The first SR-Lambda series was introduced 36 years ago and it has further developed into a new-generation SR-Lambda with its newly designed enclosure - the new SR-L500 advanced Lambda series Earspeaker.
The STAX SR-L500 MK2 is the new midrange model in STAX’s L-series and offers the same removable cable and upgraded headband of its cousin the SR-L700 MK2. The SR-L500 MK2 uses a well-balanced driver, with the open, airy sound you expect from a STAX headphone.
Hand selected thin-film diaphragm as well as tough stainless fixed electrodes has been employed for the SR-L500. Thus, rich deep bass response, delicate high frequency and soothing mid-range has been achieved in a balanced manner.
The headband (ARC) assembly of the SR-L500 is equipped with 10-click slider mechanism for head pad height adjustment adopted from SR-009 and SR-507. Once adjusted, the slider always maintains its optimal position to make readjustment unnecessary. This enables you to enjoy hours of pleasant music listening with utmost comfort.
High performance pure copper HiFC™ developed by Hitachi employs the core wires. HiFC has various advantages, including similar sonic characteristics as used in SR-009 and SR-L500 6N high purity 99.99999% copper wires. The entire cable are then arranged in a flat, wide format configuration to lower the capacitance between each wires and finished with the most suitable structure to drive the earspeaker.
New earpad design is carefully hand crafted with high quality synthetic leather for utmost comfort for hours of music enjoyment as well as sound performance.
Japanese manufacturer STAX have been developing headphones since 1938 and electrostatic headphones since 1959. Utilising electrostatic technology in their ‘earspeakers’ that are widely regarded as the best headphones available today, STAX electrostatic earspeakers are widely used throughout the world by discerning audiophiles, professional musicians, and recording companies to enjoy and monitor sound thanks to the superb sonic quality that they offer.
An electrostatic transducer is a speaker design that employs a high polymer film of several microns thick as the diaphragm for far less mass than paper or mylar cones or metal type diaphragms. Since electrostatic elements use no magnets, they are free from magnetic hysteresis distortion that is prominent in dynamic type headphones.
These absolutely deserve to get more attention, and they even overtake the SR-L700 in certain key areas. They have an excellently-tuned midrange as well as very good resolution all around. All this comes together in a very well-balanced package. Of the electrostatic headphones I’ve heard, these are among the few pairs (possibly the only pair) I’d be genuinely comfortable with as a daily driver.