Over-Ear
Abyss AB-1266 Phi TC
72Good
$5995
Full review dataAbyss AB-1266 Phi TC vs STAX SR-X9000: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the STAX SR-X9000 comes out ahead with an HearWiki score of 88. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Our pick: STAX SR-X9000 - Outstanding overall at around $5050.
Over-Ear
STAX SR-X9000
88Outstanding
$5050
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Abyss AB-1266 Phi TC
Sound8.0
Value4.0
STAX SR-X9000
Sound9.5
Value5.0
Specifications
| Spec | Abyss AB-1266 Phi TC | STAX SR-X9000 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Over-Ear | Over-Ear |
| Price (USD) | $5995 | $5050 |
| HearWiki score | 72 / 100 · Good | 88 / 100 · Outstanding |
| Released | 2018 | 2021 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | 66 mm planar magnetic | electrostatic |
| Driver size | 66 mm | - |
| Drivers per side | 1 | 2 |
| Frequency response | 5Hz-45kHz | 5Hz-42,000Hz |
| Impedance | 50 Ω | 145000 Ω |
| Sensitivity | 88 dB/mW | - |
| Wireless | ||
| Multipoint pairing | - | No |
| Features | ||
| Active noise cancelling | - | No |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 640 g | 432 g |
What reviewers said
Abyss AB-1266 Phi TC
The Abyss AB-1266 Phi TC is a premium open-back planar headphone that delivers outstanding detail, dynamics, and an expansive soundstage, though it demands a powerful amplifier to reach its full potential. Its raw tuning is polarizing, with a revealing signature that can sound exceptional to some ears but problematic to others; however, applying EQ can transform it into a highly enjoyable listening experience. Built with a rigid, top-tier frame, this is a specialized, heavy headphone aimed at audiophiles seeking extreme performance over everyday convenience.
- Pro:Exceptional resolution and transparency
- Pro:Powerful, dynamic bass response
- Pro:Huge, immersive soundstage
- Con:Requires substantial amplifier power
- Con:Polarizing out-of-box tuning
- Con:Heavy and unusual fit
STAX SR-X9000
The STAX SR-X9000 is a top-tier electrostatic headphone that excels at revealing fine detail, ambient cues, and instrumental nuance, delivering an exceptionally transparent and spacious soundstage. It offers outstanding speed, transient response, and realism, making it ideal for classical and spatially demanding music. However, it requires a dedicated energizer/driver unit, pushing the total system cost far beyond the already steep headphone price.
- Pro:Exceptional detail retrieval and transparency
- Pro:Huge, three-dimensional soundstage with precise imaging
- Pro:Fast transient response and realistic timbre
- Con:Requires separate electrostatic driver unit
- Con:Very high total system cost
- Con:No noise cancellation or wireless convenience
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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