My initial impressions of Slate VSX

I’ve been a fan of Waves NX technology for a long time and often use Ocean Way Nashville or CLA NX to check difficult mixes and keep a fresh perspective. So, I wasn’t opposed to this type of technology, but I had to hear VSX for myself—especially since I’m moving my room soon and won’t have a properly treated room for a few months.

My biggest concerns were:

• The quality of the headphones

• The accuracy of the room emulations

• The overall experience of mixing or even mastering in an emulated environment

Honestly, I was really surprised by how accurate many of the models are—especially the KH120 and NS-10 references, which are very familiar to me. The interface is also user-friendly and well-designed

Headphone Build Quality

The headphones themselves are very well made—I’d compare their build quality to the Sennheiser HD 280 but with a much flatter response without the software. The included cable is sheathed in flexible plastic and feels high quality. I have average-sized ears, and the earpads fit comfortably, allowing me to wear them for hours without fatigue.

Room Emulation Quality

VSX’s room emulations are several levels above Waves NX. I’ve been in NRG Studio 3 multiple times and know that room well—the NS-10 emulation is nearly identical to my memory. As a mixing reference, they absolutely nailed that room.

Other standout rooms:

Archon – An amazing listening environment. I couldn’t believe how clearly I could hear the speakers and the room, rather than just an artificial resonance (which is common in other emulations).

Sonoma – Not as much bass extension as some of the others, but closest to my current home studio, so it’ll probably be my go-to workhorse.

The other rooms are also well done, though a few just didn’t click with me—likely a matter of personal preference rather than quality.

User Interface & Experience

The UI is clean and intuitive—simple but not dumbed down, with sharp, high-res visuals that give the whole system a polished, professional feel. It’s clear this isn’t a gimmick—the hardware and software integration feels solid and well thought out. The marketing team also made sure there was some eye candy, which I appreciate.

One thing I haven’t quite done yet is produce music on them. Maybe it’s just a matter of getting accustomed to it, or maybe I’ll prefer not using VSX for tracking and mixing. However, I did master a single this morning in Howie’s Room, and it worked seamlessly within my usual workflow—especially since I spent hours yesterday listening to reference tracks on Qobuz to get a feel for it.

Final Thoughts

VSX is a fantastic mix reference tool, and I can absolutely see myself using it when I need to work outside the studio or while my new room is being set up. I don’t feel like anything major is missing from the package, and I’ve heard that Slate’s team is actively improving the system, which is reassuring.

Before trying VSX, I wasn’t exactly skeptical, but I had heard mixed opinions. However, many of the early issues seem to be resolved—and at this point, I’d say it’s a solid, worthwhile investment.

I’ll be doing a lot of mixing and mastering over the next month, so I’ll have an even more refined opinion soon.

My top 5 environments (so far): 

NRG Nearfield – The most accurate and useful for me. 

Archon Farfield – Fantastic and clear listening. Room sounds expensive!

Sonoma Nearfield – Tight, controlled, and familiar. Like working in my current room.

Howie’s Room (Engineer Mode) – Great for mix referencing. Love the bass response here.

SUV – Surprisingly useful for real-world checks.