静魂 Quiet Soul - STAX Electrostatic Earspeakers
静魂 Quiet Soul - STAX Electrostatic Earspeakers
Written by
Ryan Nicolson
Published on
1st February 2024
Cult Status
Japanese headphone makers STAX, and their founder Naotake Hayashi, have a cult following.
Their commitment to absolute audio perfection, coupled with Japanese culture's dedication to craftsmanship, hard work & authenticity, has gained them fanatical customers. STAX created the first "Electrostatic" earspeakers * with the STAX SR-1 back in 1960. It was a significant leap forward in headphone design and was the perfect example of STAX's dedication to delivering "an immersive & realistic listening experience."
STAX creates headphones using the philosophy of ‘静魂. Quiet Soul - a noble endeavour that hopes to "bring our listeners to a moment of sublime peace."
* Note: Stax uses the term “Earspeakers” rather than headphones as they are essentially mini electrostatic loudspeakers held in place over your ears with an adjustable headband.
Poster for the first ever “ Electro Static Ear Speaker - STAX SR-1 - 1960
The STAX Legacy
These are high-end headphones for audiophiles. STAX advances the technology and performance with each new version, making incremental rather than seismic changes. Thinner drivers, deeper bass, and better spatial separation ensure that each STAX product pushes the boundaries of audio fidelity further & further forward.
With the iconic SR-Lambda Professional in 1982, STAX wanted to create neutral-sounding headphones for professionals. These had better imaging and a more forward sound than their predecessor. Their unique rectangular shape laid the foundation for the latest STAX headphones and is the basis for the incredible-sounding SR-L700MK2 Earspeakers which have a “rich deep bass response, delicate high frequency and a soothing mid-range.”
Much of their engineering excellence is down to one man - Kazuo Suzuki "STAX Engineer at Large" who celebrates 50 years at the company. Suzuki-san is seen as a living legend in the audio world ( Japan's answer to Steve Sells at Naim Audio ) and sets himself & his team incredibly high standards. He famously crafted the amplification circuit of the SRS-001 amplifier by hand! Proof, if needed, of his unwavering dedication to audio perfection.
Why choose electrostatic headphones?
Most headphones rely on dynamic magnetic drivers - STAX employs a different approach. Their engineering philosophy centres around using exquisitely designed diaphragms that vibrate "lightly & swiftly". Each diaphragm is meticulously crafted for their reference models and requires them to be extremely thin with a large surface area. This creates a vast and immersive sound field.
"The pursuit of excellence extends to every individual part of the headphone. The ultimate goal of STAX is to create stable and reliable products that deliver an unparalleled audio experience."
faster transient response
Electrostatic headphones offer impeccable transparency, resolution & speed. This infuses the sound with lifelike realism, resolution and low-level detail - often lacking in dynamic designs. As the electrostatic diaphragm has a large surface area and is extremely lightweight, it can respond quickly to the input signal.
Stax Energisers
One of the slight disadvantages of Electrostatic headphones is that they need a dedicated high-voltage amp ( or energiser ) to provide the power & amplification. This makes them less portable than standard dynamic headphones, as the electrostatic diaphragms need a constant voltage to drive them. These special driver units, utilise both vacuum tubes & semiconductors and have been engineered for this very purpose.
"The installation of vacuum tubes demands a thorough elimination of noise, a task that only the skilled engineers at STAX can accomplish."
Thankfully, what you lose in portability, you gain in sound quality.
In the realm of audio technology, STAX are revolutionary and continues to push the boundaries of electrostatic headphones. We have the SR-L700 MK2 and the SR-L500 MK2 on demonstration in the shop. So put on some music, relax and experience "静魂 - Quiet Soul" for yourself.