The Stax SR-L300 are very good open-back, electrostatic headphones with a unique look. They have wide rectangular ear cups with a grille design that gives them a retro feel. They have great audio reproduction for classical and vocal-centric music and are fairly comfortable. However, their build is very plasticky, and they feel like they could break easily, especially the grilles. They also don’t allow much airflow and get quite warm for open-back headphones. You need a specialized amp or energizer to drive them and enjoy their great sound.
Our Verdict
Bad for mixed usage. The Stax SR-L300 are made for audiophiles and have great audio reproduction. However, they require an energizer to work, and you can't really use them for commuting and physical activity. Also, their open-back design makes them unusable at the office. They have a long cable, but it shouldn’t be long enough for you to watch TV from your couch, and they also don’t have a microphone for online gaming.
- Great audio reproduction.
- Comfortable design.
- Cheap and flimsy build.
- Bulky design.
- Need a specialized amplifier and energizer.
The Stax SR-L300 are very good for neutral listening. Their bass is lacking in lower frequencies but is well-balanced otherwise. On the upside, they have excellent mid and treble ranges, which will reproduce vocals, leads, and cymbals accurately. They might be a bit sibilant for some people due to small bumps in the treble range. These headphones will be better suited for classical and vocal-centric music but won't be a good choice for bass-heavy genres like EDM and hip-hop. Unfortunately, their build quality is sub-par, so it's best to be gentle with these, or you might break them.
The Stax SR-L300 are poor for commuting. You need a specialized amp or energizer to drive these headphones since your smartphone won’t do the trick. They're also leaky, and open-back headphones don’t isolate from ambient noise.
The Stax SR-L300 aren't suitable for sports. They aren’t stable on the head and can fall off. It would be practically impossible to use them during a workout, as you’d need your energizer with you at all times. Even if you were to set your treadmill very close to it, they aren’t breathable headphones, and you’d sweat more than usual.
The Stax SR-L300 are bad for the office. These open-back headphones leak a lot, and those around you can hear what you’re listening to. They also don’t isolate against ambient chatter and other noise in your surroundings.
Sub-par for gaming. The Stax SR-L300 don’t have a microphone for online gaming, but their sound quality is great, and they should be comfortable for long gaming sessions if you take them off now and then to let your ears cool off a bit. If you don’t need a boom microphone, they can be a decent choice for gaming.
Changelog
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
- Updated Feb 21, 2019: Review published.
- Updated Feb 19, 2019: Early access published.
Check Price
Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Stax SR-L300 are very good audiophile headphones that set themselves apart with their unconventional retro look and electrostatic drivers. Unfortunately, they feel very cheaply made and flimsy, which is disappointing for their high-end price tag. If you want better-built high-fidelity headphones to enjoy your music, take a look at our recommendations for the best audiophile headphones.
The Sennheiser HD 800 S are better headphones than the Stax SR-L300 for most people. The Sennheiser are more comfortable for longer listening sessions, and their build is durable, so they don't feel as flimsy as the Stax. Their 1/4" TRS connection is more versatile too. You'll need an amp and energizer to drive the Stax correctly, whereas the Sennheiser only needs an amp. Still, the Stax are significantly cheaper than the Sennheiser.
The HiFiMan Ananda are better critical listening headphones than the Stax SR-L300. These planar magnetic headphones are more comfortable and have a great sturdy design. The HiFiMan also pack more bass while still having great mid and treble ranges. They also seem to be more open-sounding. On the other hand, the Stax are more lightweight and have less distortion, for a cleaner audio reproduction.
The Audeze LCD 2 Classic/LC2C are better critical listening open-back headphones than the Stax SR-L300. The Audeze have a very solid build, and their 1/4” connection is more versatile. They deliver more accurate bass and don’t lack low-bass as much as the Stax, but their mid-range is slightly overemphasized, and their sibilants might lack a bit of brightness. The Audeze are also quite tight on the head and are heavy headphones. If you’re looking for critical listening headphones for music that don’t have any low-bass like classical music, the Stax might be a better option; just be careful with them, as they feel very flimsy.
Our How We Test Headphones article takes you behind the scenes in our lab. You'll learn how we choose and purchase products and dive into the details of our review philosophy, from testing and scoring to writing and editing.
You can also discover how we produce recommendations like this one so that you can find the best headphones (or earbuds!) for your needs.
Test Results
for pictures & test results
for pictures & test results
for pictures & test results
