Stax SR-009 Electrostatic Earspeaker (Playback 54)

For many decades the name Stax has been synonymous with top quality electrostatic headphones, and many discerning listeners have regarded their top models as among the best, if not the best, headphones presently available. Last year, however, Stax changed the game by releasing a new ultra-rare and ultra-expensive flagship model—the SR-009 electrostatic earspeaker ($5250).

HiFiMAN HE-6 Planar Magnetic Headphones

HiFiMAN’s superb HE-5LE Planar Magnetic Headphone could not only hold its own versus competitors roughly twice its price, but it could also in some respects surpass them. Obviously this meant the HE-5LE was a bargain, a product with performance so good you might think it would be pointless try and improve upon its design. But happily for us, they’ve just introduced an even more impressive flagship, called the HE-6.