An electrostatic earphone with a closed-back housing, a sleeve for acoustically sealing to an ear canal, and an electrostatic transducer is provided. The closed-back housing may include a nozzle for acoustic transmission of sound to the ear canal, and the sleeve may be removably attached to the nozzle. The electrostatic transducer may include a diaphragm with a conductive layer, stator plates, and diaphragm rings in electrical contact with the conductive layer of the diaphragm. The stator plates may include an outer annular conductive portion and a central conductive portion. The outer annular portion may be in electrical contact with a bias voltage and the diaphragm rings. The central portion may have a dielectric layer and be in electrical contact with an audio signal. The stator plates and the diaphragm may be spaced apart by the diaphragm rings. An amplifier may provide the bias voltage and audio signal to the earphone.