The Headcase Stax thread

[Elephas]

I don't have the Ultrasone Edition 9, and am not very interested in it.

The W5000+HA5000 is very good, but can't compete against the O2/HE60/4070 + KGSS. I don't have the SR-404, so haven't tried it with the KGSS. The SR-SC1 benefits less from the KGSS and I think it does reasonably well with the SRM-T1W.

I would consider a 404+006tII system a step below the W5000+HA5000, while the SR-SC1+KGSS should be roughly equivalent. Note that the 404+006tII system I heard was at a shop and the source was a Lavry DA10.

I doubt slwiser heard the same W5000+HA5000 as me. :P I use an Isotek power conditioner, a custom 100V step-down transformer, selected cables, and either the Chord DAC64 or Accuphase DP-500 as source. I believe he has the Lavry DA10, which I also have and which I don't use with the W5000+HA5000.

I don't believe my W5000+HA5000 system is "best," but I think another W5000+HA5000 system will require a better source and a lot more time and money spent on experimentation to beat it.

[spritzer]

Originally Posted by mapstec

Got a question:

what would you pay for a SRM - 1/MK-2 with a Lambda Pro?
what would you pay for a SRM Monitor?
Would either amp be "better" then the SRM252?

The Monitor is anybody's guess as they are a SRM-1 Mk2 with the horrible diffusefield eq built in but people bid like crazy on these things. The SRM-1 Mk2 is a better amp then the SRM-252 but it depends on which version of the amp you would buy. There are A, B and C revisions with significant variations depending on when they were built.

[Nanoha]

Originally Posted by spritzer

The SRM-1 Mk2 is a better amp then the SRM-252 but it depends on which version of the amp you would buy. There are A, B and C revisions with significant variations depending on when they were built.

Oh! There are multiple revisions of the SRM-1/MKII? Interesting!

[Cosmopragma]

Originally Posted by mapstec

Got a question:

what would you pay for a SRM - 1/MK-2 with a Lambda Pro?
what would you pay for a SRM Monitor?
Would either amp be "better" then the SRM252?

I guess your post is referred to the ebay.de auctions.
If so :
The Lambdas are probably no Lambda Pro since they do look different from my pair.Mine have no printed lettering at the sides.Ask one of the collectors which Lambda incarnation they actually are.The Pro has usually a higher market value than other vintage Lambdas.
The protective foam is obviously deteriorated but that's quite normal for old pairs.Usually the old pads are hardened and must be replaced, and replacement pads/foam are often sold as bundles anyway.
Spritzer might know which variety it exactly is (he's one of those crazy collectors), and he's the odd man out that detests the Pro so he might even value another variety higher.

[spritzer]

I'm not crazy... much...

If you are talking about that combo with a silver SRM-1 Mk2 then that is a real Lambda Pro. It says Professional on the top of the earcups so they are the real deal. If yours are unmarked then they are Normal bias Lambdas that could have been upgraded as they are the only Lambdas with unmarked top plates.

Regarding the Pro's then I'm far from the only one that doesn't like them. They were slammed by the reviews back in the early 80's but seeing that there was no competition they sold a huge number of them.

[Cosmopragma]

Originally Posted by spritzer

I'm not crazy... much...

If you are talking about that combo with a silver SRM-1 Mk2 then that is a real Lambda Pro. It says Professional on the top of the earcups so they are the real deal. If yours are unmarked then they are Normal bias Lambdas that could have been upgraded as they are the only Lambdas with unmarked top plates.

Oh, I've misinterpreted the pics at my first quick glance.
I've thought the imprint is at the sides but a closer look revealed it's really at the top and mine are the same.

Regarding the Pro's then I'm far from the only one that doesn't like them. They were slammed by the reviews back in the early 80's but seeing that there was no competition they sold a huge number of them.

Originally I did like the modern SR-303 I also own better but during the last months the specific sound grew on me.The old Pros do provide more "body" and are therefor better suited for rock music IMO.
In the end it doesn't matter though since the Omegas do get 90 % of my listening time at home anyway.

[slwiser]

This has been some of the best and most detail discussion about Stax headphones I have ever read. Mostly before the impressions were always that Stax is the best. Therefore, I had always kept my distance from them. Given this type of discussion I can understand more what each has to offer and what people see in some of them.

[spritzer]

Originally Posted by Cosmopragma

Oh, I've misinterpreted the pics at my first quick glance.
I've thought the imprint is at the sides but a closer look revealed it's really at the top and mine are the same.

I was a bit worried that you had a Lambda Pro Classic as they are often sold in Germany as the real thing. I like the Pro Classic/Spirit though, maybe even more then the normal Pro's.

Originally Posted by Cosmopragma

Originally I did like the modern SR-303 I also own better but during the last months the specific sound grew on me.The old Pros do provide more "body" and are therefor better suited for rock music IMO.
In the end it doesn't matter though since the Omegas do get 90 % of my listening time at home anyway.

The Normal Lambdas are even better at doing the rock thing with the 2um diaphragms.

[milkpowder]

So thicker diaphragms = better for rock?

[spritzer]

Originally Posted by milkpowder

So thicker diaphragms = better for rock?

They can be if everything else is equal as thicker diaphragms give the bass more thump and an open backed SR-lambda does plenty of that. The fiber glass muddles it up a bit though

[Nanoha]

Originally Posted by spritzer

The SRM-1 Mk2 is a better amp then the SRM-252 but it depends on which version of the amp you would buy. There are A, B and C revisions with significant variations depending on when they were built.

Would it be safe to assume that the later revisions (C) are better?

[milkpowder]

Yup. I remember reading something like that in Jahn's Curse You Head-Fi thread. High S/N revision Cs are meant to be the best. IIRC, I vaguely remember the post 6xxx S/Ns to be the best?

Auctions rarely state the S/Ns, so it's never a stupid idea to ask.

[spritzer]

There were some slight changes in the 12 year lifespan of the SRM-1 Mk2. The boards were slightly altered, components upgraded and the internal wiring upgraded to the PC-OCC stuff used in the T1. There were also 4 different versions of the SRM-1 Mk2, normal bias only, Pro with one pro bias socket and one normal, P.P. with two pro sockets and ATR with two pro sockets and a stepped attenuator for the pro market.

Originally Posted by Nanoha

Would it be safe to assume that the later revisions (C) are better?

C with a very high (5500>) serial number should be the best

[Nanoha]

Originally Posted by spritzer

ATR with two pro sockets and a stepped attenuator for the pro market.

Oh! I haven't seen that before. Interesting!

[milkpowder]

Is the T1 still the better amp? I'm thinking of getting a T1 or 007t (maybe the former because it's much cheaper).

[Duggeh]

Pah just wait for a KGSS or KGBH milkpowder, you only got an HE60 anyway, you can run one of those from an SRM-001 with flat dry cell batteries!

[milkpowder]

I'm waiting for KGST (Justin says it's coming next year along with an upgraded KGSS!) and maybe an O2 after that. I'll be in heaven then. Need to find a way to make some money though....

[Duggeh]

You need to craftily sell things you buy on ebay for more than you paid after tidying them up, and work a few crappy jobs about the place.

I'm going further speaker-fi all the time, I think its a matter of time before theres downsizing of the collection to the all important ones. The O2 and the Surrounder.

[Nanoha]

Originally Posted by milkpowder

I'm waiting for KGST (Justin says it's coming next year along with an upgraded KGSS!) and maybe an O2 after that. I'll be in heaven then. Need to find a way to make some money though....

By the way, milkpowder, how are you liking the HE60 out of the 006t? I had planned on creating a very similar rig (T1 -> HE60), but recent financial troubles are creating some doubts. I was wondering if you could provide some thoughts on how other dynamic headphone rigs you've heard in the past compare.

[Duggeh]

What does KGST stand for anyway?