Наушники — Stax SR-X1

The SR-X1 is the entry model in the current Stax range of electrostatic earspeakers, built in Japan with a price of JPY 66,000 including tax. Stax describes it as a rebuild of the traditional circular earspeaker along modern design lines, and its styling draws on two of the earliest models from the company, the SR-1 and the SR-X. The stated goal is to bring electrostatic listening to a younger generation of buyers.

Key specs that matter

The format is a push-pull electrostatic circular sound element in a rear open enclosure. Stax quotes a frequency range of 7 to 41,000 Hz and a capacitance of 110 pF counting the included lead. Impedance is 145 kilohm at 10 kHz with the 2.5 m cable attached, and sensitivity reaches 101 dB from a 100 V rms signal at 1 kHz. The diaphragm is polarised at 580 V DC. The headphone body alone weighs 234 g.

Engineering and use context

Stax fits a newly designed medium-size circular unit with fixed electrodes produced by high-precision etching. Compared with earlier Stax models, the sound unit is mounted directly in the housing and the number of joints between parts is kept as low as possible. The slits in the open back are not of uniform thickness but follow a smooth curve, a shape chosen to let sound waves pass outward freely and to lower distortion. The cable can be detached, and the one supplied is a wide, low-capacitance flat design with six parallel OFC conductors. The frame uses metal to suppress unwanted resonance, and the arc assembly, an area often neglected in entry models, has been stiffened as well. Thanks to the metal construction the arc and headpad are made as one piece, and this integration keeps the weight low enough to limit fatigue during long sessions. The ear pads are covered in natural sheepskin where they touch the skin, with artificial leather at the mounting side, and a memory foam filling is used inside to improve fit. Stax sums up the design approach as rational measures and thorough minimisation aimed at drawing the most performance from the model.

Pairing

As with all Stax earspeakers, the SR-X1 needs an electrostatic driver unit that supplies the bias voltage and the high signal voltage, and the current Stax lineup of such units covers the SRM-400S, SRM-500T, SRM-700S, SRM-700T, SRM-D10 MK2 and SRM-T8000.

Alternatives

The Stax SR-L500 MK2 moves to the oval Lambda format, with a HiFC cable, aluminium case holders and a 10-step click arc.