Guest Sime Posted April 25, 2016 Share Posted April 25, 2016 (edited) You can buy the LCD 4 headband as a spare part, not cheap but more comfortable. And I agree with the getting warm problem, but I live in Canberra so it's a plus for me. @@Beyer guy Edited April 25, 2016 by Sime Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beyer guy Posted April 25, 2016 Share Posted April 25, 2016 You can buy the LCD 4 headband as a spare part, not cheap but more comfortable. And I agree with the getting warm problem, but I live in Canberra so it's a plus for me. @@Beyer guy I'm moving back to the UK shortly so warm is a novelty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beyer guy Posted April 25, 2016 Share Posted April 25, 2016 Don't you also live in a caravan in Canberra from memory - the LCD2 are just an expensive/nice sounding ear warmer! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Sime Posted April 25, 2016 Share Posted April 25, 2016 @@Beyer guy I do but the van is well heated so there's no issue there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beyer guy Posted April 25, 2016 Share Posted April 25, 2016 @@Sime - if I remember the pictures correctly with everything turned on in your caravan heating is not likely to be much of a problem :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Sime Posted April 25, 2016 Share Posted April 25, 2016 @@Beyer guy the system is in the bathroom, so that part is taken care of, though the system only really gets warm in summer, never in winter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcathro Posted April 27, 2016 Share Posted April 27, 2016 My first post in the Headfi section. I am primarily a speaker person, and haven't really used headphones for many years. Having said that, headphones were my primary listening experience when I was living with my parents in the late 70's and early 80's. Although I still have my old Stax SRX MK3s, I have been meaning to get something a little better to listen on a 2nd system dedicated to headphones. I thought it would be a Stax Omega or 009, but I had a few days of listening at A2A, and didn't really get on with the Stax. It came down to the Abyss, LCD4, and the HE1000. It was really hard to choose, but I came away with the HE1000. Cheers David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Equaliser Posted April 27, 2016 Share Posted April 27, 2016 Just wondering what amplification was George @ A2A using to power the SR-009's or SR-007 MK2's? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheBrightSide Posted April 27, 2016 Share Posted April 27, 2016 My first post in the Headfi section. I am primarily a speaker person, and haven't really used headphones for many years. Having said that, headphones were my primary listening experience when I was living with my parents in the late 70's and early 80's. Although I still have my old Stax SRX MK3s, I have been meaning to get something a little better to listen on a 2nd system dedicated to headphones. I thought it would be a Stax Omega or 009, but I had a few days of listening at A2A, and didn't really get on with the Stax. It came down to the Abyss, LCD4, and the HE1000. It was really hard to choose, but I came away with the HE1000. Cheers David I had a listening session at A2A too, and was also most impressed by the HE1000's. A great balance of low, mids and highs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcathro Posted April 27, 2016 Share Posted April 27, 2016 Just wondering what amplification was George @ A2A using to power the SR-009's or SR-007 MK2's? A2a didn't have the 009 for me to listen to, and they stated that they much preferred the 007. It was the stax valve amp in the first session. In the second session, I brought in my own gear - amp, cd player, and SRD pro, which is how I would use them. I personally prefer a good hifi amp through transformers to the Stax amps. That said, I have never heard the BHSE, which everyone says is the best amp. In both my sessions, all the stax, including my own, lacked body and weight compared to the planers. I have had the HE1000s for about 2 weeks, and I can say that they are not perfect. My feeling is that there is an excess of treble energy somewhere. They are not bright sounding, nor sibilant, but just have a general excess haze. Cheers David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Equaliser Posted April 27, 2016 Share Posted April 27, 2016 You listened to an absolutely unoptimal setup with the O2`s which are underpowered for them. Listen to the 007 on the BHSE or similar and you will be absolutely blown away. Also the Stax transformers are always vastly inferior to even a good Stax amp or 3rd party regardless of the speaker hifi amp behind it. To save cluttering this thread you can send me a message if you wish to know why, what and recommendations. No wonder you were underwhelmed with your Stax listening session. Sent from my LG-D855 using Tapatalk 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcathro Posted April 27, 2016 Share Posted April 27, 2016 You listened to an absolutely unoptimal setup with the O2`s which are underpowered for them. Listen to the 007 on the BHSE or similar and you will be absolutely blown away. Also the Stax transformers are always vastly inferior to even a good Stax amp or 3rd party regardless of the speaker hifi amp behind it. To save cluttering this thread you can send me a message if you wish to know why, what and recommendations. No wonder you were underwhelmed with your Stax listening session. Sent from my LG-D855 using Tapatalk I was never going to be in the market for a $8K headphone amp plus $3K headphones. I have an amplifier that I really like, and I wanted headphones that I could run off the speaker terminals. I really have to disagree with you on the Transformer option. As well as my SRXs, I had Lamda Signatures (for editing in my studio) in the 90's, and never liked listening to music on them. I later discovered it was mainly the Stax amplifier. When the headphones were connected up to a very good hifi amp via an adaptor, they were very enjoyable. Also my amp driving the 007 through the SRD 7 pro was a big step up from the Stax amp (007t - $3.5K). The HE1000s were a no brainer for me. They were easily driven off the back of my existing amp, and sounded better that way than through anything they had in the shop. Anyway, I'll understand if you strongly disagree with me - we all have different perspectives. I have a friend who doesn't like my HE1000's or any of the Stax and believes his HD800s (moddified) are superior. Do you run the 009s or 007s yourself, if so, what with? Cheers David 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaynin Posted April 27, 2016 Share Posted April 27, 2016 Anyway, I'll understand if you strongly disagree with me - we all have different perspectives. Yep, which is why it's great to compare notes with other people, but there's really only one opinion that matters with how a set-up suits you, and that's your own. I've got a new system on the way and I have no doubt that not everyone would go for the options I chose, yet, for me, it's ticks all the boxes. And then some... I steered away from Stax too, very quickly actually, didn't suit me at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Sime Posted April 27, 2016 Share Posted April 27, 2016 And don't take this discussion private, I want to read it, please Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Equaliser Posted April 28, 2016 Share Posted April 28, 2016 (edited) I really have to disagree with you on the Transformer option. As well as my SRXs, I had Lamda Signatures (for editing in my studio) in the 90's, and never liked listening to music on them. I later discovered it was mainly the Stax amplifier. When the headphones were connected up to a very good hifi amp via an adaptor, they were very enjoyable. Also my amp driving the 007 through the SRD 7 pro was a big step up from the Stax amp (007t - $3.5K). Do you run the 009s or 007s yourself, if so, what with? Well its not either my opinion nor yours when it is an established fact that the Stax transformer adaptors will always come out second if you compare it to a better dedicated amplifier, one of the sole reasons why old Stax ltd discontinued the adaptor option in the late 80's. The transformer adaptors were always a cheap alternative option Stax offered for those that could not afford real electrostatic amplifiers and/or wanted to use a split source system with people who wanted to listen to there electrostatic headphones through there speaker system amplifier. Providing you have a good amplifier behind the adaptors they can offer more headroom and volume and very good dynamics but due to the step up ratio'd transformers they will always lack transparency and detail compared to a properly designed dedicated electrostatic amplifier. Don't get me wrong I like the adaptors as well, I love my SRD-7sb MK2 with my Lambdas connected to my Unison Research hybrid amplifier but in terms of resolution it is vastly inferior to my SRM1 MK2. Heck no wonder you felt the SRD-7 Pro sounded better then the 007ta, by far the worst Stax amplifier to date followed second by the 727. You should try and have a listen with your SR-X through some SRA-12S or SRM1 MK2. I no longer have my 009's, sold them years ago as I felt they were too bright for my taste and after hearing it on the BHSE that impression was still the same. Once I have my KGSSHV Carbon built that could be a different story and a headphone to revisit. I enjoy my collection of Lambda's, Gamma's, SR-3,5's, SR-X MK3 etc. Though I'am no longer interested in headphones as much as I was on head-fi years ago. Edited April 28, 2016 by liteneasy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcathro Posted April 28, 2016 Share Posted April 28, 2016 Well its not either my opinion nor yours when it is an established fact that the Stax transformer adaptors will always come out second if you compare it to a better dedicated amplifier, one of the sole reasons why old Stax ltd discontinued the adaptor option in the late 80's. The transformer adaptors were always a cheap alternative option Stax offered for those that could not afford real electrostatic amplifiers and/or wanted to use a split source system with people who wanted to listen to there electrostatic headphones through there speaker system amplifier. Providing you have a good amplifier behind the adaptors they can offer more headroom and volume and very good dynamics but due to the step up ratio'd transformers they will always lack transparency and detail compared to a properly designed dedicated electrostatic amplifier. Don't get me wrong I like the adaptors as well, I love my SRD-7sb MK2 with my Lambdas connected to my Unison Research hybrid amplifier but in terms of resolution it is vastly inferior to my SRM1 MK2. Heck no wonder you felt the SRD-7 Pro sounded better then the 007ta, by far the worst Stax amplifier to date followed second by the 727. You should try and have a listen with your SR-X through some SRA-12S or SRM1 MK2. I no longer have my 009's, sold them years ago as I felt they were too bright for my taste and after hearing it on the BHSE that impression was still the same. Once I have my KGSSHV Carbon built that could be a different story and a headphone to revisit. I enjoy my collection of Lambda's, Gamma's, SR-3,5's, SR-X MK3 etc. Though I'am no longer interested in headphones as much as I was on head-fi years ago. I won't get into an argument over what is fact and just widely held opinion. I haven't heard all of them, but have disliked every Stax amplifier that I have heard. One thing to understand is that I am very particular about what I need an amplifier to do, and very few manage it. What is important to me in music reproduction may not be important to you, or most other people. I am not obsessed with detail, but need timing and coherency. What do you think of the Sr-007s? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Equaliser Posted April 28, 2016 Share Posted April 28, 2016 One thing to understand is that I am very particular about what I need an amplifier to do, and very few manage it. What is important to me in music reproduction may not be important to you, or most other people. I am not obsessed with detail, but need timing and coherency. What do you think of the Sr-007s? Well I can't disagree to that, to each his own. Which version of the 007's? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcathro Posted April 28, 2016 Share Posted April 28, 2016 Which version of the 007's? Both. I only heard the MK2 at A2A. You mentioned you previously had the 009, The 007 was not mentioned in your list. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Equaliser Posted April 28, 2016 Share Posted April 28, 2016 (edited) I prefer the MK1's to the MK2. The new ones dubbed MK2.5 by Birgir is supposedly equal or better then the MK1's. Never owned the O2's only had them loaned out to me and heard them extensively at private meets with 2 other folks who own very expensive electrostatic headphone set-ups. The O2 MK1 and the old T1 is what got me hooked onto the Stax sound many years ago (even though the T1 is not really up to the task of powering the O2 MK1's optimally). Had the Omega 1's as well which I prefer to the 009's. Buy Stax stuff from Japan or PriceJapan, save up to 60% compared to buying locally. If you don't mind the exclusion of warranty. Edited April 28, 2016 by liteneasy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcathro Posted April 28, 2016 Share Posted April 28, 2016 I may yet at sometime take a punt on a s/h pair of Mk1's. $1500US seems to be the going rate. I won't be in any hurry though. The SRM-T1 is the unit I had with my Lambdas. I have got the parts to build by own Transformer stage, including some massive transformers intended for full range electrostatic speakers. Cheers David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Equaliser Posted April 28, 2016 Share Posted April 28, 2016 If you do can only advise going with Lundahl step up transformers (been done before). But it will always be a drawback if you ever do get a stand-alone KGSSHV or BHSE in the house as well, sound wise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcathro Posted April 28, 2016 Share Posted April 28, 2016 Interestingly, Someone has posted a mod for the He1000 treble excess. http://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/hifiman-he1000-mods.1979/ Is reversible, so I will give this a try Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Sime Posted April 29, 2016 Share Posted April 29, 2016 I dunno how or why, but there's a sprinkle of magic dust on LCD 2's that they know just how to bring out the best in music. It's not about perfection, it's just something about them that's just so right. It's a pair of headphones I think everyone should own. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Equaliser Posted April 29, 2016 Share Posted April 29, 2016 That sprinkle of magic dust is the mids, which is what planar magnetics are so good with, with the presentation it gives to the listener. It draws you into the music and you get carried away. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
migasson Posted April 29, 2016 Share Posted April 29, 2016 Just got the Sennheiser HD600- And I can see what all the fuss is about;) My ATH-M50X are up for sale in the forum;) 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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