STAX Headphones Owners Thread

[mtan002 15]

I bought the entry Stax SRS-3100 which is a combination of SR-L300 headphone and the SRM-252S energiser lately.

 

My source is an Intel NUC running ROCK (Roon on Linux). It feeds the Stax via a tiny iFi nano iDSD DAC. 

 

Do you think the iFi is doing justice to the Stax? My impression of the Stax so far is mediocre. Nothing outstanding and wonder it is the DAC.

 

Your opinions welcome.

 

Cheers

 

Michael 

 

[Addicted to music 7,112]

Maybe try some other headphones,  there are some dynamic stuff that really shine.   Go and audition some while taking you stax combo with you compare....  Headphones are a very personal thing, you either love it or hate,  it’ll either agree with you or it won’t.

 

[mtan002 15]

22 hours ago, Addicted to music said:

Maybe try some other headphones,  there are some dynamic stuff that really shine.   Go and audition some while taking you stax combo with you compare....  Headphones are a very personal thing, you either love it or hate,  it’ll either agree with you or it won’t.

 

Thanks for the suggestion.

Given that I have bought the Stax, my hunt is on a matching DAD.

 

BTW: Audiophilestyle has a review of the Stax SRM-700T energizer, details here:

 

https://audiophilestyle.com/ca/reviews/review-stax-audio-srm-700t-amplifier-energizer-for-electrostatic-headphones-r901/ 

[Neo 918]

@mtan002

would be on the hunt for an Electrocompaniet ECD-1 dac. Fond memories of the dac and wonderful pairing with stax, in my case it was srm717 energizer and sr-404 ear speakers. 
I would also audition a Chord electronics dac perhaps a HD or Qute version which can be had now for very reasonable coin secondhand 

Neo

Edited June 14, 2020 by Neo

[mtan002 15]

Good luck with your hunt.

 

I'm pretty happy with the Topping D90, until the next itch....

[allthumbs 1,007]

I've had a lot of time for headphone listening while in lockdown over the last few months and the better half working from home.

 

I have a collection of headphones nothing too expensive including:

 

Audio-Technica: MX40's, Air700's & Air900x's

Sennheiser: HD280 Pro's and PXC550's

BrainWavz : HM5's

AKG: K242 HD's

AudioFly: A140's

Sony: MD7506's

 

I like them all, each on their own are very good, especially the AKG's and the Audiofly's and for noise attenuation the Sennheiser HD280's are incredible and it's good to have some one handy nearby in case you have trouble freeing your head from their grip. 

 

But in comparison to my 40 year old Stax Lambda with SRD-7b all of the other's special positive characteristics are highlighted but their overall performance lack.

 

I've spent hours with the Stax and you can start to take them for granted, but I keep going back and that first moment of astonishment as to what they do never gets old.

 

I consider the AKG K242HD's pretty special for not a lot of dollars as do I the Audiofly IEM's that I picked up recently for a very low price when I read a recommendation from a fellow SNA'er (I can't remember who but he has my eternal thanks).

 

The Stax have never blown me away, and I think that is their magic, 40 years on from analogue to digital they are consistently excellent. The Roger Federer of headphones.

 

 

 

[Gabehcuod 106]

I have a minty 001mk2 coming in a few days, might post a review if i get the time.
I've owned 404LE, 207, SR5 Gold in the past running off a SRD/poweramp combo so I'm interested to see how well this stacks up.

It came with the original, optional power adapter so battery quality won't be an issue.

 

[Gabehcuod 106]

Initial impressions, incredible detail as expected of a vintage stax but stage is a tad narrow compared to SR-207. Far wider than any IEM I've heard though. This thing has punchy bass that extends fairly deep. Punchier than HiFiMan Arya but not as extended. The sound dramatically improves when using the wall wart instead of regular AA batteries. Comfort is said to be poor and the inexpensive CES A1 kit is designed to address this as well as make these closed back. Fortunately, I have been using this for a near continual 8hrs without the CES a1 and have had no issues.

Overall this gives you everything you would expect from an electrostatic but with killer bass.