
Abyss Diana V3 DZ (Titanium) 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.
Score breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Specifications
| Spec | Abyss Diana V3 DZ (Titanium) | STAX SR-X9000 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Over-Ear | Over-Ear |
| Price (USD) | $3995 | $5050 |
| HearWiki score | 84 / 100 · Great | 88 / 100 · Outstanding |
| Released | 2024 | 2021 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | planar | electrostatic |
| Driver size | 63 mm | - |
| Drivers per side | 1 | 2 |
| Frequency response | 5Hz-65kHz | 5Hz-42,000Hz |
| Impedance | 50 Ω | 145000 Ω |
| Sensitivity | 92 dB/mW | - |
| Wireless | ||
| Multipoint pairing | - | No |
| Features | ||
| Active noise cancelling | - | No |
| Controls | none | - |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 315 g | 432 g |
| Detachable cable | Yes | - |
| Model code | Diana DZ | - |
What reviewers said
Abyss Diana V3 DZ (Titanium)
The Diana V3 DZ is a lightweight, high-end planar flagship that prioritizes technical excellence over easy portability. It delivers exceptional resolution, speed, and a spacious, holographic soundstage with a neutral, refined tonal balance. While more efficient than earlier models, it still demands a capable amplifier to perform at its best.
- Pro:Exceptional resolution and speed
- Pro:Wide, holographic soundstage
- Pro:Lightweight and comfortable frame
- Con:Requires a powerful amplifier
- Con:Lacks vocal intimacy
- Con:No controls or ANC
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.
Compare something else
Swap either side out, or start again from the picker.
