STAX SRS-X1000 Earspeaker System Review

Selling for under $1000.00, or the price of a good pair of traditional headphones, STAX has put ownership of an electrostatic system within range of many of us. When I received the system for review, I was genuinely excited to put it through its paces.

The STAX SRS-X1000 entry-level electrostatic headphone system is tiny, compared to the traditional electrostatic system. In general, the energizers (amplifiers) that power electrostatic headphones are large and take up a fair amount of desk space if you use them for a stand-alone desktop system. However, the SRM-270S amplifier is only 6 inches by 5.2 inches and 1.5 inches tall and weighs 19 oz. (540g). The earspeakers (as STAX calls them) are also small and very light, weighing only 8.1 oz. (234g).

This system is so compact it literally took up zero extra space on my desk since the amplifier sat on top of my Topping DX-7Pro DAC/amp (with room left over for the Topping remote). The amazing part is that this is an electrostatic headphone system that can be added to an existing headphone set-up without adding any clutter.

The earspeakers are so light and open that even after hours of working at my desk while wearing them, the soft lambskin ear pads never got hot, even in my non-air-conditioned office on warm afternoons. I almost forgot I was wearing them; something that I can’t say about my full-size Planar headphones. A thoughtful touch is that braille is imprinted on the left ear cup, which I found helpful for putting them on without having to read first.

The sound was effortless, airy, and incredibly detailed. With voices and stringed instruments, there were times the STAX SRS-X1000 system took my breath away, so life-like and present, that my other headphones sounded a bit dense in comparison.

This is a system that can add the shimmery beauty of electrostatics next to our existing systems, without taking anything away from those other systems. I think it’s a real achievement from the engineers at STAX.

STAX brought the world’s first electrostatic headphones to the audio world in 1960. Since then, there have been many evolutions and designs to their line. However, regardless of the model or price point, the one constant is that sound…light as air. Crystal clear and delicate, pinpoint placement, microscopic detail… I could go on with the adjectives, but Secrets has several excellent reviews by Carlo Lo Raso STAX SR-007A headphones, Mel Martin STAX SR-009S headphones, and one by me STAX SR-L500mk2 headphones.

There is general agreement in the headphone community that STAX makes some of the very best headphone systems, period. When I finished my time with the STAX SR-L500mk2 and had to send them back, I was sad, as I had grown so fond of how music sounded when I listened to them. When I was asked if I would like to review this new, entry-level system, I couldn’t stop smiling; both for the chance to spend time with STAX again, but at the words “entry-level”. Really? An electrostatic earspeaker and energizer/amplifier for under a thousand dollars???

When the package arrived from STAX, the carton was probably half the size of the previous shipment. The two cardboard cartons that contained the earspeakers and the amplifier were compact and very light compared to the substantial weight of the energizer that was paired with the SR-L500 mk2.

Even though I knew this would be a compact system, I was startled at how small everything was. When I opened the box with the amplifier and saw how diminutive the little box was, I looked for another part in the other box…but nope, that was it; a tiny, but solid black metal box.

SR-X1 Earspeaker

SRM-270S Driver Unit

The amplifier features a solid, well-made all-metal chassis, with an aluminum front panel consisting of the 5-pin DIN speaker cable jack, an amber light, and a simple on-off volume control knob. The back has the power line jack, and RCA pin jacks for both line-in and line-out functions, and the parallel out terminals allow the amplifier to send out audio signals to multiple outputs without needing additional splitters. These are particularly useful for integrating the energizer with other components in a hi-fi audio system or connecting the amplifier to another amplifier or to a pre-amplifier that further drives another set of headphones (for STAX in particular). The benefit is to offer versatility and maintain audio signal integrity and quality when sharing between two headphones. The line-in jacks are for connecting to the music source, i.e. DAC, turntable preamp, or CD player, for example.

The SR-X1 earspeakers are extremely comfortable. The design reflects their heritage from both the SR-1 and SR-X earspeakers. The earpads are genuine, buttery-soft sheepskin leather (the area that contacts the ear), with artificial leather and memory foam for the rest of the pad. The earspeakers are medium-sized circular, with plastic grills covering the high-precision electrodes. The 3-pin, parallel 6-core, wide low capacitance cable attaches on the bottom of each ear pad and is clearly marked L or R. I found the pads never made my ears hot, even on warm afternoons listening for hours at my desk. The headband is a simple one-piece artificial leather band with a metal rod and yoke adjustment that gives a fairly wide range of adjustments. The earpads tilt towards and away from the ears. The adjustment notch could have had one more spot to get the earpads to sit perfectly over my ears; they were just a tiny bit lower than my preference…I’m starting to sound like a broken record, but there is a larger audience of headphone wearers than folks with bigger heads… The clamping force is gentle, but sufficient for a decent seal, and made these one of the most comfortable headphones for long listening, that I’ve worn. In fact, these are so comfortable and so open that I would forget I had them on. Watching a movie or several videos at my desk was a real pleasure, both sonically and for the effortless way they seemed to float on my head. My only concern is that they do seem a bit fragile though I understand the need to keep them light and minimalist, considering these are made as entry-level.

The cable is a flexible ribbon of HIFC parallel 6-strand, low-capacity, special wide copper cable, 2.5m full length. I was delighted to see that STAX included this premium cable, as it is the same one that came with the SR-L500MK2 earspeakers. It is supple and quite long, which allows me to move away from my desk without having to take off the earspeakers. I usually keep them rolled up, as I seldom need to move 8 feet from my desk, but I love the option this long cable provides.

I reached out to STAX and asked if the SR-X1 earspeakers would be a good match for their newest battery-powered DAC/Amplifier, the SRM-D10ll. These compact earspeakers would be perfect as a portable unit, and, in fact, STAX has just released an announcement for just that combination. I reviewed the SRM-D10II as part of my review of the STAX SR-L500-mk2, and I was impressed by how beautiful and well-made SRM-D10ll it was. Its MSRP is $940.00 and would provide stellar portable performance at what, in the world of electrostatic systems, is a bargain.

Setting up the SRM-270S was straightforward. The two included RCA cables plugged into the RCA-outs on the Topping DX7pro, and then into the RCA-in plugs on the back of the SRM-280S. The speaker cable plugs into the SR-X1 with a locking tab; they only attach in one direction so left and right will always be correct. The braille marks on the left earcup also make attaching the cables foolproof.

When powered on, the unit glows with a tiny amber light. The volume dial has a basic white level mark, which lets you know where the volume is set. I found the 11 o’clock position to be good for general listening while working on other things. If I wanted to kick back and focus on music, I only needed to set the volume mark straight up. This amplifier has so much energy that should your music source volume be low, you can easily boost the volume effortlessly. I never heard any distortion, even when cranking up the volume to test it.

In general, my music source is Qobuz, and when possible, I play the Hi-Res versions of songs. I also listen to Apple Music’s lossless files.

As I explored a wide range of genres to find where the SRS-X1000 system shines, I was pleased to see how well they perform with most of what I listened to. I would not look to these headphones if sub-bass is where you like to hang out, but they do provide a decent amount of detailed bass that is satisfying for a broad range of music. Electrostatic headphones are really about finesse and a neutral presentation, in my experience, and they really deliver for such genres as voices, acoustic instruments, and jazz for example. Hip Hop? Not so much…

Many of the selections I’ve chosen are all about the voices because I feel that is an area where the SR-X1000 shines.

“Down So Low” was written and performed in 1968 by Tracy Nelson, of Mother Earth, and Ms. Ronstadt gives this classic her own soulful interpretation. This song is a blues-spiritual for anyone who has loved deeply. The song starts with just Linda, accompanied by piano, and, like any good church hymn, builds layer by layer; with a choir of male and female voices building behind her, followed by drums, and then the band. The earspeakers hold her voice with clarity and space, going deep and then soaring into the upper registers with the choir, without getting shrill. Halleluiah!

“In the Grand Way” was performed with piano, drums, bass guitar, and acoustic guitar and a full orchestra arranged by Lee Holdridge. The orchestra soars along with John’s voice, yet the earspeakers handle the strings and wind instruments with a crystalline clarity that doesn’t become harsh. The band never gets buried but remains prominent in the front of the orchestra. This is where a lesser headphone might have introduced a bit of distortion, but the SR-X1 earspeakers remained clear with a soundstage that made room for everyone.

She was “discovered” by the son of Charles Koppelman, a music publisher while performing “Fast Car” at a Tuft’s University coffee house, and the rest, as they say, is history. In “Fast Car” Ms. Chapman’s voice is rich and warm, like dark honey, and her crisp fingerpicking provides a bright counterpoint in this memorable song again, the SR-X1 earspeakers present the complex range of tones with a spacious clarity that loses none of the deeper round tones of her voice.

Here’s a little trivia about the song. It was sampled from the soundtrack of a 1960’s Terrence Hill spaghetti western called “Django” (Preparati La Bara!). Also, CeeLo’s vocals were recorded on the first take, and he was reading the lyrics off a piece of paper. They liked it so much that they kept that take.

The STAX engineers did a brilliant job of miniaturizing the SRS-X1000 system to give us a compact, affordable system that still gives us the STAX sound so sought after by audiophiles. I don’t know if “under one thousand dollars” sounds like a bargain to someone just getting into the headphone world, but these are, in my opinion, a genuine bargain.

For many audiophiles, electrostatic systems represent the pinnacle of headphones. However, the price of entry is steep for most of the systems, leaving out a large group of potential listeners. The STAX engineers have created a system that costs less than a decent pair of headphones, thus placing ownership within reach of most of us. When I unpacked the SR-X1 earspeakers and the SRM-270S amplifier, my first impression was just how tiny and almost toy-like this system was. When I previously reviewed the STAX SR-L500 MK2, I had to clear my desk and re-arrange my gear to make space for the energizer. This time, nothing got moved. The SRM-270S amplifier sat on top of my Topping, with room left over for the Topping remote, and the SR-X1 earspeakers took up almost no airspace hanging from a headphone stand. It makes it possible to add an electrostatic system to an existing system. It gives someone not familiar with electrostatic headphones, a way to explore their unique sound with hardly any additional impact to valuable desk real estate.

Though the compact system is brilliant, it still comes down to the sound, and STAX did not disappoint. These diminutive headphones have a place in the flagship, full-size line of STAX earspeakers. Though they lack the full-bodied presence of the other earspeakers on the SR-X line, they can hold their own against the Lambda line as an affordable option, and I found them much easier to listen to for long sessions at my desk. If you want a headphone with a lightning-fast, neutral, and highly resolving ability to show you the nuances of your music, the STAX SRS-X1000 system should be on your shortlist.