The best ludicriously high-end headphone
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STAX SR-009- Pinnacle levels of audio performance
- Awesome sound stage
- Excellent construction and comfort
- Requires an expensive electrostatic headphone amp
- Ideally pairs with high-end DAC
If you're looking for the absolute best headphone on the market, my pick goes to STAX for its SR-009. Essentially, you're not going to find a better audio experience elsewhere. The only caveat is whether or not you're willing to shell out the money for a pair and an accompanying amp to power these electrostatic ear muffs of audio ecstasy.
What is an electrostatic headphone? In a nutshell, headphones of this kind use a membrane that moves itself via current applied directly to it while being wedged between two charged plates. Aside from STAX, Sennheiser is also famous for its original (and now new) Orpheus headphones, which also use an electrostatic design.
STAX, however, only produces electrostatic headphones and are famous for doing so. The SR-009 is the company's flagship headphone, and it packs a wallop in terms of audio quality.
Everything, and I mean everything, sounds good on the SR-009s. Music is incredibly balanced and showcases the precise control that the electrostatic drivers exert over air movement. Bass notes extend down to truly subterranean levels while highs are impressively detailed. These headphones are made for those who demand to hear every nuance of what's happening. The SR-009 is all about resolution.
Let's be honest though, no one's going to buy a SR-009 just for gaming, but I decided to try them out in games anyway. Performance in games is equally stunning. Explosions, gun shots, and any other type of sound effect is rendered with more realism than I could have thought possible. I know this is starting to sound like hyperbole but I really don't have the lexicon to adequately convey how good the SR-009's sound.
STAX didn't cut any corners with the SR-009 anywhere. The build quality of the SR-009 is like a well-built truck with the svelte body of a sports car. The entire headphone is made out of aluminum and other metals, save for the leather band that rests on your head. Even with close inspection, you can tell STAX engineers paid attention to detail and went to great lengths to make sure you feel the SR-009 oozes quality as soon as you hold them.
So what's the catch? By the time you get everything set up to enjoy a pair of SR-009, you'll probably be approaching $7000 if not more. The headphones themselves cost about $3800 and electrostatic amps can climb in price quickly.
Runner-up
Audeze LCD-4
The LCD-4 represents Audeze's flagship planar-magnetic offering, and the company has thrown in every feature it has. High-end wood finishes, real carbon-fiber headband, and a new planar system Audeze calls Double-Fluxor Magnet Arrays, which is essentially a system of more powerful magnets arranged in a proprietary manner to produce tighter control over the moving membrane. The LCD-4's membrane is also made ultra-thin, to reduce mass.
The resulting performance is nothing short of stellar, and the LCD-4 performs beautifully in both listening and measurements. If you're seeking an end-game headphone that doesn't require special electrostatic amps, then the Audeze LCD-4 would be my pick. $4000 for one. You'll still need a good amp though.
