Leaderboard

Now that it is confirmed that Brent will not be attending, I guess I can look into making this trip myself.

Today must be my lucky day. Typically I end up owing a couple of grand every year on my taxes because I must have checked too many boxes at some point. Last year it was about $3k. We just got our W-2's and it looks like I'm due for a $50 buck refund this time around! Going from thinking I owed another $3k to getting 50 bucks back sure put a smile on my face.

Oxtail ragout

Hey there, I'm not that much well know down there on Head-Case. Suscribed a few times ago , I never posted and I'm use to lurk only. @JimL asked me to give some impressions about the srx+ i commissionned to a reputable builder a few month ago and received in last october. So here am I. First of all , let me give you a few elements about where I come from. I'm a french hobbyst ( that explains my average english and I apologize for that) involved in personal audio since 2012. I began with a Koss Porta pro from my Laptop and now my reference system is a Schitt Yggdrasil , a DNA Stratus , a Sennheiser HD800 (modded with the mod I created last year to make a HD800 sound a bit more like a HD800S : the Superdupont Resonator maybe a few people know here ) and an Old sennheiser HE60 driven by the SRX+ we're talking about in this thread. Actually , even if I'm a HD800 nut , I appreciate a lot Electrostatic headphones i discovered with a classic combo SR303 + SRM323. I owned or listened carefully almost all Stax including vintage ones but despite their excellent sound , I still prefer the HE60 I bought one year ago. My preference usually goes more to brighter/clearer sound sig hence the fact my Favorite Stax is the SR009 followed by the lambda Signature. I'm listening mostly to Jazz ( modern jazz mostly from 90s to nowadays) , Classical and Electronic music. Not much Rock/Pop. You can check my head-fi profile if my whole pedigree matters for you. so.. SRX+ . here's a pic of mine : The Builder choosed to insert a Blue Hawai Power Supply , an Antek transformer, an alps RK27 potentiometer and mundorf mcap supreme capacitors . I asked him to respect a size ( especially depth) because i had some rule to respect in my living room. . I'm delighted by the quality of this build and the look and feel offered by this amplifier. I choosed this amplifier because @n3rdling told me it could maybe a great and very valuable choice. I trust Milos so I took the plunge. I'm not that much a tube roller. I bought a quad or french NOS Laradiotechnique 12AT7 and a pair of NOS GE but replaced it lately by a pair of 6SNGTB Chrome top Sylvanias and they improved the sound ( tighter , clearer , more transparent) significantly . I had a trip in US in november and went to San Francisco and LA to meet US hobbyists. I brought this SRX+ with me and it seems listeners enjoyed it a lot . I didn't take myself enough time to compare to well known contenders ( Especially n3rdling's BHSE for example) though. We met a few guys from head case. @blubliss I think and another guy I don't remember the name. Sorry. So... When @JimL asked me to give impressions , i wasn't convinced to be able to provide valuable informations. Fortunately, a meet was organized in France at @Ali-Pacha 's place last week. Ali-pacha already allowed me to listen and measure his huge stable of Stax headphones last year and a BHSE joined his stable recently. It was the perfect opportunity for both of us. We added a SRM-727 (usual feedback mod done) in the shootout to have a more affordable contender. We used my HE60 and the two Stax Omega (007mkI and 009) to do our listening sessions. During the first sessions i was unable to detect any difference between amplifiers and it was the sign my ears wood... too tired and I had a 2nd sessions during Day 2 of our meet. Let's go straight to the conclusion : the modded SRM-727 is not in the same league than the two others and the SRX+ is a true bargain in E-stat world. First Session was with my HE60 I know well and at least much better than the two Staxes. HE60/BHSE is truly a match made in heaven. I love my HE60 but I know well his flaws : it's kinda brightish and sometimes, with a few recordings, it's borderline unbearable. Bass can be punchy but still too diffuse/soft by today standards, mids are wonderful but compared to Milos HE90 clone, they're undoubtly a tad colored (in a good way but still) and overally the HE60 show a bit his age with a kind of slightly "vintage" soft sound. It's really obvious when compared to modern headphones. Nevertheless, it's a superb headphone I love to use for a few genre and when I want a change of pace from my HD800SD. The BHSE with its kinda cold uber-technical abilities and its slam/power makes the Senn sounds younger that it really is. The low end expecially is clearly improved with much more tightness down low and an overally cleaner, more controlled, more focused sound. The Baby Orpheus gains some 009 qualities but still with the typical Senn Stat sound and still that extremely good staging that offers both a good sense of focus and a lot of air hence the feeling of cohesive but endless staging. In one word, BHSE/HE60 is still HE60 but better everywhere. Think to a hand (the HE60) and its glove (the BHSE). Considering how BHSE and HE60 works well together, there's no surprise here : my SRX+ (I bought it especially for my HE60) can't compete and the Senn sounds noticeably more blurry and kinda soft/ limp dick on the SRX+. Let's be honest, it's still good enough for me but compared to the BHSE, the loss is significant. No surprise here. For my personal use it's not that bothersome because I use mostly my HE60 when i'm listening to intimate vocals, chamber music and that kind of music. For Orchestral, EDMs I always choose my HD800. HE60/SRM 727 . No need of long comparison here. the 727 does not play in the same league. The immediate feeling of congestion struck me immediately. Something broken/dead in the sound as well whereas the two other amplifiers let the headphone breath naturally. Maybe something warmish but still steely/grainy in the treble in the tonality was a showstopper as well. I didn't expect so much difference to be honest, even more if we consider I already heard the 727/HE60 combination and it sounded OK to my ears. But compared to the SRX+ and even more the BHSE, the story wasn't the same ... Summary for HE60 : BHSE >>> SRX+ >>>>>>>>> 727. if the HE60 was my main headphone, I'd order a BHSE right now. Second session with the SR009. OK , BHSE/009 is a known association and I won't be long . Sounded really good, clean, a tad cold, very technical to the point of maybe some sharpness but I see how performing is the combo. Seems the Midrange shout that usually bothers me with all Stax headphones is well controlled though. Good pairing but not as special as the HE60/BHSE one to my ears. Surprise came from the SRX+ there... Honestly I think I'd choose the SRX+ over the BHSE for the 009, especially if I wanted to use a 009 on daily basis as my allrounder. Whereas the SRX+ made the HE60 a bit too blurry, it made the excess of sharpness disappear here and the 009 sounded a tad more rounded , more "human". SRX+ / 009 offered to my ears a very balanced sound with a hint of forwardness/intimacy, a touch of warmth and overally a kinda relaxed yet fun/pleasurable presentation. Probably a very very good choice for those who listen a lot of modern music with their 009. I liked it a lot and definitely made me think more to add a 009 to my stable. I still think the BHSE is "better" in almost all point but the synergy goes to the SRX+ One more time, the 727 sounded much less good than the two others with the same flaws than with the 009. Both BHSE and SRX+ made the 009 sound more clear and crisp , more focused, tighter in all register. the main issues are congestion and Kinda loose low end I'd say. This and some grain in the treble... With the 009 I'd see the ranking as this : BHSE>SRX+>>>>>>>>>>>>> 727 . the experience made me want a 009 to associate to my SRX+ ...more than a BHSE We tried as well the 007 but I'm not familiar with this headphone. Moreover it's not my signature of choice (too mellow for me) so I prefer to let you read what @Ali-Pacha wrote about it. Overally I Still think the little and kinda cheap SRX+ is a great option for people who want a very competitive amplifier without to spend an arm and a leg. At least, Im' really really happy with my purchase. Maybe @Ali-Pacha will add some of his own impressions .

@Jim L I don't have SR-L700, but you're right on the 10 staxens collection, which is barely acceptable for someone posting down there...hey, I'm no 007mk1 lover and don't have any clue in electronics, so be gentle. Not so much to add to @Sorrodje's impressions. I could have written exactly the same statement on amp's ranking on HE60, as well as how far modded 727 stands from the two other contenders of the day. My opinion is a little bit different for 009, as I would insert two or three more ">" between BHSE and SRX+. No mystery I'm 009 lover, HD800 are probably my favorite non stat, but my tastes aren't exactly the same as Sorrodje's, so I value a bit more kick in the low-end, control, amount of details and soundstage provided by the BHSE's. Q/P ratio remains always on the cheaper one, don't mistake me, worn-out diminishing returns platitude in audio. SRX+ is not as "right" as BHSE, but there's something very funny and energetic in its presentation. Think about the low-medium kick and foot tapping thing you can get from SRD-7 + good ol' 2-channels amp, but with detail retrieval and soundstage you have on a very good dedicated amp, way way above modded 727 level even if some steps under BHSE's. When listening to 009 on SRX+, I was thinking about my Lambda Signature on steroids, kinda vintage sound, with 009 details and technicality (and Sorrodje loves Lambda Signature ) 007 are another story, as my main concern with them is their lack of dynamic compared to what I like. BHSE raises them at pretty good level at last, but on the same amp, they can't compete with my other Staxen's regarding dynamics IMO (main exception : Lambda Nova Signature). So the transformer-like sound exhibited by SRX+ (again, with details and soundstage from top notch dedicated amp) may be my choice to get the best experience with those unloved ones. Ali

My vinyl purchases have slowed down considerably, I buy maybe several records a year. Some inexpensive, but mostly I buy high dollar / rare records. I say buy, but I've also been trading in large quantities of records I no longer listen to. I am popular at my local record store because I bring them a bunch of records pressed in the past ten years or so that they can easily sell for $10-15 a pop, and in return I take the records on the top shelf they have a hard time selling. I'm strangely lucky to have a really amazing record store down here in Mobile, AL. The guy who runs it has been involved in music for decades and really knows his shit, he is always finding rare records that blow my mind. I recently got an original pressing of Joy Division's "Unknown Pleasures". Like no shit, I literally own Factus 1 now. Zero reason to own it for sound quality, since pretty much all the reissues sound great, but man it is cool to own this. I also finally picked up the original pressing of "Ten" he's had sitting up there for years, after a particularly large trade-in. The only new releases I buy anymore regularly are the Third Man Vault subscription releases, which are always interesting and beautiful and sound great. But when I did buy new Elusive Disc was my favorite online store.

Those early 911's were widow makers. Porche hadn't got the balance right, and above a certain speed the front wheels lost traction - and as soon as you hit anything other than straight you were toast. It took an iteration or three before Porsche got it right in that regard and later ones through to the modern day stick to the road like glue. The first series 911's in good condition are now considerably north of 100k (of most currencies - they all seem close to unity exchange now). I guess because there aren't many left that weren't wrapped round trees.

Ryan, I think I have an extra discwasher zerostat gun laying around if you want it... pm me.

It looks like we will be rolling in around midnight on Friday due to work crap and staying at the Marquis. Maybe I will run into some of you early Saturday morning.

Straight No Chase / Now's the Time - Joshua Redman & James Carter Live at Carnegie Hall. Jesus Horatio Christ. I re-stumble upon this from time to time, and just keep <3ing it. **BRENT**

i'm a maybe right now just been avoiding posting

Got up early for a 5:30am "training" call on a new app that is being used to share files for board meetings. Basically, so you don't have to travel with a stack of papers that contain confidential information. Lady calls me from London (it was the only time all day she could fit me in), and I tell her I've downloaded the app, have logged in, changed my password, and created two security questions. She seems relieved. On we go to the training... about how to navigate. Click on the navigate button. Ok, gotcha. Now click on the sample file. Ok. You should see items on the left. Tab 1, Tab 2, and Tab 3. Ok. So you can click on any of those and it will take you to the respective tab. Ok. Do you want to try one? Sure. I've just clicked on Tab 1. Ok, well that should take you to Tab 1. Indeed. Now you can click on the Agenda button and that takes you back to where you started from, so now you see Tab 1, Tab 2, and Tab 3 again. Then when you're within a tab you can go form page to page with the right arrow to advance a page and the left arrow to go back a page. Ok. So you're understanding everything? So far. Ok, another interesting feature is in the lower right hand corner. Do you see where it shows the page numbers? Yes, Im on page 8 of 96. Ok, good. So where it says 8, you can type in a specific number that you might want to go to. Ok, like 49? Yup I just did that, and it took me right there. That's good to know. Ok, well that's pretty much everything. Do you have any questions. No, I think I'll be fine. It seems pretty simple. Oh, it really is. That's what everyone says. (Not picking up on my sarcasm, apparently.) Ok, thanks again. You have a good day... WTF??!!?!? Why must there be "training" on absolutely fucking everything in the corporate world!!?!?! Fucking sun wasn't even up and I was already pissed off.

this is coming soon http://gilmore.chem.northwestern.edu/diffinput2.pdf a lot less parts than the other version, almost the same thd

RIP Mr. Cernan. We were fortunate to have him speak at one of my son's school events some years back. HS

Stopped by In-N-Out on the way home from a fencing tournament. Only in California-

An interesting problem with the 335d. I was passing someone on I83 this afternoon when I realized I was going about 115.

Love Mathematica. If it's too pricey and you don't need to do heavy computation then I would just get a Raspberry Pi 3 for $40. It's free with Raspbian. Otherwise I like using Matlab, but I should really learn how to use Octave.

Hehe I'm gonna keep it low key this time, Ken. Still never gotten a hangover before, and I intend to keep it that way for as long as possible.

I wasn't allowed to go very fast, or take very many turns.

Congrat! You should upgrade your video card now. **BRENT**

Better find someone else. He'll be face down drunk by then.

Jeff awesome news! Not sure where everyone's head is at but can we get a roll call for Saturday and Sunday? For Saturday I was thinking we could make a pilgrimage to Other Half Brewing in Carrol Gardens Brooklyn. This is a must for a visit to NYC as they make some of the best IPAs and some pretty great stouts as well. They open at noon and the tasting room proper is tiny and fills quickly. If there is a can release that day it does compound the crowding. I'd suggest everyone grab some late breakfast/brunch then plan on being at Other Half at 11:30 or 11:45. If we do not grab a spot in the starting room we can stand and chat and taste their beers in the brewery. Not a bad option but it is open and SRO in that space.Those staying in NYC can either meet up before hand or meet at Other Hand. We'll need to take the F train to the Smith and 9th street stop. Fun fact this is the highest elevation stop in the NYC Subway. http://www.otherhalfbrewing.com Prime Meats is a short walk from Other Half and could be a great stop for a burger, steak or german sausage. Pretty popular place but at 2-3 o'clock might not be too crowded. http://www.frankspm.com/menuBrunch.html

Time and exercise (who would think Jacob would do exercise?) has helped. I'm okay, most of the time. Time has been a big enough contributor that I'm unsure if the exercise part has been of much help. The null value has not been rejected. If nothing else, the boxing gym (I used to box a lot) has been painful fun.

Sorrodje/Ali-Pacha, I don't think anyone would mind if you posted some updated measurements in the Stax thread here. Tyll only has a couple Stax measurements up on Innerfidelity, and some of us are big fans of vintage Stax.

Why in the world would someone buy one with a manual transmission?

There are People's Cars Then There are Head-Case People's Cars http://gtspirit.com/2015/10/11/video-worlds-powerful-fastest-audi-r8-2100hp/ http://www.r8talk.com/forums/5-general-discussion/87922-worlds-fastest-audi-r8-2100-horsepower-video.html

That's what I use cruise control for.

He ordered and changed specs three times and they got all bitchy so I walked away. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

https://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/cernan-ea.html?linkId=33446850

You guys think I should blow my bonus on a new VW? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Today I finally figured out what the hell was going on with my home network. Turns out that PowerLine networks will extend outside your home and one of my neighbors was on my network. I had encrypted but apparently the with the default password. I am hoping that it was inadvertently done in that their device hit our network rather than theirs but I don't know if I entirely believe that because it was into an ap with 15 devices. Either way at this point they are off my network.

Miles Davis – Ascenseur pour l'échafaud (soundtrack from Frantic / Lift to the Scaffold, a film by Louis Malle)

Meet? Alright, will plan on something like mid-day Saturday to mid-day Sunday.

Today I was in the area of our old house, when Lo and behold a used record store just opened down the block. Really nice guys that were easy to talk to and super helpful. Found a great looking bill Evans 180g for $5, and picked up cat Stevens tea for the tillerman for $3, copy looked untouched. Asked for phoebe snow, one of the guys didn't think we had any, but one of the workers overheard me and pulled out her 2nd album while he was sorting some records, $2. Finally found a copy of Beatles love songs but appeared to have a pressing issue on final track. Asked guys to play it on system and it skips, ask nicely if they can give me a discount and $6 later its mine. So yes this was a lot of fun and the records are super clean and quiet and just great music.

Indeed, this whole "we only care about the performance...honest" BS...nobody buys that. Fang is a bit like the car company's here, talking about all the issues with the previous model just because they have a new one out. "Sure...this was perfect last week but now it is shit!!" Edit: Just browsed through the thread... and fuck Fang is nuts!! People don't lavish his newest piece of shit with praise so he is to be executed? Ehhh ok... what!!??!!??