Edifier Stax Spirit S3

Positive, impressively detailed and convincing sound ; Very nearly the ideal specification ; Built and finished to a high standard

Hint of top-end hardness ; No active noise-cancellation ; Will alienate vegans and vegetarians

Poised and informative, direct and entertaining sound, allied to excellent build quality and some very impressive specification, carries the Edifier Stax Spirit S5 almost all the way there…

Detailed, expansive, engaging and zealous listen ; Light, comfortable, foldable design ; Incredible battery life

No active noise cancellation ; App is acceptable rather than comprehensive

Edifier Stax Spirit S3 offer a beautifully detailed, expansive and energetic listen that lasts and lasts – for days. As long as the lack of active noise cancellation on the spec sheet doesn't bother you, they're a winning (and great looking) set of...

Finely balanced and detailed sound ; Excellent battery life ; Supremely comfy with two pairs of ear cups

No active noise cancellation ; EQ settings could be clearer ; Needs power even for wired listening

A delightful-sounding, wonderfully comfortable pair of wireless on-ears with high quality codec support. The lack of ANC will dissuade commuters, but the sonic clarity is among the best around for the price.

Excellent sound quality Very comfy fit Two sets of ear cushions Solid call quality Outstanding battery life Great app support

No ANC or ambient mode No EQ in app Volume levels low in wired mode

“Put 'em on and you won't regret one cent of their lofty price.”

Accurate detail, excellent dynamics, and rich bass ; Comfortable fit with two different earpad options ; Wired and wireless listening

Expensive ; No AAC support or adjustable EQ ; Uninspired design

The planar magnetic Edifier Stax Spirit S3 headphones offer hi-res streaming with excellent sound quality for Android users, but no AAC support for Apple devices.

Superbly balanced planar magnetic sound ; Pleasantly compact for a headphone with planar magnetic drivers ; Bluetooth 5.2 ; Supports aptX Adaptive codec

No active noise cancellation (ANC) ; Must be powered even for wired use

The Edifier Stax Spirit S3 is a pricey headphone, but it delivers excellent sonic performance thanks in part to its planar magnetic drivers. It’s surprisingly compact for a PM headphone, but if you want active noise cancellation, you’ll need to look...

Excellent design ; Coherent imaging ; Nice portable size

Lacks bass response ; Nasal upper mids

The Edifier Stax Spirit S3 has a balanced sound signature, which seems to be the most common variant of tone and presentation in the last few years for headphones of this design type.

Beautifully designed ; Premium carry case ; Detailed sound

Dizzyingly expensive ; No ANC ; Sound range could be wider

The Edifier Stax Spirit S3 headphones arrive in a gorgeous package and they keep looking fantastic once you've taken them out and put them on. However, long-term comfort isn't great, mostly thanks to a harsh headband fit and sheer bulk, and the audio...

Full, well-balanced sound ; Extremely long battery life ; Option of wired and wireless listening

No Active Noise Cancellation ; Wired mode still uses battery ; Pretty pricey