Electrostatic Headphone Measurements

[spritzer]

If you think the 404LE would be a worthy donor, Tyll.

I think it's stock. Purchased here from Birgir, but his FS thread apparently didn't survive the new forum software.

That one was 100% stock. Lovely headphone too...

[eggil]

Sigma 404 on its way to Montana

[screaming oranges]

And on that note, the gear is on its way back home... the epic journey nears its end!

[Tyll Hertsens]

Thank you soooooo much Alex, and all you Stax Mafioso. That was a nice bit of teamwork there, and I'm very glad we've got some data for everyone to look at.

Now, back to the rapper cans .....

[RudeWolf]

STAX should team up with some celebrities. Philip Glass, Jean Michel Jarre or even Aphex Twin!

[screaming oranges]

or Katie Perry!

[spritzer]

More like King Krimson...

[Tyll Hertsens]

Say Birgir, what's the deal with all the out-of-polarity measurements? Are they just wired up that way? Is the Blue Hawaii basackwards? I saw you post something about switching polarity, IIRC.

[RudeWolf]

More like King Krimson...

Or Queen Krimsdóttir!

[spritzer]

Say Birgir, what's the deal with all the out-of-polarity measurements? Are they just wired up that way? Is the Blue Hawaii basackwards? I saw you post something about switching polarity, IIRC.

Only the Sigma's and a couple of the really old Stax models (60's and 70's models) were wired out of phase. I haven't cracked the BHSE open but I see no reason why it would be wired out of phase but I'm sure Justin will chime in on that. Not sure what's going on.

[HeadphoneAddict]

Thank you soooooo much Alex, and all you Stax Mafioso. That was a nice bit of teamwork there, and I'm very glad we've got some data for everyone to look at.

Now, back to the rapper cans .....

Have you posted the HE-60 measurements yet? Thanks for doing those.

[ujamerstand]

I was looking at it a couple moments ago. Here it is.

[HeadphoneAddict]

Thanks!

[n3rdling]

Quite nice!

[gurubhai]

quite bright though.

[John Buchanan]

OMG - the Sigma response looks like a roller coaster ride and the 30 Hz square wave isn't. Not sure if this is the Sigma normal bias or the Sigma/404. Measurements bad, sound good.

Edited November 8, 2011 by John Buchanan

[justin]

Say Birgir, what's the deal with all the out-of-polarity measurements? Are they just wired up that way? Is the Blue Hawaii basackwards? I saw you post something about switching polarity, IIRC.

what source are you using? is it XLR inputs?

[spritzer]

Something is wrong with the right driver on those HE60's but other than that the measurements look good.

The Sigma's I think were 404's and I don't think anybody was expecting a stellar measured performance. They do sound pleasant enough but compared to the Omegas they are highly colored. Much like the SR-1 and other Stax sets it is a very pleasant coloration.

[Tyll Hertsens]

what source are you using? is it XLR inputs?

Yup. XLRs.

[morphsci]

Something is wrong with the right driver on those HE60's but other than that the measurements look good.

Is that based off of the THD vs. Frequency graph?

[justin]

Yup. XLRs.

american or european standard? they flip the hot and cold pins

[Tyll Hertsens]

^^^ Huh ... didn't know that. It was from a HeadRoom balanced desktop so I think pin 2 is hot. 'Mercan standard?

[justin]

^^^ Huh ... didn't know that. It was from a HeadRoom balanced desktop so I think pin 2 is hot. 'Mercan standard?

balanced desktop as what...dac? preamp?

[spritzer]

Is that based off of the THD vs. Frequency graph?

Yup. It could be something as simple as the o-ring not seated properly. Wouldn't surprise me given the sub-par service Sennheiser has in the US.

[Tyll Hertsens]

balanced desktop as what...dac? preamp?

Just a headphone amp. Balanced in from the Audio Precision balanced outs. Polarity should be right through the amp as it drive regular headphones in proper polarity.

Positive going signal creates positive pressure pressure at the ear.