John Buchanan

You might want to listen to the Sigma/404s. There is no honkiness in the upper midrange that I have ever heard. In my opinion, the 404 upgrade was ALL good and without any drawbacks (less of the upper bass hump, more low bass, less treble roll off and retained the magic mids that do piano and voice so well). They are a very addictive phone. The SRD-7 -> Pro is what I use and they sound great. The SRM-Monitor also sounds very nice, but can't hammer the phones like the Studer A68 or the Audio Research VT130 through the SRD-7.

Nice work, Birgir!!! I bet that SRM 1 Mk 2 now sounds VERY nice.

Force = mass x acceleration. For the same force applied (same bias), if the mass increases (thicker diaphragm) the acceleration decreases (slower response)

Birgir, for some reason the Sigma is the easiest to dial up the correct volume - the LNS less so. I agree regarding steppers. What volume control did you put in your balanced SRM1 Mk 2? A Quad ALPS RK27? Let's see pictures!!!!!

Stax Sigma - one of the few headphone systems that seems to suggest a correct volume level - much like Peter Walker of Quad suggested. They seem to open up at a certain volume. Anyone else experienced this? I really like them through the SRD-7. One day, a T2 or BHSE or KGSSHV!

Nice comparison between the Quad ESL-63 and the Stax F-81. I chose demo Quad ESL-989s over waiting for some Stax F-83's to turn up in excellent condition

Been listening to the Sigma/404s all afternoon (Studer D730 -> Apogee Mini-DAC -> Audio Research LS5 Mk II -> Studer A68 -> SRD-7 (Modified to Pro standard with a Spritzer board)) Sounds absolutely fabulous! The smooth smooth top end allows playing of Keys To Ascension without any pain. Great way to feel better. These really are great phones.

Les, it's been OOP for 15 years. No idea.

Ah.......the Stax Space Sound CD. First time I heard it through an SRM-T1 and Stax Lambda Signature phones. First track, I asked the salesman to turn off the other music in the room - the guitar playing way over to one side. The first time there had been a complete suspension of disbelief - I was amazed when the salesman laughed and said take off the phones. The guitar player remained attached to the phones!! I still use that track to show people what is possible with headphones.

The SRA3s was a much better sounding unit than the SRA12s - I can't give you any details from nearly 35 years later, but there WAS a night and day difference.

Thanks for the advice Birgir. A legend as always!

No difference with engaging/disengaging the EQ. It may be more frequent with turning the volume up also, but not 100% sure on that one, as it is intermittent. I don't think it's a scratchy volume pot, but may be happening more commonly the louder the phones is what I meant. Thanks for your thoughts Birgir - trying to even find a tech over here is hard enough.

I have a Stax Monitor which has developed an intermittent fault in the left channel (of two separate phones). It sounds like a high pitched scratchy noise, and occasionally the image shifts to the right while this is happening. Any suggestions? The amp behaved perfectly at the techs recently - the curse of the intermittent fault.

You need to buy an appropriately sized punch to remove the pin safely from the arc. The case holder will then be removable and easily replaced. I presume they are exactly the same as the Lambda Nova and 202/303/404 series case holders?

Thanks Birgir, you are a total forum legend - my SRM Monitor has just started distorting in the left channel - slight volume drop also with 2 different phones, so now I can provide a circuit diagram for the tech.

Mu unit cost AUS$1400 from memory.

Sorry Kevin, still thinking like a dinosaur here, LOL. You are working on presets for different phones - OMG!!!! What Stax could have been! Holey Moley!!!! Have you been in contact with Gunther Theile? A lot of people are going to love this.

I did a review of the Stax SRM Monitor for those who don't understand what on earth is being discussed here. I still say it is the single best piece of equipment I have ever purchased, and you guys are gonna love this. How on earth do you do the adjustments without doing a frequency analysis?

Wow - didn't know this was in the works. And balanced like the Monitor. Where did you get the circuit diagram, or did you and Kevin get hold of an ED-1. There are so many adjustments in that unit, that it's no wonder it cost a fortune.

Thanks Birgir - did that adjustment and the offset was about 5V out on both channels. Adjusted offset to under 0.2V now (as stable as I could get it) and balance sat pretty much on zero.

Is the balancing technique the same as that for the tube amps? Could someone post a link to the SRM1Mk2 balancing technique?

I've found this on the Stax SRM Monitor and the SRM-717. Not sure why - I suspect the balanced Stax inputs leads to a slightly less bright result?

Those of course aren't Sigmas - they are the Omegas! Nice score!!!

Maybe contact Yamasinc/Accutech and see if they will mail you the 2 sided sticky tape cut outs that fit? Cleaning the old gluey tape residue isn't easy.