Over-Ear
HiFiMAN Susvara
88Outstanding
$6000
Full review dataHiFiMAN Susvara vs STAX SR-X9000: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the HiFiMAN Susvara 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 Susvara - Outstanding overall at around $6000.
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 Susvara
Sound10.0
Value4.0
STAX SR-X9000
Sound9.5
Value5.0
Specifications
| Spec | HiFiMAN Susvara | STAX SR-X9000 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Over-Ear | Over-Ear |
| Price (USD) | $6000 | $5050 |
| HearWiki score | 88 / 100 · Outstanding | 88 / 100 · Outstanding |
| Released | 2017 | 2021 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | planar | electrostatic |
| Drivers per side | 1 | 2 |
| Frequency response | 6Hz-75kHz | 5Hz-42,000Hz |
| Sound signature | Neutral | - |
| Impedance | 60 Ω | 145000 Ω |
| Sensitivity | 83 dB/mW | - |
| Wireless | ||
| Multipoint pairing | - | No |
| Features | ||
| Active noise cancelling | - | No |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 450 g | 432 g |
| Detachable cable | Yes | - |
| USB-C | No | - |
| Balanced connection | Yes | - |
What reviewers said
HiFiMAN Susvara
The HiFiMAN Susvara is a reference-class planar flagship that delivers exceptional transparency, detail, and natural tonality across the spectrum. Its demanding power requirements make it a serious investment for audiophiles with high-end amplification, but those who can drive it are rewarded with top-tier resolution and musicality.
- Pro:Exceptional detail retrieval and transparency
- Pro:Natural, realistic midrange with airy treble
- Pro:Fast, well-textured bass response
- Con:Very power-hungry, needs premium amplification
- Con:Premium price point
- Con:Heavy build may impact long-term comfort
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.
Compare something else
Swap either side out, or start again from the picker.