Edifier acquired STAX in 2012, taking ownership of the Japanese audio brand with a history of more than 80 years, recognized for developing the first ever electrostatic headphones. To expand on the brand's legacy with modern technology, Edifier needed to improve on the efficiency of planar drivers in order to design practical wireless headphones that matched today's consumer expectations. Edifier released the original STAX Spirit S3 wireless premium over-ear headphones in 2022 and then used patented planar magnetic technologies licensed from Audeze, combined with a Qualcomm Snapdragon Sound Bluetooth 5.2 platform with aptX HD.
The new STAX Spirit S5 are also planar magnetic headphones but Edifier perfected its approach with upgraded drivers and added the latest Bluetooth V5.4 technology into a compact and portable form-factor. As the company explains, the new 2μm thin film and 2nd gen EqualMass wiring technology are able to generate a performance comparable to legendary electrostatic headphones. The technology expands on Audeze's original Fluxor magnetic structure, Uniforce diaphragm, and Fazor phase management, to perfect Edifier's own EqualMass diaphragm with new wiring technology.
In other headphones with planar magnetic drivers, it is common practice to address the uneven distribution of the magnetic field by using wires of varying widths on the diaphragm, aiming to achieve uniform driving force across the entire diaphragm, ensuring consistent performance. Edifier took this approach a step further with EqualMass. By connecting a different number of wires with the same width in parallel, EqualMass achieves a uniform driving force for all parts of diaphragm while keeping its weight evenly distributed. This allows the diaphragm to move back and forth with the same motion and momentum, reducing harmonic distortion to almost zero. In the 2nd generation of EqualMass wiring, Edifier introduced a patented symmetric wiring structure, further enhancing the diaphragm's stability across the entire frequency spectrum.
And to further ensure uniformity in the magnetic field strength distribution across each planar magnetic driver, Edifier also developed a proprietary automatic toolset for calibrating and compensating the magnet circuitry during production. This meticulous process guarantees that every set of S5 headphones delivers sound fidelity identical to the original reference unit crafted by the designer.
Besides the completely new planar magnetic drivers, the Edifier STAX Spirit S5 headphones introduced updated technology. In addition to LDAC and LHDC high-resolution audio codecs, the S5 model now supports all audio codecs under the Snapdragon Sound technology suite, including aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, and aptX Lossless. Exploring the maximum Bluetooth potential with a bit rate up to 1.2 Mbps, this enables high resolution up to 24-bit/96kHz and end to end low latency audio. The platform also supports the AAC codec, enhancing compatibility with a wider range of devices and extended battery life.
Thanks to aptX Adaptive codecs, the STAX Spirit S5 achieves end-to-end latency as low as 89ms in Bluetooth wireless mode, synchronizing the audio experience also with any action seen on a screen. And being an updated Bluetooth 5.4 design, the STAX Spirit S5 supports simultaneous connection to two Bluetooth audio devices (multipoint) and support Google Fast Pair with recent Android devices.
For those users who don't want to rely exclusively on wireless Bluetooth, the STAX Spirit S5 headphones also support wired analog 3.5mm cables and a USB-C mode, which enables direct digital connection with high resolution audio players and compatibility with modern smartphones, ideal to enjoy the available lossless streaming services. But even in wireless mode, the 1500mAh high-performance rechargeable battery still provides up to around 80 hours of uninterrupted music.
In terms of construction, Edifier improved the overall design lines of the original S3 model, making the STAX Spirit S5 headphones even more refined and modern - with a dark grey matte finish and a more discreet STAX logo. Wrapped in genuine lambskin earpads and adorned with top-grain cowhide earcups, the S5 was crafted with the utmost attention to detail. Its ergonomic design ensures a snug and secure fit for long hours of use and all headphones come with a pair of lambskin earpads and a pair of cooling-mesh earpads.
And users will also appreciate the updated Edifier ConneX App, where it is possible to select from three kinds of preset EQs, defined a personal equalization curve, and control further customizations.
The Edifier STAX Spirit S5 headphones are available now, retailing for $499.99 USD, including the two extra earpads, USB-C and AUX cables for wired connections.
www.edifier.com
