Over-Ear
Dan Clark Audio Stealth
88Outstanding
$4499
Full review dataDan Clark Audio Stealth vs STAX SR-X9000: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the Dan Clark Audio Stealth comes out ahead with an HearWiki score of 88. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Our pick: Dan Clark Audio Stealth - Outstanding overall at around $4499.
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.
Dan Clark Audio Stealth
Sound9.5
Value6.0
STAX SR-X9000
Sound9.5
Value5.0
Specifications
| Spec | Dan Clark Audio Stealth | STAX SR-X9000 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Over-Ear | Over-Ear |
| Price (USD) | $4499 | $5050 |
| HearWiki score | 88 / 100 · Outstanding | 88 / 100 · Outstanding |
| Released | 2021 | 2021 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | planar | electrostatic |
| Driver size | 76 mm | - |
| Drivers per side | 1 | 2 |
| Frequency response | - | 5Hz-42,000Hz |
| Impedance | 23 Ω | 145000 Ω |
| Sensitivity | 90 dB/mW | - |
| Wireless | ||
| Multipoint pairing | No | No |
| Features | ||
| Active noise cancelling | No | No |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 415 g | 432 g |
| USB-C | No | - |
| Balanced connection | Yes | - |
What reviewers said
Dan Clark Audio Stealth
The Dan Clark Audio Stealth is a premium closed-back planar magnetic headphone that delivers a highly refined, natural sound with impressive technical performance. It stands out among closed-back models for its clarity, detail, and smoothness, though it requires a powerful amplifier to reach its full potential, particularly for bass response. Its flagship-level build quality and included accessories further cement its status as a top-tier option.
- Pro:Exceptional clarity and detail retrieval
- Pro:Natural, smooth tonal balance
- Pro:Flagship build quality and accessories
- Con:Very power-hungry; needs a strong amp
- Con:Bass impact may be limited without ample power
- Con:Very high price point
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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