Question about Stax Lambda Pro Headphones

Thanks for your responses. This is very helpful. BTW, my tube amp is an ARC VT100 Mk II, which does have output transformers. Also, the adaptor I have is the SRD7.
I am interested in the possibility of finding a good used tube headphone amp that is compatible with these phones. I guess that means that it compatible with the cable that connects the phones to the amp, and supplies the appropriate voltages to charge the electrostatic elements. If it has a volume control, all the better, so that I can drive it from the record outputs of the preamp. I am assuming that a good tube headphone amp would be a sonic upgrade from the adaptor I am using now (SRD7).

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.

Yes, as far as I know the only headphone amps suitable for use with the Stax "Pro" phones, which would provide the right bias voltage (580 volts), the right signal characteristics, etc., are those specifically designed for them. As I mentioned, though, Woo Audio and one or two others manufacture such amps, as well as Stax.

Here are links to the currently produced Stax models.

Links to the Woo models are near the bottom of this page.

Here are links to a couple of others.

I have no first hand knowledge of how using the SRD7 vs. one of these amps may compare sonically. I can say, however, that I doubt that anyone's sonic perceptions can be counted on to be more reliable than Frogman's.

Also, member Larryi, whose perceptions are also top notch, provided comments about some of these amps here.

Regards,
-- Al

Thanks for your replies. It has been very helpful. I think I will stand pat !

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.....