rfg@hound.UUCP (R.GRANTGES) (04/18/84)
<> STAX STACKS UP
Some time ago I asked for information and comments about Stax
Earphones (or "Earspeakers") on net.audio. I received many
enthusiastic replies which follow. In summary, it seems "Stax
Stacks Up", to coin a phrase. Superb quality, Stratospheric
price, no discounting except non-standard imports (no warranty),
extreme comfort, absurd looks in some models.
My sincere thanks to those who replied. -Dick Grantges hound!rfg
Subject: Re: Request Information on Stax Earphones
Hi,
I have a pair of Stax earphones, but they were the bottom of the line
(100.00) set. They are electret (the diaphram is permanently polarized --
no separate polarizing voltage source, just a transformer). If it is
of any help to you, I think they sound very good. Much smoother and
cleaner than my DQ-10s. I bought them as an alternative to spending
another 1200.00 for better speakers, and am satisfied with them. Their
only drawbacks are:
limited maximum SPL - seems to be around 106 db (subjective
comparison to sitting 9 feet infront of a pair of
mission 770's.
limited low frequency response - they go down to about 30 to 35Hz.
The more expensive models may be much better about this.
They respond well to low freq. equalization.
No regrets about not buying AKG's or Senn's. Good luck
feng
Subject: Re: Request Information on Stax Earphones
I own a pair of the Stax Lambda Pro headphones -- I purchased them
to use as monitors for location recording sessions. Simply, they
are the most natural sounding headphones I have ever used or tried.
The disparity on price you have noticed is do to the way the products
are advertised; i.e., when purchasing the Lambda Pros you must buy
two components, the headphones themselves and the class A amp to drive
them. List price on the total package is $780. I bought mine
from a mail-order joint for $545 incl. shipping. Since I am making
location recordings (some for eventual release on vinyl and/or CD)
my application for monitoring is very critical. I would heartily
recommend these phones for this purpose - however for listening
to records, its alot of money. Since these phones are so ruthless,
the balance of your system (cartridge, arm, table, preamp, etc.)
might fall under scrutiny. As well, your favorite recordings
could very well fall from your good graces after hearing what they
REALLY sound like.
If you have any further questions, or would like to hear the Lambda
Pros, give me a call (or send mail) and maybe we can work something out.
Craig Dory
Subject: Re: Request Information on Stax Earphones
I'vee heard and heard about Stax for quite some time. They consistently
rate as top headphones in audiophile magazines. They specially in
electrostatics and extremely expensive electronics. I've found
Stax headphones to be superb musically but somewhat uncomfortable.
I prefered the cheaper version to the full-blown Lambda, but this
was a while ago and perhaps things have changed. By the way, althogh
I don't have this years' Audio magazine directory in front of me, I
have last years, and it lists 7 Stax headphone models, ranging in
price from $99 to $460
Alan Berenbaum houxk!adb
I have had the Stax Lambda Professional (which includes their amp) for
almost a year now. Several other engineers here at Ampex have the
regular Lambda model. I haven't found anyone who wasn't extremely
pleased with them or who has had any problems with them. I did quite
a bit of A-B comparision with my 'pro' and the regular lambda using my
Sony CDP-101 as the source, and was hard pressed to hear much difference.
Let me know if you have any specific questions on them.
= dna =
I have had a pair of Stax Lambdas for several months and they are indeed
fantastic. I use the adaptor that connects to an amp's speaker outputs
(the '-7' model as I recall, with 2 jacks, which has lower distortion
specs than the 1-jack model). A friend has the Lambda Pro with the
separate amplifier -- that combination is a bit cleaner, more versatile,
better maximum bass SPL, and much more expensive. I don't hear any real
difference in the two "earspeaker" models when used with the same adaptor
or amp.
The Stax are very clean, with outstanding bass, and slightly elevated
highs. It is easy to hurt your ears by running them too loud, since
there is little subjective feeling of just how much power you're
using (no high-level distortion, or other changes with SPL). They do
not block out outside sounds like most dynamic headphones, and so they
also are more audible in the room to others (but probably not to an
annoying extent). They are also more comfortable to wear than anything I've
run across -- I've worn them for hours, though a warm humid environment may
be a bit uncomfortable.
In case you're not aware, these things cannot be plugged into the standard
headphone jack on an amp, etc. Also the adaptor requires a few seconds
of audio to build up a field, after a few hours(?) of disuse. No real
problem, just an interesting effect of using the sound itself to generate
the electrostatic volatage.
Bottom line: they sound great, and like CDs, reveal everything going
on in the recording. I find it a little hard to listen to tapes, because
the tape noise (even with Dolby C) is so clearly audible! This is
perhaps another side effect of the tendency to listen at high levels.
With a quiet listening room, low levels are a good idea. Every detail
will still be there.
Jerry Holter
Subject: Re: Request Information on Stax Earphones
I have had a pair of Stax 44s (their first "electret" model)
since 1978. They are definitely the best earphones I have ever listened
to. I listen mostly to baroque music, Vivaldi being my favorite.
Good tonal balance is what I like the most about the Staxes.
I must admit that my equipment is not state of the art. When I was
in Italy (until August 1980), I had a Philips 202 turntable,
Shure 75ED cartridge, Philips 710 receiver (20 Watts / channel),
and Epicure 10 speakers. I also had a pair of Pioneer
headphones. I did not like their sound, because they colored
the midrange noticeably. Moreover, they were of the closed type,
which makes them uncomfortable, if you wear glasses. (If you keep
your glasses on, you lose bass response.) Since 1982, I own
an AR turntable with Shure 91ED cartridge, a Sears receiver
(25 W/ch), and JBL 100 speakers (used).
I do not particularly like to use headphones at all,
but the Stax 44s do not give me nearly as much fatigue as any
other type I have tried. One has to realize that most recorded
material is not recorded for headphone listening. The apparent
exception are the live classical concerts on PBS, locally WUNC.
They sound better using headphones, even from the point of
view of spatial image.
Marco
P.S. The 44s costed about 70 British pounds in London, in 1978.
Subject: Re: Request Information on Stax Earphones
Stax {headphones|earphones|headsets|earspeakers} are definitely for
electrostatic speaker fans. As you probably know, electrostatic
speakers have a sound to them that 99% of the people either love or
hate -- there is very little in-between. I have heard the lambdas,
and so has my best friend. He thought they were fantastic. I thought
that they had a certain sound about them that I didn't like, but in
fact, liked the low-end electret model better. Can you guess which
one of us owns a pair of Quad ESL-63's????? (for reference, the material
we listened to was "The King James Version" (Sheffield), on a fully-
decked Linn turntable, through Naim electronics.)
Therefore, If you like electrostatic speakers, by all means, get the
lambdas. If you don't, get the Electret model. If you don't know,
listen to the whole line, and decide subjectively.
-Ed Horch
Subject: Stax Earphones
I have listened to Stax phones for many years at my local hi-fi shop.
I will soon budget the money for a pair. I am very impressed with
the sound, as I should be.
Check the Audio Equipment Directory, headphone section. They were
listed last year (The October issue) for some brief specs, and an
address for the manufacturer. You should be able to find the 'phones
at better hifi shops.
If you can't get anywhere, write me and I will send a copy of some
recent literature I have.
=John Shelton=
Subject: Re: Request Information on Stax Earphone - (nf)
Stax speakers are, for starters, some of the best electrostatics
around. The "Earspeakers" are indeed extremely good. They do,
however, have one problem. You are likely to go through several sets
of them before you find a pair with good tonal balance. The sound
from the badly balanced ones can be excruciating, so this is a real
problem! Most of my information is from reading and not listening
experience. Probably the statistics(what little they're worth), and
price keep the Stax out of Stereo Review, but little of the equipment
I have found pleasing can be found associated with that magazine.
There, you get my biases free! Good luck finding a good pair. If you
do, they will be extremely accurate, and very musical sounding.
Michael Patrick
I have some old (about 5 years) Stax SRD3 earphones. They have
very clean response and are very comfortable to listen to.
Low bass response is not wonderful since they do not seal & are
open-back. At the time the Stax line was the best under $1000.
Lately they have come out with more "wonderful" models which I have
not tried. I have tried some supposedly good dynamic (non-electrostatic)
models recently and my old Stax are still better.
Geoff Steckel (inmet!gwes)
I have had very good experence with Stax over all. They are perhaps
the best sounding of any of the headphones I have heard. The company is
located somewhere in asia, Japan I think, and are there for somewhat harder
to get info out of. Most of their sales are not in the US but Japan. Some
of the better Hi Fi stores, eather local to you or mail order, should be able
to get you more info and service.
Also be on the look out for the Stax Electrostatic cartridge. It is a
very interesting item. The cartrige has no coil, no magnet, but instead uses
the change of capacitance between the cantileaver and to gold plates set at
a 45o angle to it. This gives the cantileaver a very very low mass. It's a
fun toy... well if you like that sort of thing. If you get a chance give it
an ear.