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Against recent used comps, US$325 lands just above the US$313 median and a touch over the US$300 25th percentile, so this reads as a pretty fair ask rather than a bargain or an ambitious stretch. It’s close enough to the middle of the market that a buyer can focus on condition and completeness instead of waiting for a dramatic discount.
The SRM-1 has a solid reputation as an early Stax energizer: capable, musical, and a sensible match for classic electrostatic headphones if you want the vintage Stax experience without chasing rarer pieces. At this level, a clean, working unit with a healthy power supply and the right cable set is the key upside; if those basics are in order, it’s a worthwhile buy.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
Stax traces its origins to 1938 in Tokyo, Japan, when Naotake Hayashi founded Showa Kouon Co., Ltd. in Chiyoda-ku. Initially focused on wax disc recording, metal master production, and audio equipment for film soundtracks, the company evolved through the postwar era. In 1950, it launched its first high-frequency condenser microphone, adopted by NHK, and renamed itself STAX Co., Ltd. in 1963, honoring its pioneering Stax-1 mic. A brief suspension in 1995 due to economic pressures gave way to revival, preserving its legacy under family leadership.
The brand specializes in electrostatic headphones, known as "EARSPEAKERS," debuting with the world-first SR-1 in 1960. This innovation spawned enduring lines like the SR series, produced for decades with incremental refinements for superior resolution and staging. Stax complements these with dedicated electrostatic amplifiers and select accessories, eschewing conventional speakers, turntables, DACs, or cables to hone its transducer expertise.
Stax commands a niche high-end position among audiophiles and professionals, revered for unmatched transparency and fidelity that rivals cost-no-object loudspeakers. Its 85-year heritage cements it as a boutique icon in electrostatic technology, far from mass-market fare, appealing to discerning buyers seeking pinnacle sonic transduction.
See all Stax listings on RADAR.
