Question about Stax Lambda Pro Headphones

Al's comments are on the money; as usual. I too am a long time user of both the Lambda Pros and Lambda Signatures. Before replacing the SRM-1/MK2 with the SRM-T1 as Al did, I used a Dynaco ST70 to drive the Pro's via the Stax Energizer (adapter). The results were excellent and I preferred the sound over the sound with the SRM-1 which, while very good, sounded clinical and too tipped up in the highs for my tastes. I can't imagine any problems with any decent tube amp. The SRM-T1 is excellent with the Pros and is the way to go; they show up used on a fairly regular basis. Mine is actually the SRM-T1S; essentially the same but with balanced inputs as well as RCA and slightly different cosmetics. Good luck.

BTW, Al, what are your feelings about the ED-1? I like mine very much, but have always been mystified about the claims of improvements in the spatial qualities of the sound. I don't really hear that, but do hear significant improvements in timbre and tonality and a little in dimensionality.

I am sure that Al can do a much better job of explaining this, but my understanding is that it is not simply an issue of connectivity (cable/plug) compatibility. The Stax tube headphone amps are designed specifically to power their headphones; I don't think that, for electrical reasons, any other tube headphone amp would work. I have seen and read about one or two one-of-a-kind tube amps made by hobbyists for use with Stax cans, but am not aware of any made commercially other than the Stax amps. Additionally, I would not assume that a good tube headphone amp (even the Stax; as good as it is) is a sonic improvement over the SRD7 with a good tube power amp like your AR. IMO, if you are primarily a headphones listener and if you can live with the somewhat subtle sonic degradation to the sound from your main speakers as a result of using the SRD7 (I couldn't), then it seems to me you already have the best, or very close to the best, possible sound from your Stax cans.

Thanks for those links, Al. Man, I had no idea. I have to admit that those amps look very interesting. For now, I am content with my Stax amp; but.....