Stax Earspeakers
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Stax is a Japanese company that makes High-end audio equipment. Stax is best known for their electrostatic and electret headphones, called "ear speakers." Electrostatic headphones work just like electrostatic loudspeakers on a smaller scale.
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[edit] History
Stax Ltd. was founded in 1938. Twenty-two years later in 1960, Stax released their first electrostatic earspeaker, the Stax SR-1. Over the following thirty-six years Stax produced a variety of amplification, earspeaker, tonearm, CD player, DAC, phono cartridge and loudspeaker products. In 1995, fifty-five years after the company's foundation, Stax went bust. The company was revived in 1996 as the new STAX company.
[edit] Products
As of October 2006 the current Stax product lineup consists of seven electrostatic earspeakers, seven elecrostatic amplifiers and accessories for these products including extension cords and headphone stands.
[edit] Earspeakers
Three models of earspeaker are based upon Stax's classic "lambda" design. These are the SR-202, SR-303 and SR-404. The SR-202 is only available when purchased as part of an equipment set with an amplifier included. The SR-303 and SR-404 are available to buy separately or as part of an equipment set with a matching amplifier.
Two models are of small sized in-the-ear earspeaker. The SR-003 is terminated with a standard Pro-Bias Stax plug and is designed for use with a standalone electrostatic amplifier. The S-001MK2 is terminated with a proprietary plug and is designed for use with its matching battery powered electrostatic amplifier for use as part of a high end portable audio system.
One model, the SR-4070, is a closed back electrostatic earspeaker, primarily targeted at studio and broadcast application.
Stax's flagship earspeaker is the Stax SR-007 (Omega II), which has a MSRP of $2,200 in the United States. The SR-007 is also popularly regarded as the best headphone currently in production and as one of the best headphones ever designed.
[edit] Current Earspeakers
| Earspeaker Model No. | Release Year | Bias Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| SR-007 / SR-Omega II | 1998 | Pro, 5 Pin | Current flagship |
| 4070 | 2001 | Pro, 5 Pin | Closed back |
| SR-404 Signature | 1999 | Pro, 5 Pin | |
| SR-303 Classic | 1999 | Pro, 5 Pin | |
| SR-202 Basic | 1999 | Pro, 5 Pin | |
| SR-003 | 1997 | Pro, 5 Pin | In-Ear |
| SR-001 MKII | 1997 | Pro, Special 6 Pin | In-ear portable; special 6 Pin for plug for S-001 MKII portable driver unit |
[edit] Discontinued Earspeakers
| Earspeaker Model No. | Release Year | Bias Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| SR-1 | 1960 | Normal | |
| SR-2 | 196? | Normal | |
| SR-3 | 1968 | Normal | |
| SR-X | 1970 | Normal | |
| SR-3 New | 1971 | Normal | |
| SR-X MKII | 1972 | Normal | |
| SRM-5 | 1973 | Normal | |
| SR-X MKIII | 1975 | Normal |
- SR-40 (1975) - Electret
- SR-60 (1975) - Electret
- SR-Sigma Semi Panoramic (1977)
- SR-50 (1979) - Sealed electret
- SR-Lambda (1979)
- SR-30 (1982) - Electret
- SR-80 (1982) - Electret
- SR-5N / SR-5NB (1982)
- SR-Lambda Pro (1982)
- SR-Alpha Pro (1985)
- SR-Gamma (1985)
- SR-X MKIII Pro (1985)
- SR-Sigma Panoramic Pro (1987)
- SR-Lambda Signature (1987)
- SR-Alpha Pro Excellent (1989)
- SR-80 Pro (1989) - Electret
- SR-30 Pro (1989) - Electret
- SR-Lambda Spirit (1992)
- SR-Omega (1993)
- SR-Lambda Nova Basic (1994)
- SR-Lambda Nova Classic (1994)
- SR-Lambda Nova Signature (1994)
- S-001 (1995) - In-ear model
[edit] Earspeaker Driver Units
Stax currently produces five solid-state and two vacuum-tube/solid-state hybrid earspeaker driver units.
[edit] Current Amplifiers
| Driver Unit Model No. | Release Year | Output Voltage (RMS) | Inputs | Outputs | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SRM-007tA or SRM-007tII | 2006 | 340 V | 1x Balanced XLR, 3x RCA | 2x Pro Bias, RCA Loop Out | Vacuum tube / solid state hybrid |
| SRM-727A | 2006 | 450 V | 1x Balanced XLR, 2x RCA | 2x Pro Bias, RCA Loop Out | Solid state |
- SRM-006tA / SRM-006tII - Vacuum tube and solid state hybrid
- SRM-323A / SRM-323II - Solid state
- SRM-252A / SRM-252II - Solid state
- SRM-300 / SRM-310 - Solid state styled as a earspeaker stand
- SRM-001 - Battery operated solid state for portable use
[edit] Accessories
Two earspeaker extension cords, the SRE-750 and SRE-725, at five metres and 2.5 metres in length respectively and the HPS-2 wooden headphone stand are also made by Stax.
[edit] Electrostatic Speakers
[edit] CD Players and DACs
[edit] Tone Arms and Phono Cartridges
[edit] External links
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