The Headcase Stax thread

[catscratch]

Well, I may have gotten my hands on an O2 Mk1. So, that means that I may have both in time to do some back to back listening. The Mk2 already found a buyer but it won't switch hands for two weeks or so.

Will be interesting to hear what's what, assuming the deal on the Mk1 works out.

Of course, then begins the hunt for an amp. I've sort of warmed up to the solid state idea, but still need to decide on KGSS vs 717. I do like a warmer tonality, so the 717 sounds a bit more appealing (that, and it's cheaper). I would consider a Woo GES but I need dual volume controls and I don't think it has that...

Is any of that going to do a better job than the SRD-7 Pro/Dared combo I already have? Or should I just suck it up and start DIYing that Blue Hawaii I've been thinking of?

[catscratch]

OK, scratch that. Blech!

Anyone got an O2 Mk1 in spankin' new condition they want to sell me?

[MaloS]

Heh...here we go again.

I am contemplating either building KGSS or Blue Hawaii...former is far more attractive because it is like 1/2 the price and much easier. If things go well, I might build it while in NJ - I want to do mini-millet first, for which parts have not been delivered for yet.

[luvdunhill]

Originally Posted by MaloS

Heh...here we go again.

I am contemplating either building KGSS or Blue Hawaii...former is far more attractive because it is like 1/2 the price and much easier. If things go well, I might build it while in NJ - I want to do mini-millet first, for which parts have not been delivered for yet.

you dodged my post quite nicely over at Head-Fi in the DIY section. All of a sudden the KGSS is cheaper and easier?

[spritzer]

Originally Posted by catscratch

Well, I may have gotten my hands on an O2 Mk1. So, that means that I may have both in time to do some back to back listening. The Mk2 already found a buyer but it won't switch hands for two weeks or so.

Will be interesting to hear what's what, assuming the deal on the Mk1 works out.

Of course, then begins the hunt for an amp. I've sort of warmed up to the solid state idea, but still need to decide on KGSS vs 717. I do like a warmer tonality, so the 717 sounds a bit more appealing (that, and it's cheaper). I would consider a Woo GES but I need dual volume controls and I don't think it has that...

Is any of that going to do a better job than the SRD-7 Pro/Dared combo I already have? Or should I just suck it up and start DIYing that Blue Hawaii I've been thinking of?

It looks like my SR-007A is going up for sale too as I just can't see any reason to keep them. The midrange is still too honky, cold and harsh and I have 3 other different yet very good Omegas to choose from. I will be sad to see them go though and the other phones I never use...

I would start off with a 717 and see if you like it. I'm going to get one too for my computer rig and to make it easier to answer all those damn 717 related questions. I haven't heard the Dared but the SRD's can't feed the Omega lineup with enough power, no matter the amp.

Originally Posted by luvdunhill

you dodged my post quite nicely over at Head-Fi in the DIY section. All of a sudden the KGSS is cheaper and easier?

No filaments man!!!

[deepak]

Originally Posted by luvdunhill

you dodged my post quite nicely over at Head-Fi in the DIY section. All of a sudden the KGSS is cheaper and easier?

... my sentiments as well. I wonder if he knows about the hard to source parts...

[catscratch]

Originally Posted by spritzer

It looks like my SR-007A is going up for sale too as I just can't see any reason to keep them. The midrange is still too honky, cold and harsh and I have 3 other different yet very good Omegas to choose from. I will be sad to see them go though and the other phones I never use...

I would start off with a 717 and see if you like it. I'm going to get one too for my computer rig and to make it easier to answer all those damn 717 related questions. I haven't heard the Dared but the SRD's can't feed the Omega lineup with enough power, no matter the amp.

Yeah, I'm a tube man through and through, and I have a feeling that the KGSS would be a bit too clinical for my tastes. It seems to me that a 717 not only has the right price to performance ratio, but is also a very good stepping stone for my project this fall - building a Blue Hawaii.

Originally Posted by MaloS

Heh...here we go again.

I am contemplating either building KGSS or Blue Hawaii...former is far more attractive because it is like 1/2 the price and much easier. If things go well, I might build it while in NJ - I want to do mini-millet first, for which parts have not been delivered for yet.

Nah, it shouldn't take too much time to put a new rig together, so you will still have something to listen to while you're here

[MaloS]

Originally Posted by deepak

... my sentiments as well. I wonder if he knows about the hard to source parts...

I am aware...although don't tell me the difficulty of finding them is just going to drive the costs up substantially :-(.

[spritzer]

It's not going to make it any cheaper, that's for sure. You should also stock up on spare parts since if something goes wrong odds are you will get a nice fireworks show with resistors flying all over the place.

[MaloS]

Originally Posted by spritzer

It's not going to make it any cheaper, that's for sure. You should also stock up on spare parts since if something goes wrong odds are you will get a nice fireworks show with resistors flying all over the place.

Hmmmmm...risk of resistors flying all over the place might warrant doing it with the bigger, filament-crawling amp. At least if things go wrong, the fireworks are bigger.

[luvdunhill]

Originally Posted by spritzer

No filaments man!!!

my heater beast of doom is nearing completion... swt61 got to catch a glimpse of it.

[spritzer]

Originally Posted by MaloS

Hmmmmm...risk of resistors flying all over the place might warrant doing it with the bigger, filament-crawling amp. At least if things go wrong, the fireworks are bigger.

You will be crying if a nice show would take out all those 1968's...

Originally Posted by luvdunhill

my heater beast of doom is nearing completion... swt61 got to catch a glimpse of it.

Lucky you... I've been too busy at work and fixing my backlog of headphones. Hell I still haven't found out what's wrong with the 007t...

[cclragnarok]

Originally Posted by spritzer

Lucky you... I've been too busy at work and fixing my backlog of headphones. Hell I still haven't found out what's wrong with the 007t...

Is it really that messed up?

[MaloS]

Originally Posted by spritzer

You will be crying if a nice show would take out all those 1968's...

That's fine as long as I don't end up with glass in my ears...either way, I guess I will have to get me a shield of bullet-proof glass for testing purposes. That's not helping the costs...

[The Monkey]

Guys, can I improve upon the Electro-Harmonix 6CG7s in my 007tII?

[n_maher]

Vincent, I think there are at least a couple of 6CG7s that people prefer to the EH's, my memory says RCA clear top is one of them. But I'd wait for the Staxies to weigh in on what works best.

[thrice]

Originally Posted by The Monkey

Guys, can I improve upon the Electro-Harmonix 6CG7s in my 007tII?

Get in touch with Hirsch...he tube rolled that amp a lot. I think the best tubes are not what you'd expect...an inexpensive Japanese brand...what were they called?

Raytheon, maybe.... yeah Raytheon brand 6cg7.

Can't say that I've used EH though.

[Tachikoma]

Toshiba, actually.

[ilikebananafudge]

Raytheon is a tactical defense company that has a plant in my hometown, haha.

Also, on an unrelated topic, I had a dream about getting a pair of Stax 'phones last night, they sounded like liquid gold. It was wonderful.

[hirsch]

Originally Posted by thrice

Get in touch with Hirsch...he tube rolled that amp a lot. I think the best tubes are not what you'd expect...an inexpensive Japanese brand...what were they called?

Raytheon, maybe.... yeah Raytheon brand 6cg7.

The best I found were Japanese tubes with a short "box" style plate. They are easily recognizable, as the plates only seem to fill half of the bottle. Some of these were rebranded by Raytheon, but not manufactured by them. I think the actual manufacturer was Toshiba, but it's possible that Toshiba also rebranded them from someone else.

US-made Raytheons have a full-size plate, and are sonically uninspired, IMO.