
Abyss Diana V3 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.
Score breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Specifications
| Spec | Abyss Diana V3 TC | STAX SR-X9000 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Over-Ear | Over-Ear |
| Price (USD) | $4495 | $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 | 6Hz-26kHz | 5Hz-42,000Hz |
| Impedance | 69 Ω | 145000 Ω |
| Sensitivity | 90 dB/mW | - |
| Wireless | ||
| Multipoint pairing | - | No |
| Features | ||
| Active noise cancelling | - | No |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 2268 g | 432 g |
| Detachable cable | Yes | - |
| USB-C | No | - |
| Model code | Diana TC Signature | - |
What reviewers said
Abyss Diana V3 TC
The Diana V3 TC is a high-end open-back planar headphone that delivers exceptional clarity, speed, and a spacious soundstage while maintaining a balanced, non-fatiguing signature. Its compact, premium build makes it portable for a flagship, though it demands substantial amplification and carries a hefty price tag. Overall, it offers a refined, articulate listening experience with strong bass definition and smooth treble, though fit and cost may be limiting factors for some.
- Pro:Very fast and articulate planar driver response
- Pro:Spacious, well-separated soundstage with clear imaging
- Pro:Premium, compact, and stylish industrial design
- Con:Requires a powerful amplifier to reach its full potential
- Con:Very high price point limits accessibility
- Con:Fit may feel loose or less secure for some head shapes
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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