Smeggy

I was quite surprised with the old SR-Lambda. I sounds more natural overall, not as etched or as shrill as the 404 and can be driven nicely through a SRD-6SB. I sold the 404 but I'm keeping the Lambda. The fact that they're low bias does nothing to harm the sound whatsoever. If you go for the Agon SR-Lambda I'll throw you an SRD-6 SB, as long as you have a power amp of some description it'll be a great Stax entrance.

hah, you said 'insert' so it's already done

Most seem happy with them. I prefer my SR-Lambda to the 404 I had but that's not necessarily a universal opinion, just my personal preference. As to 303 or 404, I'd go 303 because it's the same phone with a different cable which doesn't really make any noticeable difference but costs a lot more.

Hah, that's cool. Now if only someone would do that with Grados in Urup.

I'm a compulsive tinkerer. Even if something is perfectly good when I get it I still get than uncontrollable urge to fuck with it.. Hopefully it's an improvement, as often as not I make things worse in some way. I......can't......stop..........myself. I already pulled the SR-Lambda apart and took out the padding with an eye to angling the drivers in a wood housing. I will, however, make it reversible this time.

Hehe, my 'adapter' is a bit of scrap plywod and some double-sided mounting tape at the moment. As ye know, I'm planning on a whole new arrangement with an O2 Arc and whole new wood cups and alloy mounting plate so stay tuned!

Speaking of staxes, at the Seattle meet, those who expresses a preference thought my SR-X frankenstax sounded better than the SR-Lambdas. They have as much bass down to 30Hz and only a little less at 20! They sound more solid and and less diffuse but also a little less airy. The bass also feels more tactile. I think it's a worthwhile trade, they really do sound awesome. Some even preferred them to the K1000 which was cool. The mods really work well but it's getting harder to describe what they are now as they are made from 4 phones parts and some DIY

Nice Dusty, now I know what I'm missing.

As you know, it's not always easy to find ideal colmbos at meets. They were nice and I didn't get as good a listen as I would have liked but at least it was playing something I know well which helped. I certainly didn't find them to be bass heavy as some indicate, nicely balanced is how I'd describe them. They didn't give me that 'Aaaah' moment of the HP-1 or the old Koss 'stat. Guess my ears have a definite set of things they latch onto and why most of my phones share many similarities sound wise. I have a hard time with smooth and relaxed sound or upper midbass emphasis. The little ATH ESW9 was quite nice, though somewhat boomy and clamp way too tight for me. Those and the minuscule AT clip-ons were mini works of art and very cute. Overall I'd have to say I'm extremely happy with the choices I've made and found no setups there I'd trade with. My amps are a little lacking in some areas and my sources need some improvement but even running directly from my UMPC headphone out to my ancient NAD/Hafler combo sounded better to me than the majority of other gear I heard through their phones. Not the most Hi-Fi but some of the best sounding for all it's paper limitations. If you saw how I had my table setup most of you would be horrified. No DAC, cheap-ass wires and mostly 20+ year old gear

Ouch! Well, either Stax had a really great design back then or people are just fooling themselves again. I have no idea which it would be. Oh, and we're still waiting for this Stax portable you've been hinting at..

Nice score. My newest FOTMinute is the Koss ESP7 which I had a good listen to at the Seattle meet yesterday. Run through a modded 9 transfo they sounded really nice. Good speed and attack and great isolation too. Ugly as shit and every bit as uncomfortable as their '70s dynamic brethren but I'd be willing to mod them to suit. They were the surprise of the meet. Sure there's lots to dislike about them too and I can well understand why many would dislike them but I think I could have some fun. Time to start looking for my next 'stat toy.

I guess there are two Grado camps (three if you count Alessandro) every current Grado I've heard sounds wrong to my ears. I'd have an HP-1 in a heartbeat, not because they're rare, expensive or fabled, because they just sound better than most other phones I've heard so far. I don't think they're better than my Ks or modded Stax, but on the same level with a different sound. Now I understand what people were saying about them.

Single, and it sounded 'right' I had high expectations of the RS-1 after reading so much about how great it was but it sounded.. meh. It's the only Grado I've heard that I'd actually want to own. More comfy too. I also found that I still don't like Senn 6xx no matter what they're connected to. Reading so many posts about how recabled and attached to great equipment they're transformed to another plane and scale like no other..... no. They still sound like Senns and I still think they sound boomy, muffled and dull. Finally got to listen to the K701 and they also sounded dull and uninspired. On top of that they are not very comfortable. That ugly-ass headband sucks. I'd take my K1k any day of the week. My 'stats also kick most other phones I heard there to the curb. The ATH 3000 leatherhead was pretty nice too but not $3000 nice. Oddly, this time around when I listened to the ATH 5000 they sounded a little honky in the mikds. I think there was way too much contrast from the previous phone I was listening to. Anyway, more later. Off to brunch with wifey. Meets are fun.

The K1000 don't need no sub, foo

Funny, we had more than I was expecting, and the initially large looking room shrank considerably.

Truth hurts. Anyway, the 770s are a bit weird but I still liked them, the ancient Koss 'stat was the biggest surprise for me. I enjoyed those quite a bit. Not the most refined or open but very nice bite and snap. I may even be able to afford those, unlike the HP1 I'm not sure how you managed enough time to get a really good listen, our meet was 'busy'.

Heh, nice impressions. We had the Seattle meet today so my head is still trying to assimilate all that. Suffice to say my faves of the meet 'phone-wise were the Grado HP1, DT770 pro and Koss ESP7. The HP1 kicked the RS1s butt all round the room about 20 times over and was, for me, the star of the meet. Ok, back to NY.

I'd still like a listen to them. Shit, they might even be good. Maybe I could rent a set.

Welcome Redsky. Can't really help with the phones question since the last closed set I owned was in 1977 and the only closed set I've listened to recently were the W5000 which also doesn't isolate and cost a bigger fortune.

Besides, JBL probably wouldn't fit in her pants. Though I'm sure they'd make a nice hat.

That third bias supply is to attach to the testicles of people who don't own 'stats.

*High Five*

With ECR-500's? Sure do!

Cool shit alert! Just got home and they are the original Lambda Normals and they do sound nicer than the 404 by a good chunk imo. I'm a happy bunny

poor Reks