Nothing is more enjoyable than listening to your favorite song and feeling so immersed in the music that you can hear instruments you never noticed before. The artist seems to be singing only for you, every sound is perfectly balanced and you can’t help but move to the rhythm of the music.
The three takeaways from the Edifier Stax Spirit S3 headphones
- The Edifier Stax Spirit S3 headphones, currently €275, are a fantastic entry into high-resolution audio.
- The sound quality is smooth and balanced, providing a budget-friendly alternative to premium headphones in the same category.
- This headset is quite heavy and does not have noise reduction technology, so it is not ideal for daily commuting on public transport.
If sound is your passion, you may be ready to enter the wonderful world of high-resolution (hi-res) audio. Most high-resolution audio equipment is very expensive, with the best ones reaching several thousand dollars. However, there is a cheaper option, and I tried it.
I’ve been testing the Edifier Stax Spirit S3 over the past couple of weeks, listening to my favorite tracks, and this product might just be the best place to start if you’re looking to enter the world of hi-res audio.
Planar magnetic speakers
The Spirit S3 features planar magnetic drivers typically found in open-back headphones. So I found it interesting to see them in a closed model.
Let me explain why this is interesting.
Many Bluetooth headsets use entry-level dynamic drivers that reproduce the deep sound most people enjoy. However, dynamic speakers are known to create harmonic distortion at high volumes, meaning the sound isn’t exactly as it should be.
Bass that doesn’t crush everything
Planar magnetic speakers are thin and use magnetic fields to vibrate the diaphragm directly to produce sound. The direct communication between the magnets and the diaphragm creates higher quality sound, and it is rare to find them in a closed Bluetooth headset.
The Edifier Stax Spirit S3’s planar magnetic drivers, measuring 89mm x 70mm, produce clear, balanced and detailed sound. When connected to Bluetooth, the Spirit S3’s sound is vibrant and transparent, with low distortion.
When I listened Faces by Young Thug, the Edifier Stax Spirit S3 produced bass that wasn’t overwhelming, allowing vocals and instruments to shine. However, the magic especially happens when you listen to these headphones over a wired connection.
Jada Jones/ZDNET
Eddie Van Halen’s guitar solo clear and electric
The Spirit S3 supports high-resolution audio with a 24-bit/96kHz sample rate that delivers the truest sound in studio recording. I can enjoy high-resolution audio on Apple Music.
Not all songs in Apple Music’s catalog are encoded in high resolution, so you’ll need to do some research. However, the platform’s entire catalog is available in lossless CD quality (16-bit/44.1 kHz), and I promise you won’t hear the difference between lossless audio and hi-fi audio. resolution.
Still, even the least savvy listeners can notice the difference in sound quality between Bluetooth and lossless or high-resolution audio, and those differences are highlighted even more by a headset like this. I listened Beat It by Michael Jackson by connecting the Spirit S3 to my iPhone 14. If you didn’t know, the Lighting/3.5mm Jack adapter incorporates a digital-to-analog converter, which allows for high-resolution audio on your iPhone.
By listening this way, you hear everything as it was meant to be heard! Eddie Van Halen’s iconic guitar solo and Jackson’s harmonies were clear and electric. Hearing every detail for the first time brought new life to this song I’ve been listening to since I was a child.
Jada Jones/ZDNET
329 grams on the scale
The Spirit S3 is unique because it blends everything I love about current consumer headphones with an audiophile bent. If you have an Android phone and don’t have Apple Music or if wired headphones aren’t your thing, you can access all of Snapdragon’s AptX Bluetooth codecs that are adopted by the Spirit S3. And there are also the Tidal, Qobuz and Deezee music platforms for high-resolution audio listening.
I would like to point out that planar magnetic headsets are heavy, therefore not very suitable for mobility, due to the large size and the quantity of magnets in their speakers. But the Stax S3 is an exception in that it’s foldable and it comes with a carrying case.
While lighter than most planar magnetic headphones, these Edifier Stax Spirit S3 are still heavy, weighing 329g, which is slightly lighter than Apple’s AirPods Max and about 100g heavier than the WH- 1000XM5 from Sony.
No on-ear wear detection or customizable EQ settings
Although it’s lighter than the AirPods Max, the Spirit S3 carries much of its weight in the cases which are supported by a lightweight plastic headband. On the other hand, the AirPods Max have an aluminum headband which compensates for the weight of the cases.
The Spirit S3 is equipped with thick ear cushions and the headband adjusts smoothly. After a few hours, I felt some neck fatigue, probably due to the weight of the Spirit S3. This headset can last 80 hours, as it does not have an active noise reduction system, which is often responsible for battery drain.
Finally, if you’re looking for headphones with all kinds of extras, these aren’t the ones for you. There’s no on-ear wearing detection, or highly customizable EQ settings, but if you’re using it primarily for wired listening or want a pair of headphones you can just slip on and start listening, you don’t need to worry about all this.
Purchasing advice for the Edifier Stax Spirit S3 headphones
This headset is the gateway for people wanting to step foot into the world of high-resolution audio. I wouldn’t recommend this headset for your daily commute, especially if you walk and like to move your head, as it’s a bit heavy and doesn’t have noise-canceling technology.
But for what it is, a planar magnetic headset, the Edifier Stax Spirit S3 is much more affordable than competing models.
Even if you go wireless with the Spirit S3, the speakers will give you a smoother, clearer audio experience than traditional consumer headsets. If you’re interested in high-resolution audio or if you mix and master music as a hobby or for study, these headphones won’t disappoint.
Source: “ZDNet.com”