Electrostats are hardly the first thing you think of when you hear the word “portable”. But that’s exactly what Stax offers in the form of the SR-003 MKII earbuds, and also the SRM-D10 portable amplifier with built-in DAC. Which is the world’s first battery-powered, portable DAC amplifier for electrostats.
High voltage
What’s special about electrostatic headphone operation is the high output voltage required. Often up to 600 volts! Unlike dynamic headphones, which only need 2-5 volts. The SRM-D10 delivers 100 volts on the output, while it can deliver 200 volts in short intervals. That’s modest if you plan to take your Stax SR-009s on the go. But it should be more than enough to power a pair of earbuds like the SR-03 MKII.
When Stax turned 80 in 2018, they celebrated with special limited edition SR-L300 and SRM-353 amplifiers, both in black colour and with a gold plaque. And also a black version of the top model SR-009s.
Stax 85 years
Stax doesn’t make as much fuss about their 85th birthday, as both SR-003 MKII and SRM-D10 are of the regular type. What makes them special is that they are packaged as a set and come with a sweatshirt and a pin. These are what make the system (slightly) special.
Stax has also released an e-book in honour of the 85th anniversary, which is free for everyone to read. You can download it here.
Stax SR-003 MKII and SRM-D10: Price and availability
The Anniversary package costs $1,140. You must have a US or Canadian address to order the Anniversary system directly from the Stax website. Otherwise, contact your dealer.