The Headcase Stax thread

[spritzer]

Originally Posted by deepak

Does the SR-007A/MKII have that glorious metal bar that goes across the driver like the SR-007 MK1?

Yup, that's the spring. It's nearly flat on the Mk1 but not so on the new model.

[Dusty Chalk]

Originally Posted by The Monkey

...smooching noises...

Isn't that a classic case of the electrostatic "fart"? I thought this was the result of having too good a seal?

[spritzer]

Originally Posted by Dusty Chalk

Isn't that a classic case of the electrostatic "fart"? I thought this was the result of having too good a seal?

That would only be the case for the SR-003 or the SR-007 mk1 where such a seal is needed. If a Lambda does something like this it is bad news indeed.

[The Monkey]

Originally Posted by spritzer

This could be due to dust but the cable would be my first guess. The drivers are a pain to work on so open up the phones and swap the cable around to the other side and see if you can reproduce it. The wiring for Stax cables is always the same so out of the 3 wires to each side, the one with the printed line is +, the one in the middle is the bias and the last one is -.

spritzer, these are not plugs, correct? In other words I would need to resolder the cables?

[faust3d]

Originally Posted by spritzer

That would only be the case for the SR-003 or the SR-007 mk1 where such a seal is needed. If a Lambda does something like this it is bad news indeed.

Hmm, when I press my Lambdas, all of them, to my head I have this fart sound happening, same as on S-001. So I guess it is possible to have this with Lambdas. This happens when I sweat a bit and the pads are sticking to my head.

[spritzer]

Originally Posted by The Monkey

spritzer, these are not plugs, correct? In other words I would need to resolder the cables?

Correct. It's easy to do but always cover the drivers with a piece of cardboard or something when soldering as a stray drop of flux can damage/destroy them.

[Dusty Chalk]

Originally Posted by spritzer

That would only be the case for the SR-003 or the SR-007 mk1 where such a seal is needed. If a Lambda does something like this it is bad news indeed.

The Lambda's are the boxes that angle the speakers towards the ears more like speakers, right? Yeah, you're right, that shouldn't instigate the "Stax squeak", there's no way there's that good a seal there, right? So what causes the Stax squeak again? I realize it's the seal, but what is the seal doing, because it sounds amplified...perhaps there's a different cause, but the same result that is happening?

[spritzer]

Originally Posted by Dusty Chalk

The Lambda's are the boxes that angle the speakers towards the ears more like speakers, right? Yeah, you're right, that shouldn't instigate the "Stax squeak", there's no way there's that good a seal there, right? So what causes the Stax squeak again? I realize it's the seal, but what is the seal doing, because it sounds amplified...perhaps there's a different cause, but the same result that is happening?

The Lambda frame is the same one in use on the SR-x0x line and is the basis of the 4070. It's the Sigma which has the drivers perpendicular to the head. I posted a picture of one a few pages back.

The squeal is caused by air trying to escape from the airtight (ish..) space next to the ear due to changes in pressure. It will also present as a suction noise when they are trying to draw air into the space. It's the diaphragms (all 3, 2 dustcovers and the mylar unit which produces sound) which get pushed around to try and let air in and let it escape. None of the older phones had this problem as they all leaked some air, under the earpads, around the drivers etc. so Stax installed a port on the new SR-007 Mk2/A to went the space and eliminate the noise. It also produced mad midbass which they thought was an improvement but IMO is was a very, very bad move.

[deepak]

My experience is the SR-007 MK1 farts and the Lambdas squeak (moving plastic parts)

Fortunately the Omegas only fart when I deliberately break the seal by taking them off, and not when I'm moving around.

The Koss do neither.

[hirsch]

Originally Posted by deepak

My experience is the SR-007 MK1 farts and the Lambdas squeak (moving plastic parts)

Exactly so. The Stax "squeak" on the Lambda series can be eliminated by putting a little bit of silicone grease (use 100% silicone grease to avoid possible damage to plastics) at the hinges between the headband and the earcups.

[spritzer]

Originally Posted by hirsch

Exactly so. The Stax "squeak" on the Lambda series can be eliminated by putting a little bit of silicone grease (use 100% silicone grease to avoid possible damage to plastics) at the hinges between the headband and the earcups.

Talcum powder (or something like that) is what Stax uses and it's great, especially for the fork mount.

[Tachikoma]

Originally Posted by spritzer

That would only be the case for the SR-003 or the SR-007 mk1 where such a seal is needed. If a Lambda does something like this it is bad news indeed.

The SR-Xmk3 farts a fair bit =P

[catscratch]

Originally Posted by spritzer

The squeal is caused by air trying to escape from the airtight (ish..) space next to the ear due to changes in pressure. It will also present as a suction noise when they are trying to draw air into the space. It's the diaphragms (all 3, 2 dustcovers and the mylar unit which produces sound) which get pushed around to try and let air in and let it escape. None of the older phones had this problem as they all leaked some air, under the earpads, around the drivers etc. so Stax installed a port on the new SR-007 Mk2/A to went the space and eliminate the noise. It also produced mad midbass which they thought was an improvement but IMO is was a very, very bad move.

What also drives me up the wall is that the very few professional reviews on these headphones out there haven't mentioned anything about it. Stax need feedback that they screwed up the design and that there are people out there that think this version sounds worse, because given track history, we may not see another revision of the O2 for a very long time.

Or maybe the added midbass is precisely what a lot of customers want? I can't really see this being the case since it's not like the O2 was ever deficient in the bass to begin with (I think?).

And, it's not as if this current iteration of Stax can't design a proper headphone, since they've given us the original O2 and the 4070.

P.S. It's not exactly that I'm yelling that the sky is falling here as the Mk2 is still one of the best heapdhones I've ever heard. I just don't understand the need to step back and sonically compromise, since I never heard the fart to be a major problem for anyone.

[The Monkey]

I can't stand the thought of opening up the Sigs. Maybe if I ignore it, it will go away. Y'know, the adult way of problem-solving.

[spritzer]

Originally Posted by Tachikoma

The SR-Xmk3 farts a fair bit =P

Every electrostatic makes some noise when forced but very few make that squealing sound due to their design. The He90 is probably the worst with the "peeling " sound though...

Originally Posted by catscratch

What also drives me up the wall is that the very few professional reviews on these headphones out there haven't mentioned anything about it. Stax need feedback that they screwed up the design and that there are people out there that think this version sounds worse, because given track history, we may not see another revision of the O2 for a very long time.

Or maybe the added midbass is precisely what a lot of customers want? I can't really see this being the case since it's not like the O2 was ever deficient in the bass to begin with (I think?).

And, it's not as if this current iteration of Stax can't design a proper headphone, since they've given us the original O2 and the 4070.

P.S. It's not exactly that I'm yelling that the sky is falling here as the Mk2 is still one of the best heapdhones I've ever heard. I just don't understand the need to step back and sonically compromise, since I never heard the fart to be a major problem for anyone.

It is a very good headphone indeed but it's simply not good enough in my book compared to the original. I do believe that Stax made a blunder here and the faster they realize it the better but all professional reviews will just tell us what we know i.e. that this is the best production headphone with no comparison to the older model or a SR-Omega.

Since you brought up the 4070 then it isn't a well known fact but there are two versions out there, the ones produced in 2001-2002 and those made after 2002. The original design didn't allow for the earcups to fully swivel and that made the phones unsuitable for a large number of users. Stax shaved a bit off the housing and the problem was solved.

If you read the pamphlet for the Mk2 then the extra bass response is noted but said to be due to the earpads (more solid material so certainly possible) so it could be that Stax wasn't aware of any problems and the distributors think that it is all down to nonsense like burn in. I simply can't believe that this mess of a midrange was done on purpose as it is not linked to the port issue. I really need a second SR-007 Mk1 to use a basis for the mods to see if this can't be reversed. Anybody have a Mk1 BL they want to get rid off...?

Originally Posted by The Monkey

I can't stand the thought of opening up the Sigs. Maybe if I ignore it, it will go away. Y'know, the adult way of problem-solving.

Ignoring something is always my first choice but if you can make the problem appear and disappear by wiggling the cable then it is time to buy a new SR-303 cable.

[Dusty Chalk]

Originally Posted by catscratch

I just don't understand the need to step back and sonically compromise, since I never heard the fart to be a major problem for anyone.

First of all, I hate the squeal. I find the headphones unlistenable for lengths of time for this reason alone.

Secondly, I think Spritzer was implying that they did it to add midbass, not to fix the fart.

[spritzer]

Originally Posted by Dusty Chalk

First of all, I hate the squeal. I find the headphones unlistenable for lengths of time for this reason alone.

Secondly, I think Spritzer was implying that they did it to add midbass, not to fix the fart.

They added the port to remove the fart problem and brought along with it no deep bass and a large midbass hump. I'm sure that some compromise could be found through damping where the ear chamber can breath but it doesn't kill the bass.

[thrice]

I'm not associated with the seller:

AudiogoN ForSale: Stax Electrostatic Sigma Professional

Sigma Pros for sale on A'gon

[Voltron]

I've never heard Sigmas. What do people think about $800 obo as a price point?

[Dusty Chalk]

Originally Posted by spritzer

They added the port to remove the fart problem and brought along with it no deep bass and a large midbass hump. I'm sure that some compromise could be found through damping where the ear chamber can breath but it doesn't kill the bass.

Okay, I stand corrected.