The headphone market is growing as we all know but there’s been a constant in the market since I was a teenager many moons ago and that’s the STAX headphones…or ear-speakers as they called them.

Unless you are happy with the headphone amplifier from STAX the options are pretty thin on the ground should you wish to have a change and this is where AudioValve have seen a gap in the marketplace and announced the new VERTO.

The passive VERTO box can be used together with AudioValve RKV II and RKV III tube based headphone amplifiers as well as other brands’ offerings.
The VERTO supports the current STAX PRO plug with 580 V DC bias as well as the former bias of 300 V used by older STAX headphones. The higher PRO bias uses a 5 Pin connector whilst the 300 V DC bias can be identified by a 6 Pin headphone plug at the end of the headphone cable.
To increase the versatility the VERETO has a switch for 8 ohm as well as 32 ohm so you can connect high efficiency loudspeakers as well as headphones with low impedance.
Specification:
– Compatible with all STAX electrostatic headphones (580 V DC PRO bias 5 Pin connector as well as 6 Pin 300 V DC bias)
– Suitable for low and middle impedance dynamic or planar headphones as well as ultra high efficient loudspeakers
– 3 switchable modes for STAX electrostatic mode, 8 ohm and 32 ohm
– One Teflon female jacket for STAX PRO bias 5 Pin and 6 Pin headphones
– Two Combi jackets phone plug and XLR for dynamic and planar headphones
– Loudspeaker terminals to connect spades or bananas
– 60 cm cable with phone plug fixed to the case for connection to the headphone amp
– No separate supply voltage needed, static high voltage is generated by the signal
– One Pikatron output galvanic coupled transformer for each channel
– Internal bias voltage for STAX 300 + 580 VDC (LED controlled)
– Internal HB cable design with a cross section of 0.72 sq. mm, embedded in a PTFE Teflon insulation air. The conclusion is a 5 mm diameter strong silicon of insulation, the high-voltage signal line outwards reliable and well insulated
– The device provides both the required for the operation of the headphone-static voltage of 300 / 580 VDC, and up to 550 Vrms signal voltage
– Bandwidth up to nearly 100 KHz – ( 470 pf load )
– Dimensions: w * h * d ( cm ) – 110 * 105 * 165
– weight: 2 kg
Price: 690,- EUR including VAT