Short answer: the HIFIMAN Susvara. It ranks #43 of 216 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 4.1/5, at $5,999; the Stax SR-X9000 ranks #101, rated 3.8/5, and costs $6,819.99, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
Why pick the HIFIMAN Susvara: A preference score of 85 in crinacle’s measurement puts it among the most accurately tuned open-back headphones. The catch: Sensitivity of only 83 dB is extremely low, so it needs a powerful dedicated headphone amplifier and is useless from a phone.
Why pick the Stax SR-X9000: A preference score of 77, with the midrange from 200 Hz to 3 kHz staying within about 1.3 dB of target for natural, uncolored voices and instruments. The catch: It needs a dedicated electrostatic energizer, and bass falls 6 dB below target by 56 Hz, about 9.5 dB short across the sub-bass, so the deepest notes are faint.
Buy the HIFIMAN Susvara. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Stax SR-X9000 and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
Want more options? Browse the full Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| HIFIMAN Susvara | Stax SR-X9000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $5,999.00 | $6,819.99 |
| Ranked | #43 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #101 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 85 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) | 77 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.24 dB standard deviation | 2.72 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.07 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | +0.20 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Open | Open |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic | Electrostatic |
| Impedance | 60 ohms | - |
| Sensitivity | 83 dB | 100 dB |
| Weight | 1 lbs (450 g) | 1 lbs (432 g) |
| Frequency Response | 6Hz - 75kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 5Hz - 42kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-5.1 dB at 30 Hz) | Falls 6 dB below target at 56 Hz (-9.0 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Drivers | - | 1 x large round push-pull electrostatic |
| Built-in Microphone | - | No |
Related Headphone Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for HIFIMAN Susvara:
- HIFIMAN Shangri-La Jr vs HIFIMAN Susvara
- HIFIMAN Susvara Unveiled vs HIFIMAN Susvara
- Final Audio D8000 Pro Edition vs HIFIMAN Susvara
- Dan Clark Audio EXPANSE vs HIFIMAN Susvara
- HIFIMAN Susvara vs Audeze CRBN
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Headphones In Full
HIFIMAN Susvara: $5,999.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: A preference score of 85 in crinacle’s measurement puts it among the most accurately tuned open-back headphones. In squig.link measurements bass, presence and treble all land within about 1.5 dB of target, so voices, strings and percussion sound balanced and natural, and a slight 2.5 dB low-mid lift adds body. Its planar magnetic driver stays within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz, and it rates above the Focal Utopia 2022 at a lower price than the HIFIMAN Shangri-La Jr.
Cons: Sensitivity of only 83 dB is extremely low, so it needs a powerful dedicated headphone amplifier and is useless from a phone. A 5.9 dB peak near 11.9 kHz and air about 4.7 dB above target can make cymbals a touch sharp, while sub-bass sits about 5 dB down at 30 Hz. The open back leaks sound and blocks no outside noise. See headphone amps and DACs with enough power to drive it.
Full HIFIMAN Susvara review and specifications →
| Released | 2018 (8 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Open |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.24 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 6Hz - 75kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 85 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 60 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 83 dB |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-5.1 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.07 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 1 lbs (450 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -5.5 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +5.7 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 1,876 Hz | +5.7 dB | 2.54 |
| Peak | 123 Hz | -2.1 dB | 0.26 |
| Peak | 485 Hz | -0.5 dB | 2.51 |
| Peak | 896 Hz | -1.1 dB | 3.26 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -1.5 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 4,945 Hz | -1.7 dB | 5.84 |
| Peak | 207 Hz | -0.6 dB | 2.66 |
| Peak | 121 Hz | +0.5 dB | 1.56 |
| Peak | 62 Hz | -0.3 dB | 1.77 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Stax SR-X9000: $6,819.99 Elusive Disc eBay
Pros: A preference score of 77, with the midrange from 200 Hz to 3 kHz staying within about 1.3 dB of target for natural, uncolored voices and instruments. Air above 10 kHz rises 1.7 dB, adding openness to the top end, and the neutral, slightly warm balance suits critical listening. It earns a higher rating than the Focal Utopia 2022.
Cons: It needs a dedicated electrostatic energizer, and bass falls 6 dB below target by 56 Hz, about 9.5 dB short across the sub-bass, so the deepest notes are faint. A 14.1 dB dip near 9.7 kHz dulls cymbals and detail. The Final Audio D8000 Pro Edition and Dan Clark Audio EXPANSE cost much less and rate higher.
Full Stax SR-X9000 review and specifications →
| Released | 2021 (5 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Open |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.72 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Electrostatic |
| Drivers | 1 x large round push-pull electrostatic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 42kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 77 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Sensitivity | 100 dB |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 56 Hz (-9.0 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.20 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 1 lbs (432 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.3 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +5.7 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 1,081 Hz | -5.9 dB | 1.99 |
| Peak | 2,699 Hz | +2.5 dB | 1.47 |
| Peak | 201 Hz | -0.9 dB | 1.69 |
| Peak | 5,305 Hz | +2.1 dB | 6.00 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -4.2 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 7,973 Hz | +2.4 dB | 1.92 |
| Peak | 71 Hz | -1.7 dB | 3.73 |
| Peak | 6,342 Hz | -1.8 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 45 Hz | +1.0 dB | 4.46 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons