Over-Ear
Meze ELITE TUNGSTEN
88Outstanding
$3999
Full review dataMeze ELITE TUNGSTEN vs STAX SR-009S: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the Meze ELITE TUNGSTEN comes out ahead with an HearWiki score of 88. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Our pick: Meze ELITE TUNGSTEN - Outstanding overall at around $3999.
Over-Ear
STAX SR-009S
88Outstanding
$3290
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Meze ELITE TUNGSTEN
Sound9.0
Value6.5
STAX SR-009S
Sound9.5
Value6.0
Specifications
| Spec | Meze ELITE TUNGSTEN | STAX SR-009S |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Over-Ear | Over-Ear |
| Price (USD) | $3999 | $3290 |
| HearWiki score | 88 / 100 · Outstanding | 88 / 100 · Outstanding |
| Released | 2023 | 2018 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | Rinaro Isodynamic Hybrid Array® | electrostatic |
| Driver size | 102 mm | - |
| Drivers per side | 1 | 1 |
| Frequency response | 3Hz-112kHz | 5Hz-42kHz |
| Impedance | 32 Ω | 145000 Ω |
| Sensitivity | 101 dB/mW | 101 dB/mW |
| Wireless | ||
| Multipoint pairing | No | No |
| Features | ||
| Active noise cancelling | No | No |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 433 g | 589.67 g |
| USB-C | No | - |
What reviewers said
Meze ELITE TUNGSTEN
The Meze Elite Tungsten is an open-back planar flagship that stands out for its unusually easy drivability in its class, pairing moderate impedance with high sensitivity so it doesn't demand extreme amplifiers. Its 102mm Rinaro Isodynamic driver delivers a wide frequency response, low distortion, and a musically engaging, detailed sound, all wrapped in a premium, meticulously crafted build. While it performs well from modest sources, pairing it with a clean, powerful amp unlocks its full technical potential.
- Pro:Easy to drive for a planar flagship, works with a wide range of amps
- Pro:Exceptional build quality and premium materials
- Pro:Very low distortion with high maximum output capability
- Con:Expensive at around $4000, limiting accessibility
- Con:Sound quality scales notably with high-end amplification, so budget setups may underperform
- Con:No wireless or ANC features, purely wired design
STAX SR-009S
The STAX SR-009S is a premium electrostatic headphone that refines the original SR-009 formula with a slightly smoother, less bright tuning while retaining exceptional speed, detail, and openness. It offers a wide, precisely imaged soundstage and a very comfortable fit, making it a top-tier choice for critical listening, though it demands high-quality recordings and a dedicated amplifier system to shine. Its performance places it among the very best headphones available, with only the newer X9000 potentially edging it out in some respects.
- Pro:Extremely fast and detailed electrostatic sound
- Pro:Wide, immersive soundstage with precise imaging
- Pro:Comfortable fit despite large earcups
- Con:Very revealing of poor-quality recordings
- Con:Requires specialized electrostatic amplifier, adding cost and complexity
- Con:High price point limits accessibility
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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