A speaker as massive as the 5' 3"-tall, 410-lb MAXX2 presents problems when it comes to measuring its performance—maneuvering it as required is no trivial task. Ultimately, I decided that, rather than have the speaker shipped to my home for measurement, I would travel to the speaker. This would have the advantage of allowing me to perform some measurements in Michael Fremer's listening room; the downside would be that not all tests would be practicable. Wilson Audio Specialties supplies an ingenious wheeled jack to allow the speaker to be moved; however, raising…
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Paul Bolin wrote about the MAXX Series 2 in July 2006 (Vol.29 No.7):
A funny thing happened at the 2005 Consumer Electronics Show. Michael Fremer and I independently approached, respectively, Wilson Audio Specialties' Peter McGrath and John Giolas, and both of us indicated our interest in reviewing the recently introduced MAXX Series 2 loudspeaker ($44,900/pair). Neither Michael nor I knew the other had requested the speakers, and neither McGrath nor Giolas initially knew that the other man had agreed to supply a pair of MAXX 2s to their respective contacts. John Atkinson resolved the…
More Measurements
As I was flying to Minnesota to measure the Legacy Whisper loudspeaker, which Paul Bolin will review in a forthcoming issue, I took advantage of the trip to measure the Wilson MAXX 2s in his room.
When I had auditioned the MAXX 2s for Michael Fremer's review a year ago, I had found the speaker's low frequencies impressively extended and its overall balance smooth and grain-free. Though the upper midrange was slightly elevated, this could be heard as an improved presentation of recorded detail rather than as a tonal imbalance, and it is fair to say that the big…
"Preaching to the converted," I sighed to myself as I read the manual for the Stax Omega II Earspeaker headphone system. I fondly recalled my headphone reference for all time—the Most Fabulous and Seductive Sennheiser Orpheus tubed electrostatics, which Thomas J. Norton reviewed for Stereophile in 1994. I recalled the Orpheus's heady, open, fast, and colorfully wideband sound, and clutched my palpitating heart.
Yes, I had those 'phones and their bespoke deco tube wonderbox for three wonderful months. When it was time to give them back, I inquired about the price. Sennheiser wanted nine…
The SRM-717 is a newer design than the '007; dual FETs are used in the first gain stage, with "rugged emitter followers." The 717 has also been designed, we are informed, "to produce a constantly stable output voltage of more than 400V in all frequencies up to 100kHz, ensuring compatibility with all new audio formats, including DVD-Audio and SACD."
SRM-007t: $2945
The SRM-007t tubed headphone driver looks similar to the SRM-717, but with more venting on the top of its chassis. Just above the center point of where each of the four tubes are socketed in the chassis, exhaust holes on…
I've got a logarithmically growing supply of space-age, effort-saving devices scattered all over my desk and computer, most of which use switch-mode wall-wart power supplies that gorge themselves at the top and bottom of the (supposedly) symmetrical AC waveform, and all of which are on the circuit I use for headphone listening. The P300 made a big improvement in the Stax's sound. (For the record, the Cary was not plugged into the P300, as there's not enough juice to handle it as well as two Stax amps.)
The Lab Cable power cord from the P300 was plugged into an Ensemble Power Point…
'Phonemodus, make thyself known!
As I played a number of familiar discs, I began to notice certain subtle differences between the SRM-007t and SRM-717, aside from the obvious ones already mentioned.
As I played a number of familiar discs, I began to notice certain subtle differences between the SRM-007t and SRM-717, aside from the obvious ones already mentioned.
The solid-state 717 amp always sounded a touch more obscuring in the midband, while remaining smooth and rather attractive nonetheless. That was accompanied by my tendency to crank the tubed unit louder. This was more than a question of matching volume levels; there was something about the tonal balance that "asked" for it.
There was a lot to appreciate. The Staxes were right…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
SR-007 Omega II Earspeakers: Push-pull electrostatic headphones. Frequency range: 6Hz-41kHz. Impedance: 170k ohms at 10kHz. Sensitivity: 100dB/100V RMS at 1kHz. Required bias voltage: 580V DC. Earpads: high-quality leather. Cable: low-capacitance, wide-format with six parallel PC-OCC (Pure Crystal Ohno Continuous Casting) conductors. Rigid metal housing, adjustable earpads, gold-plated outer-edge electrode sound elements encased in insulated resin case fixed to rigid headphone body.
Weight:12.75 oz (365gm) without cable.
Serial number of unit reviewed: Not…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Digital source: Linn CD12 CD player.
Integrated amplifier: Cary CAD-300SEI, single-ended.
Headphones: Sennheiser HD600.
Cables: Interconnect: Synergistic Research Designer's Reference .5 with Active & Discrete Shielding. AC: PS Audio Lab Cable, Synergistic Research Resolution Reference Mk.II, Golden Sound Navigator.
Accessories: PS Audio P300 Power Plant with MultiWave upgrade, AudioPrism Quiet Lines, large and small Iso-Bearing footers, Harmonix My-T TU-210 cone footers, Ensemble Power Point, Shakti Stones.—Jonathan Scull
Michael Fremer wrote about the Stax Earspeakers in May 2007 (Vol.30 No.5):
I know this isn't strictly analog, but have mercy! I've wanted to hear Stax's Earspeakers for decades, and when the opportunity presented itself, I couldn't say no. The SRM-007tII is a three-input, tube-powered energizer/amplifier capable of powering two sets of Stax electrostatic headphones. It includes a volume control, which means you can base a headphone audio system on it. You can also use it as a swell late-night accessory by driving it from your preamp's Tape Out, though at $3900 for the amplifier plus…