Stax
electrostatic earspeakers are widely used by the best recording studios and
broadcast stations in the world. The simple reason for this is that these
earspeakers deliver unsurpassed sound quality and the most accurate high
fidelity reproduction possible. The general advantages of headphones over
speaker systems are:
The acoustic
conditions of the listening room do not affect the sound.
The
diaphragms do not have to move much air (there is little load) therefore they
can be made lighter to improve transient response.
There is no
danger of acoustic feedback (howling) to the turntable.
The
diaphragms are very close to the ears, so it is easy to pick up small musical
details.
The
advantages of electrostatics over conventional headphones are:
The several
micron thick high polymer film diaphragm is so light that it can respond
accurately and instantaneously to the tiniest signal fluctuations.
There is no
magnetic (hysteresis) distortion since no magnets or voice coils are used.
Electrostatic
drive ensures uniform control over the entire diaphragm surface so there is no
partial vibration or the cone breakup seen in dynamic type headphones.
Stax
(SR-Σ) Professional Series
The Stax
professional series earspeakers have originally been developed for
Daimler-Benz, the world-famous West German automotive manufacturer. They
feature a wider electrode gap realized by a increased bias voltage (580 V).
This resulted in a distortion-free bass sound along with a incredibly pure mid
and high frequency range.
The
SR-Σ (Sigma) and Σ Professional are completely new kind of
earspeakers developed over a long four year period. Their innovative design
lets you enjoy more natural ambience reproduction than is possible with simple
headphones. The diaphragms are placed forward away from in a normal music
listening environment. The outer ear is not pressed, so the entire ear
interacts naturally with the sound. Furthermore, a carefully designed cavity is
employed to produce resonance characteristics simulating those occuring in a
hall or room. All this results in a panoramic sound field without the feeling
one has with conventional headphones that the sound is centered within one's
own head. The employment of comfortable lightweight materials and a
biomechanically engineered headband also contributes to the non-fatiguing
pleasure of listening to music with the SR-Σ and SR-Σ Professional.
Stax
SR-Σ (Sigma) System -
The
Stax SR-Σ Panoramic Imaging
Electrostatic Earspeaker design is a successful attempt to recreaqte a natural,
realistic sound field from a headphone format. Headphones were originally
designed for picking up Morse Code in communications, not recreating a musical
sound stage. Until the introduction of the Stax SR-Σ, no headphone manufacturer paid much attention to ambience and its
effect on musical imaging.
The
SR-Σ earspeaker design locates an
oval shaped electrostatic transducer in front of the ear at 90° angle to the
ear. This does two things to improve the image perspective to the listener.
First, by using an oval shaped transducer that is larger than the outer ear
itself, the SR-Σ allows the outer ear
to naturally channel the waveform into the inner ear. This allows the sound to
reach the eardrum in the most conventional way. Second, the transducer is
located in front of the ear, not over the ear. This removes the image perspective
from within the listener's head and places the image in front of the listener.
The SR-Σ transducing elements are
positioned ideally in terms of the natural perimeters and auditory path of the
ear. The result is optimum spacing for music in relation to the ear. The SR-Σ gives natural sound with none of the tight,
sealed-in feeling, or the diminished scale sensaations conveyed by ordinary
headphones.
Specifications
SR-Σ [SR-Σ Professional]
Type: Electrostatic / Push-pull High Bias
Frequency
Response: 25 - 38,000 Hz [30 -35,000 Hz]
Sensitivity: 94 dB [98 dB]
Impedance
(10 kHz): 122 k Ω [143 k Ω]
Maximum
Output: 103 dB
Earpad: Soft artificial leather, replaceable
Cord
(low-capacitance): 2,5 m; 6-strand 6-pin plug [5-pin plug, PC-OCC]
Weight
(without cord): 391 g [395 g]