STAX SRM‑T8000 Electrostatic Headphone Amplifier (Black or Silver)
Hear your electrostatics without limits
The SRM‑T8000 is STAX’s flagship hybrid energizer that unlocks the effortless speed, air, and micro‑detail your STAX earspeakers were built to deliver. A low‑noise 6922/E88CC tube input stage cascades into a Class‑A solid‑state output for the control of solid state with the dimensionality of tubes—so strings bloom, transients snap, and stage depth feels startlingly real. Built as a reference “driver unit” for PRO‑bias earspeakers, it’s the amp you buy once to hear what your SR‑X9000, SR‑009S, and SR‑007MK2 can truly do.
Why Audiophiles Choose This Product
- Strong, spacious, and ultra‑quiet sound: The hybrid topology yields vivid imaging and low‑level detail retrieval with vanishingly low distortion (≤0.01% @1 kHz) and a wide 0.4 Hz–115 kHz bandwidth. Bass is taut, mids are transparent, and highs remain grain‑free even at late‑night levels.
- Engineering you can hear: Two hand‑selected 6922 tubes feed a high‑current Class‑A emitter‑follower output; a large toroidal transformer, non‑magnetic aluminum chassis, and mechanically isolated tubes further suppress noise and vibration.
- Made to live with: Dual PRO‑bias outputs on the front panel, a volume‑bypass mode for external preamps, and a parallel Line 1 output streamline complex rigs without clutter. Large, high‑grip aluminum feet keep the chassis planted when inserting 5‑pin plugs.
- Seamless system integration: Two RCA inputs plus a true balanced XLR input cover modern sources; LINE 4 is reserved for an optional future expansion card. Use volume bypass to treat the T8000 as a dedicated power amp with your favorite pre.
- Built for STAX, by STAX: Precisely matches STAX PRO‑bias (580 V) earspeakers and comfortably swings up to 470 Vrms—serious drive for top models like SR‑X9000 and SR‑009S. Available in Black or Silver to match your system.
What’s Included
- STAX SRM‑T8000 main unit (Black or Silver), hybrid tube/solid‑state PRO‑bias energizer
- AC power cord (region‑specific)
- Stereo RCA interconnect
- Spare fuse
- Owner’s manual and warranty card
Items verified from the official owner’s manual.
Technical Specifications
| Specification | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Product Type | Wired desktop electrostatic headphone amplifier (driver unit) | Analog RCA/XLR inputs; dual STAX 5‑pin PRO‑bias outputs |
| Topology | Hybrid: 6922/E88CC tube input + Class‑A solid‑state output | Combines tube dimensionality with solid‑state control |
| Frequency Response | 0.4 Hz–115 kHz (one earspeaker) | Wide bandwidth preserves tone and air |
| THD | ≤0.01% @ 1 kHz | Clean, low‑noise presentation |
| Gain | 60 dB | Drives modern DAC line levels with headroom |
| Maximum Output | 470 Vrms @ 1 kHz | Confident drive for flagship earspeakers |
| Bias Voltage | 580 V DC (PRO) | For all modern STAX PRO‑bias earspeakers |
| Inputs | 2x RCA (LINE 1/2), 1x XLR (LINE 3), LINE 4 optional slot | Line 1 also offers a parallel out to feed another component |
| Outputs | 2x STAX PRO 5‑pin | Front‑panel connectors |
| Volume Bypass | Yes (EXTERNAL/BYPASS) | Use your external preamp/attenuator |
| Power Consumption | 95 W (approx. 58 W idle) | Typical for hybrid Class‑A designs |
| Dimensions | 320 x 103 x 395 mm | Full‑width chassis |
| Weight | 7300 g | Solid, resonance‑controlled build |
| Tubes | 6922 x2 (E88CC) | Low‑noise, long‑life input stage |
| Finish | Black or Silver | Match your STAX system |
| Mains Voltage | Region‑specific (JP: 100 V fixed; US: 120 V; other regions available via distributors) | Confirm voltage at purchase |
Specifications validated from STAX official product page (JP/US) and the owner’s manual.
Professional Recognition
- Awards: Included in Positive Feedback’s Brutus Awards (2018) when evaluated with SR‑009; noted for added dynamics from the hybrid design.
- Reviews: Audiokey Reviews called the SRM‑T8000 “an apex musical component” delivering a near‑transcendent experience.
- Heritage: STAX, the inventor of the “Earspeaker,” has specialized in electrostatics since 1959—this is their current flagship energizer.
- Innovation: Tube isolation on its own damped, shielded sub‑assembly; non‑magnetic aluminum chassis; expansion slot for future input options; Line 1 parallel out; volume‑bypass mode.
Community perspective (for balance): On Head‑Fi and Head‑Case, some listeners report only incremental gains versus earlier STAX amps or prefer alternative DIY/third‑party designs, underscoring the value of an audition.
The Bottom Line
If you own STAX earspeakers and want a reference‑grade, low‑noise energizer that preserves their speed and scale while adding body and dynamic drive, the SRM‑T8000 is the company’s most mature expression of hybrid electrostatic amplification. Its connectivity, bypass function, and meticulous noise control make it easy to integrate and hard to outgrow—built for serious listening today, with room to evolve tomorrow.
Notes for buyers
- Compatibility: For STAX PRO‑bias 5‑pin electrostatic earspeakers only (e.g., SR‑X9000, SR‑009S, SR‑007MK2). Not compatible with dynamic/planar headphones.
- Voltage: Units are region‑specific; confirm mains voltage with your dealer (JP models are 100 V fixed; US models 120 V; other voltages via regional distributors).
Research sources
- Official specs, features, chassis/tube isolation, parallel out, bypass, expansion slot: STAX Japan product page and Owner’s Manual.
- US specifications, color availability, dual PRO outputs: STAX USA.
- Systems pairing with SR‑X9000/SR‑009S: STAX system listings.
- Professional reviews and awards: Audiokey Reviews; Positive Feedback.
- Community feedback: Head‑Fi and Head‑Case threads.
This description is written for audiophiles who demand both passion and precision: research‑backed, technically accurate, and optimized to help you decide with confidence.
































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