spritzer

Fostex T-50 Mk1 FTW!!!! It's the only ortho I've heard so far but it is supposed to be a good start. I did do something very unusual for an ortho, I removed the stock damping and run them open. It's most direct competitor is the SR-X mk3 (normal or pro) and the T-50 can't quite match the speed of the 'stat but more then make up for it with increased dynamics. The SR-X Pro is pretty much neck and neck with the ortho though and has much better detail retrieval, larger soundstage and more comfort. I should get my Aurex HR-1000 soon so I can add a Uni-electret supra aural to the stable and see how it compares to the other supra aurals.

Ok....quite a bit... Happy now...? :'(

Well I am a bit nuts...

They need to be on adapters well clear of the PCB so they will be standing proud out of the top of the amp.

Me too. It's also good 1cm wider then the socket and heavy (87gr) for such a small tube.

I'll find some more for you since well... I need some more...

You know it all already. I'm not going to fight any more for tubes then I have to... Edit: Btw. Did you get my email?

What a wise thing to do. I really wished I could do that instead of having 20 odd projects on the back burner.

It's simply brilliant. Gotta love stop motion animation.

Wuss!!

I think your post count (4070) is telling you to use those sockets for a Blue Hawaii...

We are keeping it off the forums for now.

That's exactly the problem. I've looked at Lundahl and Sowter (check out their 4342 transformer) and they will push the price close to 1k$ in an instant. It would be much cheaper to buy an older SRD-7 and build a new bias supply for it. I have the SRD-7 Mk2 schematic somewhere around here if you need it. That will never make the SRD-7 trafos a good match to the SR-007 as they simply can't deliver the power needed but are still a good budget way to come close to the holy grail.

Nahh... just a sucker with too much money. A BH with upgraded PSU and CCS will utterly destroy it and at a lower price, well if you aren't insane like Marc and I...

THe detailed schematics aren't avaialble (not that I know of anyway) but the general design is known and there was a great post by Carl over on HF on it. Lets just say that Stax could have done better but the amp is well worth the normal price of 3-400,000Yen.

Simply the the best deal in headphones... ever!

I'm not so sure he's want to trade down... I really do wonder if that NOS T2 is still avaialble in Italy... 10k euros was a bit much though

I have a nice stash but no matched quads which is what you need. I do find them from time to time in Japan and on eBay but your best bet are the Raytheon tubes sold on the bay. They are most likely made by Matsushita and do sound quite good in the Stax amps.

I watched the first two episodes and it is a great series. It's definitely different which is a welcome change.

They are the exact same drivers except the top of the Pros sticks out a little due to the larger D/S spacing. The Gamma Pro's aren't that hard to source with plenty on ebay.de but the price makes the conversion too expensive. The Alphas are much rarer. They do sound much better then the normal bias model with more bass, better soundstage and not as damn analytical. Even though both frequency extremes are extended they aren't bass monsters or bright but every little bit helps. The sound upgrade is a combination of the better drivers (more D/S spacing and thinner diaphragms) and the glue I use to mount the drivers. The Stax glue (same as was used on the earpads) isn't all that good and the newer stuff is much better. There is only one Mafia... and it is the Stax Mafia. Now you need some Japan made 6CG7's preferably late 60's/early 70's Toshiba's for the holy grail.

Nothing is ever at blowout prices up here but I'll check it out the next time I go to that store. They had it on display so I think it is only fair I can check under the hood...

Gamma/Alpha drivers do fit since Stax just did what I planned to do, use thicker spacers and drill new holes as the basic construction of the drivers is identical. For this one I used my old SR-X Mk3 with a ribbon cable and a SR-Alpha Pro Excellent and an old Gamma Pro cable that was easier to work with. The real trouble is to find the right adhesive to mount the drivers but once you have that it's mostly just a nerve wracking experience...

Yup I walked away from that and posted it on HF. Too bad it wasn't a SR-Lambda though...

I saw it in one of the local electronics stores so I might buy it just for kicks. You know, install some V-caps and Jena Labs cryo wire so it will be a giant killer...

Wasn't that the one I turned you on to? I can't remember anymore... way to many headphones...