REVIEW – The Edifier Stax Spirit S5 wireless planar magnetic headphones are a definite upgrade from most ordinary dynamic speaker headphones. For those who just read that and have no idea what it means, read on if you want more from your favorite music … but it will cost you.
⬇︎ Jump to summary (pros/cons)
Price: $499.99
Where to buy: Amazon
What is it?
Edifier Stax Spirit S5 wireless planar magnetic headphones have a different type of speaker inside the headphones themselves. Most have a round dynamic speaker cone, much like the round speaker you’ve probably seen inside any speaker cabinet.
Edifier uses a different approach with the Spirit S5 headphone speaker design. It’s called “planar magnetic”. The planar speaker is made from a 2μm thin film and utilizes wiring technology, giving the headphone a sound quality not unlike that of electrostatic headphones. Both use a super-thin diaphragm that vibrates either by magnets (planar) or static electricity (electrostatic). Planar headphones have good detail and bass, while electrostatic headphones offer extreme clarity. Planars are easier to power and are more affordable (though not cheap). Electrostatics cost much more and require special amps for power. Neither sounds like “normal” headphones.
Fun fact: The μm measurement unit means micro, or one millionth of a meter. So 2μm is 2 millionths of a meter wide. By comparison, a human hair is 50μm-70μm. You can now impress your friends with this tidbit.
The Spirit S5 headphones are packaged like the higher-end phones they are. Inside the box are two sets of ear cushions: genuine lambskin and cooling mesh. A USB-C to USB-A wire is included for digital music sent directly to the earphones. Also, a 3.5 mm AUX cable (with 1/4 in. adapter) is included.
A supplied hard—but bulky—case protects the headphones during travel. The S5’s outer shell is mostly plastic with a metal-framed headband. There’s no plasticky squeaking when it’s twisted or the headband is opened wide.
Bluetooth is the latest 5.4 with many supported audio codecs for high-end low-latency performance: LDAC, LHDC, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, and aptX Lossless. Audio has been certified by the Japan Audio Society as Hi-Res Audio Wireless—a big deal among audiophiles.
A Qualcomm QCC5181 chip uses Snapdragon Sound Technology to help deliver detailed music, no-lag audio for gaming, clear calls, and fast wireless connectivity to smart devices. An impressive 80 hours of battery life is possible, depending on factors such as audio files used and volume.
Controls are achieved through both buttons on the ear cups and in the Edifier ConneX mobile app.
What’s included?
- S5 Headphones
- Carrying case
- Lambskin ear pads
- Cooling Mesh ear pads
- USB-C to USB-A cable
- AUX cable
- 14 in. miniplug adapter
- Ear pad pick
Tech specs
- Weight: 12 oz.
- USB-C charging
- 5.4 Bluetooth
- Bluetooth range: 32 ft.
- Playtime: 80 hours
- Audio codecs: aptX Lossless, aptX Adaptive, aptX HD, aptX, LHDC, LDAC, SBC
Design and features
It was hard for me to justify the high price of the Edifier Stax Spirit S5 wireless planar magnetic headphones when I first listened to them for an extended period. Yeah, they sounded nice, but 500 bucks for this? Not only that, but the S5 headphones don’t even have active noise canceling (ANC)! But then I realized I was approaching the S5s all wrong.
The Spirit S5 headphones were not made for an on-the-go lifestyle. Yes, they are wireless and can be used easily on either an iPhone or Android phone. Some could argue that they sound better on Android since Apple doesn’t recognize the hi-res Bluetooth codecs from Qualcomm. However, the S5s are for serious listening, not using them as some fashion statement around the neck. Nope, these are for people who love music.
We’ll get back to the audio shortly. Let’s look at the build quality. As I said, the phones are mostly plastic, but then again, so are Sony’s and other higher-end headphones. The S5s still feel solid and are creak-free. I never feel like they will break from everyday use.
The lambskin and mesh ear cups are both extremely comfortable. The lambskin cups are more noise-resistant, but the mesh cups breathe better, making them more sweat-resistant. It’s good that there’s a choice. The cups are removed using an included guitar-pick-shaped wedge. Replacement cups easily snap into place.
Controls on the S5 headphones are minimal. Bluetooth pairing, on/off, volume up, and volume down are placed on the outer edge of the right ear cup. It’s easy to feel the on/off button without looking because of its center bump. The buttons perform other functions such as phone calls, music play/pause, and preprogrammed EQ switching.
I don’t use the headphone buttons for calls (that’s my iPhone’s job). But call quality is excellent. I use my brother as a sounding board for calls on every headphone/earphone I test. He said that the S5s sounded like I was using the iPhone’s mic. That’s high praise for call quality.
Edifier’s ConneX app is good for more precise control and additional functions. For instance, Edifier has different settings built in for both the lambskin and mesh ear cups, depending on which one is used. I could notice a difference switching back and forth, but it was subtle at best.
There are three equalizers (EQ) settings plus a customizable 4-band EQ complete with a “Q-factor” for frequency bandwidth control. I’m not sure how valuable these settings are. I had difficulty telling the difference. After trying out the Customized EQ setting, I settled on Edifier’s Dynamic setting. It sounded the liveliest to my ears. Note that I had the iPhone’s Music app EQ set to Flat, so it wouldn’t interfere. There’s a Game mode setting for latency, but I don’t game, so it did nothing for me.
What became immediately apparent was whether the Spirit S5s were wired or wireless. Since I don’t have an Android phone, I couldn’t utilize all the hi-res Bluetooth codecs, because Apple is … Apple. However, Bluetooth has gotten good enough that I’m not sure the codecs are that necessary anymore. Today, I enjoy my music wirelessly using just Bluetooth. Bass is prevalent without being up front, as it can be with regular dynamic speaker headphones.
Connecting the S5s to a computer or smartphone with a USB cable is another story. Audio is much improved, way better than the already good-sounding Bluetooth! It may be that a digital signal forces the Spirit S5s to use its own digital audio converter (DAC) instead of the iPhone’s built-in DAC. The audio is clearer with a much more tamed bass response. Listening to Marty Robbins’ classic “Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs” brought out details easily missed with other headphones. It sounds much more intimate.
One caveat with wired is that the ConneX app will not work without a Bluetooth connection. I’m not sure why. Also, I don’t know what EQ is used or no EQ at all when wired.
When I said earlier that it was hard for me to justify the high price of the Spirit S5 headphones when I first listened to them, I wasn’t lying. Only when I later listened to the same music with a pair of “regular” headphones did I realize what I was missing. Maybe that’s where the S5’s genius shines. You don’t know what you have until it’s gone.
Final thoughts
The more I listen, the more I like the Edifier Stax Spirit S5 wireless planar magnetic headphones. Are they worth 500? Not to a “normal” person looking for decent headphones, they’re not. But someone who wants the best audio possible but also lives in a real world of budgets, the price for what you get becomes more than reasonable.
What I like about the Edifier Stax Spirit S5 wireless planar magnetic headphones
- Planar magnetic
- Great sound
- Comfortable
- Well-built
- Two different ear pads
What needs to be improved?
- Expensive
- ConneX app doesn’t work when wired
Price: $499.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided for free by Edifier. Edifier did not have a final say on the review and did not preview the review before it was published.
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