The Stax SR-009S ranks #99 out of 201 total Over-Ear Headphones for sound quality. See all Headphones rankings for every top pick.
Brand: Stax
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#99 Stax SR-009S: $4,545.00 Audio46 eBay
Pros: The open electrostatic design keeps the midrange close to neutral, with the low mids and upper mids each within about 1.4 dB of target in oratory1990’s measurement. It reaches a preference score of 74, and nothing between 1.5 and 12 kHz rises more than 2.2 dB above target, so there is no glare or harsh peak. Listeners who favor a neutral or lean presentation get a clean, uncolored midrange.
Cons: It needs a dedicated electrostatic energizer and cannot be plugged into a normal headphone amp, phone or DAC, which adds substantial cost and limits where it can be used. Sub-bass sits nearly 10 dB below target and falls 9.3 dB short at 30 Hz, so kick drums and synth bass lack weight and rumble. A deep 12.5 dB dip near 6 kHz softens cymbals and detail, and the open back leaks sound and blocks no outside noise.
| Released | Apr 2018 (8 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Open |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.93 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Electrostatic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 42kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 74 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Sensitivity | 101 dB/100V rms |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 60 Hz (-9.3 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.22 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
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 | 1,140 Hz | -4.2 dB | 1.04 |
| Peak | 8,102 Hz | +3.6 dB | 1.17 |
| Peak | 2,342 Hz | +4.4 dB | 3.37 |
| Peak | 5,079 Hz | -5.7 dB | 4.77 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -3.8 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 68 Hz | -1.1 dB | 2.84 |
| Peak | 213 Hz | -0.6 dB | 1.95 |
| Peak | 50 Hz | +1.2 dB | 4.06 |
| Peak | 76 Hz | -0.2 dB | 2.13 |
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