STAX - SRM-252S

While I am no expert, I enjoy my music as much as the next guy. Having said that, I’ve been holding on to these Stax headphones that I got (at insane prices) on Headphone Zone! The headphones and the SRM-252S (Power Unit).

Right off the bat - I was on site for some planar magnetic in-ear headphones. Browsing the schitt smthing smthing, I think - but the site layout (which is great) led me down the rabbit hole and straight to the stax page (went through a blog on different types of headphone systems - planar, and that’s where I saw electrostatics). And I was familiar with planar ever since i got my Audeze iSINE 20 back at an apple store somewhere - and then my Audeze Mobius from right here.

But electrostatics - that was news to me.

I started checking out what the zone had on offer and was immediately aware of the price drops on the aforementioned Stax equipments. I did some digging online, and liked what I was reading, and the whole time I was worried that some Noob would come in and grab the deal on offer before I got a chance to confirm. Having made up my mind - ready to go with Stax - I wanted to pay by EMI and worked out the math - everything was set. Put the goods in my cart and off to the checkout I went - first (and only) snag - the EMI option decided to glitch on me that day!?!

But I wasn’t going to miss out on this offer (the best online reviewers had given the Stax SRM 700 insane reviews BUT at half the price quoted - and that’s what was on the table)!
- On discussing it with site reps it turns out their payment methods are a bit lagging. Only complaint. Other sites are accepting cryptos as well. Even local e-tailers right her in Mumbai. So I don’t see why any form of payment should be unavailable. Not excusable. Only complaint.

Boom - a couple of days (48 hrs) later - there shipping is the best - and I had my new (1970s) piece of tech! Plugged it into my Astell & Kern 47 DAC (also HedphZne) and off I went - it was like “being in the studio.” Very impressive. But we all knew that from the literature and the on-line reviews by various experts!

In real time - this whole lockdown situation - and I had a review link pending from my favourite website - That’s when I decided to watch Star Wars in the Machete order, with my SRM252S plugged into the headphone jack of my iMac. And the Stax SRS 700 plugged in to that. To be specific. Come to think of it; I could have used the AK47 as a DAC supplementing the computer. But I didn’t want to fiddle with too many wires.

So that’s starting with Episode IV (de-specialized), Episode V (de-specialized), Episode II, Episode III and finally - Return of the Jedi. Which I’m about to hit - possibly post Hamilton.

On Stax. Naturally.

The sound - totally blew me away. Episode IV was like a flood of emotions (as it always is) the spaceships, the voice over comms - “Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi - you’re my only hope” - the lightsabers - on electrostatics - I got more and more in sync with this in episode III - but that’s mostly because they use lightsabers a ridiculous amount of time in the prequels. The droids. R2 in particular. Was able to pick out all his little beeps and warbles.Should have taken notes. Empire was Empire - nobody can say anything bad about that movie. Total satisfaction. Everything was stand-out. Not just the audio. The swamp on Dagobah particularly came alive on the Stax Earspeakers.

By the time we get to the prequel trilogy I was totally in tune with my headphones. Grievous coughing. Felt like the SoB was standing right behind me. The constant discharge of sc-fi weapons. And the completely electric sound of the lightsabers! Don’t get me wrong - the whole time I was rolling my eyes at all the wormholes in the plot. But the level of appreciation for sound crafting - and the crazy part is the most stand out moment from Episode III is not full of music - but completely absent any - the moments between Skywalker and the Emperor in his senate chambers. Completely threw me off balance as my ears stretched out in the space of the stage set - searching for any sign of the signature John Williams symphony. Nothing. Just two really bad dudes plotting to take over the galaxy! And darkness. Epic.

Obviously that final battle; the duel of the fates - as it were - a lot of eye-rolling - and then I heard it - the lightsabers sound like a part of the John Williams orchestra - and the funny part is - it sounds like an instrument being welded by an amateur - 2 actually - it was hilarious. A real standout moment for me going forwards. All thanks to amazing audio clarity.

Through all of this - grateful to Headphone Zone for importing and stocking all this outstanding product! We all know how crazy importing anything can be in incredible India! And the price drops - how do you guys do it?

Would highly recommend Stax! Hadn’t watched the original trilogy in a while and hearing it on an almost immaculate sound setup makes me wa...