Stax SRS-2020 Headphone Review - Basic System II

What’s this you say? You’re electrically charging thin diaphragms millimeters from my ears? I thought we were going to review headphones, not conduct an experiment with Dr. Frankenstein!

Well, for those of you new to the audiophile world, there are other ways to produce sounds than the standard Stax Inside round cones like you see in most speakers, (FYI - standard headphones are called “Dynamic” headphones). One of those other technologies is what’s called “Electrostatic.” There are several high end companies producing very highly regarded electrostatic speakers, and there are lot’s of audiophiles who swear by these flat, different looking speakers. Electrostatic speaker technology, though lacking on bass, is best known for it’s incredible detail and ability to sonically disappear, (i.e. difficult to pinpoint exactly where the sound is coming from). Not being an electrical engineer and barely understanding the technology myself, I am not going to go into an explanation of how electrostatic speakers work. But let’s just say in the audiophile headphone world, electrostatic headphones are also highly regarded!

Not headphones...Earspeakers? That what Stax likes to call them! Stax, a Japan based company, has been producing electrostatic earspeakers since the late 50’s or early 60’s. Surprise, this is not a new technology! It’s just more expensive to produce than a standard dynamic headphone, so electrostatic headphones are not a mass merchandised product. A few other companies produce an electrostatic headphone or two, but Stax is known as the main player in this arena.

Being a headphone enthusiast, a couple of years ago, I was so curious to hear some electrostatic headphones, that I bought a pair of used Stax earspeakers through an auction on E-Bay for a little over $100. First off, electrostatic earspeakers do not plug into a standard headphone jack. When my used Stax SR40s were made, (I am guessing mid 80’s?), you had to connect a black box to the speaker outputs of an amplifier in order to power them. Let’s just say, while the used earspeakers seemed to work just fine, sound quality wise, they didn’t even compare to a Grado SR60 which can be had for $69. Due to the smaller size of my used Stax, I am guessing they were a lesser expensive model to begin with. Live and Learn?

Then, quite by accident, in January, while attending the huge Consumer Electronics Show, I stumbled upon the Stax booth. I listened to several of their models of electrostatic earspeakers, and was quite impressed! So much so, I went back a second time to listen a little closer and determine if I should spend some quality time back at review central comparing them with my almighty Grado RS1s?

The Rest of the Story: Well here it is, a few months later, GoodCans.com is now an official Stax dealer, and I am currently listening to the Stax SRS-2020 earspeakers! At $825, the 2020s are the entry level model which Stax 2020 small Stax dubs “Basic System II.” Stax earspeakers still cannot be plugged directly into a headphone jack, but they are more user friendly now in that they come with their own headphone amp which can be plugged directly into a source with standard stereo RCA jacks, (like a CD player, Pre-amp or Receiver Tape output, or a headphone output with an appropriate connector cord). Yes, you read that right, the headphone amp is included! So even though the 2020 is a bit more expensive than the $700 top of the line Grado RS1, the price is more equivalent to the combination of the $495 Grado RS2 headphones with the $350 Grado RA1 headphone amp.

The headphone amp supplied with the Stax SRS-2020 combination is a smallish black box, approximately 5”(w) x 2”(h) x 6” (d). Powered by a standard wall wart, (AC adapter), this headphone setup is not totally portable. The ribbon like cord on the headphones is a little over 7 feet long, seems to be of good quality and plugs into the amp with a five prong connection. The headphones themselves, oh, excuse me, earspeakers, are fairly large rectangular ribbed boxes. These are definitely of the open design, sounds around you can be heard and those around you can hear your music. Though large, they are light in weight, and comfortable due to the circumaural, (around the ear rather than on the ear), design. Earpads are leather, a nice long lasting touch, but can be a bit warm on the ear after listening a while. The headband is of the two part design. The top piece is plastic while the bottom adjustable band is leather. I have a smallish head and the earspeakers fit on my head just fine on the smallest adjustment. But a smaller child would not be able to comfortably wear these full size headphones. FYI, other than the leather, most of the outside of the earspeakers is made of plastic. Another reason I might not want to travel with these headphones. I am pretty careful with my equipment, so I would expect the Stax’s to last me many years. But those of you who are hard on things, beware, these things could be broken with abuse.

The all important “How Do They Sound”: In a word, Nice! I like acoustical music. Not a lot going on. In other words, when listening closely to my music, I want to be able to hear the individual instruments. This is where the Stax SRS-2020 earspeaker system shines! The detail is on par with my familiar Grado headphones, yet allows more space to be heard around the instruments due to it’s large, very open design. More depth in the music. They seem to tackle a problem I have had in listening to Sennheiser’s best dynamic headphones. While the Sennheiser HD590s and HD600s offer more space around the instruments than do the Grados, the Senn’s just sound muffled in comparison to the incredible detail the Grado’s have to offer. For the type of music I listen to, the Stax SRS-2020 earspeaker system is a winner!

But now the nit-picking. Notice I was careful to mention the type of music I like to listen to in my personal listening sessions. While the bass on these electrostatic headphones seems fine to my ears, they do seem to lack “Slam.” There is not a lot of punch to the sound and if your primary musical interest is the more popular Pop/Rock, etc., you probably would be better off with a pair of Grado’s! Adjusting the volume control on the Stax amp to almost full volume does not compensate for the lack of “Slam” either. In fact, connecting the Stax system to my portable CD player just barely passes the listenable volume level, (almost a strike three against using the Stax as a transportable listening system). Given that the majority of music listeners prefer mostly upbeat, a lot going on, type of music, a Grado headphone purchase would probably be the smarter move. One exception though. A well recorded full size orchestra, even though there are lots of instruments, sounds fuller to me with the Stax earspeakers.

Stax 2020 Large Conclusions: The average listener would probably prefer the excellent, all around high quality headphones Grado has to offer. The Grado’s offer incredible detail for dynamic headphones, and in the words of many a listener, “They Rock!” Plus, the entire line of Grado headphones seem to me that they would be more durable given the abuse so many people give to items that get handled a lot. However, if your primary musical preferences are Classical, Jazz, Acoustical Folk, Bluegrass, or well recorded vocal; you should definitely consider some Stax Electrostatic Earspeakers! To me they add an extra dimension to the music that the Grado's don't quite match up to!