Steven Slate Audio VSX

In the box headphone reference system!

PROS: Excellent reference setup with very good hardware and software engineering, DAW plugin as well as systemwide application, a very good recreation of listening to some of the nicest speakers in some of the best studio rooms in the world as well as different environments, good build quality, comfortable ear pads and headband design, excellent value even with $500 Platinum edition when comparing it to boutique headphone offerings.

CONS: Cable is slightly microphonic. Even though the plastic build is perfectly fine, premium boutique build appointments would make it even more attractive.

About Slate Audio.

Steven Slate Audio was started by Steven Slate and is known as one of the most prestigious and innovative brands in the professional audio industry. Their award-winning products like the multi-touch production console Raven, Steven Slate Drums and VSX can be found in some of the most famous audio recording facilities in the world and are used daily by major artists.

Indian Distributor – ProMusicals | Official Website – Steven Slate Audio VSX

Technical Specifications.

Impedance – 37ohm
Sensitivity – 127mW
Custom analog tuning circuitry using hi-fi grade components
32 ohms native driver impedance, +/- 10% tolerance (37.6 ohms final impedance, after analog tuning circuitry)
10 Hz to 20 kHz frequency response +/- 3db, THD < 1% (per specification chart)
Advanced air management technologies, including sophisticated internal tuning vent system and patent-pending bass coupling for optimal low-end performance (APS – Acoustically Ported Subsonics)
Aluminum alloy chassis components, for strength, stability and consistency of sound quality
Stainless steel headband structure, for long-term professional reliability
High grade collagen leather ear and headband cushions for phase-coherent acoustic performance, durability and comfort for long sessions
Premium 24k Gold-plated electrical connectors, to improve reliability and reduce electrical losses
Pro quality EMI-shielded signal cables, to eliminate potential electrical interference, and to ensure pure sound authenticity
Industry-leading durability testing to ensure optimal long-term performance, including drop tests, simulated sweat exposure, long-term high-power tolerance testing, and verified dependability under extreme temperature and humidity conditions

What comes in the box?

VSX Headphone
Cable
Carry Case
3.5mm to 1/4″ adapter

Build Quality, Fit and Comfort.

Slate VSX headphone does have an Aluminium alloy chasis and a stainless steel headband but is otherwise mostly made up of premium quality plastic. It’s a significantly better build than most of the popular plastic headphones like AKG K361/371, Audio Technica M50X, etc but as an audiophile-audio engineer who has a massive collection of some of the nicest boutique headphones, I wish Slate had chosen slightly more premium materials like wooden cups, all metal headband design, suspended headpad strap and similar premium appointments because they not only look great and give you a feel of premiumness but also tend to age better than plastic components. Based on headphone OEMs I know, they’re not that much more expensive to build than premium plastic headphones either. Otherwise the VSX is very nice, no-BS build, with fairly cushy collagen leather ear pads and head pad as well as 24K gold plated connectors – a unit that I can see taking a beating and still surviving for a long time like well built studio headphones. The only major complaint I have with the package is the cable, which even though a cloth wrapped litz cable, is actually quite microphonic and prone to picking up movements.

VSX headphones fit pretty nicely too, better than most of the popular budget monitoring headphones like the K371 and M50X barring the more premium plastic builds like that of the Beyerdynamic DT880 Pro. The ear pads, even though fairly cushier than K371 and M50X, fall just short in restricting my ears from touching the driver assembly. It does remain comfortable for quite a few hours but I can imagine people with larger ears probably developing sore points after several hours of using it. Regardless, this is one of the more comfortable mass produced headphones in the market.

Tech in the Slate VSX Headphone.

Beryllium Driver.

The VSX system starts with a reference-quality closed-back beryllium driver headphone that delivers your audio in ultra-HD. For supreme low-frequency response, the patent-pending Acoustic Ported SubsonicsTM (APS) harnesses typically unused harness air pressure and reproduce low-end frequencies with extreme detail.

Acoustic Ported Subsonics (APS) Technology.

The APS technology means that the sub lows are actually semi-open, while the mid and high frequencies are closed. This design creates linear sound with precise transient detail and accurate sub lows. It also ensures that the headphones are quiet like a typical closed back, so you can record with VSX without worrying about bleed.

Custom Analog Circuitry.

Slate also added custom analog tuning circuitry that flattens the upper midrange of the signal to ensure that the raw response of the headphone is the perfect blank canvas for the room emulations. The audiophile Litz Slimline no-tangle cable is fairly minimal that it’ll almost feel like the headphones are wireless. The cable features 24K gold plated-connectors.

Breakdown of all parts of the headphone.

Featherweight Exoskeleton.
Ultra-HD Beryllium Drivers.
Custom Analog Tuning Circuitry – Optimizes the signal for emulations, with audiophile-quality analog components.
Super-Flex Headband – Dual-zone padding, high-grade collagen leather, and lightweight design.
Acoustic Ported Subsonics™️ (APS) – Harnesses typically unused air pressure to deliver the sub-low frequencies.
Dual-Zone Collagen Leather Ear Cushions – Provide phase accuracy and comfort.
Slimline Audiophile Cable – 2-meter low-profile cable made from premium Litz wiring.
24K Gold-Plated Connectors – Provide consistent low-resistance connectivity to prevent signal degradation.

One headphone, multiple studio rooms and listening environments.

Slate VSX have measured and modelled some of the nicest, popular studio monitors and speakers in some of the nicest, world renowned rooms across the world as well as different listening environments like Clubs, Cars, Phones as well as several popular models of headphones in their software. Here is a comprehensive list of all that it models.

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Slideshow of all the modelled listening spaces.