Most headphones you’re familiar with have dynamic drivers — pretty much all headphones $300 or less have them (and a lot more expensive models have them, too). These headphones are easy to drive and are known for delivering big sound with big bass.
The next step up the audio food chain is planar magnetic drivers. Headphones with these are typically bigger, but they’re able to deliver a more detailed sound. Additionally, many planar magnetic headphones remain easy to drive, allowing you to plug them directly into your laptop.
Then there are headphones with electrostatic drivers, which are considered the crème de la crème among audiophiles. They’re known for their exceptional audio quality (and price tag), plus they require an external amplifier to drive them.
The newest Stax SR-007S headphones fall in this latter category.
Stax SR-007S
Japanese made
Stax is a storied Japanese hi-fi company that specializes in electrostatic headphones — or, as it calls them, electrostatic earspeakers. It’s been making them since the early 1960s.
Today, the company offers a wide range of electrostatic headphones, spanning from the entry-level SRX1 ($535) to the flagship SRX900 ($6,200).
