The Headcase Stax thread

[spritzer]

Hahaha, just what a "regular BH" owner would say.

It would be fun to compare but the older BH has more then an even chance of coming out on top in this comparison. A more thermally stable PSU and the older output stage CCS might have an performance edge. We'll see when I'll compare the BHSE, Kerry's version of the same design and the SOTA Blue Hawaii's I'm working on.

[dreamwhisper]

I remember you saying you can buy the parts for a Blue Hawaii for 1300,
so where can you buy the boards, find the parts list? Sign me up! hah

[spritzer]

I have the last of the older BH boards but they are all spoken for. In fact, I haven't even got enough for all the amps I want to build. Now Kerry has his version of the BHSE but I'm not sure if he has any extra boards.

The amp could be built for 1300$ but it would involve the cheapest parts that fit the job and getting the chassis essentially for free. 2k$ or more would be a more realistic number once you factor in all the components needed for matching, chassis, attenuation, better parts (which this amp deserves) etc.

[dreamwhisper]

NEW development... Ok, so I know where to find a board, I just need a PSU board... how complex is it?
...I know a board designer that might owe me a favour.

[spritzer]

Kerry's version comes with a PSU design but Justin sells the KGSS PSU boards which really are the BH PSU. Just use higher rated capacitors and change the zener string from 350V to 400V.

[jp11801]

ok Stax Mafia I have recently acquired the 4070s and the O2 mkl and they are both outstanding! Right now I am rationalizing keeping both as yesterday I thought the 4070 was better but today the O2 is the clear winner. Don't trust a word I say I tell ya, good thing none of you did anyway.

My O2s though are farty as heck is that just the seal breaking against my slightly sweaty shaved head? Would replacement pads help or do I just need to sit still while I listen? Details abound with both of these Stax, I had hoped to sell one of them but may wind up keeping both for the moment...

[JimP]

congrats on on the 4070 and O2mkI! I know you've just gotten these, I but I would be keen to hear more of your comparative soundbites on the two. Unfortunately I'm at a location where I cannot trial run these in advance. What could be helpful if you could associate them crudely to commonly known dynamics, eg, 4070s sound roughly like [k1000], etc. ... if that's possible at all.

[jp11801]

not really possible they do not really correlate to dynamics easily and comparison was be faulty in that they do not have the faults of dynamics I would compare them to. The k1000 comp to the 4070 leaves out the k1000 bass roll off at about 60hz and the 4070 is more detailed and faster without the peaky upper mids/lower treble. Don;t get me wrong I loved the k1ks but they are no nearly as good as the 4070s to me.

Not sure what you could even remotely compare the O2s to in dynamics as off the top of my head nothing comes to mind.

[Duggeh]

Closest to the O2 I can think of is the L3000 but I didn't have a lot of time with it.

[cetoole]

JP, I used to have a lot more issues with the fart on my o2s, it just doesnt happen anywhere nearly as much anymore, and I am not really doing anything different consciously. Just kinda adjusted to it in the first few weeks.

[jp11801]

Maybe an O2 doorag , stats gansta style

[dreamwhisper]

the O2 out of the 717 seems to me what it wouild be like if an AD2000 and AH-D5000 had babies.
Midrange a little recessed, fat low end (D5000) but the entire frequency range tight as hell and fast. (AD2000)
Nicer soundstage and more transparent than either though- this headphone baby prbly had nutritious food when he was growing up.

the AD2000 borders on stat technicality by sheer speed & impact but it falls short not being able to effortlessly pluck tones out of the air like a Staxen.

this is just the 02 with the 717, I'm sure it's different with other amps

[Audiofiler]

Not sure what you could even remotely compare the O2s to in dynamics as off the top of my head nothing comes to mind.

Not much does..however, the OII MKI's sound somewhat like the HD-800's qualities mixed with the L3000's qualities in certain areas. (Properly amped, of course)

[Questa]

Hey Guys.

What stax phones that sound closest to HE60? I tried HE60 and like it, I found it forward and aggressive, I've never read Stax that talked like that.

[HeadphoneAddict]

Hey Guys.

What stax phones that sound closest to HE60? I tried HE60 and like it, I found it forward and aggressive, I've never read Stax that talked like that.

My aftermarket Smegmafied woodied Gamma Pro. That'll be harder to find than an HE60, so good luck with that.

[Questa]

My aftermarket Smegmafied woodied Gamma Pro. That'll be harder to find than an HE60, so good luck with that.

Thanks HPA, I guess it's now up to smeggy he want to help me or not, do you have pics of it? what other thing you did to that beside woody?

Is a Gamma pro hard to find also?

[Killercrush]

Is a Gamma pro hard to find also?

Yes, they don't pop up so often.

[HeadphoneAddict]

Thanks HPA, I guess it's now up to smeggy he want to help me or not, do you have pics of it? what other thing you did to that beside woody?

Is a Gamma pro hard to find also?

I'll try to find the links to the photos around here somewhere. It took me a while to find a Gamma Pro. I bought one from Spritzer and then sold it a month later (I think to Smeggy) because I originally liked the SR-5 gold edition and SR-Lambda more than the stock Gamma Pro. And then when he agreed to build a Smegma Pro for me it took me a couple of months to find another pair for $350 + shipping from Australia, and after six months of not bugging him to get it done they were here. I also had to supply the O2 Mk1 pads, and shipping, for almost $600 total invested with shipping (not including an orthodynamic gift that I sent him to keep). The Smegma Pro is much better than stock and I now prefer it over the SR-5 gold edition or SR-Lambda. As a bonus, the Smegma Pro sounds better out of my Senn HEV70 amp in my bedroom rig than the HE60 do. I still listen to them after 14 months, with no intention of parting with them.

It may be easier to find a Koss ESP-950 and put a Stax PC-OCC cable on it. However that's more forward and aggressive than the HE60 or Smegma Pro, with a smaller soundstage to boot. I thought my APS modded 950's (bought from Spritzer) sounded a little bit like an electrostatic RS-1 (both gone now).

PS: Found a photo:

[n3rdling]

Why all the back story?

Nice work smeggster, looks nice

[The Monkey]

If you want an HE60, then that's what you should get. Stax 'phones are Stax.