couple of old Marantz units I paid $5 and $20 for.

When I got tired of looking at them, I put them up on craigslist

And almost got run over by a stampede. There are old units worth

the Big $$$, and then there's just old stuff. When did "vintage"

replace "tired old crap"? There's some really great old gear out there,

but much of this stuff isn't it. At minimum, it's going to need re-capping.

The sr40 setup does sound good, with no balance issues at all.

The earpads are flat, and it doesn't look like I'll be replacing them anytime soon.

I use the extension cord(5 or 6 pin style) and sometimes use the sr40 for testing.

Very true but have you thought why?

It because people have realised this stuff can sound great when refurbished and likely to last another 30 years

Unlike this Chinese crap that breaks in a couple of years and you cant get repaired. I've got several 70's and 80's amps and receivers and have no intention parting with them

[Spychedelic Whale]

I did an audition a few hours ago comparing the O2 and the 507 and I liked both in the same quantity but different sound presentations, the O2 were plan new though without any breakin.

The O2 with some hours on it would change that much ?

Edited March 31, 2011 by Spychedelic Whale

[Voltron]

I liked both in the same quantity

Wut? Does that mean you liked them equally? If so, get the 507 and don't worry about the O2.

[Spychedelic Whale]

Wut? Does that mean you liked them equally? If so, get the 507 and don't worry about the O2.

I mean the O2 was obviously technically better but I wouldn't mind having both for different approaches with some tracks.

Edited March 31, 2011 by Spychedelic Whale

[Dusty Chalk]

Wut? Does that mean you liked them equally? If so, get the 507 and don't worry about the O2.

No, I think he meant he'd like one pair of each.

Or zero. Or two. But I'm thinking one.

[K3cT]

Just a quick question for the experienced Stax Mafia here, do you think a tube eXstata would do better than the SRM-600LE specifically for driving Lambdas?

[spritzer]

Nope, the SRM-600 should outperform it.

[K3cT]

Thanks, spritzer. For driving the Omegas, would the same apply?

[spritzer]

It should.

[K3cT]

OK, thanks. That SRM600LE and SR-507 bundle is very interesting but I shall wait for more impressions of the 507 from the more experienced members.

[Asr]

The SR-507 is pretty dang good. I just sold my HD800 for it. It's more of what I wanted the HD800 to be, but wasn't. Different enough from the OII too for me to use it for different music.

[HeadphoneAddict]

The SR-507 is pretty dang good. I just sold my HD800 for it. It's more of what I wanted the HD800 to be, but wasn't. Different enough from the OII too for me to use it for different music.

You don't deserve them.

(is that better?)

Edited April 11, 2011 by HeadphoneAddict

[Asr]

So, you are not selling the SR-507 anymore?

Ok no offense Larry but what part of "What Happens in Head-Case stays in Head-Case" don't you understand? This isn't the first time this has happened either, please stop doing it. Also you could have seen that the answer to your question was plainly obvious before you asked it.

Edited April 10, 2011 by Asr

[HeadphoneAddict]

Ok no offense Larry but what part of "What Happens in Head-Case stays in Head-Case" don't you understand? This isn't the first time this has happened either, please stop doing it. Also you could have seen that the answer to your question was plainly obvious before you asked it.

Okay, look, it's really hard to keep up with what's secret and public with you; so I'm just going to have to write you off as not existing and then I can't ever say anything that you don't want said.

[Currawong]

I'm thinking that, until I have space to put a drill press and whatnot to do case work and build gear, that I might just be lazy and plug for a 727 and do the mod or SRM-600LTD. However, they show up as the same price. I gather that the 727 modded amounts to much the same as a KGSSHV and the SRM-600 is a T1S with more grunt. Either sounds appealing to me. Should I particularly go for one or the other or would I be splitting hairs?

[padam]

Nope the KGSSHV is considerably more powerful than the SRM727 which is considerably more powerful than the SRM600. The SRM007t which is a bit similar to the SRM600 can't drive the O2 Mk1 properly so I wouldn't recommend it.

[Spychedelic Whale]

I'm looking for an adapter to use for a while with the speaker amp and I guess the SRD-7 should be the best option or any one will do ?

Edited April 12, 2011 by Spychedelic Whale

[arnaud]

Stax experts: help!!

Yesterday evening, I could no longer hear any sound from my 727A/O2 rig. Just a faint sound when pushing the volume all the way up.

I tried the following without success:

- Switched the source

- Power off, power on

- Unplug / replug the phone

- Plug the phone into the other outlet

What's wrong doc??

One thing though, the potentiomer was almost maxed out when I got home and my 1 year old is developping a taste for audio as of late, in particular volume controls and power switches.....

Thanks in advance for any advice or idea of what might have happened

[chinsettawong]

Have you checked if your fuse is blown?

Wachara C.

[arnaud]

Hi, you mean a fuse that would be in line with the headphone drive (polarization or the balanced signal)?

If it's about the 100V main power supply fuse, I doubt it's blown because internal and external leds and all bright and shiny upon power the amp.

Furthermore, I can hear the sound from the source at max volume, except it's very muted. So, the transducer is being fed something.

Could it be a problem with the polarization circuit?

[Driftwood]

If the 727 has multiple inputs, have you checked that it didn't get switched to the wrong input? What you are describing sounds like when I've done that to my amps including when I freak out because I'm convinced my amp must be broken...

[arnaud]

I'll check again tonight, I did very do a check there too though (flipping the xlr / rca source selection switch).

One thing I haven't tried though: i have a passive source selector before the amp as I have multiple sources. Indeed, the problem could be there! Thanks for the tip

[arnaud]

After all, it looks like the amp simply activated the headphone protection circuit and I did not power it off long enough yesterday night to reset it. It's all working just fine tonight!

Does any know if turning off and on the amp with the headphones plugged and volume near maxed out would make it go into protection mode?

Furthermore, in case my daughter manages again to sneak into the room, would it be better to turn the amp on / off daily and unplug the phones everytime? i.e. in case it's the scenario above, is that really bad for the headphone and / or the amp?

I always keep the amp on and the phone plugged because I thought I read somewhere it takes quite some time to fully polarize the membrane and make it run optimally... If this is just unfounded audiophiliac paranoia, then I surely can do with the power off and unplugging when not in use...

cheers,

arnaud

[Driftwood]

Glad everything seems to be working again! I'd be interested to hear opinions on your questions as well. Every time I am finished listening to my "earspeakers," I unplug them and short the pins together. I'd like to know if that is really best practice.