For a long time I've been using a pair of the old Lamda series Stax SR-202s on the syestem with the 212 solid state energiser. I did not get a valve energiser as these are fed for my Art Audio VP1s second amp output and the sound was good using the Stax wall wart, which was not a smps, however this was damaged in the recent move so as I had a spare MCRU/Longdog 12v PSU I decided to try this out. First thing to note is that Stax PSUs are reverse polarity compared to others so that has to be addressed before plging in, also check the plug is of correct size. Hving done that, I was pleasantly suprised by the incresed dynamics to the sound. The frequency response on these has always been amazing and frankly overall I've found the sound better than any dynamic cans apart from perhaps the top of the range Grados. Now the sound is in a whole new league. Transients, both attack and decay are better defined and bass and kick drum, never bad before, are taken to a whole new level.


The sound is of a quality, n my opinion of Stax units and energisers costing several thousand pounds more, maybe the improved sound in them is down to better PSUs in the more expensive energisers. Anyway a worthwhile upgrade, so I'll now get some new earpads and refurbish the cans for the future.