The Headcase Stax thread

[spritzer]

That could most certainly be it. The SR-007 takes no prisoners when it comes to sources and cables so the Dared could be glossing over things which the SRD-7 does even more of. Capacitors in the signal path and transformers stepping down and up again will sound very different to a DC coupled SS amp.

[MaloS]

When I listened there, Dared made things sound pretty damn bright, with lots of heat going on in the midrange and up...for me that just tensed me too much, i'll take somewhat softened treble over the heat when listening alot.

[catscratch]

Originally Posted by MaloS

When I listened there, Dared made things sound pretty damn bright, with lots of heat going on in the midrange and up...for me that just tensed me too much, i'll take somewhat softened treble over the heat when listening alot.

Eh, I think you've been listening to the SR-005 too much. Compared to that, sure, the O2/Dared is bright. But compared to something more neutral, not really.

The O2/717 is much closer to the tonality of the SR-003. With the SRD-7/Dared, it's closer to a K340, but still not quite as bright. You'll probably like the O2/717 sound a lot.

Originally Posted by spritzer

That could most certainly be it. The SR-007 takes no prisoners when it comes to sources and cables so the Dared could be glossing over things which the SRD-7 does even more of. Capacitors in the signal path and transformers stepping down and up again will sound very different to a DC coupled SS amp.

I wouldn't use the word "could" since that's certainly it. But, when I listen to my rig, I don't want to hear how shit my source is. I just want to relax and enjoy the music. I know how shit my source is, I've been using it for over 3 years.

The 717 will stay until I get a new source, that's for damn sure. Then, we'll see what's what.

Originally Posted by spritzer

Great comparison and a tube head will always be a tube head... You are how ever in a bit of a pickle though there are a couple more options plus those that you listed, the new amp that Woo will release soon (which I know nothing about) and a better transformer box. Fixing the McAlister would be my first step though so what's wrong with it?

My first guess would be: a lot. I haven't powered the damn thing up in a while, but it basically clips during dynamic passages. Any time you get something that hits hard, like a peak in an orchestral recording or a serious bassline in electronic music, you get clipping. I'm going to check it again with the SR-003 (and so help me, the SR-007) and see what's what. It was doing that from the start.

[spritzer]

Originally Posted by catscratch

I wouldn't use the word "could" since that's certainly it. But, when I listen to my rig, I don't want to hear how shit my source is. I just want to relax and enjoy the music. I know how shit my source is, I've been using it for over 3 years.

The 717 will stay until I get a new source, that's for damn sure. Then, we'll see what's what.

Here I was trying to be all diplomatic and shit... Nice to know you aren't in denial but enjoyment should come first, all else be damned. Get a new source though... the SR-007 is worth it.

Originally Posted by catscratch

My first guess would be: a lot. I haven't powered the damn thing up in a while, but it basically clips during dynamic passages. Any time you get something that hits hard, like a peak in an orchestral recording or a serious bassline in electronic music, you get clipping. I'm going to check it again with the SR-003 (and so help me, the SR-007) and see what's what. It was doing that from the start.

I'm guessing that this is a design issue and not related to a faulty part or something like that. It would be cool to see some internal pics as something could look out of place.

[deepak]

I'm curious what the problem with the McAlister is as well. Maybe opening it up and posting high resolution pictures of the inside might get you some advice from DIY'ers?

[catscratch]

I don't want it diplomatic, I want it right between the eyes. I'm one heck of a lot less diplomatic IRL than online, which makes me... just about the complete opposite of 99.9% of the population. I tell the truth, and usually that gets me into trouble. Oh well...

I'll post high rez pics in a few days, but you'd better hold onto your lunch. It ain't pretty.

[EdipisReks]

Originally Posted by catscratch

I don't want it diplomatic

YOU ARE A WHORE AND I HOPE YOU DIE.

[MaloS]

Originally Posted by EdipisReks

YOU ARE A WHORE AND I HOPE YOU DIE.

He's been working on it for a while, oh believe me there.

[MaloS]

Originally Posted by catscratch

Eh, I think you've been listening to the SR-005 too much. Compared to that, sure, the O2/Dared is bright. But compared to something more neutral, not really.

Blame SRS-005a for my ability to hear higher frequencies ;-).

[spritzer]

Originally Posted by catscratch

I don't want it diplomatic, I want it right between the eyes. I'm one heck of a lot less diplomatic IRL than online, which makes me... just about the complete opposite of 99.9% of the population. I tell the truth, and usually that gets me into trouble. Oh well...

I'll post high rez pics in a few days, but you'd better hold onto your lunch. It ain't pretty.

Being diplomatic is so HF... so fuck that!!!

Can't wait to see some pix.

[Asr]

So I read on Head-Fi that the Woo GES isn't ideal for the OII. So I take it it'd be a waste of time & money to try with my MKII anyway? I was considering trying out the GES until I read that. Would the Raytheon 12BZ7s help any?

What would be the best Stax amps to pair up with the MKII instead? SRM-727tII? 007tII?

[spritzer]

Originally Posted by Asr

So I read on Head-Fi that the Woo GES isn't ideal for the OII. So I take it it'd be a waste of time & money to try with my MKII anyway? I was considering trying out the GES until I read that. Would the Raytheon 12BZ7s help any?

What would be the best Stax amps to pair up with the MKII instead? SRM-727tII? 007tII?

The 007 Mk2 is more forward sounding then the Mk1 so it apears to be easier to driver but they really aren't. I've never tried the GES so I have no idea how it will fair but on paper it would struggle. The 12BZ7's aren't the output tubes so they won't make any difference here. You could have Woo upgrade the PSU and use something larger as output tubes but it looks like they are already going in that direction...

I didn't like either one of the new Stax TOTL amps so I would track down a 717.

[deepak]

Originally Posted by woo email from headfi

It would be a 2 box design (an AMP stack on a PSU), exposed tubes, standard
chassis size, running on 4 EL34 power tubes, 4 6SL7 drivers and 2 5AR4
rectifiers. A very rough estimated price would be $3000 to $4000. I am
hoping a prototype be completed in 2 months time frame.

.

[Anders]

I think the 717 is a very good amp, especially at used price. It is a neutral amp without any harshness or other treble artifacts . It has a very slight warmth but does not add any artificial warmth (with my Reimyo DAC). It will reveal source weakness but that must not necessarily sound bad if there is some synergy!

My main complaint with the 717 is that it has somewhat limited output power and does not drive the O2 to its full potential. It drives HE60 and the 404's much better than the 007t amp and I think the 717 has fully adequate driving power for these headphones. But I still think that the 717 is very good with O2's but it is a little lacking in bass that is not hitting hard enough and too soft and uncontrolled. That also makes the overall presentation lacking some impact.

I don't like the O2 with 007t although it works more or less well depending on type of music (hint: bass content). I think that 007t with Electro-Harmonix tubes sounded better with O2 than with 404 and HE60. The tube brightness was not so apparent with O2 as with the other headphones but I finally swithched back to Raytheon because the EH are too bright with the lesser headphones and to the extent I will use the 007t it will be with HE60 and Lambda type headphones. The somewhat eyuphonic character of the Raytheons can also be a nice complement to the much more netral 717.

Both 007t and 717 sound better with the balanced input. I don't know if it depends on the amplifier design or that the balanced output on the DAC is better (my unbalanced cables should be at least as good as my balanced).

The new Woo offering is interesting indeeed. The same output tubes as the Blue Hawaii should give it adequate driving power. Headamp electrostatic amps are currently unavailable (at least for most of us) and I hope Woo will make a really good amplifier. But the 717 should definitely be the best value for money.

[spritzer]

Originally Posted by Anders

The same output tubes as the Blue Hawaii should give it adequate driving power.

The tubes used are only a part of the puzzle and the key behind the BH isn't the output tubes but how they are used. I'm certain that we will get detailed internal pics from Woo when the time comes (it's called having nothing to hide ) and then we can see what design they based this amp on.

[Anders]

It was just a glimpse of hope, it is always possible to fuck up with a design. An a second thought, it might weight 40 + 40 pound like WA5 and then I am probably not interested. Oops, it was only 35 + 40 pound lbs, at least for the light edition (LE).

[spritzer]

More weight is always better when it comes to amps and tube amps in particular. Transformers need to be fairly big to start with...

[brat]

Originally Posted by Anders

But I still think that the 717 is very good with O2's but it is a little lacking in bass that is not hitting hard enough and too soft and uncontrolled.

If you read carefully all Stax threads you will know that O2mk1 is the Omega with the right bass.

[spritzer]

Originally Posted by brat

If you read carefully all Stax threads you will know that O2mk1 is the Omega with the right bass.

That would be correct but the SR-Omega isn't that much worse, a bit woolly and uncontrolled at high volume levels but that's it.

[Anders]

Originally Posted by brat

If you read carefully all Stax threads you will know that O2mk1 is the Omega with the right bass.

What is written in the threads is not audible. I was a little careless regarding model number, I have the 007 Mk 1. I don't mean that bass is insufficient in volume but it is sometimes a little uncontrolled and not tight enough. That is not easy to evaluate because the reproduction from most headphone / amp combos understate the deep and round content of bass and that is very well reproduced by the 007 Mk 1. But I still think that it lacks some control, tightness and could be more hard-hitting. I believe that the weak point is primarily on the amplification side and feel not sure if Mk 1 is the best alternative just now because amplifiers that are better than 717 are not available for the moment. But I have not heard Mk 2 (007A).

My reluctance of headphone amplifiers with a weight of 80 pounds is philosophical rather than technological, but I am skeptical of the necessity.