cetoole

I doubt it, and I think I see a standard power cable coming out of the rear on the first pic posted here. I have no more information on this than anyone though. I do think I remember hearing that CH likes current mirror based I/V converters though, but this could be old data, and I dont even know that they use a current out DAC. The Ayre D-1 does (4x PCM1704) as does the CX-7 (PCM1738), but who knows? Gordon mentions IV discrete, and he would certainly know the difference, but as he doesnt know what DAC is used, I guess this could be an assumption on his part.

My guess, based off what I know about Ayre, is that they didnt include SPDIF input because of worries about jitter on that interface. I have read that they havnt made an outboard DAC before for this reason alone. Async USB basically solves the jitter problem for them, as the only jitter which should be present is the intrinsic jitter of the fixed XO they use to clock it and the jitter added on the board by parts like the FPGA (which will be handling the oversampling), but I wouldnt be surprised to find they are reclocking between the FPGA and DAC(s). You can make a SPDIF interface with very low jitter with the application of a good secondary PLL reclocking the incoming data, either in analog with a VCXO or digital with FIFO buffering, but neither of these solutions are very simple or cheap. I am sure Ayre has people who could easily handle it, but suspect it was omitted because they were trying to meet a price point.

Nope, havnt even opened it up, or even looked for the screws to get it apart. Honestly, I havnt felt the need to, as it is sonically nearly perfect for me, at least for the time being. So, how is it damped stock, and does removing some of it add any harshness? I could maybe do with just a tiny tilt in FR, as it is a hair dark at times, but it really doesnt bother me. The cable is crap and will have to go, but this is as much because it is short and requires an adapter for any amp besides the stock as anything. I have lightly stuffed the rear of the pads with some felt, about 4mm total, which gets the stator, or the shield in front of it, off my ear. Stock it pushes against the upper cartilage part of my ear and becomes uncomfortable after a fairly short period of time. I still touch, but there is absolutely no pressure, and I can wear them all day. I do wish that the pads were nicer, something in leather with a bit better stuffing, maybe lightly shaped.

Indeed. Certainly my first choice of current production DACs.

Never tried the 600 or 120ohm versions, didnt even know they came in 120ohm. Senns would probably be a decent choice for the OP to try. Personally, I love the ESP/950 bass for metal more than any other headphone I have owned or borrowed.

What do you mean by "NOS DAC chip"? There are plenty of DACs with no internal upsampling/oversampling that can support higher than 20/44.1. The PCM1704 is probably the best example of this, and IMO, still the most interesting current production DAC out there.

That sounds like a pretty horrible idea to me, at least if you are referring to the Pro 770-80. These have got to be one of the worst sounding headphones I have ever tried. Never heard the 990 though, but looking at Headroom's graphs, I wont be going out of my way to hear it anytime soon, considering my taste in music. Every time I have heard the 880 it wasnt bloody aweful like the 770, but was a signature that I never enjoyed, especially with the brightness. The HD580/600 kept me happy for several years though, but I am favoring the planar sound more theses days.

I am not surprised that the superglue didnt work, I have never had any luck with it for something like this. Too brittle and it hasnt ever done a good job in bonding small metal surfaces for me. Much better for closing cuts though. If I understand where the screws are correctly, it doesnt look like replacing the arc assembly will replace the damage you have done, as it looks like the screws are on the earcup assembly, not the arc assembly. Good luck though in getting this all replaced. The Lambda Pro sound is starting to get on my nerves. There is something wrong and slightly unpleasant sounding to me in the upper mids and the bass sort of sucks. It does really nothing for me that would give it a permanent place in my collection, even though it is probably about my second favorite overall. I much prefer the ESP950 at this point, by a very large margin in every respect. Tried the Koss out of the SRM-1/mk2 over the weekend, and it sounds pretty good. A bit darker and a bit smoother to my ears than the stock E/90.

I am glad your choice to sell it all for the K1000 turned out to be the right one Steve. Now, how do you plan to woody them?

There are special screwdrivers you can buy which have sharp tips that actually cut into the metal and are meant for removing screws where the head is stripped. I think they are called screw extractors, but you may want to look into getting one of these. No idea where the screw is on the O2, but depending on location, you may be able to get it out with vice grips too.

Indeed.

Yeah, just let me know. It aint a B24, but...

Well then, if you want, I have a spare 7A16A module in my closet that I am not using (replaced it with the 7A22). 225MHz single channel amplifier.

UPS dropped off a nice, big box today, with a pair of smaller boxes inside. Inside were the Lambda Pros and SRM-1/mk2 (S/N B0287) I ordered Tuesday. Everything looks and works very nicely, and the amp is in better condition than I expected, as most of the pics I had seen had quite a number of dings in the front panel. There are a few very minor things around the edges, but it is nice (and black). Normal and Pro bias sockets, which rocks, and means I will be on the lookout for a normal bias SR-Lambda. The headphones look a little rougher, but still quite nice considering their age. The headband is shedding a bit, one of the struts on the back is cracked, though still in place, and the pads are a bit hard, but still plump enough that they seal fine. The Koss are still better, though from what I have heard so far, these are my second choice out of my collection, not counting the SR404, as I still havnt repaired the headband on those. Listening to some Epica right now, and life is good. Not as good, obviously, as if Simone was naked in front of me, but pretty good nonetheless.

Nate, I like my 7704A quite a bit. What modules did you get? 7A22, 7A26, 7B70, and 7B71 here. This arrived today. Works good.

Braided SPC. No idea, as it wouldnt get nearly the chimney effect of the more traditional vertical profiles. Sure looks purdy though, from all the pictures I have seen, though I have never been near an actual Pass amp. Not sure how hot they run.

Very, very nice Justin. Kinda reminds me of a Pass amp (which is a good thing) with tubes, looking at that heatsink profile. Tracking says the Lambdas are in my county and expected to arrive at my house tomorrow. So, have people seen the SR-Lambda -=she=- posted F/S? I cant imagine what that recable did to the treble, though I guess it probably isnt quite as bad on a normal bias, as the plate spacing is closer, so impedance should be a good bit lower.

I guess it is a good thing then that you were relieved of your old pair, and that they are instead sitting here. New amp (and headphones) to arrive Friday, if tracking is to be trusted.

ESP/950 v. HD650? Not even a question here, though I sold my HD650 years ago, because I preferred my HD580. The ESP/950, even with the stock energizer, completely blow the HD580 out of the water for me. Of course, soundstage isnt something I highly value, largely on account of my music not having much of a soundstage to speak of.

Its proprietary, I believe. No idea on where you can get a suitable cable, but here are the schematics for both of your units, so you can figure out the pinout. http://www.audioasylum.com/images/DDE3.pdf http://www.audioasylum.com/images/dtipro32.pdf

fify FYI, this was a private person who set the price, not Audio Alternative. They just handled the transaction and shipping. You cant tell me my ears are supposed to be as against the stators (or rather, stator condom) as they were on the Lambda Pro, while I was good on the Lambda. I didnt have enough time on either to characterize the sound other than "I think I like this one moar, the mids are tastier". Sooo, got SRM-1/mk2 schematics? Is their a stax and koss amp schematic repository anywhere?

Stax Lambda Pro with SRM-1/MK2 amplifier.

Handed in my application for employment to the HCPD. Man, that was a long, boring form, though I have filled out similar before. At least this one didnt ask me to list the times I had had sex with animals not of the Homo sapiens variety, like State did.

I have been told (for what thats worth) that it is in excellent working condition, and the audio company I actually bought it from, Audio Alternative in Fort Collins, CO, shipped it today double boxed, insured, and with tracking UPS ground. I do hope the pads are in decent shape, as the last Lambda Pro I heard, while good, was outclassed (slightly) by a SR-Lambda, and I suspect that at least some of this is because the Lambda pads were in better condition and sealed properly for me, while the Pro pads didnt quite.

So, is $260 shipped a decent price for SR-Lambda Pro w/ SRM-1/mk2 amplifier? Just got off the phone, and it is on the way.