Col11

Hi Smeggy, Many thanks for the info. Looks like finding a Pro adaptor (7 MKII or 7 Pro) is not going to be too easy. I am quite taken too by how many times I have heard that people prefer the Normal Bias Lambda from the Lambda Pros anyway so maybe I should look for a pair of them considering I already have a normal bias socketed SRD7SB. How rare are the Normal Bias Lambdas?, - is it the same situation as the SRD7 MKII? Thanks again for your kind help, Colin

Hi Smeggy, Many thanks for repying, - the info is really helpful info for me and very much appreciated. I got the Lambda Pros and SRD-X Pro today, - tried it out, - really great, - I am thrilled. The SRD-X Pro seems to actually be a lot better than I thought but it obviously is the limiting factor. I tried the Normal and Pro outputs on it with the Lambda Pros and there is a little difference, - the Pro does sound fuller which I prefer, however the Normal is still listenable. This is good, - so I can probably use these Lambda Pros with my Normal bias SRD7SB for the time being from my tube speaker amps until I find a proper Pro adaptor for a power amp (i.e. the SRD7 Pro or SRD7 MKII). I far prefer these Lambda Pros from the Gammas Pros anyway. While those Gamma Pros are maybe a touch more transparent in the treble perhaps (becuase of the smaller driver?) they are just far too thin/anemic to sound good with most material. They really did sound tinny IMO. Really glad I bought this used setup, -I should have done this years ago rather than sulking all that time over my dud Gammas Pros. I was set back alot around ten years ago when I bought the Lambda Nova Basic system (the original one, not the current one) and was really disappointed with the sound in comparison to the Gammas (nothing like as transparent and a quite tinny sound too), - I resold it immediately. I thought I would never get good electrostatic stax sound again without spending thousands. I should have gone secondhand instead years ago! Just got a couple of questions if you don't mind: - People seem to say they prefer the Normal Bias Lambdas compared to the Lambda Pros. Just wondered if you have heard both of them? If so what is the difference, - is the Normal Lambda a bit smoother and less analytical, - perhaps warmer? (this is a guess). I might well look for a pair. I am going to obviously have to look for a SRD7 Pro or SRD7 MkII asap for use with these Lambda Pros. Just wondering if you knew, - why is the MKII normally dearer, - I know it was a bit newer, - but are the transforemrs different or something?, (does it sound better?) or is it just more pricey becuase it has both types of output sockets, - Normal and Pro (and hence is more flexible) whereas the SRD7 Pro just has 2 Pro outputs.

Hey Smeggy, Thanks a lot for the info. Its a real shame that spares are not availible anymore. Will have to abandon the Gamma Pros. I just managed to pick up some Lambda Pros and an SRD-X Pro so I'll be looking for a SRD7MKii or SRD7Pro (adaptors with pro sockets) to use with the Lambda Pros soon and my tube speakers amps (as I hear the SRD-X Pro is OK but not that great as it uses cheap car chips). I could use the SRD7SB with the Lambda Pros safetly but I undertsand when you use a normal bias socket with Pro bias headphones you lose some bandwith and the sound quality suffers. I might well also try to find some normal bias Lambdas too for use with my existing SRD7SB too, as I hear the normal Lambdas are very good as well. Cheers again for your help, Colin

Hi Spritzer, Thanks for that. Yes the clear membrames have holes in them. A bit of a mystery, - I think someone must have turned them up full blast one day and arched the membranes! Looks like getting new parts or getting the Gamma Pros repaired is not worth the time or Hassle. I have been told a good buy for my SRD7SB energiser is a pair on NORMAL (i.e. non Pro) Lambdas, - and a quick look around confirms this, many people prefereing them over the lambda Pros. Are they pretty common/quite easy to find and the price reasonable? Cheers again, Colin

Many thanks Spritzer, As I assumed no parts are availible for the Gammas. Both drivers are definitely damaged, - I opened up and had a look and visually looked at them, - one pretty bad, - a couple of big holes, - the other one not so bad. Odd isn't it!, - could it have been the Self Bias Normal SRD7SB adaptor that caused the problem? Cheers again, Colin

Many thanks for that, The damage occured when my Dad had the headphones many years ago, - he does not listen loud so it is strange, but I suppose it is possible my little brother or sister (at the time) turned the amp up full blast with the headphone switched on one day. The only other thing I can think of is that this "NORMAL" adaptor is the SRD7SB, - the self bias (non mains powered version), - could this cause more damage with PRO type headphones than a powered adaptor (I am guessing) The repair you mention sound intruiging! pretty hard though. Does any one have any info on that?!

Many thanks Tachikoma for that help, So I assume that new diaphrams are no longer availiable for the Gamma Pro anywhere? The repair you mention does not sound ideal in terms of the difficulty invloved and the sonic results but I suppose it is better than nothing, - is this a DIY job or would you have to pay a place to do it for you?, - any further info would be great. I suppose alternatively I could look for another used pair of Gammas or Gamma Pros. To my ears the Gammas are thinner and a bit tinnier sounding than the Lambdas, - not as well balanced. However the Gammas are a bit more transparent and sound quite good with simple music like Guitar etc. Used Gammas do not seem to come up very often though so I might be waiting a while.

HI Guys, Thanks for your kind replies. So maybe it is OK to use a 5 pin PRO socketed Earspeaker with a 6 spin NORMAL bias socket like the 2 that are on the SRD7SB, -despite the bias voltages being different. Could the damage to my Gamma Diaphrams just have occured due to the power amplifier overdriving them and not a mismatch with the adaptor? My Dad used a Naim NAP250 power amp with them, - quite a powerful and current capable amp. I have read elsewhere just now that although you can get quite good results with the SRD series of transformers and a power amp, - it is a little risky unless you are careful with the volume as you can get problems with the power amp overdriving the transformers in the adaptor and/or overdriving the heaphones too causing damage. Apparently the SRM series of amps (with dedicated heaphone specific internal power amps of more suitable lower ratings) are safer I believe in this regard and damage is less likely to occur than using an SRD with a speaker power amp). Can anyone more experienced chime in on this? Many thanks again. Colin

Sorry to post out of the blue as a Newbie but was wondering if anyone can give me some advice? I posted this elsewhere but this might be a better thread to ask in. I have a pair of Stax Gamma Pro and SRD7SB that I have had for many years, but have not used them for a long time as the thin diaphrams of the Gammas Developed holes in many years ago reducing the volume and freqency response (I had a look inside). Also the headband if broken. I have recently found out after after all these years doing some research that this was the wrong type of adaptor for these Gamma Pros, - the SRD7SB being a "NORMAL" type 6 pin adapter and the Gamma Pros being a "PRO" type 5 pin connection which require different bias voltages. The shop that originally sold the adaptor and headphones to my Dad did not realise this. So my question is this: - although the 5 pin PRO plug of the headphones fits into the 6 pin NORMAL adaptor socket, - has the damage the diaphrams endured been due to this mismatch of does this type of damage occur naturally over time? Is it OK to use the 5 pin PRO plug in a 6 pin NORMAL adaptor or is it a real no no? Also was wondering (as I have tried in the UK and parts are not availiable anymore), - is it possible to still buy replacement parts anywhere at all, - I obviously need new diaphrams and headband for my Gamma Pros or they are junk? Any help or advice would be much appreciated. Colin

Hi was wondering if anyone can give me some advice? I have a pair of Stax Gamma Pro and SRD7SB that I have had for many years, but have not used them for a long time as the thin diaphrams of the Gammas Developed holes in many years ago reducing the volume and freqency response (I had a look inside). Also the headband if broken. I have recently found out after after all these years doing some research that this was the wrong type of adaptor for these Gamma Pros, - the SRD7SB being a "NORMAL" type 6 pin adapter and the Gamma Pros being a "PRO" type 5 pin connection which require different bias voltages. The shop that originally sold the adaptor and headphones to my Dad did not realise this. So my question is this: - although the 5 pin PRO plug of the headphones fits into the 6 pin NORMAL adaptor socket, - has the damage the diaphrams endured been due to this mismatch of does this type of damage occur naturally over time? Is it OK to use the 5 pin PRO plug in a 6 pin NORMAL adaptor or is it a real no no? Also was wondering (as I have tried in the UK and parts are not availiable anymore), - is it possible to still buy replacement parts anywhere at all, - I obviously need new diaphrams and headband for my Gamma Pros or they are junk? Any help or advice would be much appreciated. Colin