Steven Slate Audio VSX Modeling Headphones - Essentials Edition

Steven Slate Audio VSX Modeling Headphones – Essentials Edition is a closed-back studio headphone system combining a beryllium hybrid driver with a binaural room modeling plugin. The hardware is designed as a sonically neutral, linear monitoring platform; the accompanying VSX plugin — in AU, VST2, VST3 and AAX formats — layers precisely measured acoustics of professional studios, car systems, clubs and consumer devices on top of that neutral baseline. The Essentials Edition ships with a curated set of environments sufficient for daily mixing work, with additional rooms and spaces available through the VSX Expansion Marketplace.

Beryllium driver and APS — the hardware designed to disappear

The beryllium-coated diaphragm is lighter and stiffer than standard Mylar, which reduces transient smear and keeps distortion below 1% across the rated frequency range of 10 Hz to 20 kHz. Final impedance after the onboard hi-fi analog tuning circuitry measures 37.6 Ω — low enough to run from a laptop headphone output or an audio interface without a dedicated amplifier. The patented APS (Acoustically Ported Subsonics) system uses internal air pressure to extend accurate sub-bass reproduction below the range of typical closed-back headphones: at low frequencies the construction behaves as a hybrid between closed and semi-open, while mid and high frequencies remain fully isolated. The analog correction circuit then flattens the upper midrange before the signal reaches the plugin, creating a consistent blank canvas for binaural processing.

VSX plugin — Binaural Perception Modeling in the DAW

The VSX plugin, developed in collaboration with Scaeva Technologies, uses Binaural Perception Modeling (BPM) algorithms to reconstruct the psychoacoustic spatial cues that ears receive when listening to real speakers in a real room. Each environment offers switchable near-, mid- and far-field speaker positions, room reflection depth control, global output EQ and head-size calibration. Authorization uses an iLok account — no physical dongle required. The plugin supports standalone mode on macOS 11.7.4 or later and runs as a DAW insert on macOS 10.11+ (Apple Silicon native) and Windows 8.1+ 64-bit. Environments included in the Essentials Edition: Steven's Private Mix Room, Sonoma Studio, Luxury SUV Sound System, LA Nightclub Sound System, plus models of widely used studio and consumer headphones.

KEY FEATURES

• Closed-back circumaural headphones with beryllium hybrid dynamic driver
• Patented APS (Acoustically Ported Subsonics) — extended sub-bass accuracy
• Frequency response: 10 Hz – 20 kHz (+/- 3 dB), THD below 1%
• Impedance: 37.6 Ω (after analog tuning circuitry)
• Onboard hi-fi analog correction circuit for upper midrange linearization
• VSX Essentials plugin: AU, VST2, VST3, AAX — macOS and Windows
• Modeling technology: Binaural Perception Modeling (BPM) by Scaeva Technologies
• Essentials environments: Steven's Private Mix Room, Sonoma Studio, Luxury SUV, LA Nightclub + headphone models
• Per-environment controls: near/mid/far-field, room reflections, global output EQ, head-size calibration
• Litz Slimline 2 m detachable cable, 3.5 mm connector with 6.35 mm 24K gold-plated adapter
• Chassis: aluminum alloy components; headband: stainless steel
• Ear and headband cushions: dual-zone collagen leather
• Authorization: iLok account (no physical key required)
• Included: headphones, Litz Slimline cable, 1/4" adapter, hard carry case

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

• Type: closed-back, circumaural
• Driver: beryllium-coated hybrid dynamic
• Frequency response: 10 Hz – 20 kHz (+/- 3 dB)
• THD: below 1%
• Native driver impedance: 32 Ω (+/- 10%)
• Final impedance (after analog tuning circuit): 37.6 Ω
• Maximum power: 127 mW
• Bass technology: APS – Acoustically Ported Subsonics (patented)
• Cable: Litz Slimline, detachable, 2 m, 3.5 mm connector
• Adapter: 6.35 mm, 24K gold-plated
• Headband structure: stainless steel
• Chassis components: aluminum alloy
• Cushions: dual-zone collagen leather (ear pads and headband)
• Plugin: VSX Essentials Modeling Software
• Plugin formats: AU, VST2, VST3, AAX
• OS — Mac: macOS 10.11 or later (Apple Silicon supported); standalone: macOS 11.7.4+
• OS — PC: Windows 8.1 or later, 64-bit
• Authorization: iLok account (no physical iLok key required)
• Included environments: Steven's Private Mix Room, Sonoma Studio, Luxury SUV Sound System, LA Nightclub Sound System + studio and consumer headphone models
• Included in box: VSX headphones, Litz Slimline cable, 6.35 mm adapter, hard carry case