- Steven Slate Audio unveils VSX Immersion One wired headphones
- Mixing and mastering-focused headphones with software that simulates real-world professional music studios
- Available for pre-order now, price $899 (so around £689 or AU$1,389)
If you’re anything like me, you’ve spent plenty of time wondering how your favorite songs would sound through the sound systems of the world’s best music studios. After visiting a handful of wonderful spatial sound listening rooms (and to the UK’s biggest spatial sound festival), it can be difficult to go back to using even the best pair of headphones for everyday playback.
Fortunately, there could be a solution on the horizon. The new VSX Immersion One planar magnetic headphones from Steven Slate Audio aim to bridge the gap between home listening and professional playback with an impressive spec sheet and some inventive software.
For reference, planar magnetic headphones use a flat membrane that oscillates in response to magnetic impulses. This can offer a more detailed and responsive sound than traditional cone-shaped headphone drivers, especially when it comes to bass. The VSX Immersion One features a 97 x 76mm planar diagram that measures just one micron thick, with a full frequency range of 20Hz – 40kHz.
Studio sound at home
As Notebookcheck reports, the VSX Immersion One headphones come with visualization software that lets you choose from a variety of virtual listening environments. This is more than just EQ and reverb – the software apparently uses binaural psychoacoustic techniques to create a deeper and more immersive experience.
VSX Immersion One’s list of environments actually includes models of real-world professional studios, like Hollywood’s NRG Studios, as well as everyday systems like a car stereo or smartphone speaker. As far as I know, there is nothing like it on the market.
The last two options reflect the VSX Immersion One’s tilt towards mixing and mastering for different listening platforms – and across different user scenarios. As a music producer in my spare time, I’m no stranger to putting my demos through the infamous “car test” and would love the option to do it from home (especially since I don’t have my own car stereo to test with!)
As my colleague Carrie Marshall (a recording musician) wrote in a recent headphone review, “If you’re making music that people can hear, it helps if you’re listening with the same headphones and earphones they want to listen to,” and the same goes for listening scenarios—the “place” where your fans want to listen to your music is often a car.
But a promo video from Steven Slate Audio definitely refers to the new cans as listening headphones, so I expect great sound even if you’re not interested in making the tunes yourself: just remember that studio headphones can have a flatter frequency response than conventional headphones.
Expensive plan performance
To be clear, the VSX Immersion One is not on the market yet. Steven Slate Audio has listed the new headphones for pre-order at $899, with other regions covered by international retailers (£888 at Thomann, AU$1,599 at Manny’s). Shipping is expected in December 2025.
It’s a bit steep for the everyday listener who just wants to try out some new sound profiles, but for the audiophile or hobbyist I think there’s potential for some value. The VSX Immersion One is releasing right after Black Friday, so I’m not sure we can expect many great deals on the hefty price tag, but keep an eye on our headphone deals coverage just in case.
Construction-wise, the frame is aluminum with maple earcups, with a 2.5m Y-cable connecting to 3.5mm and 1/4-inch sources (those looking for the best wireless headphones should look elsewhere). The headphones have an open-back design, which means better detail but obvious sound leakage, and are rated at 32 Ohm impedance, so they shouldn’t be too difficult to drive with a laptop or a lower-powered amp.
I’m reminded of the AIAIAI TMA-2 DJ Wireless headphones that I spent some time with earlier this year, a pair of low-latency wireless DJ headphones that elevate a simple concept with intuitive but expensive technology. It’s a trend that I think pays off for the right enthusiast, so I’m excited to see (or rather hear) if Steven Slate Audio can deliver with the VSX Immersion One.
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