Stax ear phone pad

I doubt that is an issue, Mark. The foam is just there to protect the electrostatic element, and looks to be sonically transparent (at least on my older Lambda Pros). Also, a few years ago the foam on my Lambda Pros partially disintegrated (after about two decades), and I didn't notice any sonic difference as that occurred.

Eventually I replaced the pads and the foam together, with a replacement kit purchased from Audio Cubes II. In case it becomes relevant in the future, I believe (although I'm not totally certain) that the replacement pads they offer for your newly acquired SR-404 come with replacements for the foam as well, and both are installed simultaneously.

Best regards,
-- Al

Almarg is right, that foam piece is unnecessary and you can easily remove it without any problem. I'm sure you realize that the SRM-006T is the driver unit, not the phones. Don't let that loose foam bother you, just plug in the phones and congratulate yourself on your purchase. I predict that they will be with you for a very long time.

Tonykay, thanks for bringing that to my attention. The headphones are the SR-404's. I see I messed up the heading too, should have said foam, not pad.
Looking forward to setting this up and listening.

Al,
or anyone else that might know more than I do about tape deck connections.
Just had a crazy thought, not sure this will work.
The Stax has connections for input & output- 1. And also has a 2nd set of inputs labeled input 2
My pre amp has one tape loop (both in & out connections). Plus a 2nd output labeled output 2, currently unused.

For reasons of eliminating the Niles switch box, can I connect the 2nd output on my pre amp to input 2 on the stax, then connect one tape deck to the in & out on the stax. And connect the other tape deck to the in & out tape loop on the pre amp?

I do not record from one tape deck to the other if this is the only repercussion.

Will I be able to record from any of my sources to the tape deck connected to the Stax?