The Headcase Stax thread - Page 111 - www.Head-Case.org

*aaron313* · #**2201** (**permalink**) 07-26-2008, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Monkey

I've spent a fair amount of time now with my Lambda Pros now that the Sigs have a cable problem. I really like the Lambda; but I absolutely love the Sigs. The Lambdas sound more congested and tight. The Sigs more lush and spacious, less grainy to me.

I have a cable problem with my Lambda Pro. And it worsened right when I was about to do a comparison with the 303. Solution: buy O2 and forget about the other two.

*The Monkey* · #**2202** (**permalink**) 07-26-2008, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aaron313

I have a cable problem with my Lambda Pro. And it worsened right when I was about to do a comparison with the 303. Solution: buy O2 and forget about the other two.

Already have the O2. And I still love the Sigs.

brat · #**2203** (**permalink**) 07-26-2008, 06:52 PM

Quote:

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.

My respect to your experience with all STAX products but it's hard to believe that such a serious company will not design and test very carefully every product and especially their top end product. It's ridiculous.
If some of us don't like the O2 mk2 it's not a fault of the STAX engineers but what they intend to make. Maybe the so called midbass hump is just a response to the hype taste.
In fact I don't find a problem with the midbass. I find my SR-007mk2+SRM-727II system very linear.
My only complaints are about the missing deep bass (below 25Hz maybe). But it concerns about 0.1% of my music collection.

*spritzer* · #**2204** (**permalink**) 07-26-2008, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brat

My respect to your experience with all STAX products but it's hard to believe that such a serious company will not design and test very carefully every product and especially their top end product. It's ridiculous.
If some of us don't like the O2 mk2 it's not a fault of the STAX engineers but what they intend to make. Maybe the so called midbass hump is just a response to the hype taste.
In fact I don't find a problem with the midbass. I find my SR-007mk2+SRM-727II system very linear.
My only complaints are about the missing deep bass (below 25Hz maybe). But it concerns about 0.1% of my music collection.

Engineers can be deceptively stupid sometimes but Stax has been known to make a lemon or two over the years. The 727 for instance is an abomination compared to the 717 but it has no NFB.

Did they intend to make a worse product then the predecessor? Not a chance but it happens but change something and it can all fall apart. It's not all bad as they have finally fixed the SRM-3/313 mess with the 323 which is as good as the SRM-1 if not better.

As I covered before, Stax had to fix these issues and they took the route they deemed best. Two of them involved "compromising the design" as I like to say since they had to increase the size of the ear cavity (also position the drivers further way from the head) and get rid of the squealing. Enlarge the ear cavity and you open up a Pandora's box of issues and keeping the drivers sealed off is a needed to make them more linear by keeping the damping a constant. I just worked on the SR-Omega/007 hybrid yesterday and fully sealing off the drivers has brought a very positive change in bass depth and lack of overhang.

diebenkorn · #**2205** (**permalink**) 07-26-2008, 09:10 PM

looks like I am going to join the kgss and 02 clan. Just heard then in NJ (vinylspinner) very nice tried to sell my lamba sigs and pros but no takers.

*GPH* · #**2206** (**permalink**) 07-26-2008, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diebenkorn

looks like I am going to join the kgss and 02 clan. Just heard then in NJ (vinylspinner) very nice tried to sell my lamba sigs and pros but no takers.

Good luck in finding a KGSS, Justin doesn't make them anymore and it took about 3 weeks before someone replied to my WTB ad on Head-fi.

*aardvark baguette* · #**2207** (**permalink**) 07-26-2008, 09:25 PM

Woo Audio?

*spritzer* · #**2208** (**permalink**) 07-26-2008, 10:02 PM

Since I was uploading photos I thought you might like this one.

Me going a bit crazy on the blutack...

I ended up removing most of it in the end but that's about one normal package in each earcup

diebenkorn · #**2209** (**permalink**) 07-26-2008, 11:19 PM

woo hoo

dvse · #**2210** (**permalink**) 07-27-2008, 03:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spritzer

Since I was uploading photos I thought you might like this one.
Me going a bit crazy on the blutack...

I ended up removing most of it in the end but that's about one normal package in each earcup

How did it affect the sound? This is an interesting experiment on how important sealing really is!

Er... Never mind, just read your earlier post. Nevertheless, any further comments would be welcome.

*spritzer* · #**2211** (**permalink**) 07-27-2008, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dvse

How did it affect the sound? This is an interesting experiment on how important sealing really is!

Er... Never mind, just read your earlier post. Nevertheless, any further comments would be welcome.

The only bit that was really necessary is around the brass rings to block the small holes. The rest was for vibration damping of the chassis as it may appear solid but it is very thin.

The bass is indeed much more linear but the treble also opened up and the midrange is now very similar to the 007 Mk1. I really like this headphone as it is a pleasant change from the Mk1 but doesn't suck like the stock A/Mk2.

*catscratch* · #**2212** (**permalink**) 07-27-2008, 09:05 PM

How's the midrange on the modded Mk2? Is it still colder than the Mk1? Also, is it possible to bend, bash, hammer, or otherwise mod the Mk2 springs to get them to resemble Mk1 springs?

Not that I'll probably do this since I intend to sell my Mk2, and I want it to stay as pristine as possible. But, I'm very much curious.

brat · #**2213** (**permalink**) 07-28-2008, 04:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spritzer

Engineers can be deceptively stupid sometimes but Stax has been known to make a lemon or two over the years. The 727 for instance is an abomination compared to the 717 but it has no NFB.

Did they intend to make a worse product then the predecessor? Not a chance but it happens but change something and it can all fall apart. It's not all bad as they have finally fixed the SRM-3/313 mess with the 323 which is as good as the SRM-1 if not better.

As I covered before, Stax had to fix these issues and they took the route they deemed best. Two of them involved "compromising the design" as I like to say since they had to increase the size of the ear cavity (also position the drivers further way from the head) and get rid of the squealing. Enlarge the ear cavity and you open up a Pandora's box of issues and keeping the drivers sealed off is a needed to make them more linear by keeping the damping a constant. I just worked on the SR-Omega/007 hybrid yesterday and fully sealing off the drivers has brought a very positive change in bass depth and lack of overhang.

Thanks.
I'm impatient for my future O2 mk3. And I really hope they will not be the worse STAX product ever made. I believe the continuous regress of the Omega-line will be finally interrupted.

Arthur Bishop · #**2214** (**permalink**) 07-28-2008, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brat

Thanks.
I'm impatient for my future O2 mk3. And I really hope they will not be the worse STAX product ever made. I believe the continuous regress of the Omega-line will be finally interrupted.

I don't believe there will be a O2 Mk3 but an O3, brand new with a new head band design.

Anders · #**2215** (**permalink**) 07-28-2008, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spritzer

The bass is indeed much more linear but the treble also opened up and the midrange is now very similar to the 007 Mk1. I really like this headphone as it is a pleasant change from the Mk1 but doesn't suck like the stock A/Mk2.

Would that mean that SR-007 A/Mk2 is the the best buy now? I haven't heard them and it is possible that I would like the sucking stock A/Mk2 best. If not, I can mod it into a good sounding headphone.

*spritzer* · #**2216** (**permalink**) 07-28-2008, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catscratch

How's the midrange on the modded Mk2? Is it still colder than the Mk1? Also, is it possible to bend, bash, hammer, or otherwise mod the Mk2 springs to get them to resemble Mk1 springs?

Not that I'll probably do this since I intend to sell my Mk2, and I want it to stay as pristine as possible. But, I'm very much curious.

It is still cold and slightly strident but also more forward then the Mk1. Next step is to try Mk1 earpads to try and isolate the problem. Dunno when I'll have the time though...

The springs can be manipulated and modded but I'm also going to see if I can get them manufactured to my specs. There is less wire in the Mk2 units so it will never able to be a full circle after mods.

Quote:

Originally Posted by brat

Thanks.
I'm impatient for my future O2 mk3. And I really hope they will not be the worse STAX product ever made. I believe the continuous regress of the Omega-line will be finally interrupted.

There is no downturn of the Omega's as the SR-007 Mk1 is the best headphone ever made from a design standpoint. Stax made some bad calls with the Mk2/A IMO and most other Stax enthusiast feel the same way but that doesn't mean it is a bad headphone, just not as good as it should be. I'm not looking for perfection and newer isn't always better when it comes to Stax. I much prefer the SR-1 and SR-3 to the rest of the SR-# range, SR-Lambda and Lambda Signature to all of the other Lambdas and the SR-Sigma to the Sigma Pro.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anders

Would that mean that SR-007 A/Mk2 is the the best buy now? I haven't heard them and it is possible that I would like the sucking stock A/Mk2 best. If not, I can mod it into a good sounding headphone.

I would rather buy a used Mk1 for less dough. You might like Mk2/A but even the mods don't make them as good as the Mk1. The A/mk2 faults bother me as much as the issues I had with the He90 and when not trying to fix them they sit unused in my display case.