Calling all STAX owners

[eggontoast]

I have been purchasing and trying out various headphones and amplifiers over the last 3 years or so but only recently dabbled with the Stax Lambda models. These headphones sorry earspeakers are by far the best I have heard to date. Sure other headphones excel at certain genres of music but only the Stax sound fantastic with all music, they are well balanced, extremely open sounding just an absolute pleasure to listen to. So are there any other Stax users on this forum if so what are you running, if not, why not what's stopping you ?

 

[Anonymous]

Stax are definitely the best, but the system they are built around is equally important. I would guess that monetary considerations are the best answer to your question. Personally I have:
- WooAudio WES Electrostatic Headphone Amplifier
- Stax SR-007 Mk2 (more lively, less neutral then 009)
- STAX SR-009 (best headphone ever made !?!)

Am currently bidding on Ebay for the legendary Sennheiser Orpheus HE 90 and HEV 90 + Bonus HE60inHE90:
-Buy I Now price: GBP 21,500.00 (US $35,397.60).

Also love my Audeze LCD-2, rewired with ALO Audio Universal Headphone Cable system.

Other amps that I would recommend to "drive these phones":
- Ray Samuels Audio A-10 Thunderbolt electrostatic headphone amplifier
- HeadAmp Blue Hawaii Special Edition electrostatic headphone amplifier

We are few, but loyal, and have very deep pockets

 

[eggontoast]

So, that's one Stax user then :rofl:

Am currently bidding on Ebay for the legendary Sennheiser Orpheus HE 90 and HEV 90 + Bonus HE60inHE90:
-Buy I Now price: GBP 21,500.00 (US $35,397.60).

Also love my Audeze LCD-2, rewired with ALO Audio Universal Headphone Cable system.

I keep looking at the Audeze, I will have to get some to try at some point.

Other amps that I would recommend to "drive these phones":
- Ray Samuels Audio A-10 Thunderbolt electrostatic headphone amplifier
- HeadAmp Blue Hawaii Special Edition electrostatic headphone amplifier

I haven't seen these before, thanks for the info.

 

[Anonymous]

It's hard to find dealers with whom you can demo headphones. I guess the best thing is to go to a headphone meetup. Maybe we should have one?

 

[caesar44]

It's hard to find dealers with whom you can demo headphones. I guess the best thing is to go to a headphone meetup. Maybe we should have one?

It would be nice to have a WHF meet, and demo some ortho's.

 

[wireman]

So are there any other Stax users on this forum if so what are you running, if not, why not what's stopping you ?

Yes, I've a pair of the Signature 404's with the 006 energiser. I'd hazard a guess and suggest that it's probably the total cost of the package (with the energiser) that stops many looking at Stax. I mean, they're not exactly cheap are they?

It's hard to find dealers with whom you can demo headphones.

It's a great shame that Howard Popeck gave up his business called "Simply Stax", exclusively selling just Stax Headphones from his home in North London. He had a real passion for the brand, and at that time was reportedly selling more Stax product than anyone else in the world. But he became a little disillusioned with it all and jacked it in, partly due to the lack of new product innovation, partly because product quality started to drift (particularly on the premium Omega 'phones), and partly due to the fact that some unscrupulous individuals from the Far East were selling Stax product direct into the UK for substancially less than UK dealers were even able to buy them for.

I personally would've liked to have bought the Omega 'phones, but who's going to pay that sort of money for a premium headphone with well documented manufacturing issues?

 

[Anonymous]

Hi

I'm new to this forum though I've been listening to music via headphones for 15 years or more. My previous headphone system was, Esoteric X-03se + SR-007mk1's + SRM-007t and while the sound quality was pretty good, there was a kind of veiling effect which I feel was caused by the SRM-007t and maybe the X-03se. The headphone system I'm using for now is the, Esoteric K-01 + Headamp Pico Slim portable amp + Shure se535's + Beyerdynamic DT1350's, I say for now because I have a pair of SR-009's but nothing to drive them with until I receive the Headamp BHSE in March [ I got the SR-009's straight after hearing the news about Stax being sold to a Chinese company ]. To be honest after hearing the K-01, it's made me feel the source is the most important part in an audio system, even though I'm looking forward to hearing the SR-009's driven by the BHSE, the headphone system I have now does give amazing sound quality. When I receive the BHSE in March I'll post my thoughts if anyone is interested.

 

[eggontoast]

Hi back and welcome to the forum.

[ I got the SR-009's straight after hearing the news about Stax being sold to a Chinese company ].

Do you not think that this could be a good thing, added manufacturing resource, financial backing, distribution network etc ?

When I receive the BHSE in March I'll post my thoughts if anyone is interested.

Please do, I would be interested in hearing your thoughts on it. As of late I must admit that my STAX have taken a bit of a back seat as I have been trying out different dynamic headphones. I still keep meaning to also try some Orthodynamic's too.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi back and welcome to the forum.

[ I got the SR-009's straight after hearing the news about Stax being sold to a Chinese company ].

Do you not think that this could be a good thing, added manufacturing resource, financial backing, distribution network etc ?

I'm not sure because I don't know whether this Chinese company will come out with new and improved headphones or start discontinuing any, i.e SR-009's, whether they do or not the only reason why I decided to get the SR-009's before the Chinese company took over, was because I wanted them being 100% Japanese.

When I receive the BHSE in March I'll post my thoughts if anyone is interested.

Please do, I would be interested in hearing your thoughts on it. As of late I must admit that my STAX have taken a bit of a back seat as I have been trying out different dynamic headphones. I still keep meaning to also try some Orthodynamic's too.

I will but from what I've read, the BHSE makes the SR-009's too detailed, meaning at above normal volumes it's supposed to be fatiguing, but it's only what I've read, some of the posts I've read say the BHSE + SR-009's combination is a life changing experience so I can only judge for myself in March. When I ordered the BHSE [ last March ] I still had the SR-007's but after hearing the K-01 I just had to have it and I could only do so by using my previous headphone system [ which included the SR-007's ] as part exchange. Although I've been an avid headphone user for over 15 years, I've not listened to that many different headphones and amps, I had my previous headphone system for over 11 years and where I live [ Castleford, West Yorkshire] there are no local headphone meetings for me to try different makes, I'm getting the BHSE without hearing it but it is regarded as the best available Electrostatic headphone amp, also I read [ I'm doing too much reading Ha Ha ! ] that there's not a source good enough to get the BHSE + SR-009's at their full potiential, but I do believe the K-01 will and some.

 

[lonely boy]

I'd be interested in your impressions David, to say the least.

Currently slumming it with a pair of SR-404 Limited Editions and an SRM-006t, hopefully in the near future I'll have a crack at building a better amp, something like Kevin Gilmour's AC coupled amp sounds possible.

 

[Anonymous]

I'd be interested in your impressions David, to say the least.

Currently slumming it with a pair of SR-404 Limited Editions and an SRM-006t, hopefully in the near future I'll have a crack at building a better amp, something like Kevin Gilmour's AC coupled amp sounds possible.

Hi lonely boy,

I'll post my thoughts when I receive the BHSE, however there's someone I know who lives about 6 miles away that has a SRM600L and in about two weeks he's visiting my place for us to hear my SR-009's via his amp and my K-01. I can post my thoughts about that too. While I'm happy to post my thoughts, the only other headphone system I've had long term experience with was my previous one, so apart from that I've nothing to campare it with. One thing I will say, and this is only via my hearing, is the headphone system I'm using until I receive the BHSE in March which is the K-01 + Pico Slim + Shure se535's, has better sound quality than my previous system which I've mentioned was Esoteric X-03se + SR-007's + SRM-007t, though not as airy as the Stax. That K-01 is some piece of audio eqiupment.

David.

P.S. When Massi brings his SRM600L, he's also bringing his SR-507's so we'll be able to hear the differences between that and my SR-009's

 

[lonely boy]

Ohh - that is going to be some set up!

The K-01 looks like a stunning machine, really like the look of the casework - very tasty indeed.

I picked up my UX-3 used about 18 months ago for a decent price and I love it, contary to what people think about Esoteric gear it not at all clinical or dry sounding, quite the opposite, though the UX-3 isn't the last word in transparency.

The 009s look gorgeous but are way out of my league unfortunately (at this moment in time) I may try and find a second hand pair of 007s sometime in the future, not terribly interested in the more recent high-end dynamics on the market to be honest.

Enjoy your gear and please feel free to post your thoughts on your get-together.

 

[Anonymous]

In audio equipment looks are as important to me as sound quality is. While I'm 100% happy with the K-01, I'm not with the SR-009's. The part I don't like about them is the headband, not the leather section but the plastic band. When the SR-009's are placed on the head, that plastic band protrudes around it which to me looks stupid. I know I'm not going to be looking at myself everytime I have them on [ there again I might be Ha Ha ! ] but I can't help thinking how daft they look. With that in mind I'm going to be building a new headband for it with the help of my best friends son who's a welder. When this headband is finished and fitted I'll be 100% happy with how the SR-009's look, but not until.

 

[R666GhostRider]

Hi, I have a Stax srm-006t and ear speakers srm-004 where would I sell them. I can seem to find them anywhere online. They work perfectly and was gave as a gift. I know myself I will never use them, any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Working 100%. Is a shame to see them just laying there and I sure there's an avid collector out there somewhere

 

[Cougarboy]

Hi, it's an old message but I was wondering if these are still available?

thanks.