Three electrostatic releases from ES Lab

Electrostatic headphones are a small, dedicated corner of the audio world. ES Lab is one of the few companies still building these systems with an obsessive, parts-level focus, and today we’re adding three of their newest releases to the Apos catalog.

ES-2a Electrostatic Headphones

Flagship-grade performance

$2,000

The ES-2a is ES Lab’s tribute to the legendary Omega. It builds on their earlier ES-1a series with a newly engineered 90mm electrostatic driver, an ultra-thin Mylar diaphragm, and OFC copper electrodes machined down to just 0.3mm. The result is an expansive soundstage, immense detail retrieval, and the kind of transient response electrostatic designs are known for.

Key changes over the earlier generation include an Omega-inspired CNC-machined aluminum housing, a new embossed dust screen for distortion control, a screw-mounted earpad system for easy replacement, and a Pro Bias PC-Triple-C copper cable. Every driver is assembled in a clean-room environment and inspected for contamination before approval.

EHT-7 Electrostatic Energizer

Universal electrostatic drive solution

$850 (with Japanese transformer) / optional Lundahl upgrade

Electrostatic headphones require their own amplifier topology, and the EHT-7 is ES Lab’s newest transformer-based energizer built to interface with your existing speaker amp or headphone amp.

Instead of the conventional voltage-multiplier approach found in older energizers, the EHT-7 uses a multi-stage clean-bias architecture: an external switching supply, an ultra-low-noise LT3045 regulation stage, and a high-voltage DC-DC module that generates a clean, low-ripple 580V bias. It also offers selectable 8Ω/16Ω primary impedance so you can match it properly to your source amplifier.

Transformer options include a Japanese-crafted silicon-iron design with excellent high-frequency extension, or an upgrade to the Lundahl LL1630 — a C-core transformer favored by enthusiasts for its bandwidth and low capacitance winding technique.

Protection systems cover clipping, DC faults, current limiting, load matching, relay-based switching, and auto-disabling of the input circuit when powered off.

EX-1a Electrostatic Headphones

Vintage-inspired design

$1,050

The EX-1a carries over much of ES Lab’s flagship engineering into a lighter, more accessible model. It uses a 68mm ultra-thin Mylar electrostatic driver driven by copper plate electrodes, balancing speed and clarity with a richer low-end emphasis.

The chassis mixes CNC-machined aluminum alloy and stainless steel wrapped in genuine buffalo leather, giving it a slimmer, more retro aesthetic compared to the ES-2a. The embossed dust screen design makes another appearance here, reducing distortion without adding weight. Lambskin earpads and a PC-Triple-C Pro Bias cable round out the build.