Headphones

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Written by: S. Andrea Sundaram

Created: 01 March 2026

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Last year, I reviewed Stax’s current flagship headphone model, the SR‑X9000 (US$6200, CA$8199, £5195, €7250), and came away quite impressed. The SR‑X9000 is an evolution of the SR‑Omega design, which debuted in the early 1990s. The Omega-series headphones are characterized by large, circular diaphragms and commensurately large earcups. Since then, Stax has updated the other model in their Omega series. The new SR‑007S headphones are said to have incorporated some improvements taken from the SR‑X9000s. At a much more manageable price of US$2390, CA$2999, £2495, or €3000, how do they compare to the performance of the flagship model?

Read more: Stax SR-007S Headphones

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Written by: Geoffrey Morrison

Created: 01 February 2026

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Fosi Audio’s i5 headphones are big. Like, really big. I think if you have a small head, your head would be a cute accessory for these headphones. Kids could probably build a pillow fort inside. You might be able to use them as life rafts. No, wait. That’s ridiculous. Of course you can’t. They’re open‑back. You’d sink.

Read more: Fosi Audio i5 Headphones

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Written by: Geoffrey Morrison

Created: 15 January 2026

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Where do I start with Focal’s Bathys MG headphones? Actually, that’s the easy part: the price—US$1499, CA$1699, £999, €1199. That places them among the most expensive Bluetooth headphones on the market. They’re several times more expensive than the heaviest hitters in the space: your plebeian Boses, Beats, and Sonys.

Read more: Focal Bathys MG Headphones

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Written by: Geoffrey Morrison

Created: 01 December 2025

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I’m in a tough spot with the Px8 S2 headphones. I recently reviewed the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3s and found them a solid upgrade over the Px7 S2s. I really liked the Px7 S3s, though they are unquestionably bass-heavy, and if that’s not your thing, they’re not for you. The Px8 S2s are (bit of a spoiler here) far better balanced. They also look a little nicer. My sample’s two-tone beige and silver finish looked beautifully classy.

Read more: Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 Headphones

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Written by: Matt Bonaccio

Created: 01 November 2025

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The English language seems to hold an unfair prejudice against the middle state. Many of the numerous English words and phrases that denote being in-between—mediocre, middle-of-the-road, middle of nowhere, midlife, and middle child, for example—carry negative connotations. In my view, the middle state is not necessarily a bad thing. It can sometimes be quite favorable. Case in point: the latest open-back headphones from Meze Audio, the 105 Silvas.

Read more: Meze Audio 105 Silva Headphones