Moondrop MOONZERO: $445 Electrostatic Headphone Takes on the Stax SR-X1

Moondrop’s first electrostatic headphone was officially announced during the 20th Shenzhen International Audio Show (SIAS 2026). The MOONZERO is an over-ear electrostatic headphone featuring a 112 mm driver developed in-house by the company. The manufacturer decided to introduce it at an aggressive price point, placing it close to the SR-X1, the entry-level model from Japanese manufacturer Stax. See all the details below.

MOONZERO is the result of seven years of development

The MOONZERO took seven years to develop. Development of Moondrop’s first electrostatic headphone began only four years after the company was founded, and the process was certainly not easy. Even after dedicating all this time to its development, the company chose to sell the product at an extremely low price for an electrostatic over-ear headphone.

The prototype was showcased at SIAS 2025

Exactly one year ago, during the 19th Shenzhen International Audio Show (SIAS 2025), Moondrop showcased a prototype of its electrostatic headphone. Hi-Fi Hub reported on it at the time on the Portuguese version of its website, as the English-language site had not yet been launched.

The “Golden Cicada Wing” diaphragm of the Moondrop MOONZERO

The MOONZERO’s driver features a 112 mm diaphragm called the “Golden Cicada Wing.” Developed in-house by Moondrop, the ultrathin 1.2 μm diaphragm provides a uniform distribution of electrical charge. According to the manufacturer, the electrostatic driver delivers “low distortion across the entire frequency range, as well as extremely high-resolution sound.”

“Resistance” to humidity variations

Electrostatic headphones generally tend to suffer from channel imbalance when relative humidity reaches very high levels. However, the MOONZERO’s driver apparently does not suffer from this issue.

During the MOONZERO presentation at SIAS 2026, Moondrop stated that the driver was designed to withstand variations in temperature and humidity. When describing the “Golden Cicada Wing” diaphragm, the company said that it “provides excellent stability even under varying temperature and humidity conditions.”

Ear cups with dual protective grilles

Because the diaphragms used in electrostatic headphones are extremely thin and fragile, Moondrop decided to equip the MOONZERO with dual protective grilles for added safety. In addition, the company explains that measures were taken to preserve low-reflection acoustic characteristics.

Lambskin leather ear pads

The MOONZERO’s ear pads are made of lambskin leather. According to Moondrop, the internal space of the ear pads was “acoustically optimized through extensive testing and adjustments.”

3D-Printed Headband Support

In addition to its lambskin leather ear pads, the MOONZERO features a 3D-printed support on its headband. According to Moondrop, it uses a material technology employed in professional sports equipment.

5-pin connector compatible with most amplifiers

Electrostatic headphones do not use conventional headphone amplifiers. Instead, they must be connected to an amplifier known as an “energizer,” which is specifically designed to drive electrostatic transducers. Since there are already relatively few options available on the market, Moondrop equipped the MOONZERO with the connector most commonly used by electrostatic headphones, known as “Pro Bias.”

“Pro Bias” uses a 5-pin male connector that Stax began adopting for its “earspeakers” in 1980. Before the 1980s, the standard connector for electrostatic headphones used six pins.

The sound of the MOONZERO

Moondrop tuned the MOONZERO to deliver a natural sound, balancing clarity, transparency, and a sense of sonic “richness.” Below is the frequency response curve of the Moondrop MOONZERO.

Launch, price, and availability

The Moondrop MOONZERO will cost 2,999 yuan (approximately US$445) in mainland China. For comparison, the Stax SR-X1 has a suggested retail price of 66,000 yen (approximately US$414) in Japan.

The release date of the Moondrop MOONZERO has not yet been announced. This article will be updated as soon as new information becomes available.