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New, this kind of Stax electrostatic system was a serious high-end purchase; at US$995 used, the asking price sits well above the 86-listing median of US$585 and just below the US$1,071 75th percentile. That makes it fair for a clean, complete, properly tested set, but not an obvious bargain; comparable SRM-T1 units often appear around US$300–US$400, so much of the premium rests on the Lambda Signature headphones and overall condition.
The appeal is real: the Lambda Signature remains a respected, spacious-sounding electrostatic design, and the tube SRM-T1 gives it a distinctive, refined presentation with excellent detail and openness. A tested-working, matched pair is substantially more attractive than buying the pieces separately, particularly if the original cable, headband, pads, dust covers, and service history are included. Before paying full ask, confirm both channels are equally strong, the tubes are quiet, and the bias/output sockets are clean; age-related tube and connector issues are the meaningful checks here.
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.
