CHANGSTAR: Audiophile Headphone Reviews and Early 90s Style BBS
Lobby => Headphone Measurements => Topic started by: Marvey on July 10, 2012, 03:39:15 AM
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STAX SR-Lambda (Standard Bias) Frequency Response and CSD Waterfall Plot Measurements
(http://www.changstar.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=394.0;attach=1758;image)
Look how consistent the CSDs are. After all these years.
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No comments, come on mateys :)p3
I am a bit surprised there is no ringing in the upper mid/lower treble region. Nonetheless these are my favorite Lambdas by far :)p1
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Really impressed with Stax that all of their headphones measure so cleanly on the CSDs.
This is the only model that I spent a significant amount of time with, and the FR matches what I remember especially the low bass roll off and these having a TON of air. That was the most striking thing to me for my first Stax experience, how the treble just seems to float. Finally understood what people meant by that "stat effortlessness".
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I'm surprised they aren't brighter. I always enjoy listening to Lambdas at meets because they're so fast and clean, but they always seem a bit too bright and basslight for me to own. I expected them to either be brighter or have less lower mids or upper bass but this graph makes them look pretty amazing.
Could it be the version? I thought I'd heard all of them except the Nova's...
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I'm surprised they aren't brighter. I always enjoy listening to Lambdas at meets because they're so fast and clean, but they always seem a bit too bright and basslight for me to own. I expected them to either be brighter or have less lower mids or upper bass but this graph makes them look pretty amazing.
Could it be the version? I thought I'd heard all of them except the Nova's...
I think the FR graph correlates well to what I hear. I hate brightness, aka dislike all Lambdas but these.
I am not such a big fan of their soundstage being just front/back/center, and not much front to back at that. Tonally I feel some of the better orthos are a bit more pure as well, in sounding like real instruments.
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So some Lambdas are brighter then? Which version is this other than "standard bias"? Or is this one just special?
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So some Lambdas are brighter then? Which version is this other than "standard bias"? Or is this one just special?
It's this one here: http://wiki.faust3d.com/wiki/index.php?title=SR-%CE%9B
The only normal bias (non-pro) Lambda. They are the same drivers as in the SR-Sigma (normal bias), the Sigmas purrin measured.
IMO all other Lambdas do have more upper mid/lower treble energy. I have not heard Stax's latest offering with 407/507/etc.
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IMO all other Lambdas do have more upper mid/lower treble energy. I have not heard Stax's latest offering with 407/507/etc.
The SR-507 definitely continues the trend.
What I'm still most curious about is whether the SR-407 is the same or similar to the SR-404LE, which is the same or similar to the Airbows.
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I thought the 507 was a little more neutral than other lambdas I've heard (evidently the newer ones), but it could have been Frank Cooter's amp injecting chest hair and huge bicepts.
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These got that 10k dip thing going on like RD's orthos. Curious if they sound similar wrt treble ?
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I thought the 507 was a little more neutral than other lambdas I've heard (evidently the newer ones), but it could have been Frank Cooter's amp injecting chest hair and huge bicepts.
They are better than a stock 404 but the amp must have been a big factor in that sound.
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i wonder how these compared to the lambda pros.
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They are better than a stock 404 but the amp must have been a big factor in that sound.
Yes, well it was a Frank Cooter amp so I think it's safe to assume it was. ;) I believe everyone at that meet was impressed by those 507's. I almost bought a pair after hearing them there, and I know pcf was thinking about it as well.
Where is Frank, someone should invite him here.
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Alright I've been playing the SR-303 all morning on my KGSS. And this does not sound like the SR-404 I used to own which drove me mental (I had an SRM-313 and Stax pro bias trafo box). I am not sure if it is these headphones, different cable on the 303, my Assemblage DAC or the KGSS, but they do not sound like the SR-404. They are smoother with no graininess in the lower treble.
MuppetFace or anyone else with 303/KGSS can you confirm I'm not crazy, deaf or both? :-0
I am now a bit sad and reluctant to cannibalize the drivers for the Sigma.
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Just do it. :)p3
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Alright I've been playing the SR-303 all morning on my KGSS. And this does not sound like the SR-404 I used to own which drove me mental (I had an SRM-313 and Stax pro bias trafo box). I am not sure if it is these headphones, different cable on the 303, my Assemblage DAC or the KGSS, but they do not sound like the SR-404. They are smoother with no graininess in the lower treble.
MuppetFace or anyone else with 303/KGSS can you confirm I'm not crazy, deaf or both? :-0
I am now a bit sad and reluctant to cannibalize the drivers for the Sigma.
Maybe you got a magical cryo-treated pair?
But seriously, I haven't heard the SR-303. The SR-404 with the KGSS was still the SR-404 and had its flaws. I always preferred the SR-202, so maybe the 303 is closer to it?
I've been thinking about picking up an SR-307 really cheap just to see how it sounds. Plus I've always liked the look of that grey pleather.
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What type of pads are on this 303, flatter type with cloth inserts or the plusher ones with foam? They will change the sound quite a bit.
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Plush, I believe there is foam stuffed in it.
edit: I do think my source is playing a part in it as well, with the DAC 3.1 it resolves the treble very well without sounding grainy like my Lavry or Benchmark I used to have with the 404.
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Just got a chance to hear these. Sorry if I'm gravedigging, thought I'd post my impressions though.
I had the chance to hear two of these tonight,
Set 1: In good working condition driven connected to a really expensive setup (Expensive USB-> SPDIF converter, SPDIF DAC -> Final Audio Music 6 preamp/speaker amp powered by batteries) through some speaker transformer (not the SRD-7) and I didn't like them as much. The definitely had very accentuated upper treble that made the soundstage feel bigger, but also made anything other than prefect recordings sound too bright and harsh.
The second pair are in far worse shape, the foam is falling apart around the driver, the pads are pretty much toast (and on backwards to boot) and the connectors look like they've been jimmy rigged to keep a connection - they'll randomly quit making sound when I move my head, and they're driven by the SRD-7, which the owner of both sets says sounds worse than the other amp. But for some reason this set isn't anywhere near as bright as the other set, its tonality is much better, although the midrange may be more recessed, I'd need more listening to figure that part out. They do sound cleaner and more refined than my SR-202 though, which I find surprising given their condition...
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They do sound cleaner and more refined than my SR-202 though, which I find surprising given their condition...
I confirm this. The old SR-Lambdas have more air and sound speedier than my 202s. But also less deep bass. And the lesser clamping force of the old frame is better suited for my head.