Over-Ear
HiFiMAN HE 1000 V2
88Outstanding
$2865
Full review dataHiFiMAN HE 1000 V2 vs STAX SR-X9000: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the HiFiMAN HE 1000 V2 comes out ahead with an HearWiki score of 88. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Our pick: HiFiMAN HE 1000 V2 - Outstanding overall at around $2865.
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.
HiFiMAN HE 1000 V2
Sound9.5
Value7.0
STAX SR-X9000
Sound9.5
Value5.0
Specifications
| Spec | HiFiMAN HE 1000 V2 | STAX SR-X9000 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Over-Ear | Over-Ear |
| Price (USD) | $2865 | $5050 |
| HearWiki score | 88 / 100 · Outstanding | 88 / 100 · Outstanding |
| Released | 2016 | 2021 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | planar | electrostatic |
| Driver size | 131.15 mm | - |
| Drivers per side | 1 | 2 |
| Frequency response | 8Hz-65kHz | 5Hz-42,000Hz |
| Sound signature | Neutral | - |
| Impedance | 35 Ω | 145000 Ω |
| Sensitivity | 90 dB/mW | - |
| Wireless | ||
| Multipoint pairing | - | No |
| Features | ||
| Active noise cancelling | - | No |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 420 g | 432 g |
| Balanced connection | Yes | - |
What reviewers said
HiFiMAN HE 1000 V2
The HiFiMAN HE 1000 V2 is a premium planar magnetic headphone offering a neutral, reference-grade sound signature with exceptional clarity and detail. Its large 131mm driver delivers a wide, airy soundstage while maintaining precise imaging, making it a strong choice for critical listening. Despite its high price, it earns top-tier marks for tonal accuracy and technical performance, though it requires a capable amplifier to shine.
- Pro:Excellent neutral tonality with accurate timbre
- Pro:Outstanding detail retrieval and resolution
- Pro:Very wide and open soundstage
- Con:High price point limits accessibility
- Con:Low sensitivity (90dB/mW) demands powerful amplification
- Con:Large ear cups may not suit smaller heads
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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