The Stax SR-40 ranks #365 out of 479 total Over-Ear Headphones for sound quality. See all Headphones rankings for every top pick.
Brand: Stax
Prices on this page were last checked October 16, 2026 at 5:46 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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#365 Stax SR-40: $85 Discontinued eBay
Pros: A published AutoEQ preset corrects its response toward the Harman target, so a few minutes of EQ setup closes most of the gap.
Cons: Measures far from the Harman target (preference score 57), so most listeners will hear it as colored; EQ can correct much of this. Discontinued.
Is the Stax SR-40 right for you?
Skip it if
- you want a neutral sound without EQ (Harman score 57).
- you need isolation or will use it in public: open-back headphones leak sound both ways.
- you want to buy it new: it is discontinued.
| Back | Open |
|---|---|
| Connection | Wired (Stax 4-pin electret) |
| Deviation From Target | 4.05 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Electrostatic |
| Drivers | 1 Electret push-pull |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 57 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.40 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ Presets
Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.2 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 | +6.2 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 220 Hz | -3.3 dB | 0.40 |
| Peak | 4,819 Hz | +3.2 dB | 0.18 |
| Peak | 1,361 Hz | -4.7 dB | 1.65 |
| Peak | 81 Hz | +3.1 dB | 1.62 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -1.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 6,176 Hz | -3.6 dB | 4.54 |
| Peak | 4,426 Hz | +1.2 dB | 2.79 |
| Peak | 2,445 Hz | +1.6 dB | 3.73 |
| Peak | 1,816 Hz | -1.6 dB | 5.34 |
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