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Post by hinno on Apr 3, 2008 15:43:06 GMT
Guys, who can advice me an amp to match best with my Stax SR-404? Most of the available brands I've never heard of and surely also not all of those amps are suitable for the Stax.
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jonclancy
Been here a while!
Mr. Ripple Eater
Amateur EAGLEist
Posts: 1,131
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Post by jonclancy on Apr 3, 2008 16:58:26 GMT
Hi hinno,
Welcome to The Grotto!!!
I reckon an eBay Stax amp, or one of the Gilmore projects over at Headwize if you're handy with DIY.
Cheers
Jon
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Apr 3, 2008 21:36:12 GMT
A Stax transformer unit is also available for connection to the loudspeaker terminals of amplifiers. Check eBay for any availability. The sound from this method can be very good indeed with a high quality amplifier. But make sure that YOUR Stax plug matches the type of connector on the unit for sale (no. of pins etc) Different STAX models have different bias requirements, so check that your phones are compatible with the type of unit for sale, whether transformer type or STAX amplifier. If in doubt you could email STAX for advice? SandyK
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Post by dc on Apr 3, 2008 22:46:06 GMT
What's your budget?
I don't know what the best match is, but I'm using my SR-404 with an old Stax SRM-1/MK-2.
General consensus seems that older Stax are generally better than new ones.
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Post by hinno on Apr 4, 2008 21:23:01 GMT
Thanks for the quick reply. I just found the Woo Audio site and those amps look great. The GES model should be OK with my headphone. Anyone know if there ever has been a comparison between the Stax and the Woo Audio amps? (Stax SRM006 sells in China for €700 and Woo's GES sells for € 1100)
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Post by dc on Apr 5, 2008 0:06:44 GMT
The Headamp KGSS is said to be an excellent amp.
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Post by hinno on Apr 5, 2008 5:07:47 GMT
Thanks DC, that makes one more interesting option. (but the KGSS reaches to the very limit of my budget.) If it is only for the looks, the Blue Hawaii is fantastic but they don't even dare to mention the sales price on their website! Still I cannot compare the available options, I guess there must be a review somewhere on the net?
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Post by merton on Apr 7, 2008 20:55:49 GMT
audiocubes has good prices on stax junk.
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Post by hinno on Apr 8, 2008 12:11:28 GMT
Thanks Merton but I still dunno if I should go for the Stax amp.
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cosmopragma
Team Cosmoid
vorsprung deutsch audio technic uber burgermeiester
Posts: 78
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Post by cosmopragma on Apr 13, 2008 16:14:34 GMT
Thanks DC, that makes one more interesting option. (but the KGSS reaches to the very limit of my budget.) If it is only for the looks, the Blue Hawaii is fantastic but they don't even dare to mention the sales price on their website! Still I cannot compare the available options, I guess there must be a review somewhere on the net? You'd have to DIY a KGSS anyway at the moment since the sole commercial vendor of the KGSS has discontinued it (but no update to the website so far).The KGBH SE is limited and all amps of the current batch are sold out. There's a new (upgraded and better looking) KGSS in the pipe but it will be more expensive. There are also new KGBHs and a totally new amp designed by Mr. Gilmore in the pipe but still no exact details and pricing available. Besides of that there are quite a few non-Stax amps available or in the pipe but most of them are quite pricey. Little Dot is planning an affordable amp, and the Mcalister Amps aren't that expensive (but do have a somewhat bad reputation for built quality lately). Ray Samuels has announced an amp for electrostats. Other manufacturers with available offerings are the italian company Rudistor, Woo Audio (??) and Single Power (north american, on request and really expensive). In case you do already own a good speaker amp driving your SR404s by a speaker amp/transformer combo is an alternative. You could look for old used Stax transformers (SRD7 Pro or SRD Mk II with or without SB suffix is what you'd have to look for) or a new (and probably technically superior) transformer from a japanese company (can't remember the name at the moment). The transformers have gotten more expensive during the past years since listeners have realized how competitive they are compared to dedicated direct drive amps. It's unlikely to get a SRD 7 Pro or Mk II in decent condition for less than 150 Euros nowadays but that's still a lot less expensive than a decent direct drive amp.The new japanese transformers cost more than 500 Euros IIRC. You see there are lots of options besides the Stax amps to drive your electrostats.
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Post by hinno on Apr 14, 2008 21:30:58 GMT
Cosmopragma, thanks, very useful info
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Apr 14, 2008 21:50:29 GMT
Competitive, or BETTER than most direct drive amps ? It all depends of course, on the quality of the normal amplifier that drives them, but good quality power amplifiers will usually sound better due to higher quality output devices etc., in comparison to high voltage transistors designed for TV and Monitor deflection circuitry. SandyK
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rickcr42
Fully Modded
Rest in peace my good friend.
Posts: 4,514
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Post by rickcr42 on Apr 17, 2008 1:19:35 GMT
Depends on the amp the interface box is connected to,depends on the "direct drive" amp.
There are no "this is the one and only" rules here.There are good,great and shit direct drive amps and there are some damn fine speaker amplifier/interface transformer combinations
secondly.I beleive it is foolish to shoot right to a high end dedicated amp over the interface box solution IF you already have an amp that fills the requirements for grain free low level detail and a power range in the 20-30 watt class on some notion that the former MUST be better just because it is the way others do it that way or you want to have a new "shiny box" to show off on the system rack.
The only gurantee is it will be more expensive to get your ES cans up and running and no more........................
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