STAX Headphones

Dave, I felt that the SRM-313 and the SR-303 Earspeakers were a real sweet spot in the range.  Moving up to the SRM6T and 404 signatures wasn't a quantum leap by any means - preferable in some ways, not in others.  I think you would probably have to be looking at something like the 007 or 009 or the new range, which I haven't heard yet.

Hi Dave,

I had a very long extended listening session a few months ago at my local Naim dealer where I was able to listen to the entire Stax line at the time (pre the current series) and also to the current Focal line of headphones.  I was surprised that the SR-307s sounded better with the SRM-325 than with the more expensive tubed unit and that this pretty much held up for all the Stax earspeakers when auditioned through the SRM-325.  Maybe it was just my preference.  No doubt in my mind that for all types of music and sheer comfort for long listening the Stax beasties were clear winners.  But then I have always been biased towards Stax electrostatics having owned several models from the 70's and early 80's. 

My overall impressions of the Stax line were very similar to Richard's except what I eventually went home with (took the dealer demos, broken in nicely) was the SRM-325/SR-307 combo. 

I would suggest keeping the energiser you have and demoing the Stax models you are interested in with it (if they are compatible) and then trying them with the more upscale energisers.  As Richard suggests, they do some things better, butit may not the difference you are hoping for.

Enjoy your listening!

Oh, forgot to mention the source for all the headphone listening was a DACV1 and NAP100 streaming high res audio from the shop NAS drive (If I remember correctly).

TND I don't have any experience of the previous generation of Stax but like Geofiz I had a long listening session at a well known headphone emporium with the idea of buying a closed back headphone but quickly realised I needed Stax in my life. I tried the L300, 500 & 700 with both the solid state energiser and the tube based 006ts. I found that I preferred the tube energiser with all of the L series, to me it lifted the  performance, the speed and depth of the sound. Of course you have to listen for your self, but my findings were; that I would be very happy with the 006ts and the L500's as this combo had a definite edge over the L300, but I ended up stretching to the L700 as these have bass which starts and stops like no other headphone I tried, and this included the focal range. Amazing that the utopia's were I preferred the sound of the L700's.

track down a good dealer and give em a listen.

When you audition the newer 007 and 009's you owe it to yourself to demo the Focal Utopia (similar price to the 009).  Many find it easily goes toe to toe with the Stax, some find it superior, nearly all agree that it offers considerably more flexibility in that it is not tied to an energizer and can give spectacular performance from portable DAP's, iPhones etc.  In other words it is very transportable.

I think when I get "old" and decide to bin my 552/500/KDS system I could very happily live with the latest Sony WM1Z Walkman/Kimber Axios cable/Focal Utopia combination.  Not an inexpensive system (although "cheap" when compared to the 500 setup) and enough performance to keep one happy for quite a while.

Can a walkman do justice to utopias? It is wonderfull dap but not like full force headphone amp...

The brand new Sony Walkmen (plural!) were released this past December.  The WM1A ($1000) is considered to be the "affordable"  model while the WM1Z, at $3200, is considered to be the flagship and represents the pinnacle of Sony's engineering prowess and capabilities.  Many reviews have proclaimed it as perhaps the best DAP currently available today. 

My main system is a 552/500/Kudos Titans with digital duties provided by a Klimax DS/3.  A Sony WM1Z/Focal Utopia/Kimber Axios setup brings tears to my eyes each and every time.  Absolutely breathtaking what the system is capable of.  One would hope so as it is $8K.  The Sony Walkman playing FLAC is something to behold- I do not have any DSD files however the 1Z can play those as well and I will assume they sound equally sublime

PS  the 1Z has a balanced port with the new 4.4mm connection standard (it also has a 3.5mm port).  Flagship level performance comes from the balanced connection

Golly this thread takes me back. I still have a pair of Stax SR3 earspeakers in the loft. When I bought them new in 1971 they were the best you could buy for any money, pretty well, and as a student at the time, it took a lot of scrimping and saving for me to acquire them from Audio T in London.

They were wonderful headphones but I had to get replacement electrostatic modules every few months as they gradually lost sensitivity and eventually after the 12 month warranty expired,  I decided I couldn't afford it any longer....

best

David

glevethan posted:

The brand new Sony Walkmen (plural!) were released this past December.  The WM1A ($1000) is considered to be the "affordable"  model while the WM1Z, at $3200, is considered to be the flagship and represents the pinnacle of Sony's engineering prowess and capabilities.  Many reviews have proclaimed it as perhaps the best DAP currently available today. 

My main system is a 552/500/Kudos Titans with digital duties provided by a Klimax DS/3.  A Sony WM1Z/Focal Utopia/Kimber Axios setup brings tears to my eyes each and every time.  Absolutely breathtaking what the system is capable of.  One would hope so as it is $8K.  The Sony Walkman playing FLAC is something to behold- I do not have any DSD files however the 1Z can play those as well and I will assume they sound equally sublime

PS  the 1Z has a balanced port with the new 4.4mm connection standard (it also has a 3.5mm port).  Flagship level performance comes from the balanced connection

1z is one of the best daps not arguing ör anything, it is a golden brick that i avoided to replace my zx2, i like to use tidal on the move, it was the only reason ( maybe the golden factor as well ��)

They will be top of the game with any iem/ciem, top end adeles,  nobles and many more..

Utopias have more to give with a dedicated headphone amp thats all i am saying...specially with the very good source that you have

Try to replace 500 with 200, your system will still sound good but not its potential

I listened all the equipmnet mentioned above...(except the linn)

David Hendon

I also had a pair of Stax SR3 headphones back in the 70s

However we got a border collie puppy who decided to chew them to bits one day.

Oh how I laughed !!!!

Emre posted:

1z is one of the best daps not arguing ör anything, it is a golden brick that i avoided to replace my zx2, i like to use tidal on the move, it was the only reason ( maybe the golden factor as well ��)

They will be top of the game with any iem/ciem, top end adeles,  nobles and many more..

Utopias have more to give with a dedicated headphone amp thats all i am saying...specially with the very good source that you have

Try to replace 500 with 200, your system will still sound good but not its potential

I listened all the equipmnet mentioned above...(except the linn)

I think we are in agreement with everything you are saying above.  I agree that the 1Z not doing streaming is disappointing however Sony engineers felt it compromised sound - so no Tidal (unfortunately).  As for its "brick" qualities also agree- it is heavy however I do no use it while carrying around in my pocket. 

As for the Utopias with a dedicated amp/top notch source - agree 100%. I have a SimAudio Moon 430HA headphone amp which allows me to listen to my Klimax DS through the Utopias.  Staggering quality. 

The beauty of the Utopias is how much they can scale up and what they are capable of.  They sound great out of an iPhone, better out of a normal DAP/Mojo type device, sublime out of a statement Sony DAP, and simply devastating with a Klimax DS (or I am sure NDS/555PS).

There is a lack of love on this forum for Focal speakers however people need to look past that if they are interested in headphones.  Focal rocked the headphone world to its core last year with their introduction and everyone else is playing catch-up.

I have both Elear and sopra 2 could not bring my self to spend that amount for a headphone and still use hd800 which i love

Moon sounds like a great amp, we dont have it here... it is one type of headphone amp that i like to see with naim badge sitting on my frame with/without dac options

The pure dap thing sounds funny to me because they can make it work both android and sony pure mode like fiio does

It iş a great convinience for me to download all new albums and canvas them on the move ör download an old classic in the hotel lobby to suit my mood....

But anyone who loves staxs need to check CAVALLI audio electrostatic amp as well....

Apparently the Focal headphone group has nothing to do with the speaker group other than sharing the Focal name, two completely separate entities and hence slightly different design criteria.  The Focal new line of headphones are exceptional in a number of aspects, and are a different beast compared to the speakers.  They are definitely worth a listen to, just not my taste or comfort for long listening sessions and hence my preference for Stax.

I only had a very brief listen to the new Focal headphones at one of the shows, so didn't really have much chance to make any definitive judgements on how they performed. I'm told the Utopias require a lot of running in before they sound their best...  However, I love the look of the Elears and price-wise they are perhaps a little more on the radar for me.  Emre, how do the Elears compare with the HD800s? 

Dear Richard

By no means i consider myself an expert but i will try

Both excellent build quality - Elear little better

Both very open and prone to outside noise and leak outside like a bluetooth speakers

Elear vs hd800

Musicality vs detail

Focused stage vs wide stage

Warm sound vs technical/detail

Low end vs no low end bass

Easy to drive vs picky with amp ( tube / warmer ss)

Every type of music vs not electronic

Elear is like a far better hd650

I rock and dance in Elear

Classic/acoustic in hd800

Jazz in both

I use gustard h10 for hd800, mojo and creek for Elear

They make an excellent team

I tested utopias they are better but far too expensive for my headphone budget... maybe someday ıf i buy Dave/Blu2 combo

FYI

imho the difference between the Elears and Utopia's are like that between a 282 and 552 (I had the Elears in house for demo and now own Utopias). As stated with 552 do not demo unless your checkbook is ready. 

I do not know if this applies to the UK however here in the States the month of September sees a $1000 trade in value on ANY pair of headphones.  That takes the Utopia from $3999 to $2999.  Stax 009 are $3850 and require an expensive energizer - Utopias can be used with anything. 

Just a FYI if anyone is looking

Emre thanks.  

Now i got an itch for a utopia / 430 combo, since i will be in us in 2 week for U2 concert!,

Far better value than Dave aş a headphone amp, i got 272, cd2x and a new turntable aş a source

#glevethan, what do you say?

I say you will be VERY happy.

My KDS/430/Utopia has been taking serious listening time away from my Kudos Titans.  Nice that the 430 also has a remote control to raise the volume when you want to!!

I have not heard a Dave (have heard a Hugo1 and own a Mojo) however I would guess that a CDX2 (GREAT boogie machine) would do quite well - most likely better.  I loved mine when I used to own it many moons ago.