Edifier Edifier STAX SPIRIT S5 Wireless Over-Ear Review

The Edifier STAX SPIRIT S5 scores a perfect 100th percentile for sound quality, making it a wireless audiophile's dream. However, comfort is in the dismal 7th percentile and ANC is weak. Buy it only if pristine wireless audio is your sole priority.

The Edifier STAX SPIRIT S5 is a $570 wireless headphone that makes one thing perfectly clear: it's here for the sound. It scores a perfect 100th percentile in our sound quality ranking, which is a rare feat. That's thanks to its planar magnetic drivers and a laundry list of high-res codecs like LDAC and aptX Lossless. You're getting studio-grade audio in a wireless package.

But there's a trade-off. While it's a champion in audio and battery life (97th percentile), it falls short in comfort and noise cancellation, landing in the 7th and 30th percentiles respectively. This isn't an all-rounder. It's a specialist tool for people who prioritize sonic performance above all else.

Let's talk about that perfect sound score. The planar magnetic drivers and 2nd-gen EqualMass tech deliver a level of detail and speed that's simply not common in wireless headphones. Pair that with Snapdragon Sound and support for every high-res codec under the sun, and you've got a wireless connection that can genuinely handle lossless streaming. The battery life is equally impressive, hitting the 97th percentile with up to 80 hours of playback. That's a week of heavy use on a single charge.

The mic quality is solid at the 81st percentile, so calls are clear. But the ANC is its Achilles' heel, sitting at the 30th percentile. It'll take the edge off a coffee shop hum, but don't expect it to silence a plane cabin. Build quality is middle-of-the-road at the 41st percentile, feeling sturdy but not premium in the hand.

At $570, the value proposition is laser-focused. You are paying almost exclusively for wireless, high-fidelity sound. If that's your primary goal, the price makes sense given the performance. But if you need strong ANC, all-day comfort, or a well-rounded feature set, you're overpaying for capabilities you won't get. Competitors like the Sony WH-1000XM6 offer a much more balanced package for less money.

Stacked against the competition, the S5's role is clear. The Sony WH-1000XM6 ($400) destroys it in ANC and comfort but can't match its pure audio fidelity or battery life. The Apple AirPods Max ($550) offers better build, seamless Apple integration, and spatial audio, but its sound is more consumer-tuned and it lacks the S5's codec support. The Sennheiser ACCENTUM Plus ($230) is a budget-friendly all-rounder but doesn't compete on sound quality. The S5 sits in a niche: if wireless, lossless-quality sound is your non-negotiable, it's the top pick. For anything else, another option is better.

Skip these if you need comfortable, all-day headphones. That 7th percentile comfort score is a deal-breaker for work-from-home or long-haul travel. Also, avoid them if you prioritize noise cancellation (30th percentile) for your commute or office. Finally, if you're on a budget (29.9/100 score), there are far more versatile options that offer 80% of the sound for half the price.

The Edifier STAX SPIRIT S5 is a brilliant, flawed specialist. It delivers arguably the best wireless sound you can buy right now, backed by insane battery life. But its terrible comfort score and mediocre ANC are major compromises. We recommend it only to dedicated audiophiles who want to cut the cord without sacrificing audio quality and who don't mind taking breaks to rest their ears. For everyone else, the trade-offs are too steep for the price.