The Stax SR-Lambda Nova Basic ranks #147 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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#147 Stax SR-Lambda Nova Basic: $450 Discontinued eBay
Pros: A broadly balanced tuning with a preference score of 79 against the Harman target.
Cons: About 6 dB less bass than the Harman target below 150 Hz, which can sound thin on pop, hip hop and electronic music. Treble about 5 dB below target from 3 to 10 kHz, which can sound dull or veiled next to brighter headphones. Discontinued.
Is the Stax SR-Lambda Nova Basic right for you?
Buy it if
- you want the tuning most listeners prefer in blind tests out of the box (Harman score 79).
- your taste runs warm: it scores 85 for that sound.
- you are sensitive to bright or sharp treble (treble sits 4.9 dB below target).
Skip it if
- you want more bass (about 6 dB below target).
- 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 Pro bias 580V 5-pin) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.40 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Electrostatic |
| Drivers | 1 Electrostatic push-pull |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 79 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 34 Hz (-9.9 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.36 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ Presets
Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.8 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. Predicted Harman match with this EQ: 97 out of 100, up from 79.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +7.7 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 1,535 Hz | -5.1 dB | 1.35 |
| Peak | 59 Hz | -7.9 dB | 1.09 |
| Peak | 4,509 Hz | +4.3 dB | 4.47 |
| Peak | 2,895 Hz | +3.8 dB | 3.41 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -7.9 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 9,383 Hz | +5.2 dB | 1.31 |
| Peak | 5,934 Hz | -5.1 dB | 5.66 |
| Peak | 498 Hz | +0.7 dB | 1.85 |
| Peak | 5,062 Hz | +1.5 dB | 5.99 |
Neutral target
Set a preamp of -6.7 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by Speaker Ranking from AutoEQ’s measurement, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted Neutral match with this EQ: 81 out of 100, up from 60.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +1.0 dB | 0.70 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -3.7 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 26 Hz | +6.0 dB | 3.10 |
| Peak | 57 Hz | -5.7 dB | 2.10 |
| Peak | 1,532 Hz | -3.4 dB | 3.30 |
| Peak | 4,191 Hz | +5.7 dB | 1.47 |
Studio flat target
Set a preamp of -6.7 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by Speaker Ranking from AutoEQ’s measurement, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted Studio flat match with this EQ: 74 out of 100, up from 32.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | -0.4 dB | 0.70 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +1.6 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 23 Hz | +6.0 dB | 2.60 |
| Peak | 28 Hz | +3.4 dB | 3.76 |
| Peak | 60 Hz | -5.8 dB | 1.64 |
| Peak | 1,462 Hz | -3.6 dB | 2.84 |
| Peak | 2,954 Hz | +6.0 dB | 1.30 |
| Peak | 4,658 Hz | +4.3 dB | 4.71 |
Warm 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 Speaker Ranking from AutoEQ’s measurement, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted Warm match with this EQ: 92 out of 100, up from 85.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +4.4 dB | 0.70 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -6.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 34 Hz | +1.9 dB | 1.99 |
| Peak | 60 Hz | -2.6 dB | 3.90 |
| Peak | 373 Hz | +2.9 dB | 0.69 |
| Peak | 1,561 Hz | -3.5 dB | 3.43 |
| Peak | 2,825 Hz | +3.1 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 4,277 Hz | +4.3 dB | 2.05 |
| Peak | 5,811 Hz | -2.6 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 7,461 Hz | +2.0 dB | 3.06 |
Bass target
Set a preamp of -5.9 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by Speaker Ranking from AutoEQ’s measurement, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted Bass match with this EQ: 86 out of 100, up from 78.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +5.8 dB | 0.70 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -3.7 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 1,532 Hz | -3.4 dB | 3.30 |
| Peak | 4,191 Hz | +5.7 dB | 1.47 |
Bright target
Set a preamp of -7.0 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by Speaker Ranking from AutoEQ’s measurement, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted Bright match with this EQ: 67 out of 100, up from 38.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +0.9 dB | 0.70 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -0.6 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 26 Hz | +6.0 dB | 3.03 |
| Peak | 31 Hz | +2.1 dB | 5.96 |
| Peak | 57 Hz | -5.6 dB | 2.11 |
| Peak | 384 Hz | +2.6 dB | 0.78 |
| Peak | 1,556 Hz | -3.5 dB | 2.81 |
| Peak | 2,883 Hz | +3.6 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 4,708 Hz | +6.0 dB | 1.10 |
| Peak | 6,185 Hz | -2.3 dB | 6.00 |
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