Stax Earspeakers
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Stax is a Japanese company that makes High-end audio equipment. Stax is best known for their electrostatic and electret headphones, called "earspeakers". 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 February 2008 the current Stax product lineup consists of seven electrostatic earspeakers, seven electrostatic amplifiers and accessories for these products including extension cords and a headphone stand.
[edit] Earspeakers
Three models of earspeaker are based upon Stax' classic "Lambda" design. These are the SR-202, SR-303 and SR-404.
Two models are of small sized in-the-ear earspeaker. The SR-003 is terminated with a standard Pro-Bias plug and is designed for use with a standalone electrostatic amplifier. The S-001 MK2 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 4070, is a closed back electrostatic earspeaker, primarily targeted at studio and broadcast application.
Stax' flagship earspeakers are the SR-007Mk2 on the export market, and the SR-007A on the Japanese market. They are identical, apart from the housing color. The SR-007Mk2 has an MSRP of $2,200 in the United States. Their predecessors the SR-007 and SR-007BL was popularly regarded as the best headphone currently in production, and as one of the best headphones ever designed.
In Autumn of 2007 Stax released the SR-007Mk2 earspeaker, the design of which addresses various design issues with the original model and changes the finish of the materials to comply with new health and safety legislation. A couple months later they released the SR-007A on the Japanese market.
There are two different bias voltages for Stax earspeakers. The first earspeakers have a 230 volt bias, referred to as Normal bias. While the later earspeakers have a 580 volt bias, referred to as Pro bias. The Normal bias earspeakers use a 6 pin plug, while the Pro bias ones use a 5 pin plug. Pro bias (5 pin) earspeakers plug into a Normal bias (6 pin) socket, but for obvious reasons not the other way around. All current Stax earspeakers are Pro bias, as the last Normal bias earspeaker went out of production around 1992.
[edit] Current Earspeakers
| Earspeaker Model No. | Release Year | Bias Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| S-001 MK2 | 1997 | Pro, Special 6 Pin | In-Ear portable |
| SR-003 | 1997 | Pro, 5 Pin | In-Ear |
| SR-202 Basic | 1999 | Pro, 5 Pin | |
| SR-303 Classic | 1999 | Pro, 5 Pin | |
| SR-404 Signature | 1999 | Pro, 5 Pin | |
| 4070 | 2001 | Pro, 5 Pin | Closed back |
| SR-007Mk2 / SR-007A | 2007 | Pro, 5 Pin | Current flagships |
[edit] Discontinued Earspeakers
| Earspeaker Model No. | Release Year | Bias Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| SR-1 | 1960 | Normal, 6 Pin | |
| SR-2 | 196? | Normal, 6 Pin | |
| SR-3 | 1968 | Normal, 6 Pin | |
| SR-X | 1970 | Normal, 6 Pin | |
| SR-3 New | 1971 | Normal, 6 Pin | |
| SR-X/MK2 | 1972 | Normal, 6 Pin | |
| SR-5 | 1975 | Normal, 6 Pin | |
| SR-X/MK3 | 1975 | Normal, 6 Pin | |
| SR-40 | 1975 | Electret | |
| SR-60 | 1975 | Electret | |
| SR-Sigma Semi Panoramic | 1977 | Normal, 6 Pin | |
| SR-50 | 1979 | Electret | Closed back |
| SR-Lambda | 1979 | Normal, 6 Pin | |
| SR-30 | 1982 | Electret | |
| SR-80 | 1982 | Electret | |
| SR-5N / SR-5NB | 1982 | Normal, 6 Pin | |
| SR-Lambda Pro | 1982 | Pro, 5 Pin | |
| SR-Gamma | 1985 | Normal, 6 Pin | |
| SR-Gamma Pro | 1985 | Pro, 5 Pin | |
| SR-X/MK3 Pro | 1985 | Pro, 5 Pin | |
| SR-Sigma Panoramic Pro | 1987 | Pro, 5 Pin | |
| SR-Lambda Signature | 1987 | Pro, 5 Pin | |
| SR-Alpha Pro Excellent | 1989 | Pro, 5 Pin | |
| SR-80 Pro | 1989 | Electret | |
| SR-30 pro | 1989 | Electret | |
| SR-Lambda Pro Classic | 1993 | Pro, 5 Pin | |
| SR-Omega | 1993 | Pro, 5 Pin | |
| SR-Lambda Nova Basic | 1994 | Pro, 5 Pin | |
| SR-Lambda Nova Classic | 1994 | Pro, 5 Pin | |
| SR-Lambda Nova Signature | 1994 | Pro, 5 Pin | |
| S-001 | 1995 | Pro, Special 6 Pin | In-Ear portable |
| SR-007 / SR-007BL | 1998 | Pro, 5 Pin |
[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-001 | 1995 | 240V | 1x Miniplug | 1x Pro Bias, Special 6 Pin | Solid state, battery operated for portable use |
| SRM-300 / SRM-310 | 2003 | 350V | 1x RCA | 1x Pro Bias | Solid state, styled as an earspeaker stand |
| SRM-252A / SRM-252II | 2006 | 280V | 1x RCA | 1x Pro Bias, RCA Loop Out | Solid state |
| SRM-323A / SRM-323II | 2006 | 400V | 2x RCA | 2x Pro Bias, RCA Loop Out | Solid state |
| SRM-727A | 2006 | 450V | 1x Balanced XLR, 2x RCA | 2x Pro Bias, RCA Loop Out | Solid state |
| SRM-006tA / SRM-006tII | 2006 | 300V | 1x Balanced XLR, 2x RCA | 2x Pro Bias, RCA Loop Out | Vacuum tube (2x 6FQ7/6CG7) / Solid state hybrid |
| SRM-007tA / SRM-007tII | 2006 | 340V | 1x Balanced XLR, 3x RCA | 2x Pro Bias, RCA Loop Out | Vacuum tube (4x 6FQ7/6CG7) / Solid state hybrid |
[edit] Discontinued Amplifiers
| Driver Unit Model No. | Release Year | Output Voltage (RMS) | Inputs | Outputs | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SRA-4S / SRA-6S | 1960 | 2x Normal Bias | Vacuum tube | ||
| SRA-7S | 1966 | 2x Normal Bias | Vacuum tube | ||
| SRA-8S | 1967 | 350V | 2x Normal Bias | Vacuum tube | |
| SRA-3S | 1968 | 279V | 2x Normal Bias | Vacuum tube / Solid state hybrid | |
| SRA-10S | 1974 | 2x Normal Bias | Solid state | ||
| SRA-12S | 1977 | 350V | 2x Normal Bias | Solid state | |
| SRM-1 Pro | 1981 | 370V | 1x Pro Bias, 1x Normal Bias | Solid state | |
| SRM-1/MK2 | 1982 | 370V | 1x RCA | 1x Pro Bias, 1x Normal Bias | Solid state |
| SRA-14S | 1985 | 400V | 1x Pro Bias, 1x Normal Bias | Solid state | |
| SRM-T1 | 1987 | 300V | 2x Pro Bias, 1x Normal Bias | Vacuum tube / Solid state hybrid | |
| SRM-Monitor | 1988 | 370V | 2x Pro Bias, 1x Normal Bias | Solid state | |
| SRM-1/Mk-2 PP | 1990 | 370V | 2x Pro Bias | Solid state | |
| SRM-X Pro | 1990 | 270V | 1x Pro Bias, 1x Normal Bias | Solid state, Portable type | |
| SRM-T1S | 1993 | 300V | 1x Balanced XLR, 2x RCA | 2x Pro Bias, 1x Normal Bias | Vacuum tube / Solid state hybrid |
| SRM-3 | 1994 | 300V | 1x Pro Bias, 1x Normal Bias | Solid state | |
| SRM-T1W | 1994 | 300V | 1x Balanced XLR, 3x RCA | 2x Pro Bias (adjustable 480-580V), 1x Normal Bias | Vacuum tube (2x 6FQ7/6CG7) / Solid state hybrid |
| SRM-T2 | 1994 | 630V | 1x Balanced XLR, 2x RCA | 2x Pro Bias, 1x Normal Bias | Vacuum tube / Solid state hybrid |
| SRM-Xh | 1997 | 280V | 1x Pro Bias | Solid state | |
| SRM-212 | 1999 | 280V | 1x Pro Bias | Solid state | |
| SRM-313 | 1999 | 350V | 1x Pro Bias, 1x Normal Bias | Solid state | |
| SRM-006t | 300V | 1x Balanced XLR, 2x RCA | 2x Pro Bias, 1x Normal Bias, RCA Loop Out | Vacuum tube (2x 6FQ7/6CG7) / Solid state hybrid | |
| SRM-007t | 1998 | 340V | 1x Balanced XLR, 2x RCA | 2x Pro Bias, 1x Normal Bias, RCA Loop Out | Vacuum tube (4x 6FQ7/6CG7) / Solid state hybrid |
| SRM-717 | 2000 | 450V | 1x Balanced XLR, 2x RCA | 2x Pro Bias, RCA Loop Out | Solid state |
[edit] Discontinued Adaptors
| Adapter Unit Model No. | Release Year | Outputs | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| SRD-1 | 1960 | 2x Normal Bias | |
| SRD-2 | 1960 | 2x Normal Bias | |
| SRD-3 | 1965 | 2x Normal Bias | |
| SRD-5 | 1968 | 2x Normal Bias | |
| SRD-7 | 1971 | 2x Normal Bias | |
| SRD-6 | 1973 | 1x Normal Bias | |
| SRD-4 | 1975 | Electret | |
| SRD-6SB | 1978 | 1x Normal Bias | Self-Bias |
| SRD-7SB | 1979 | 2x Normal Bias | Self Bias |
| SRD-X | 1979 | 1x Normal Bias | |
| SRD-7/Pro | 1982-83 | 2x Pro Bias | |
| SRD-7/MK2 | 1985 | 1x Pro Bias, 1x Normal Bias | |
| SRD-X/Pro | 1986 | 1x Pro Bias, 1x Normal Bias |
[edit] Accessories
SRE-750 (5 meter) and SRE-725 (2.5 meter), earspeaker extension cords.
HPS-2, wooden earspeaker stand.
