An earphone assembly, comprising: a closed-back housing comprising a nozzle for acoustic transmission of sound to an ear canal; a sleeve removably attached to an exterior of the nozzle, the sleeve capable of acoustically sealing to the ear canal; and an electrostatic transducer mounted within the closed-back housing, comprising: a diaphragm having a conductive layer; a pair of diaphragm rings (402A, 402B) each in contact with respective sides of the diaphragm, wherein at least one of the pair of diaphragm rings is in electrical contact with the conductive layer of the diaphragm, and wherein each of the pair of diaphragm rings is circular and closed; a pair of stator plates (304A, 304B), each of the pair of stator plates comprising: an outer annular conductive portion in electrical contact with a DC bias voltage and one of the pair of diaphragm rings; a central conductive portion having a dielectric layer, the central conductive portion in electrical contact with an AC audio signal; and a plurality of holes; wherein: each of the pair of stator plates and the diaphragm are spaced apart by each of the pair of diaphragm rings; the diaphragm generates the sound when the DC bias voltage and the AC audio signal are supplied; and the sound is output through the plurality of holes of each of the pair of stator plates and through the nozzle. a closed-back housing comprising a nozzle for acoustic transmission of sound to an ear canal; a sleeve removably attached to an exterior of the nozzle, the sleeve capable of acoustically sealing to the ear canal; and an electrostatic transducer mounted within the closed-back housing, comprising: a diaphragm having a conductive layer; a pair of diaphragm rings (402A, 402B) each in contact with respective sides of the diaphragm, wherein at least one of the pair of diaphragm rings is in electrical contact with the conductive layer of the diaphragm, and wherein each of the pair of diaphragm rings is circular and closed; a pair of stator plates (304A, 304B), each of the pair of stator plates comprising: an outer annular conductive portion in electrical contact with a DC bias voltage and one of the pair of diaphragm rings; a central conductive portion having a dielectric layer, the central conductive portion in electrical contact with an AC audio signal; and a plurality of holes; a diaphragm having a conductive layer; a pair of diaphragm rings (402A, 402B) each in contact with respective sides of the diaphragm, wherein at least one of the pair of diaphragm rings is in electrical contact with the conductive layer of the diaphragm, and wherein each of the pair of diaphragm rings is circular and closed; a pair of stator plates (304A, 304B), each of the pair of stator plates comprising: an outer annular conductive portion in electrical contact with a DC bias voltage and one of the pair of diaphragm rings; a central conductive portion having a dielectric layer, the central conductive portion in electrical contact with an AC audio signal; and a plurality of holes; an outer annular conductive portion in electrical contact with a DC bias voltage and one of the pair of diaphragm rings; a central conductive portion having a dielectric layer, the central conductive portion in electrical contact with an AC audio signal; and a plurality of holes; wherein: each of the pair of stator plates and the diaphragm are spaced apart by each of the pair of diaphragm rings; the diaphragm generates the sound when the DC bias voltage and the AC audio signal are supplied; and the sound is output through the plurality of holes of each of the pair of stator plates and through the nozzle. each of the pair of stator plates and the diaphragm are spaced apart by each of the pair of diaphragm rings; the diaphragm generates the sound when the DC bias voltage and the AC audio signal are supplied; and the sound is output through the plurality of holes of each of the pair of stator plates and through the nozzle.