Edifier Stax S3 Wireless Over-ear Headphones Black

Edifier Stax S3 Wireless Over-Ear Headphones (Black)

The Edifier Stax S3 is a wireless over-ear headphone built around a planar magnetic driver, a technology normally found in wired audiophile models rather than Bluetooth headphones. Its 89 x 70 mm driver uses an ultra-thin diaphragm suspended in a magnetic field and driven across its whole surface, which gives the S3 its defining traits: low distortion, fast transients and fine detail. Around that driver, Edifier has built a practical everyday headphone with 80 hours of battery life, high-quality Bluetooth codecs and a wired option. This listing is for the Black finish.

Key features

• 89 x 70 mm planar magnetic driver with EqualMass diaphragm technology
• Up to 80 hours of playtime from a 1500 mAh battery
• Bluetooth 5.2 with Snapdragon Sound and aptX Adaptive, aptX HD, aptX and SBC codecs
• Hi-Res Audio certified, with a 20 Hz to 40 kHz frequency response
• Light for a planar magnetic design at 329 g
• Wired 3.5 mm listening and Edifier Connect app control

The planar magnetic difference

A conventional dynamic driver moves its cone unevenly, driven from a single voice coil at its centre. A planar magnetic driver works differently: conductive traces on an ultra-thin film diaphragm sit between arrays of magnets, so the whole surface moves together as one piston. The result is cleaner reproduction of complex passages, quicker attack on percussion and strings, and detail that holds together at low volume. Edifier’s EqualMass technology keeps the diaphragm’s mass evenly distributed, and phase alignment keeps imaging precise. The frequency response runs from 20 Hz to 40 kHz, and the S3 carries Hi-Res Audio certification.

Battery and wireless performance

The 1500 mAh battery is rated for up to 80 hours of playtime, several times what most wireless headphones offer, so charging becomes a weekly habit rather than a daily one; a full charge over USB-C takes about 1.5 hours. Bluetooth 5.2 with the Qualcomm QCC5141 platform and Snapdragon Sound support selects the best codec the source offers: aptX Adaptive adjusts its bitrate to conditions, aptX HD suits high-resolution playback on compatible devices, and aptX and SBC cover the rest. There is no active noise cancelling; isolation is passive, from the closed earcups and their seal.

Wired listening and the app

For sources without Bluetooth, or for the highest-quality connection, a 3.5 mm audio cable is included for wired listening with the headphone powered on. The Edifier Connect app provides equaliser presets and settings, along with cushion settings for the two sets of ear cushions supplied. A built-in MEMS microphone handles calls and voice assistants, and at 24 ohms impedance with 94 dB sound pressure level, the S3 is easy for phones and laptops to drive in wired use as well.

Comfort and build

Planar magnetic drivers need substantial magnets, which is why most planar headphones are heavy; at 329 g the S3 is light for the category, and its padded headband and generous earcups are shaped for long sessions. The construction is rigid rather than folding, so it travels in its case rather than a pocket. For listeners who want planar magnetic sound without a desktop amplifier, a cable across the desk or a battery that needs nightly attention, the Stax S3 is the complete package in one headphone.