Finally! Truly audiophile wireless headphones! Edifier Stax Spirit S5 review

[@jblesser]

Thanks!

[@PassionforSound]

Thank you very much!! 🙏♥️

[@VredesbyrdNoir]

Thanks for the review, I'll keep these on the shortlist!

[@Delaneyisnotapear]

Great review as usual❤️It’s great that the ear cups of the headphones are removable!

[@PassionforSound]

Glad you liked it. I agree, swappable pads are excellent on a headphone like this.

[@TigroGumi]

Edifier do make so cool active speakers

[@reptidan]

@@TigroGumi great value for money

[@jblesser]

Very intriguing headphone. Excellent and mindful review - thank you!

[@PassionforSound]

I'm glad you liked it!

[@holdincourt]

Using the new Whitefox keyboard with the high profile setup! Very nice, Lachlan!

[@PassionforSound]

I am. Hoping to do a video on it soon once I can find the "angle" to suit my channel. 🙂

[@Silver_Joystix]

Edifier deserves more respect than this. The R1280t were my first pair of studio monitors and they are a rite of passage for beginners to audio.

[@PassionforSound]

Did you feel like I was negative about Edifier? I definitely don't feel that way about them.

[@MadLadsAnonymous]

@@Silver_Joystix Do you still feel this way about the R1280T? Or would you recommend another set of actives in that price range?

[@FisherMan-bh9dn]

I have the Edifier S2000pro as my garage speakers. Maybe a little shouty but overall exceptional speakers, especially for a workshop speaker system. These Stax wireless will be going on my wish list.

[@deucerevo744]

The leatherette headband is what's holding me back to purchasing one of these S5s. I live in a humid country Singapore and leatherette headbands are nightmares that wear out extremely quickly

[@PassionforSound]

That's a shame because they're so good in other ways and I imagine the mesh pads would be great for that climate.

[@minminli6248]

Spot on! I bought this for 200 dollars off the msrp. Just by listening to a few songs i can deduce that it is better than my b&o, senny, b&w and sony cans. The sound is really really sparking clean and detailed, esp for voices and instruments. My only gripe is the headband cos the top of my head actually hurts if i wear it for too long.

[@PassionforSound]

Thanks for sharing your experiences! Sorry to hear about the headband discomfort. I didn't find that, but we all have different shaped heads.

[@pranaysharma9251]

Where did you buy them from ? 200 $ off ?

[@PEM-zt5rd]

Great video Lachlan... I just would like to add that the comparison section should be by far the most extensive part of videos like this that subjectively reviews a product. For me the Momentum 4 part mostly satisfied my needs and questions but I would still like to know how the unique tuning feature of the Momentum 4 which is far faar superior to its stock sound or any EQ setting, compares to these. Only then, would it be a reason for me to consider these... not versus stock Momentum 4 which I didnt like since day 1. But the its unique tuning feature is pure magic.

[@PassionforSound]

That's a good point about the customised tuning. I didn't put a lot of time into the comparisons on this video because they're very different products. The M4 and 1000XM5 are focussed very clearly on the ANC market while the S5s are focussed on the pure listening market.

[@sockhopsinger]

Great review as always. I have the S3, and while they are great, for their price, my particular headphone sounds like someone opening a rusty crypt door on Halloween. I hope the S5 does not have that problem.

[@PassionforSound]

Do you mean the plastic creaking sounds? The S5 doesn't have any of that, thankfully.

[@sockhopsinger]

@@PassionforSound yes that’s it. I realized, after I had already posted the comment that I forgot to say exactly what I meant. However, I felt confident you would understand.

[@kenstaroz1536]

I have the S5 and whilst I find Lachlan’s commentary on point, my only criticism is that the S5 volume levels seem to be more restrained. In other words I can’t get it to volume and quite often would need to listen at max level when paired with my iPhone 13. There is slightly higher volume headroom when the S5 is paired with a DAP playing LDAC. Compared with the Bathys, Hifiman HE R10D it’s no where near as loud.

[@PassionforSound]

That's interesting. I never found them wanting from my Windows PC or Android phone so I wonder if it's Apple's hearing protection/volume limits?

[@MadLadsAnonymous]

@@kenstaroz1536 How would you compare the Bathys to the S5 paired to a laptop or phone? What about to a budget DAC/amp?

[@kenstaroz1536]

@@PassionforSoundyeah I have removed the volume protection on my iPhone at the suggestion of Edifier and still found it somewhat lacking in volume headroom especially using my iPhone 13

[@kenstaroz1536]

@@MadLadsAnonymousI’ve only ever listened to S5 using my iPhone/DAC/Amp using Bluetooth via AAC/LDAC. Same with my Bathys. Never used them wired as I bought them for their TWS functionality. I have other wired analog headphones. As a whole I prefer the bathys sound more because it’s more dynamic, punchy, fast, warmer than S5. I’m no technical audiophile but the bathys is a more versatile headphone compared with the S5. I do like the clarity and better soundstage of the S5

[@MadLadsAnonymous]

@@kenstaroz1536 Are you at all intrigued by the Noble Fokus Apollo or Cambridge Melomania P100 ? I'd like a nicer pair of cans moving forward for working at coffee shops and enjoying music around the house. The Bathys are top of my list. Cheers.

[@RocketLauncherwithInfiniteAmmo]

I’ve looked at these before, but wasn’t sure of how comfortable the frame and pad size would be, but good to know it’s more of a Hi-Fi tuning, that’s been quite a non-existent choice for the most part at sensible pricing.

[@PassionforSound]

I find them very comfortable - as good or better than the Sonys or Sennheisers mentioned in this vid. They are a fairly compact cup as per most portable closed backs though so those with large ears might struggle.

[@EduardoMontelongo-v9s]

Thanks for your honest review,could you give me some suggestions about headphone under 100$?

[@PassionforSound]

I don't have a lot of experience at that price level other than some of the OneOdio and HarmonicDyne options I've reviewed. The Black Hole from HarmonicDyne is not bad, but nothing stands out as a solid recommendation.

[@joshchacko7729]

Thanks man.

[@PassionforSound]

My pleasure 🙂

[@sloker874]

I would suggest you test, if possible, the Shure Aonic Gen2. Thanks for the video!

[@PassionforSound]

Thanks for the suggestion

[@sanchomill]

The review I was expecting from you for a while. My main concern about them is sibilance. I heard some samples of binaural recordings, and the "sss" remind me the Sundara, which was too sibilant and fatiguing for my ears. Your opinion, please?

[@PassionforSound]

The treble is a touch spicy in patches which is what creates that metallic/plastic timbre up top. It's an easy fix with the EQ settings though so I wouldn't avoid them for that reason. They can sound fantastic for a wireless option after some tiny EQ adjustments if needed.

[@Prxyshj]

Noble Audio Fokus Apollo?

[@PassionforSound]

I haven't tried those

[@gldphish6907]

I really thought this was going to be a review of the Apollo too since they're making a bit of buzz in the headphone world.

[@indyjones720]

I just tried them and they have terrible treble roll-off and bad bass resonance. It has also many inaccuracies with the bass where it gets bloated at the low-end. I tried them against the Bose QC Ultra’s and even the Ultra’s have a crisper, wider soundstage and almost zero resonance. Just because the Apollo’s have a high price point don’t meant they’re better. Only thing going for them is they’re made of very high quality materials. Sound wise, nothing special.

[@rnemni]

Hi, interesting as I have been using Stax for many years . Have you tried the Mark Levinson 5909 ?

[@PassionforSound]

I haven't, but I'd love to

[@angelOcrisu]

Sennheiser Momentum 4 are audiophile enough. They sound better to me than 660S, on aptx adaptive of course.

[@WoodstockG54]

Any comparisons between the Spirit and the Focal Bathys?

[@PassionforSound]

Sadly, I can't currently access demo units of Focals, but hopefully in the future...

[@JacekS406]

Does wearing a jacket indoors in australia significantly improve sound quality?

[@PeterbFree]

Yes

[@RocketLauncherwithInfiniteAmmo]

Think it’s just coming out of winter there, I wear a jacket inside from time to time too when it’s really cold.

[@PassionforSound]

It improves the sound by stopping shivering...

[@RocketLauncherwithInfiniteAmmo]

@@PassionforSound 😆

[@andrewkateb]

@@PassionforSound and here was me thinking all along it repelled "stupid".......

[@ClaudioGatica-g5e]

The sound quality of Edifier is good,but the only thing I think needs improvement is its comfort, I always feel uncomfortable when wearing it for a long time

[@PassionforSound]

Is this with the S5s? Do you find the headband gets uncomfortable?

[@FisherMan-bh9dn]

👉 Prime member sale on these headphones today 10/8/24 for $100 off. Not too bad.

[@MadLadsAnonymous]

I know they're in a different class, but would love to know how they compare to the Noble Fokus Apollo.

[@PassionforSound]

I'm yet to find a contact to get Noble gear in for review.

[@indyjones720]

I just tried them and they have terrible treble roll-off and bad bass resonance. It has also many inaccuracies with the bass where it gets bloated at the low-end. I tried them against the Bose QC Ultra’s and even the Ultra’s have a crisper, wider soundstage and almost zero resonance. Just because the Apollo’s have a high price point don’t meant they’re better. Only thing going for them is they’re made of very high quality materials. Sound wise, nothing special.

[@RadoDani]

Stax Spirit vs Audeze Maxwell ???

[@PassionforSound]

I'd love to answer that, but can't currently access the Maxwells as a demo unit.

[@jeremy5421]

Didn’t compare to the closest competitor, Focal Bathys

[@sanchomill]

One year ago I went to the nearest Focal retailer for a headphones private session (the models are burned in to give their best), with the Bathys as my primary target. He immediately told me, very honestly : "You'll be disappointed." The guy knows his products, and he was so right. I don't see anything justifying it's reputation, except its price. And I didn't hear anything justifying its price, by far.

[@reptidan]

@@sanchomilleven more reason to compare! I didnt know it was so dissapointing. I assumed it would decent.

[@high-captain-BaLrog]

Bathys rivals T + A’s lineup and alike

[@sanchomill]

@@reptidan It is decent. But to my ears, it's quite ordinary. Nothing that justifies this price range.

[@PassionforSound]

I can only compare what I have on hand and Focals have been impossible to get hold of due to the old distributor here in Australia. I'm not sure who has them now...

[@alihasan-ei3ql]

Can you please compare these to the Audeze Maxwell? I own them and they are the best wireless headphones I know to date.

[@guybrushtwood]

Maxwell is the more capable product. Especially for use with PC. If it’s for portable use, the Stax becomes a much more viable option.

[@PassionforSound]

I'd love to compare, but I can't get Audeze review units due to the local distributor...

[@guybrushtwood]

@@PassionforSound hit me up if you’d like me to loan you my Maxwell. I’m in Melbourne. Should be easy to post. Offer is there ✌️

[@PassionforSound]

@guybrushtwood thank you for the offer. I'm keen to try them, but I'm also already booked into January 2025 so I'm being VERY selective about what else I commit to at the moment.

[@MadLadsAnonymous]

@@guybrushtwood Why isn't the Maxwell better for portable use in your opinion?

[@everettwinterlast]

Do you know if you can use the 3.5mm port to listen to audio when the headphone battery is dead? One reviewer sounded like he was saying you can't.

[@PassionforSound]

That reviewer is correct. You need to power these on for any type of input. I mentioned it in my video as well and explained that I think it's for the purpose of maintaining the tuning of the headphones.

[@DIAru4rp2mc1q]

I'm using T50rp 50th and thinking about getting a new pair of planar headphone. How's S5 compare to the Sivga P2 pro and Hifiman ananda in terms of soundstage?

[@PassionforSound]

They're good for a closed back, but can't match the more spacious sounding open backs like those two. I'd say the S5 would be a nice upgrade from the T50RP though.

[@DIAru4rp2mc1q]

​@@PassionforSound Thanks for the advice!

[@danm203]

The reviews I've read have mentioned that these make a plastic creaking sound when you move your head. Did you happen to notice that at all? Thanks.

[@sanchomill]

The S3 did. The S5 have been improved that way.

[@danm203]

My bad. I was mistakenly looking at reviews of S3.

[@PassionforSound]

Yep. I didn't hear any creaking or other build issues. The S5s are great in that regard.

[@Berkanann]

If it had ANC I would have bought one for my flights.

[@PassionforSound]

I think adding ANC would have made them incredibly popular.

[@planewreck4214]

Can you do a comparison with Sony and Bose anc

[@PassionforSound]

I can't because I don't own the Bose or have access to a distributor/retailer to borrow from

[@MadLadsAnonymous]

FWIW, the Bose Ultra (latest headphones) seem to have better ANC than the Sony XM5 (per reviews).

[@aisidapatrick2781]

Please, can you review Cambridge Audio Melomania P100?

[@PassionforSound]

I don't currently have a contact to get Cambridge gear. Otherwise I'd love to.

[@SimonP2]

Has anyone compared these with the Hifiman Edition XS? They're comparably priced, allowing for the extra cost of the electronics in this. A "wireless XS" would be an interesting prospect.

[@PassionforSound]

They're an extremely different option and the wired headphones will almost always win in a comparison like this where other things are mostly equal.

[@necrodh]

old news! since the S3 and the sound via wired change a lot its a lie they sound the same wired or wireless

[@hugoanderkivi]

What's up with the sound? Seems significantly worse than usual.

[@PassionforSound]

Yep. I put a note on screen about it. I've found the issue so it won't happen again.

[@VredesbyrdNoir]

Yes, I legit thought something was up with my Focal Clears!

[@AnotherAnonymousMan]

I'm curious how these would compare to Drop Pandas from a while back. A non dynamic driver headphone comparison would be helpful.

[@PassionforSound]

I have the Pandas, but they're a bit broken so they're packed away somewhere. I think the S5s might be a hair better, but not by much.

[@ylswsl2356]

As a former audiophile I really liked how Airpods Max sounds, have you ever tried them? And if you did how would you compare them?

[@PassionforSound]

I actually still haven't tried them, but I probably should. Maybe I'll grab a pair if they have sales for Black Friday.

[@ylswsl2356]

@@PassionforSound You definitely should, I Dont have much experience about over-ear bluetooth headphones, but Airpods Max is amazing.

[@indyjones720]

Except the company treats their customers like trash. They never respond back so good luck if you ever issues. As for sound, these lacked bass A LOT. The trebles are far too harsh but I do like how they do not have a treble roll off. These do capture the most amount of detail than any wireless headphone I’ve tested but their tuning is still far from perfect. Also, with no transparency or ANC, these are not worth the price. The headband is garbage. Barely any padding and I could always feel the metal edges digging into my head. All in all, I’d rather sacrifice a little bit of sound quality for a more balanced tuning, better build quality, and more features.

[@PassionforSound]

Why do you say they treat their staff poorly?

[@redrich2000]

I feel like there is no one who wants these. If you're going wireless, you're already compromising. Why would you give up ANC for already compromised audio?

[@PassionforSound]

I did wonder about the market for a non-noise cancelling wireless headphone, but I think some people like them for computer or gaming situations where they're in a quiet location, but don't want wires.

[@willkenway]

I just bought them. I wanted a wireless pair with good sound quality to just listen to around the house. I don't like ANC, so this was the obvious choice. They're great so far. I had to EQ them to "fix" the dip at 500hz (I use a galaxy phone which conveniently has an inbuilt EQ with a band at 500hz, and it automatically applies it when I connect to the headphones, and returns to normal when I disconnect), but they sound pretty great to me now. I also think wireless will soon be able to compete with wired options. Maybe we're not completely there yet, but they're certainly good enough for me at this point.

[@PassionforSound]

@willkenway I'm glad you're enjoying them! They're excellent headphones

[@indyjones720]

Because passive noise canceling is already good enough on closed back headphones, especially when music is on.

[@ShepFM]

I bought the s3 because i wanted a hybrid input, high battery life, audiophile solution and they excelled vs my qc ultras from bose right away, the clarity and none existant thd blew my mind and the detail retreival was menacingly addictive. Anc instead of being a must have, became a feature and the quality and livelyness of the planar audio had me hooked, to this day im still picking the s3 because lets face it, a lack of anc to me purely is something high quality audio can cover (unless your looking for the upmost discreteness in transmission in busy places) Due to a lack of eq and codec support on samsungs ive just stepped up to the s5 so i can eq and run the ldac through bluetooth as i found i was using wired mode on the s3 too often for the best sound quality (which still is worth it at that price, currently 230 on amazon.) Im curious about this dip in the frequency reponse ive heard about though, im curious to know if its to aid in high volume listening as on the s3, i had to drop a fair few frequencies down via eq to push way more volume through a dac (the s3 is fantastic at high volume and remains wonderfully composed.)

[@BobHodas]

My guess is that you took my opinion to heart and tweaked your voice capture a bit. Gotta say man. Your room really does sound like crap. I think you were probably on the right path with the chesty sound booth sound. This really is harsh. Sorry.

[@andrewkateb]

Haha - tell us what you really think dude 🤪

[@PassionforSound]

Actually, this video was recorded well before our last chat. There was an issue with the noise reduction for the audio in this and the previous video, but it was too late by the time I discovered. You'll start to hear the audio with more "room" from the video releasing on 24th October.

[@sturdyblock]

Poor advert. Content like this makes me wonder why I pay for KZbin Premium.

[@andrewkateb]

Friend, what ON EARTH has KZbin Premium got to do with this video?????? I may be mistaken, and please correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't YTP just add-free?????? I do not understand the correlation.....

[@sturdyblock]

@@andrewkateb Paid promotion.

[@andrewkateb]

@sturdyblock hmmmmm ok. Can you justify that naive/biased/ludicrous comment? You have proof of this friend?

[@sturdyblock]

@@andrewkateb Have your gummies worn off yet? What does paid promotion mean?