Topic: Stax "Omega-7" Hybrid E-Stats (Read 951 times)

MuppetFace · « **on:** February 19, 2014, 05:20:43 PM »

Over the last year or so, my collection of headphones has been downsized to accommodate a growing interest in speakers. It's gotten to a point where I only keep the stuff I find superlative. This includes the original Stax SR-Omega and first iteration of the "Omega 2," the SR-007mk1. Even then I've been feeling an urge to scale back further still. Between the Abyss and new Float QAs, I felt the time to say goodbye to Stax was nigh at hand.

Just when I think I'm out, something comes and pulls me back.

It started innocently enough. A friend of mine had acquired a pair of rare SR-Omegas from eBay, a truly handsome set with freshly changed new-old-stock pads and headband. It also had a new cable installed at some point. All in all the closest I've seen to what a brand new SR-Omega must have looked like. "Why don't you come over and bring your Omega? We can compare."

Using the SRM-717---one of Stax's finest outside of the monstrous T2---we plugged the two Omegas in side by side for a comparison. The results were surprising. His Omega had the same open and airy presentation as mine more or less, the same effortless sense of layering. Subtleties seemed as though they materialized out of thin air with both. His Omega sounded smoother however, a bit darker compared to the more trebly balance with which I was familiar. It was less fatiguing, more easy going. Less restricted by genre and more inclined to do well with just about anything that came its way. In other words it was my dream Stax: a mixture of the SR-Omega and SR-007mk1 traits, the best of both worlds.

I found out afterward that it was an SR-Omega with SR-007mk1 drivers. Apparently Stax would replace faulty drivers in the original Omega with newer ones from its replacement, as they no longer made the older Omega drivers. This always seemed like a tragedy to me, and in a way it still does because the SR-Omega is a truly special headphone in its own right. However the chimera that results from this makeshift customer service fix turned out, ironically enough, to be one of the best Stax I've ever heard.

As far as weaknesses go, the bass response could be a smidgen tighter. Perhaps some modifications would yield an improvement. Perhaps sealing the openings on the sides of the cups? If anyone has any suggestions, I'd be grateful to read them even if it's just speculation.

Tari · « **Reply #1 on:** February 19, 2014, 05:53:32 PM »

That's really interesting. Normally the replacement drivers you'll hear about were 007 MK2 drivers, I hadn't heard about mk1 in an Omega but it makes sense that it sounded good. I'm surprised they retained this many similarities at all.

n3rdling · « **Reply #2 on:** February 20, 2014, 02:00:51 AM »

Ya it kinda sucks that the Omega has no replacement drivers anymore, but those drivers were probably a pain to make. spritzer described his hybrid set much the same as you have and I've always been curious to hear a pair. Quite a number of the Omegas that come up for sale on ebay/YJPN actually have SR-007 drivers but you have to look carefully as it can be hard to notice otherwise. It's a shame Stax charges such a ridiculous amount for 007 drivers (I think something like $1700?) since it'd be cool to be able to swap drivers with a screwdriver/soldering iron. I think I'd be even more interested in the opposite though: SR-Omega drivers in a more advanced housing like the SR-007. That way you could keep the somewhat grandiose sound with more precise imaging.

I'd love to speculate on how to improve them, but I have to see an internal photo first. I don't really get how they're mounting the 007 drivers in there since the Omega cups are so big. Seems like they're just using the pressure between both halves of the shell to "mount" them. One thing I think you could improve is the pads used. I'm not sure how they fit you, but I've never felt the Omega seals as well around the ear as the 007/009/Senns. The pads are kinda thin and the Lambda-style arc doesn't provide that much clamping force. Do you feel the same way regarding fit? Do you hear a bit of midbass emphasis on either the Omega or the hybrid?

Also, what do you mean by "openings on the sides of the cups"? If you mean that little slot/gap between the cups and the outer protective screen I don't think it'd make much, if any, audible difference. It might make the treble a tiny bit worse, but probably not. If you mean the hybrids have an opening around the drivers that you can see through the screen, then that would definitely need sealing. One kinda simple tweak would be to use them without the protective screen. You'd probably get an even bigger soundstage since there'd be nothing in the way of the backwave. Just be very careful doing this as I think those screws *might* be the ones that also hold the drivers in place, and the SR-Omega drivers are kind've a travesty in terms of how they're held together.

CEE TEE · « **Reply #3 on:** February 20, 2014, 03:13:33 AM »

Thank you all for sharing here. This is the special kind of info I really appreciate seeing. I have always been attracted to the Omegas but worry about purchasing a pair. At least I'll be more informed if I do. And less afraid of dropping in other drivers.

Author Topic: Stax "Omega-7" Hybrid E-Stats (Read 951 times)

MuppetFace

Stax "Omega-7" Hybrid E-Stats

Tari

Re: Stax "Omega-7" Hybrid E-Stats

n3rdling

Re: Stax "Omega-7" Hybrid E-Stats

CEE TEE

Re: Stax "Omega-7" Hybrid E-Stats

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

Author Topic: Stax "Omega-7" Hybrid E-Stats (Read 951 times)