Stax

Stax Ltd. is a pioneering Japanese audio equipment manufacturer founded in 1938 by Naotake Hayashi, a sound engineer who graduated from Waseda University. Originally established as Showa-Kouon Co., Ltd., the company revolutionized high-end audio by creating the world's first electrostatic headphones (SR-1) in 1960, which they uniquely call 'earspeakers.' Based in Fujimi City, Saitama Prefecture, Stax has maintained an 85+ year legacy of innovation in electrostatic audio technology. The company survived financial difficulties in the 1990s and was acquired by Chinese electronics giant Edifier Technology in 2011, while continuing to manufacture all products in Japan. Stax specializes exclusively in ultra-high-fidelity electrostatic earspeakers and dedicated amplifiers, with their current lineup featuring seven earspeaker models including the flagship SR-X9000 (introduced in 2022) and seven amplifier models. Their products are designed to achieve sound reproduction comparable to the best cost-no-object loudspeakers, serving discerning audiophiles worldwide through authorized dealers and their demonstration facility at company headquarters.