STAX
Fujimi, Saitama, Japan · founded 1938
Inventor of the electrostatic headphone: STAX's 1960 SR-1 was the world's first, and the company has been the defining name in electrostatic "earspeakers" for over 85 years. Its rigs are a self-contained ecosystem — the high-bias electrostatic earspeakers require STAX's own proprietary driver units (energizers), so it is not cross-compatible with ordinary headphone amplifiers.
Japanese pioneer of electrostatic headphones — which the company trademarks as “earspeakers” — and their dedicated driver units/energizers. Founded in 1938 by recording engineer Naotake Hayashi (originally Showa Kouon, later renamed STAX), STAX built the world’s first electrostatic headphone, the SR-1, in 1960 and has remained synonymous with electrostatic audio ever since. After becoming insolvent in 1995 and being revived in 1996, the company was acquired by Chinese audio manufacturer Edifier in December 2011 (completed 2012), which has kept the STAX brand and its Fujimi, Saitama operations running while extending the name to the separate consumer “STAX Spirit” planar-magnetic wireless line.
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At a glance
- Type
- Manufacturer
- Founder
- Naotake Hayashi
- Founded
- 1938
- Headquarters
- Fujimi, Saitama, Japan
- Price range
- Premium
- Makes / sells
- headphones, headphone-amplifiers
- Known for
- electrostatic earspeakers, electrostatic headphones, electrostatic driver units / energizers, open-back electrostatic design, high-end / summit-fi audiophile audio
- Website
- stax.co.jp
Notable products
- SR-X9000 — Current flagship electrostatic earspeaker, introduced December 2022; ultra-thin engineering-film diaphragm ~20% larger than the SR-009S, with STAX's MLER-3 fixed-electrode construction.
- SR-009 / SR-009S — Omega-series flagship-tier electrostatic earspeakers; the SR-009S is the refined successor still in the current lineup.
- SR-007 (Omega II) — Long-running flagship electrostatic earspeaker, predecessor to the SR-009 line.
- SR-L700 MK2 — Upper-tier Lambda-series open-back electrostatic earspeaker; L300/L500/L700 form the mid-tier Lambda family.
- SR-1 — Released 1960 — the world's first electrostatic headphone (earspeaker).
- SRM driver units / energizers — Dedicated solid-state and hybrid tube/solid-state amplifiers (e.g. SRM series, SRM-D10 II portable) required to drive STAX's high-bias electrostatic earspeakers.
Sources: Stax Ltd. — Wikipedia · STAX International — Company page (HQ address) · STAX Ltd. official site (Japan) · Edifier — Reviving the legendary audio brand STAX (press) · Edifier — Wikipedia (parent company, acquisition) · Robb Report — Stax Celebrates 80-Year Journey (founder Naotake Hayashi, history) · STAX SR-X9000 flagship — official product page · audioXpress — Edifier Revives Legendary Audio Brand STAX