Over-Ear
Abyss Diana V3 MR
84Great
$2995
Full review dataAbyss Diana V3 MR 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 MR
Sound8.7
Value6.5
STAX SR-X9000
Sound9.5
Value5.0
Specifications
| Spec | Abyss Diana V3 MR | STAX SR-X9000 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Over-Ear | Over-Ear |
| Price (USD) | $2995 | $5050 |
| HearWiki score | 84 / 100 · Great | 88 / 100 · Outstanding |
| Released | 2023 | 2021 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | planar | electrostatic |
| Driver size | 63 mm | - |
| Drivers per side | 1 | 2 |
| Frequency response | 5Hz-55kHz | 5Hz-42,000Hz |
| Impedance | 30 Ω | 145000 Ω |
| Sensitivity | 93 dB/mW | - |
| Wireless | ||
| Multipoint pairing | No | No |
| Features | ||
| Active noise cancelling | No | No |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 2268 g | 432 g |
| Detachable cable | Yes | - |
| Model code | Diana MRx | - |
What reviewers said
Abyss Diana V3 MR
The Diana MR is a premium planar over-ear that refines the brand's signature tuning into a smoother, more universally appealing sound, blending deep bass, rich mids, and crisp highs with wide, immersive imaging. While it's easier to drive than some flagship models, it still benefits from quality amplification, and its hefty build plus proprietary cable and average comfort are notable trade-offs for its price.
- Pro:Smooth, well-balanced tuning with strong bass and clear highs
- Pro:Excellent imaging and immersive soundstage
- Pro:Detachable cable and multiple pad/finish options
- Con:Heavy and may lack sufficient padding for long sessions
- Con:Proprietary cable limits aftermarket options
- Con:Still requires a capable amplifier for best results
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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