Hey everyone!

Just wanted to get some feedback on the VSX headphones by Steven Slate. I picked up a pair of the platinum version in March off eBay for £338 and they were in excellent condition...barely used, only once or twice.

I switched from using the Waves NX head tracker, which was decent, but I've been curious about how the VSX system stacks up in the long run. I’ll be real, I haven’t used them as much as I thought I would. Still, the few times I have used them, I’ve noticed a slight improvement in my mixes. It’s not groundbreaking at first, but I feel like the more I use them, the more I'll start to see those small, but crucial improvements.

Also, something I've noticed, is that Steven Slate really pushes these things...I mean, every single software update email I get is packed with screenshots of 5-star reviews and glowing feedback (Not slating him for it at all, just an observation!)

It’s like he’s constantly reminding us just how amazing they are. Makes me wonder if there’s more to it than just hype, or if it's genuinely that good...I'm on the fence about this.

I will admit though, one thing that did get me excited, was when I saw that they’d modelled Warren Huart’s studio in the latest update. This may encourage me to get more studio time in...I mean, having access to that kind of setup, even virtually, feels like it could be a game changer.

Anyone else using VSX? What are your thoughts on them after you've gotten some serious time in?

 

Here is a professional, high-quality SOS review:
Steven Slate Audio VSX - Virtual Monitoring System --> www.soundonsound.com/reviews/steven-slate-audio-vsx

 

Last edited: Oct 29, 2025 at 7:20 PM

Being a producer always on a road, the VSX are amazing to me. It took me a few months till I started knowing them well. It helps to choose only one Room / pair of speakers to work with and stick with it. And just to check how your mix sound in the other rooms provided.
Once getting used to only listen the music on them, the ears will train for quality very fast. The translation is very good.

What I don't like is that they basically disintegrate, if you use them daily, in less than 2 years, if you are lucky. The Ear Cups are very fragile and they won't get better, because Slate Customer Service replied that if they will make the Ear Cups more durable, then that will affect the sound of the headphones. The replacement pair costs 200$ + delivery from USA, so if you are from Europe, like me, you are kinda milked for more money. The replacing Ear Cuscions cost 30$ + again the delivery.


My personal favorite is the Yellow Matter Room, using Midfields. The new Spitfire Room's Midfields is also amazing, it sounds the best out of all, but I feel that somehow the elements of the song get hidden in the space, making me to not notice if the song needs more sounds or not.

 

Thinking about jumping into VSX myself after watching a few reviews. Just waiting for VSX Platinum to go on sale soon.

 

I recently got it. I’ve done a couple of mixes and i am pleasantly surprised with the results. The headphones it self are not anything special, plastic quality and very lightweight cheaply built headphones. The integration with the vsx software is what makes these the real deal. Being able to have a flat curve while referencing (HD linear) is amazing. I could notice a difference in my vocal mixes right away, i have always had problems with my vocals sitting right. The room emulations is something i need to practice and learn more, i only have the essentials version and im waiting for black friday for a platinum upgrade.

 

VSX software and headphone calibration is top notch. The physical build is meh - you'll have to buy replacement cushions and headband protection at some point (buy it now before they go out of production). I also have the platinum bundle, but there's a twist to that - for effective mixing, you should narrow down to one room and learn how it translates to your audience. It's NOT meant for your to learn all the rooms, in fact its counterintuitive. So platinum users pay for what they won't use, but at least you have the option to explore which simulation is best for you. I use Mike Dean's room, and occasionally check the phone and club mix to know how the bass it translating.

Maybe there are some gifted mix engineers that can parse between rooms, or prefer mixing a certain genre in specific studio rooms. For the average producer/musician, less is more, and it already takes a many days to truly learn the characteristics of a mix environment.

Now, for pure entertainment, having the extra rooms is nice to experience. Overall VSX is excellent. What I want to understand at some point is how to make it useful with my other headphones without screwing up a mix.

 

Yeah, totally get that. I think my problem is I keep jumping from one room to another instead of just sticking with one and really learning it. It’s super tempting to try them all since they sound so different, but you’re right...it kinda messes with consistency.

 

Something Steven Slate Audio is being announced 10-30-25 @ 9AM PST. May or may not be VSX related.

 

Last edited: Oct 29, 2025 at 6:39 PM

IMHO products like this sound cool and the marketing lures many taking advantage of peoples low creative confidence. In reality it matters little what room you are in, what monitors you use, or what headphones you mix with as long as you know any of those inside and out and how music translates on them.

I learned to mix in ATH-M50's and can work ANYWHERE in the world on a pair, because I know them. I can also work on NS-10's because so many rooms had them, and once you know what you are using you'll deliver quality work. Sit me in front of most other monitors and I'm lost... until I reach for my M50's.

So... it's NEVER about what you use, it's ALL about knowing whatever you use.

 

Unnecessarily cryptic