Want to know how these cans fare in use?
Let’s dive in.
In the Box… ## Form Factor
As mentioned, the Stax Spirit S3 headphones are an over-ear design.
Some might think the plastic build could hamper the experience and cheapen the feel of the Stax Spirit 3.
The headband extends approximately an inch at full extension on both sides.
Once the headphone has processed the signal, this produces a highly detailed, accurately represented sound.
In effect, it screams quality.
However, the Hi Res Audio certification means they must supportat least96 kHz and 24 bit sound.
The headphones also carry the Stax moniker, which may seem confusing to those familiar with the Stax brand.
Note that the wired connection still requires the headphones to be switched on.
They don’t work passively at all, always requiring wired or wireless power.
Other supported codecs are Qualcomm aptX Adaptive, Qualcomm aptX HD, Qualcomm aptX, and SBC.
Battery-wise, the S3 boasts a 1500 mAh capacity tank.
This leads to a battery life ofget this80 hours.
Yes, that is an eight and a zero.
More on that later.
One spec notable by its absence is ANC.
Read on to determine whether that is the case in the performance section.
Let’s look at operation.
A Breeze to Control
The Stax Spirit S3 headphones are very easy to control.
This is thanks partly to the operational buttons on the right ear cup.
Plus, they’re physical buttons, so they’re less prone to accidental activation than capacitive controls.
The Edifier Connect app (available viaGoogle Playand AppleApp Store) could also do with a little more functionality.
I generally only used Classic EQ, as I didn’t like the resultant sound from the other two.
However, connecting to headphones and other Edifier devices, using the Edifier Connect app, is a cinch.
This allows you to control the EQ prefs, choosing from the three presets.
Perhaps I shouldn’t have been, given the planar magnetic tech delivering the sound.
But I was, nonetheless.
I also noticed some sibilance on the treble in the first hours of use.
The response is great.
I was tapping my feet to Venetian Snares' 2003 album, Chocolate Wheelchair.
I haven’t listened to this album for a while.
The genre is breakcore, so a LOT is happening in the mix.
It was all super tight, despite the music’s hyper-frenetic nature.
Sound, in general, is crisp and detailed, as we might expect with planar magnetics.
However, I find the soundstage is a little narrow.
Overall, the S3 headphones are a joy to listen to.
Battery life is, as suggested earlier, tremendous.
I got around 75 hours of use out of them before the battery started complaining.
This was pushing full volume and using a wireless connection only.
When wired, I noted that the battery depleted at a slower rate.
Thanks to Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity, the range is excellent.
This is no mean feat considering my Wi-Fi struggles to reach this far with some devices.
On to the minor elephant in the room: no ANC.
Well, if I’m going to be completely honest, I didn’t feel I needed it.
Using them outside, I could not hear cars passing me in the street, for example.
I agree it might be a deal breaker for some, though.
I’d also like to note the lack of wear or use detection.
Overall, I think these are an excellent set of headphones, given the price point.
Would I Recommend the Edifier Stax Spirit S3 Headphones?
Damn right, I would.
At this price point, you’re getting an almost unrivaled product.
