Over-Ear
Abyss Diana V3 DZ
84Great
$3995
Full review dataAbyss Diana V3 DZ 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 Diana V3 DZ
Sound8.5
Value6.5
STAX SR-X9000
Sound9.5
Value5.0
Specifications
| Spec | Abyss Diana V3 DZ | STAX SR-X9000 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Over-Ear | Over-Ear |
| Price (USD) | $3995 | $5050 |
| HearWiki score | 84 / 100 · Great | 88 / 100 · Outstanding |
| Released | 2023 | 2021 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | planar | electrostatic |
| Driver size | 63 mm | - |
| Drivers per side | - | 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 |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 315 g | 432 g |
| Model code | Diana DZ | - |
What reviewers said
Abyss Diana V3 DZ
The Abyss Diana V3 DZ is a premium wired planar headphone that leverages a new 63mm driver to deliver exceptional detail and a wide, holographic soundstage. Its lightweight frame and refined, neutral tuning mark a clear step up in the series, though its low sensitivity means it demands a powerful amplifier to perform at its best. Overall, it's a high-end choice for audiophiles prioritizing technical performance over sheer portability.
- Pro:Extremely lightweight for a planar flagship
- Pro:Exceptional resolution and clarity across the frequency range
- Pro:Wide, holographic soundstage with strong channel separation
- Con:Requires a powerful amp due to low sensitivity
- Con:Very expensive for most budgets
- Con:Lacks vocal intimacy compared to some rivals
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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