Bluetooth has come of age with the launch of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Sound platform and the ability of wireless technology to stream audio wirelessly in high-resolution audio. So, is it time you upgraded to a pair of headphones that can handle high-resolution music?
You will need an Android smartphone that can support Snapdragon Sound and the aptX Lossless codec. If you are an iPhone user, that simply isn’t possible, but with the advent of Bluetooth LE with support for the Hi-Res LDAC codec, all phones may soon be capable of Hi-Res audio.
One of the latest pairs of wireless earbuds to support Snapdragon Sound is Edifier’s STAX Spirit S10earphones and that’s what I’d been listening to for the past week or so. The STAX Spirit S10 are also billed as the world’s first true wireless earbuds to use planar magnetic drivers. The 12mm modularized planar magnetic drivers offer uniform performance and provide the possibility of active noise cancellation.
The technology involved in planar magnetic drivers is cantered around an ultra-thin diaphragm made of a polymer substrate that’s just 2µm thick. The drivers are a wafer-thin 10µm, slender enough for fast and accurate transient responses.
To drive the planar magnetic technology, Edifier has opted for the Qualcomm QCC5181 Bluetooth system on a chip with Snapdragon Sound technology to do all the processing. The STAX Spirit S10 earbuds use second-generation EqualMass wiring which balances the uneven distribution of the magnetic field and achieves equal weight distribution across all the diaphragm, so everything moves with the same momentum.
The advances in planar magnetic technology has finally enabled these special drivers to be used in something as small as an earbud. The drivers achieve a piston-like motion across the audio spectrum which reduces harmonic distortion.
Dual layers of magnetic arrays, one on each side of the diaphragm, provide doubled driving force in a push-pull fashion for much better efficiency. Edifier says that every piece of the earbuds passes a production-phase auto-calibration process to guarantee a uniform final performance.
Because the STAX Spirit S10 earbuds are equipped with a Qualcomm QCC5181 Bluetooth audio SoC, a more stable connection is possible along with lower power consumption, which means more listening time. The SoC also provides improved call quality and better environmental noise suppression.
The S10 earbuds support all audio codecs in the Qualcomm Snapdragon Sound technology suite, including Qualcomm aptX Audio, Qualcomm® aptX Adaptive and Qualcomm aptX Lossless. The earbuds also support multiple high-definition codecs like LDAC, LHDC 5.0 and AAC used by Apple, allowing for high-quality audio transmission and reception.
Another piece of technology that comes with the STAX Spirit S10’s chipset is Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation. This is the third generation of Qualcomm’s Adaptive Hybrid ANC technology that changes the cancellation pattern based on ambient noise. Edifier says this ensures a more comfortable and immersive listening experience.
The STAX Spirit S10 are equipped with six microphones: that’s three in each earpiece. The result is a robust pickup of the user’s voice for use in a range of situations. Additionally, the earbuds have Qualcomm’s aptX Voice technology, enabling clear and crisp voice pickup during hands-free phone calls, even in noisy environments.
In each of the STAX Spirit S10’s earpieces and storage case, rechargeable batteries provide up to 28 hours of listening time. The listening time on the earpieces is a little disappointing at only 4.5 hours with ANC on. However, a 15-minute burst charge can deliver a couple of hours of playback time, more than enough for a morning run if you wake up and find your earbuds are out of juice. Charging is via USB-C and there is no support for Qi wireless charging.
Using the latest Bluetooth version 5.4 provides excellent audio streaming and a more stable connection whilst support for dual-device connection is also built-in. This feature enables, instant switching between music, videos and calls on two different devices.
Another handy feature worth noting is the wear detection sensor which enables music to pause or play automatically whenever an earbud is taken out of the ear or replaced. Certification to IP54 standard means the earbuds are protected against ingress of dust and water splashes in daily use.
To get a good fit of the earbuds, Edifier supplies seven different sizes of ear tips to ensure a comfortable fit. And this is where I started to come unstuck with the STAX Spirit S10. No matter which tips I tried, I couldn’t get a comfortable and secure fit. The tips are quite shallow and my ears are deep. That’s not a criticism of these earbuds, more a comment on our compatibility.
For movie watchers and gamers, the ultra-low latency offered by the STAX Spirit S10 will be particularly welcome. With an 89ms end-to-end low latency, these earbuds ensure that what appears on your phone or tablet’s screen will always be in sync with the sound for totally immersive gaming or movie watching.
Getting the most out of these earbuds requires the use of the free EDIFIER ConneX app which is available for Android and iOS. The app can personalize control settings, select preset EQs and customize the user’s preferred listening style. The app is also essential for updating the earbuds whenever Edifier issues new firmware.
So, how do these amazingly advanced earbuds sound in the real world? Detailed would be my starting point. The STAX Spirit S10 can articulate music with extreme delicacy. These are earbuds best used for complex music. If you listen to heavy metal, they might be wasted on you because I found the volume levels limited. To get a decent volume I found myself almost pushing the earbuds to maximum, which is something I don’t like doing. It just feels wrong to have no more headroom.
Verdict: The STAX Spirit S10 are classy performers but unless you have a smartphone that supports Snapdragon Sound Technology, don’t bother. These earbuds are so closely tied to Qualcomm’s technology, that they would be wasted on anything less. The sound is good, don’t get me wrong, but on phones that don’t do Snapdragon, they fail to shine. The Edifier STAX Spirit S10 are a great showcase for what Qualcomm’s technology can do, but I think the next generation will be better. The Edifier STAX Spirit S10 earbuds will divide opinions. The battery life is modest and the volume levels limited, but the detail and resolution are excellent.
Pricing & Availability: Currently, the STAX SPIRIT S10 True Wireless Planar Magnetic earbuds are available for $299.99 / €299.99 from Amazon.com or Amazon.de.
Tech Specs:
- Drivers: 12mm Planar Magnetic.
- Frequency response: 20Hz – 40kHz.
- Sound pressure level: 92 ± 3dB(A).
- Playtime: ANC ON: 18 hours / ANC OFF: 28 hours.
- Charging port: USB-C (Type-C)
- Bluetooth protocol: A2DP, AVRCP, HFP
- Bluetooth version: 5.4.
- Audio codecs: Audio Codecs: LHDC 5.0, LDAC, aptX Lossless, aptX Adaptive, aptX Voice, Snapdragon Sound, AAC, SBC.
- IP rating: IP54.
- Weight: 56g.