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I've read with some interest about Stax headphone amps. The comments seem to be all over the place, from very good to not so hot.
I'm a recent convert to the Stax headphone world. I must say, once you get a good Stax headphone setup, it's kind of hard to fully appreciate the regular music system. The headphones sound very close to some of the best speakers in the world.
One item of note I worked out with the Stax tube amps is that they improve their performance markedly if one changes out the stock Sovtek 6CG7's for real NOS tubes. In my case, I changed the stock tubes out on the SRM 007tA to a quad of RCA Black Plates, which made a significant improvement in clarity and low level detail. The presentation was much more open sounding. I noticed the same improvement with the SRM 006t II when the stock tubes were replaced with NOS RCA Clear tops.
Looking for feedback if others have had the same experience?
"What this country needs is a good 5 watt amplifier!" (Paul Klipsch)
Follow Ups:
I have heard all the recent planar and dynamic headphones, and none have the clarity, and dynamic, lifelike sound of the top STAX.
I use the SRM TS1 with NOS "selected low noise" RCA clear tops with my Lambda Nova Signatures.
You must use the "hard to find" low noise NOS tubes for best results. The stock tubes suck.
I bought a lifetime supply years ago.
I've had, on loan, a Stax 4040 system, which includes the Stax 006t tubed headphone amplifier and the 404 headset.
I recently tried hooking up the Stax 404 headset to my srd-7 adapter, even though the adapter is for normal bias phones, and the 404 is a pro bias headset. The srd-7 is connected to the speaker terminals on a very nice Sherwood vintage tube amplifier.
The Stax 404-SRD-7-Sherwood combination is clearly superior to the Stax 404-006t tubed amplifier. More alive, cleaner sounding, more air etc. Really wonderful..I was, and still am, very surprised.
I have the 4040 II setup, which has the SRM 006t II. After I changed out the stock Sovtek tubes, there was an immediate and noticeable change in sonic character for the better.
The SRM 007tA sounds ever better with the change of tubes.
The Woo Audio adapter is supposed to be an excellent match with the Stax phones and a good power amp.
"What this country needs is a good 5 watt amplifier!" (Paul Klipsch)
Just wondered if the current prod. EH 6FQ7/6CG7 "Gold" were any better than the provided Sovteks...
I'm sure any NOS will be better but wondered if you had compared the EH's. They are easily avail.
thanks
Grant
If you said, Red pill, go ahead and read the thread below where pretty much every significant electrostat amp is mentioned/compared/maligned, etc.
I have heard the Beyer T-1's on a very good tube amp, and while it was lovely, the take away for me was that I still strongly preferred the Stax 507/SRM 007tA setup.
I think we all key in on slightly different aspects of "what's most important" with sound quality. The clarity provided by the Stax ESL achieves a level that no dynamic phones I've heard can get to.
"What this country needs is a good 5 watt amplifier!" (Paul Klipsch)
I bought a 323II and was good to go.
Until I heard a friends HD800's and that was the end of my days as a Stax owner.
HD800's + Woo WA7 (or Violectric V200) is fabulous.
"Lock up when you're done and don't touch the piano."
-Dr. Greg House
My experience is just the opposite. I have never heard ANY dynamic headphone that can match the performance of the Stax units.
Guess this is why each person needs to audition and draw there own conclusions.
"What this country needs is a good 5 watt amplifier!" (Paul Klipsch)
I think that was true up until a few years ago, before the explosion of HE, LCD, a few others, and, yes, HD800 types, but maybe not now. How recent is your experience?
Observe, before you think. Think before you open your yap. Act on the basis of experience.
Pretty recent. All the gear you mention sounds great, but, I still prefer the sound of the Stax ESL units overall.
"What this country needs is a good 5 watt amplifier!" (Paul Klipsch)
You've never heard HD800's on a good tube amp.
"Lock up when you're done and don't touch the piano."
-Dr. Greg House
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