Description
Most headphones close the world out. These let it in, on purpose.
An open-back headphone makes a promise that closed designs cannot: the driver is allowed to breathe, so the air it moves is not trapped in a cup. The Edition XS takes that promise and pushes it with a planar magnetic driver using stealth magnet geometry, a design that smooths the airflow across the diaphragm instead of forcing it through a conventional magnet array. The audible result is a midrange that sits forward without shouting and a treble that extends without sibilance. It is the kind of sound that makes a familiar recording sound newly separated rather than newly loud.
The numbers explain why. Impedance is 18 ohms with a sensitivity of 92 decibels, which sounds easy to drive and is easy to drive in terms of voltage, yet planar drivers reward current. A phone will produce volume; a proper desktop amplifier will produce the control that makes the low end stop blurring. Frequency response is specified from 8 hertz to 50 kilohertz, weight is 405 grams, and the cable terminates in a 3.5 millimetre connector with a right-angle plug. Wired only, no Bluetooth, no app, no battery. Every gram and every dollar went into the transducer and the headband instead of a radio module.
The 405 gram figure deserves an honest note. This is not a featherweight portable, it is a listening chair headphone, and the adjustable headband distributes that mass well enough for long sessions but does not make the mass disappear. What it gives in return is scale: orchestral recordings have depth behind the instruments, and a well-recorded bass line has texture instead of thump. For anyone assembling a desktop system around a dedicated amplifier, the Edition XS is the point where planar technology stops being an expensive curiosity and becomes the sensible choice.
Close the door if you need silence. Open the window if you want the recording.
Design decisions that matter
- ✦Planar magnetic drivers with stealth magnet geometry for smoother airflow and lower turbulence at the diaphragm.
- ✦Open-back earcup design that trades isolation for soundstage width and depth.
- ✦18 ohm impedance and 92 dB sensitivity, so amplification is about current quality rather than raw power.
- ✦Frequency response specified from 8Hz to 50kHz, well beyond the audible band.
- ✦405 gram mass with an adjustable headband, balanced for extended listening rather than portability.
- ✦Wired connection with a 3.5mm right-angle plug, no wireless circuitry in the signal path.
- ✦Full-size over-ear fit with replaceable cable, so the headphone outlives a worn lead.
Measured specification
- Driver type Planar magnetic, stealth magnet design
- Earcup design Open-back, over-ear
- Impedance 18 ohm
- Sensitivity 92 dB
- Frequency response 8Hz - 50kHz
- Weight 405 g
- Connectivity Wired, 3.5mm
- Plug type L-shaped right-angle
- Cable length 1.5 m
- Noise cancellation None, open-back by design
- Wireless No
- Certification CE, FCC
- Colour Black
Where they belong in a system
A mastering or mixing engineer uses it as a reference that reveals a midrange problem before it reaches a car speaker. A listener building a first serious desktop system pairs it with a dedicated headphone amplifier and stops upgrading for several years. A gamer who wants positional accuracy chooses the open-back presentation because the soundstage places events outside the head rather than inside it. Anyone working in a quiet room alone benefits most, since open-back designs leak sound in both directions and are a poor fit for an open-plan office or a commute.
Before you buy planar
Q: Do I need a separate amplifier?
You can reach a usable volume from a laptop or phone, but the driver will not be controlled. Planar magnetic headphones respond to current delivery, and a modest desktop amplifier or dongle DAC will tighten the low end noticeably. Treat an amplifier as part of the purchase, not an optional upgrade.
Q: How much sound do they leak?
A meaningful amount, in both directions. Open-back means the rear of the diaphragm is exposed, so people nearby hear what you hear and you hear them. These are for a room where you can close the door, not for a train.
Q: Is 405 grams too heavy for long sessions?
It is a genuine consideration. The adjustable headband spreads the load and most listeners manage multi-hour sessions, but anyone sensitive to clamp pressure should plan short breaks. This is a listening chair headphone rather than a portable one.
Q: Can I replace the cable?
Yes. The cable is detachable and the connector is standard, so a worn lead is a cable purchase rather than a headphone replacement. Many owners fit a balanced cable when they move to a balanced amplifier.
Q: Why is the frequency response quoted to 50kHz?
Planar drivers can genuinely extend far beyond the audible ceiling, and while nothing above 20kHz is heard directly, the extension correlates with how clean the upper treble sounds within the audible band. Treat it as a design indicator, not a listening claim.
The EastSupplier Promise
Ships from the Poland warehouse with CE and FCC certification, boxed for transit with the cable and adapter. If a driver arrives with a channel imbalance, we replace the unit. Amplifier pairing questions are answered in English before you order.
Customer Reviews
Payment and Security
Your payment information is processed securely. We do not store credit card details nor have access to your credit card information.