Headphone Amplification

http://vivaaudio.com/en/products/egoista-stx/ Came across this amp, anyone know of it or heard it?

This was introduced at High End 2025 in Munich and here is a blurb about it There are no internal pictures at all but it sure looks like they stole some of our Megatron here. Yeah, if that is the case, that is not okey. At first I didn't know what driver tubes were used and since those look a bit like 6N6pi's... I thought "well that is stupid but it might kinda work if used with some transformers". No... it is far worse. Single tetrodes, likely triode strapped, so are they trying to out compete the Woo WES for the worst all tube electrostatic amp design...or maybe the Triode H1? Time will tell but there simply aren't enough tubes here if the EL34's are used a…

Per a ravenous consumer on HF, Justin is making an upgrade version of the BH - any clues? Justin, would you comment?

Damn you LAiV. Just after I’m satisfied with your Harmony µDDC and µDAC you release a new, cheap combo DAC-headphone amp. Yo Rob!

Does anyone know if the Headroom Portable Desktop Amp is center pin negative or positive?

Theres a new hybrid versions out ...would be great to get Spritzers or Kevin's view on it...https://wooaudio.com/amplifiers/3es

This week I was browsing the net and I came across this: http://bbs.erji.net/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=2239622 Now it is all in Chinese but these were the first pictures of the insides of the Woo Audio 3ES. This was an amp I never really paid any attention to, I'm so fedup with Woo and their sub-par crap, but finding internal pics does warrant a look. First off the pics aren't great but at least there are some schematics there and we need to try to verify they are correct. We have no further info than this as I can't find any more internal pics, so this is what know at this point. First the PSU: Now, nothing new here, same old …

details -> scheme -> psu -> >Max output voltage: 280Vrms It doesn't seem like a very powerful thing. What do you think?

Hi, First post here. I am curious about building an electrostat HPA as I only have an SRD7 Mk2. I am interested in some of Kevin Gilmore's designs like the KGSSHV variants and the T2, but the legend about the KGSSHV seems to ring true that it is hard to build and hard to learn about. Is there somewhere I can read about these different designs in white paper format like Nelson Pass does with the First Watt amps? I can't even find schematics or a BOM. It's truly a nightmare, and I don't want to endlessly bother spritzer with questions. Frankly, I am not totally sure of the "authorship" of each of these amps which makes it harder to research. I was considering firs…

so what do we have here stax 717 in a huge metal case now the weight has increased from 5 kg to 11 kg it seems like the case is made well, all the places for fastenings are made accurately the main thing is that it works

Hi all I just sold my SRM-717 to a Stax 009 user. As it landed at his place, he also had a loan Woo Audio GES to try out. I remember back in 2009-2011 there was a lot of posts from users about that amp, but now it has tailed right off. How does the GES stack up today against Stat amps at that price range (Stax SRM-007t or 727). Thinking the 009 is more efficient, maybe it will be a good match? Is the GES an adaption of a KG design? I spotted this on the Woo web page: Schematic re-engineering is based on Dr. Gilmore's design.

I have a CCS modded Stax SR-006t from Mjolnir Audio that stopped working back in September. For a few weeks I would get no sound until I turned it off and on, but now I get nothing. I've tried multiple sources and cables but no dice. I tested the DC offset between + and - of both channels and between the bias and both channels' - line. After that I tested the AC voltage playing a 1khz signal and followed it from the inputs to the vol control and got nothing. Spritzer repaired it back in April of 2023. The HV- line wasn't working due to a failed resistor and a capacitor was starting to fail. At the time the left channel was much quieter and had a buzzing noise before …

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Reference Amplifier for Electrostatic --------->>>>>>>> what do you think? does it look good or bad? found this on the net today

Hi Everyone, Just got promoted and my Birthday is coming up soon, So I’d like to treat myself with a new Amp. I've just bought a Sennheiser HD 800s Headphones and I'm looking for an Amp to pair it with. Please note the following before answering my question. 1- I have a Marantz Cinema 30 AV Receiver supposedly a top-of-the-line unit that has a built-in DAC. 2- I will mainly use the Headphones for 80% Watching Movies, Football, Sports & 20% for Music " Heavy Metal, Rock and Movies Soundtracks". My Question, 1- Which Amp do you recommend to connect to my Marantz Cinema 30 and my Sennheiser HD 800s Headphones? 2- Is the DAC in the Marantz sufficient or …

I have the standard old school Stax SR X Mk3 , SRD 7 set up. What would be another amp to upgrade to? Thanks.

I tried to collect some pictures of the super popular high end headphone amplifier Riviera aic10, wishing for some engineering insight and professional assessment.

This looks interesting...

Hi y'all, Got my entry ticket into the Stax world in the beginning of 2018 with a Lambda Signature SR-407 earspeakers / SRM-T1S energizer combo. Got them from a Japanese seller and therefore I'm having to use a 100V step-down transformer for Japanese electronics here in Brazil (power outlets at home are 127V, 60 Hz). Only recently got the nerve to open the energizer to remove some dust and check the components (a bit scared of touching those big-ass 100 uF caps, but an anti-static brush and a lens cleaning blower sort of did the job). As far as I could see, all components seem original: The tubes are Gold Aero 6CG7's, Stax Signature selection. I understa…

I tried to adjust tvr-1 and tvr-2 in srm-727, it seems tvr-1 is in 2-stage and tvr-2 is in first stage. I tried with traditional method which I was using in T1, measure R+/R- dc voltage and adjust tvr-2, measure R+ and ground then adjust tvr-1, both set to about 0 but found the amp stopped working. Then I restored to original value, the amp works again. Does any know the correct way to adjust tvr-1 and tvr-2 in SRM-727? Thanks. I also found 727 is a good paring with hifiman jade 2.

https://estatron.com/collections/all Somebody who studied Head Case is now building and selling a 'stat energizer. Kind of interesting because it's only $160. Worth it?

Hi all, I am hoping you can get me back on the right track in the world of Stax. A while ago I bought from Japan an SRD-7 mk2, a SRM-T1S, a Lambda SR Pro and a Lambda SR Signature Pro headset. The SRD-7 was bought just as an experiment, I did not really expect much from it. Besides I had read that the SRM-T1S should be better. However, from day one I have felt that the SRD7 mk2, coupled to a Pioneer M-22 power amp and a Pioneer C-21 preamp sounds much fuller/dynamic/better lower end compared to the SRM-T1S. The SRM-T1S seems flat or lifeless in comparison. I was sure there was something wrong with it, it is an old amp after all. I tried biasing to no effect. …

Hi! I am renewing 25-years 717's and I observe strange things: I noticed a lot of wet places - as if sweaty - I suspect it has something to do with high voltage, have you noticed such symptoms in your old Stax? It's probably old flux - but these are places where it shouldn't be - output sockets, bottom of heat sinks (between PCBs). The second issue - how does the output protection system work - it draws voltages only from two outputs +L and +P? Because that's what I saw on PCB. What are the soldering points marked 81,82, 83 and Test: R,L,V for? I know that Kevi n had a diagram of this system somewhere, but it is no longer available .

I have tried every possibility to optimize the circuit, but finally STAX has chosen the worst one. I'm pretty sure that STAX has gone with SMDs, it all fine, most parts in working will not generate lots heat, also SMDs significantly reduces the distributed inductance caused by PCB board through holes. ...... there some analyze and questions: 1, 4 large sized 7W 47kΩ resistors work as plate loads for 6SN7s, but higher value must be better, for example, two series 33K as 006T, or at least 62K 7W will far better than 47K, because 47K means too much current flow through 6SN7s, in my simulation is 9.5-10ma (grid at -9V), it's fine for 12AU7 or 12BH7, but 6SN7GT....…

So my birthday present is finally here, the SRM-T8000. I just quickly plucked it into my computer rig with the Denafrips Ares as a source: Here I can compare directly against the Carbon CC and the as yet unrealesed new KGSSHV, budget edition. Think of this one as the 727 if Stax had any sense. Anyway, back to the T8000. The packaging is classic Stax and no complaints there. I do have some complaints about the casework though, the front panel looks awesome but who decided what to do with the rest of it? Seriously that sparckly silver paint is just horrible. Reminds me of some super cheap Chinese amps. Yeah... not great. I had a quick peek inside to…