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Just acquired some vintage Stax cans SRX Mk. III

Hey all,

I have a generous friend who just bestowed on me some Stax SR-X headphones and the SRD-7 "adaptor for ear speaker." I am thinking of trying to set up a separate can system with these babies, but I don't have any instructions, so I have a few questions. Maybe you guys can help out (you usually do):

1) They connect to the speaker-level outputs on an amp. I don't want to hook these into my main system and wire my speakers to the SRD7, but if I did, would it degrade the sound of my system?

2) As they do connect to the high-level outputs, is there any way I can hook these up to a modern headphone amp? Would that provide enought juice (see next question)?

3) If I get a separate amp/integrated/receiver for these, is power a consideration (ie is more better)? They're electrostats, obviously, and I know panel speakers like power (or more accurately, current).

4) As these are electrostats, and they sit on either side of one's noggin, should I be concerned about creating a powerful electromagnetic field around my brain? Seriously. Not that it would be the worst thing I've subjected my brain to, but I'd rather not do further damage at this stage of my life :)

Thanks. I'm looking forward to some time with the cans (I have a great recliner for this setup also). Any responses appreciated.

Jeff
jfacker
marakanetz's avatar
marakanetz
5,473 posts
 
I used to have the same situation as you do.

After a short while I figured that SRD7 that hooks up to the amp's binding posts and than hooks up speakers might not do the right trick since the gauge for speaker binding posts is very limited.
Moreover it's not a perfect way to drive your electrostats either...
My solution:
1. Replace SRD7 binding posts on the ones that will accept higher gauge speaker wire. You can go with Canare or Dayton from Parts Express that are very inexpencive and trivial to install or you can go RadioSnack way.
2. I finally replaced SRD7 with active STAX SRM1 MK2 driver unit that hooks up to the preamp tape or any line-output. The combo that I have SRM1/SR5 is a killer headphone combo under $1500 that I bought at a small fraction of price overall.
newbee
4,796 posts
 
Here's a warning! Those ear phones are so so good that you can easily be inclined to turn up the volume just to get more. Be careful, don't listen under the influence, that can really be harmful. You don't have to worry about a magnetic field so far as I know - and I've been using Stax for over 20 years.
rcarlbergac6a
1 posts
 
I've had & loved my Mark III's since they came out.
1) If you look inside the SRD7 adapter the "ear speaker/loud speaker" switch is just a big rotary mechanical switch, so it introduces no degradation to your loudspeakers in that position.
2) As mentioned elsewhere, these Stax will benefit from the best electronics you can throw at them so I wouldn't recommend any kind of hokey "headphone amp." Except maybe Stax's...
3) See above
4) There isn't any danger from EMF in the headphones (the MF is contained within the earspeakers -- and there's no research to show heads are susceptible to EMF anyway...) but I will pass along one related piece of advice I learned the hard way -- don't wear the Stax phones with wet hair. It can result in a most-unpleasant electrical shock!
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