Edifier STAX Spirit S5 review

Apologies for the wind noise on the right channel, it's a heatwave here this week and the fan was running!
My Neowin written reviews:
STAX Spirit S5:
www.neowin.net...
STAX Spirit S3:
www.neowin.net...
Link to the Alternative A2DP driver for Windows:
www.bluetoothg...

[@RobbieKhan]

Full written review here: www.neowin.net/reviews/review-edifier-stax-spirit-s5-wireless-closed-back-planar-magnetic-headphones-that-excel/

[@woodyssoundup]

I understand why they don’t have ANC but I wish they had the option on these. I traveled a couple times with my S3’s and I had to have them cranked to max to try to drown out airplane sound and I ended up just popping in my AirPod Max’s because it was more comfortable to listen at a more reasonable level with outside noise blocked out than blaring loud and still hearing engine noise. I feel like if headphones are wireless, companies already assume people will use them more for travel so ANC would be nice to have. Not a deal breaker, I’d still love to hear these compared to the S3’s which I’ve owned and loved since release

[@RobbieKhan]

The passive noise control is the same on these as with the S5 and the max volume appears to be the same too which makes sense since the specs align in this area as well. Would be nice to have ANC I agree!

[@woodyssoundup]

@@RobbieKhan thanks for the info! Also, nice review! First I’ve seen on them

[@RobbieKhan]

The full written review image more info and photos etc too btw, will add the link when it's live by the 10th 👍👍

[@mrpurpleman9698]

thanks, this is the best review of hps on the entire internet. I don't think you could have got any more simple yet technical while somehow managing to cover all the little things. And its good to see others showing and using the alternativeA2dp Windows software. Shame you could not get LDAC and aptx low latency to work but BT codecs are an pandora's box. These S5s should get better in sound quality once you enable Snapdragon Sound and Lossless codec which the S5 supports but I believe on the S24ultra its currently not fully enabled perhaps? they are very slow to adopt and enable BT codecs.

[@RobbieKhan]

HI there! Thanks very much and I have some good news, LDAC worked in the end, not sure if it was a setting or Windows itself but it just suddenly started working and now I use just LDAC via the PC on these using the A2DP driver. As for low latency, this will never work sadly as aptX Low Latency CODEC is not supported as part of Snapdragon Sound in this, only aptX Adaptive as confirmed to me by Edifier which I will quote in the full review on neowin on the 10th. The latency is reduced to 87ms or so when using aptX Adaptive, sadly aptX Adaptive isn't supported at all on Windows, and isn't part of the A2DP driver as a result too, only aptX Low Latency is supported by the driver, which the S5 doesn't have! But the flipside is that if I do need to game or use them for synchronised AV then I just plug in either 3.5mm or USB and it continues over wired mode within 1 second so that's all good. The S24 Ultra (and all Galaxy phones) supports LDAC and Samsung's own lossless CODEC for BT audio btw, LDAC works no probs on the S24 Ultra too.

[@mrpurpleman9698]

​@@RobbieKhan thx for that update, oh yes see LL not supported in the specs. I was about to ask how is the latency since I tend to YT/Netflix more so its more important but its a bit disappointing to hear you need to be wired. I think off the top of my head Snapdragon audio codec may get as low as 20ms, but I am guessing its not working on the 24 ultra yet.

[@RobbieKhan]

@@mrpurpleman9698 For general videos I found no real issue with sync, it's only in gaming it was most obvious. I watched youtube and some TV shows and was able to watch them fine without noticing any immediate sync issues, though if I paid attention I'd probably be able to tell I guess. aptX LL can get lower from what I read but aptX Adaptive with Snapdragon Sound devices offers 87ms of latency, since the S5 doesn't have aptX LL, it's not going to get any lower than 87ms. On a phone this is fine I guess as the display is much smaller and so on. For large screen gaming then wired is definitely the way to go, and they sound amazing for gaming this way too by the way having played games on them for a bit too.

[@mrpurpleman9698]

@@RobbieKhan thx again for that detailed answer, glad you mentioned that if you paid attention you may spot it since I have that issue with latency for some reason I can spot it easily. Yes 87ms has been mentioned but its confusing since there are several articles suggesting qualcomm may get it down to 20-30ms via snapdragon codec so am sort off hoping they can, fingers crossed.

[@RobbieKhan]

@@mrpurpleman9698 I'm not sure if those articles are accurate, as Snapdragon Sound isn't a codec, it is just the name for the suite of tech used to then cover those codecs, like how Nvidia DLSS isn't just upscaling, it covers ray reconstruction, frame gen etc. I think then the individual device makers need to add support and implement anything beyond that blanket cover, so 20-30ms may well be possible, but in this implementation Edifier state it goes down to 87ms whihc makes sense as aptX Adaptive is being use,d not altX LL.

[@komi1834]

S3 is not from the last year, it's from the year before, prices fell down from $400 to like $260 even before S5 came out, great value even compared to wired closed backs

[@RobbieKhan]

Ah this is a good point, will update the written review to reflect this cheers! I was sent the S3 back in Feb of this year hence thinking it was a 23 release.

[@angisensual56]

So would you say these are kinda comparable to the Nanos or Nanos are still in other level? Nice review btw 😸

[@RobbieKhan]

Hi there, they are very different targets so can't be compared like for like as once is wireless and closed back with a smaller planar driver, the other being almost twice the size, open back and wired - The Nano is always going to trump the S5 but then again it should given what it is!

[@richardmalone4837]

Nice review,will they be releasing these in the Australian market

[@RobbieKhan]

They're not out in the West yet but should be I guess once they're on global release!

[@TBMartin]

You say the best closed back headphone on the market, does that include wireless headphones like the Bowers and Wilkins PX8 or the Sennheiser Momentum 4? I ask because I own them but im more of a planar fan (Love my 7Hz Timeless IEM) so these have perked my interest somewhat but because i already own them two, i don't know if i should get these

[@RobbieKhan]

Have you heard any large driver planars before? Is IEM planars are the only experience so far then definitely try demo a pair, as they are quite a bit different to dynamic driver headphones like the Momentum and B&W. There's no contest when it comes to sub-bass extension, the way you can "feel" the bass vs just hearing tones that low. And then there is the soundstage and detail pickup which is just more intricate than dynamic drivers. Sennheiser don't seem to list any specs on the prduct page which makes me think of them aimed more at mainstream consumers, and B&W do have some and list 30 hours battery life which is way below the 80 hours of the S5, also only aptX Adpative bluetooth so would be missing support for this codec on all devices that don't have support which is quite a lot, no PCs will play aptX Adaptive without a special dongle that is seen as a soundcard on Windows, and those are very iffy as well. IMO the only competition to the S5 right now is the Audeze Maxwell, and that has its own issues too.

[@TBMartin]

@@RobbieKhan I've had experience with wired Planars but not much. I live in an area where you can't demo anything because there are no shops that do that type of thing. The reason why I'm interested in these is mainly for their technical abilities and that's probably the only reason. I don't care for sub bass, I don't care for bass extension but I do care about the rest. I love my planar IEM's because it's the only type of driver that I can "feel" the music. I do not have an inner ear or an inner eye so my other senses take over when I listen to music. Planar is the only driver type that does that to me. It's the technical abilities that make me feel the notes, make me feel that sharpness to the sound. It gives it definition for me and it's more than just sound. So I like these because they are planar and portable. I hope these can give me the same feeling as my planar IEM's but on a bigger scale

[@shrey_doshi]

How is the sound leakage on them? Considering it for daily use in public while travelling

[@RobbieKhan]

It's closed back so minimal leakage. Have to be at a very loud volume to even hear anything in a quiet room when they're worn

[@zehahaha603]

I just got my S3 last year @$200, too soon for an upgrade I guess

[@gonrossi]

Where did you buy the ananda nano earpads ?

[@RobbieKhan]

If you search Amazon for the voarmaks memory foam pads for Ananda you'll find them there for your country Amazon

[@Otts287]

But I thought dynamic drivers produce better bass than planar? 🤔

[@RobbieKhan]

Where did you hear that?

[@ulasklc4539]

Edifier needs to do a 5-6 band eq not 4 and up to 16 khz and with at least 6 db gain not 3.

[@bobbyboyderecords]

What's the price?

[@bobbyboyderecords]

About 300 quid?

[@bobbyboyderecords]

Ah 250 to 300 quid it seems.

[@RobbieKhan]

@@bobbyboyderecords Is that the S3 or S5 though? The S5 is more expensive.

[@bobbyboyderecords]

S5 I'm in China at the moment. That's the retail price at the moment but I have just seen some great deals also on 'B stock' that I may get. B stock price about 200 quid

[@RobbieKhan]

@@bobbyboyderecords Ah I see!