The high-end headphones from STAX enjoy an excellent reputation worldwide, not least because of the models in the successful Lambda series. Now, 36 years after its introduction, this is receiving a major revision and STAX is introducing two completely new models. In the sixties and seventies of the last century, Japan was the center of the hi-fi world. At this time, the well-known major audio brands that are still known today were created. At the same time, however, there is also an enormously busy scene of smaller companies and committed developers who, apart from the mainstream, followed their ideal of pure sound and went their own way. The result was some very excellent, sometimes ingenious and often simply quirky constructions that older hi-fi fans still remember with sadness. Because many of these small high-forges have long since disappeared from the market. The materials used are too expensive, their manufacture is too complex and the potential target group too small to survive as. However, STAX survived, albeit with temporary difficulties. And that is not necessarily a given, because, strictly speaking, the expensive STAX headphones could well be classified in the category of 'quirky' products. Because all headphones from the Japanese manufacturer work on the principle of electrostatic sound conversion: a very thin film is stretched between two electrodes and caused to vibrate through voltage changes between them. This approach offers undeniable advantages in terms of sound, but is extremely complex and expensive to develop and manufacture. Accordingly, the process enjoys a maximum of exotic status even with large floorstanding loudspeakers. In the headphone area, where all the technology has to do its job in the smallest of spaces, STAX - with a few exceptions - is practically alone in a wide hallway. However, one deals with this unique position in a relaxed and self-confident manner and insists on not producing headphones but rather "earspeakers" - loudspeakers for the ears. STAX-SR-1 - The first electrostatic headphones established the reputation of the Japanese manufacturer. And success proves you are right. Over the decades STAX has built a worldwide fan base, because the sound of their "ear speakers" is truly unique. After more than 50 years of continuous development, you have the technology under control and can absolutely max it out. And once you have listened to a STAX and experienced this incomparable openness, speed and transparency, it is difficult to ever put on another headphone again. Nevertheless, STAX is still a small company and further developments in electrostatic technology take time. That's why it doesn't happen every day that the Japanese introduce a new model. But recently it happened again and STAX announced two new models of the Lambda series, which has been successful for 36 years:
Principle: open electrostatic receiver (push / pull), oval membrane
Frequency response: 7 - 41,000Hz
Capacity: 110pF (with attached cable)
Impedance: 145k? (10kHz, with connected cable)
Sensitivity: 101dB (100V rms / 1kHz)
Max. SPL: 118dB (400Hz)
Bias voltage: 580V DC
Ear pads: high quality synthetic leather
Cable: 6-core parallel cable, HiFC copper strands (99.99% purity), 2.5 m length
Weight: 465g (with attached cable), 339g (without cable)
Principle: open electrostatic receiver (push / pull), oval membrane
Frequency response: 7 - 41,000Hz
Capacity: 110pF (with attached cable)
Impedance: 145k? (10kHz, with connected cable)
Sensitivity: 101dB (100V rms / 1kHz)
Max. SPL: 118dB (400Hz)
Bias voltage: 580V DC
Ear pads: Genuine sheep leather in the skin contact area, high quality synthetic leather
Cable: 6-core parallel cable, silver-plated 6N copper strands (99.9999% purity), 2.5 m length
Weight: 469g (with attached cable), 360g (without cable)
Frequency response: DC - 90kHz (with SR-L headphones)
Input voltage: 100mV (at 100V output voltage)
Gain: 60dB
Distortion: <0.01% or less with SR-L500 at 100V rms / 1kHz)
Input impedance: 50k? (Cinch) / 50k? x 2 (XLR)
Inputs: 1x stereo cinch, 1x XLR (switchable)
Max. Output voltage: 400V rms / 1kHz
Standard bias voltage: 580V
Power consumption: 30W
Dimensions W x H x D: 150 x 100 x 360 mm
Weight: 3.0kg
