astrostar59

Anyone here had a channel imbalance on your 009s? I just experienced a big drop on the left side, then it seems to be gradually coming back up. I wonder if I was live with static (crap shirts from China). I posted on the other place but since thought I will get more knowledge on here. Any advice would be great, before I jump out of the apartment window and end it all.... If this issue is static, maybe I need to discharge myself (static not something brown and horrid) first with a wire attached to my metal desk? So now total ban on the Christmas balloons on the ceiling trick.

So in your opinion that can't compete with a decent KG amplifier?

Has anyone built a high quality transformer / convertor to run Stax headphones out of the speaker terminals of a power amplifier? I know there has been some negatives about the Woo Wee. I am thinking is there a much higher quality option that can compete with the KG Stat amplifiers and that is safe i.e. won't damage the headphones or the power amplifier feeding the converter. Many years ago I used an SRD-7 which was ok, nothing great. Any information would be much appreciated.

Hey, I didn't know it was your Birthday David, happy birthday. Going back to dust I get a thin film of really fine dust over my system desk every day. If I don't wipe it in a week it starts looking like a some ageing special effect you see in old movies Ha Ha. Price I have to pay for living near the sea and in a dry climate. I was more worried about my 009s than my amps, so I use a nice 'stuffed bird' display case, looks ok I think, maybe a bit odd? I cut a few small holes in the top to equalise humidity, and my 007s got a bit of mould on the leather cups using the bell jar. Seems fine now, and keep the dust off them plus I can gave longingly at them when not on my head.

Yes I know Birgir has that amplifier for sale. It is a bit over my budget though, and with VAT and import duty into the EU makes it even more so, closer to BHSE territory....

I am interested in the Carbon, and in particular how it compares sound wise to a typical Sanyo KGSShv 450V off-board. Right now my KGSShv sits well with the 009s and is probably warming up the sound a bit which I think may help those headphones in particular. Can I ask some opinions of guys here who own both these amps, or who have heard them side by side with the 009s. It would help me a lot to get a handle on the sound of a Carbon. I can't get to hear one yet.

Only wanted to say I really LIKE the 009s and how they extract so much soul out of the music. I don't get the slag offs. Yes, the 007s are good too, but IMO the 009 is ahead by some margin. Yes, depends on the amp and source. I don't have the figure (would her interested if anyone knows it), but I would estimate over 50% of BHSE users have the 009 as the number one headphone.

Yes, that me. I have an incoming HDPlex power supply for my Mac Mini which needs 12V DC (6 amps max at boot up). I also have the Uptone Audio MMC kit to allow me to remove the AC supply in the Mini. I will post back here in a week or so once it has been evaluated. Right now using Audirvana+ 2.2 it is definitely better than my old CEC CDP. I am also using the TotalDAC USB cable/filter box, which cleaned up the highs and made the sound move closer to realism to me, i.e. less digital. At 330 Euros I would recommend that based on my findings. I have an M2Tech EVO full stack so the USB is already quite isolated from my DAC input, but the TotalDAC still made a big difference. I would guess in DAC with USB input direct, it could be an even bigger clean up.

But you could get covers to drop over like tube covers? In black would look be fine.

Hi Guys I am curious about this DAC. But this thread seems to have died a bit. Has anyone got a fully working unit going that sounds great? I was thinking of putting this board inside an Audio Note DAC kit, so power supply and output board all ready. I am thinking the board needs a proper line stage and that may be the issue with bass fall off and impedance matching? But without some folk glowing over the sound quality, I am running out of confidence in it. Still, it could be a nice project as a TotalDAC base model is 6K Euros.

I think we need more details about that quick demo if anyone can actually use it for any idea of what is on offer. Was the Amp fully warmed up? It looks like the internal DAC was used with the cable going into the USB slot, what software was used as the player, and what tracks were used? Looks like Tyll admits the demo is almost useless and he needs more time. He needs to have HIS choice of tracks and at least an hour IMO to get a handle on the SQ. Also I find my 009s need a decent amount of volume to come on song as well, so if the usual volume control and track restrictions are applied by Senn again, that would affect the demo as well. It would be interesting to know if the boundaries of Stat tech has been pushed further albeit with no budget constraints.

This area of audio is so complex, I got very bogged down in tech specs and buying / selling DACs, to be honest I nearly walked away from my interested in music in 2006 altogether. I eventually found some R-2R DACs to try out. I don't have big budgets but I do think there are gems to be had with R-2R DACs if the buyer is careful and gets proper home demo's to A/B equipment in the same session (if possible). Unfortunately the build costs of R-2R DACs I am told is much higher than DS types, and to complicate things further making one that can handle bit-perfect beyond RedBook further pushes the price up. Makes that come to mind are Lampizator (though Big 6 is not R-2R now), TotalDAC, Audio Note, Metrum Acoustics. Anyone here want to share some experiences of any R-2R DACs?

You ordered the Yggy Dave! nice one. Going back to different DACs, I think they do/can make a big difference. It is not just the architecture either (DS v R-2R) it is the competency of the PS and the line board design. Remember, a DAC is basically a pre-amplifier with a digital board. If a DAC has a weak PS design or poor line board, but great digital circuits, it is not going to be so great IMO. I am getting the impressions the Yggy is well designed front to back. It is a buy direct product as well, so we can imagine it would be 3K from a dealer if price is to be a marker to quality on offer, though this does not always follow. The Yggy has so many users now, it seems a safe bet IMO, though I have not heard it yet. Keep us posted re sound when out lands...

Got it. Indeed it does seem to be a development of a Kevin G circuit. I am curious as this amp is pitched right at the Stax amp price band, yet almost nobody seems to talk about it anymore here or at the other place. Thinking it might be ok with an 009 as less hungry comported to the 007?

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.

That makes sense. Maybe Stax thought the market didn't have the stomach for a bigger 2 box chassis? Capacitors for example are spec'd typically at 105C and say 3000 hours. In reality a good designed amplifier should run at 50% or less of that temperature and thus the caps would last years as opposed to months. Not to mention the tolerance of all the parts affected by wild temperature swings.... I like the idea of a huge no holes barred Stax amplifier. It sounds nuts to do such a thing to power headphones. If it sounds better I don't worry, and am not bothered by chassis size either. Respect to those DIY'ers who take sit on.

Wow, I didn't know this was possible. I presumed the KGSShv Carbon was radically different?

It is probably way to early but any idea of the parts cost (minus chassis)?

That was the Ma to the tubes, not the PS supply.

Hi Purk I read on here somewhere that the PS set for the Stax T2 was only 5.5Ma due to there heat. Is that correct? If yes, it may be a contributing factor that would hold back the Stax version, as I am thinking DIY versions with better venting and bigger heatsinks will take 10Ma plus? Is there anyone posted who owns a DIY T2 and has heard (decent demo session) the Stax T2?

I was asking about the Stax T2 with it's known issues. I was curious to know if the hype and top place this amplifier has got from many is justified. As new ideas in this community move the SQ forward, maybe that SRM-T2 is not the top amplifier many think now? I am hoping folk out there who have the courage to build a revamp or update of the 'mighty' T2 can do it. The more leading edge designs available to the stat community - it has to be a good thing.

This thread ends. Does anyone have a detailed review of how the T2 stacks against for example the KGSShv or BHSE? I am curious to know if the hype around the mighty T2's SQ is justified (ignoring the reliability issues).

I haven't heard a KGST yet, but I do have one of Geoff's compact KGSShv's and love the sound and build quality. I run it with the 009s and will soon hear how it sounds on the 007As I just got from PJ. Geoff's silver fronted KGST with a silver top plate looks really great IMO. I saw some Cambridge show pics. I have assembled tubed DAC kits and 300B SET amplifiers but don't have the confidence to do a stat DIY.

I think you are right Spritzer. I have a new 007A from PJ, arrived yesterday. Last year I had a 2012 Black MK2 SZ3-xxxx, and this one is a lot smoother and less flabby in the bass. The treble seems smoother as well, but it still has a slightly reduced treble output compared to my Horn speakers and my 009s, which is not surprising and is expected. I really think Stax has done something here, whatever it is, it is an improvement that should be quite obvious to folk who have the previous MK2 IMO. I note your post on the serial number chaos. This 007A is a SZ2-xxxx and is spanking new, new box, sealed plastic bag. Go figure..... Anyway, I am very happy with them, surprised even. My 009s are still my preferred phone but on this smaller setup I have here the 007 is better. Out of the 717 amp the 009s are a bit too bright/unforgiving IMO. My setup in Spain is more complex than this tight little system. I kinda like the simplicity of it: MacBook Pro - Metrum DAC - basic cables - 717 - 007s My other system is MacMini and screen sharing from an iMac, M2Tech EVO stack (3 boxes) Audio Note DAC 4.1 (valves x 4) silly cables - KGSShv - 009s.