Over-Ear
Abyss AB1266 TC
78Great
$3995
Full review dataAbyss AB1266 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 AB1266 TC
Sound8.5
Value4.0
STAX SR-X9000
Sound9.5
Value5.0
Specifications
| Spec | Abyss AB1266 TC | STAX SR-X9000 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Over-Ear | Over-Ear |
| Price (USD) | $3995 | $5050 |
| HearWiki score | 78 / 100 · Great | 88 / 100 · Outstanding |
| Released | 2017 | 2021 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | 66 mm planar magnetic | electrostatic |
| Driver size | 66 mm | - |
| Drivers per side | - | 2 |
| Frequency response | 5 Hz - 45 kHz | 5Hz-42,000Hz |
| Impedance | 50 Ω | 145000 Ω |
| Sensitivity | 88 dB/mW | - |
| Wireless | ||
| Bluetooth | none | - |
| Multipoint pairing | No | No |
| Battery | ||
| Wireless charging | No | - |
| Features | ||
| Active noise cancelling | No | No |
| ANC type | none | - |
| Transparency mode | No | - |
| Companion app | No | - |
| Custom EQ | No | - |
| Controls | buttons | - |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 640 g | 432 g |
| Water resistance | none | - |
| Foldable | No | - |
| Detachable cable | Yes | - |
| USB-C | No | - |
What reviewers said
Abyss AB1266 TC
This open-back planar headphone is a flagship-tier model built around a large 66mm driver, delivering an extremely detailed and powerful sound when paired with high-quality amplification. Its raw performance is outstanding, but the stock tuning is divisive and often benefits significantly from equalization. While it's a substantial redesign of the original AB-1266, its demanding power needs, hefty weight, and high price make it a specialized tool for dedicated enthusiasts.
- Pro:Exceptional detail retrieval and resolution
- Pro:Powerful, impactful bass response
- Pro:Large, immersive soundstage
- Con:Requires a very powerful amplifier
- Con:Heavy and not very comfortable for long sessions
- Con:Stock tuning may need EQ to sound its best
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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