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Before we get into this article on The Best HiFiMan Headphones, grab a snack, sit back and relax because…
I’m Here to Help!!
Today we’ll be covering all HIFIMAN headphones that I’ve personally had experience with dating back to 2017 and ranking them in order from worst to best.
“Worst” doesn’t necessarily denote a negative connotation; it simply means you should probably consider them last whereas the higher-ranked headphones should be looked at first.
This post will also be updated and act as sort of a central hub for all future HIFIMAN products that I demo.
By the end of this article,
you’ll know exactly which products are most worth a purchase based on hundreds of hours of listening with dozens of different amp/dac setups.
Sound good?
Cool. Let’s dive in.
#12
HIFIMAN HE-4XX
Price: Check Amazon! | Check Drop!
| Check eBay! | Official Review: Here!
The 4XX was lent to me around 2019 and unfortunately, it’s the worst on this list – mostly due to build issues around the hinge/bale structure area.
In fact,
the right side was stuck and I couldn’t even adjust it up and down to fit my head. Since it wasn’t mine, I decided to leave it alone completely for fear of breaking it.
The problem with the 4XX is the combination of materials chosen: namely metal and plastic which is one of the worst ideas imaginable.
Who would have thought?
Another issue people had was the screws coming loose and out, which again, goes back to the lack of foresight when coming up with the design.
The sound is good for the most part, but you’ll notice the peaky treble issue is apparent here – perhaps even more than other models in the line.
It’s sibilant, biting, and very essy.
The other elements of the sound signature, bass and mid-range, are in line with the typical HIFIMAN house sound.
Bass has some impact but does roll off a bit, and the mid-range still takes a gradual dip after 1kHz; coming back up around the presence regions and sounding mostly fine.
The overall sound is crisp and open, with a lot of air and very good separation around the instruments. Resolution and timbre are about what you’d expect and retain most of the great qualities of the 400 series variants.
By this, I mean that the 4XX is going to sound more realistic than almost any headphones you’re used to in the sub-$ $100 price range. You’ll be able to hear a lot of subtlety going on in your favorite songs, and it’s one of the main things that causes people to go down the rabbit hole with no hopes of ever seeing the light of day ever again.
That said, the treble and build hold these back, and thus why they’re ranked so low on the list.
#11
HIFIMAN Edition X (OG)
Price: Check Amazon! | Check eBay!
The original Edition X sounded good if a bit on the dull side.
It lacked a certain energy and slam, and the overall signature could have used a bit of refinement.
The other issue was the price.
If you can believe it, HIFIMAN was charging around $1,200 for these in 2016-2017, and even then I thought it was too much.
Fortunately for you and me, prices for headphones have come down considerably since the dinosaur age and I know for a fact part of the reason is due to an oversupply.
Put another way, there are endless manufacturers nowadays coming out with new headphones and the market for them is beyond oversaturated.
I think HIFIMAN realizes that they can’t get away with it anymore, but we’ll discuss that in a bit.
Build and comfort are very close to the newer Arya Stealth (discussed later) and the overall design was something a lot of people enjoyed. The cups rotate fully, the ostrich-style headband was still in its infancy, and overall, they were incredibly malleable and flexible.
Overall, I suppose the OG could be worth a listen at the right price, (and HIFIMAN still sells it on their website) but there are better options to consider in today’s market.
#10
HIFIMAN HE400S
Price: Check Amazon! | Check eBay! | Official Review: Here!
Please understand – this is NOT a bad headphone. It’s just a bit outdated.
The 400S was actually one of my favorite sound signatures from the line, but again, the build kind of held this one back a little.
It felt very cheap and flimsy, and the paint chipped rather easily as well.
My friend Luke let me borrow these on a few occasions and I really fell in love with the light, feathery, immensely detailed, open, and pleasant sound.
Even so,
they could sound grainy at times and there was some pretty significant bass roll-off (to the tune of 20dB on Tyll’s graph) below around 70Hz.
HIFIMAN would fix this in later models, so I’m not entirely sure a 400S is worth it nowadays especially when you consider that, again, prices have come down quite a bit.
Still, the resolution here is rather astounding, and from a purist’s perspective, the 400S is always worth searching out if you can snag a good deal.
#9
HIFIMAN HE400i
Price: Check Amazon! | Check eBay! | Official Review: Here!
These are similar to the 400S and you can still buy them on HIFIMAN’s website at around $449.
Would I pay that price nowadays?
Absolutely not, but I will say that the 400i was my very first experience with the planar sound and it’s a moment I’ll never forget.
I tell this story often here on the site, but the first time I had my eyes opened to upper-echelon sound was with these very headphones paired with Bryston’s BHA-1 Headphone Amplifier.
I was at Audio Advice demoing a mix CD with FLAC/Lossless files, and Led Zeppelin’s “Over the Hills and Far Away” came on.
“I’ve heard this song a thousand times; what could possibly be different here?”
Those were my thoughts as the iconic opening guitar lick played familiarly in my ears.
As the build-up began, I noticed details emerging from everywhere that I had never heard before in my life.
Small stuff. Subtle nuance. Guitar plucks. Fretboard sounds. Breathy noises.
You know, things that you never really hear with crappy headsets.
Everything sounded so incredibly natural, and for the first time in probably 14-15 years, I was so excited for the drums to come in that I could hardly stand it.
The anticipation was almost too much.
One thing I cannot stress enough is how different Robert Plant’s voice sounded. It was so crystal clear that I almost felt like I had never actually heard him sing before.
The song itself took on an unfamiliar quality as if it was the first time I had actually sat down and listened to it.
This is a common phenomenon with regard to audiophile headphones, and why people end up going deep down the rabbit hole while blowing all of their hard-earned cash and whoring street corners to make ends meet.
When the drums and bass finally came in, I was in pure ecstasy. It’s a moment that hasn’t been replicated since.
Every hit was so smooth and natural, but it still had this incredible sense of impact and weight that’s hard to describe.
The articulation of the kick drum itself was so realistic that it almost made me want to cry.
It felt like the members of the band were so in tune with one another; like they were soulmates.
Like they understood each other on a level that few artists ever achieve.
It has been said that John Bonham was the heart and soul of Led Zeppelin.
After he died, I read somewhere that the other band members refused to go on without him.
In listening to these headphones, I finally realized why.
The intricacies of his drumming were truly spectacular, but it took something like a 400i, a good amp, and good source files to finally reveal that.
There’s a reason why old headphones continue to stand the test of time even despite new ones flooding the market daily.
The 400i is a prime example of that.
Like the 400S, it’s incredibly detailed and smooth but improves upon the grain issue that we discussed earlier.
This time around, the sound is less brash and also doesn’t suffer from the somewhat anemic profile of the 400S. Keep in mind this can be pretty subtle, but for my money, the 400i was the better-tuned headphone.
Like the 400S, there are some things to keep in mind:
Build
The build of the headphones is a bit better than the 400S (370g vs. 346), but the newer models have been known to break down due to a headband issue with the yokes.
The model pictured earlier is one of the older ones. It’s been demoed hundreds (if not thousands of times) and still functions beautifully.
That said, it’s long gone. Audio Advice stopped carrying HIFIMAN products around 2019 due to QC concerns, but many of those issues have since been rectified.
Pads
Unfortunately, the glue issue on the back of the padding will be your main concern and has not been fixed.
This is incredibly frustrating and I’ve been complaining about it for years. HIFIMAN, for whatever reason, will not fix their mistake.
If you swap pads a lot, expect them to come unglued after a while.
Dekoni manufactures the correct pads (seen below) but they typically charge upwards of $80 for them.
#8
HIFIMAN Sundara
Price: Check Apos Audio! | Check Amazon! | Check eBay! | Official Review: Here!
Despite the maddening glue issue, what I like about HiFiMan as a company is that they seem to use community feedback to their advantage, by improving the product line and responding pretty well to criticism.
The Sundara was a giant leap forward when it came out in 2017-2018, which showed they took some concerns into account.
I remember being extremely impressed holding it for the first time in my hands, as it was built much better than its predecessors and felt a lot more substantial.
It was an instant level-up.
The design was more utilitarian and streamlined, while still retaining a sense of beauty and elegance.
In fact, the term Sundara in Sanskrit actually means beautiful.
What does it do better?
Yokes
The headband yoke pieces are now made of anodized aluminum and feel much more rugged. It’s the piece pictured below with the logo and “HIFIMAN” text.
Headband
The headband itself is rounded this time. Before it looked like some weird Alien design or a kind of deformed rectangle.
Headband adjustment
The headband adjustment itself is more streamlined and thinner, but stronger. It feels amazing to the touch and the matte black is a welcome change as well.
The entire unit contrasted against the 400i feels, and looks, extremely professional.
Termination
TerminationThe termination into each of the ear cups is now 3.5mm vs. the coax of the OG 400i.
Headband Pad
The thin headband pad seems to be made of a different material. It feels better to the touch, but at the end of the day, the difference is marginal in the grand scheme of things.
Grilles
The grilles on the Sundara are now a stronger lattice design vs. the older honeycomb configuration on the 400i and 400S.
Cups
Also of note is that the Sundara’s cups cannot fold flat this time around like the 400i and 400S. I’m not entirely sure how I feel one way or the other, but it should be mentioned.
The weight of the Sundara is about the same, coming in at 2g heavier than the 400i (372g vs. 370).
Aside from that, the sound feels more refined at the expense of being a bit too warm for my tastes.
In other words,
the treble bite is gone but the headphones almost feel too relaxed and laid back – in effect lulling you to sleep; similar to the HD650 effect.
Comfort is about the same as the others. We’ve got the same protein leather/velour combo, and they feel great on your head with just enough clamp pressure to remain stable.
Like the others, there are some things to keep in mind with the Sundara:
- The focus pads will wear out over time but are replaceable.
- The headphone still tends to slide down a bit, touching the tops of your ear lobes and causing some minor discomfort.
A guy I frequently chat with on Facebook didn’t seem to have that issue, so your mileage may vary.
I did find the Sundara overall to be a bit better in the comfort department, but the difference is slight.
Peter gives his endorsement.
Video Shootout
This video only pertains to the original 400 series but is still useful for comparison.
#7
HIFIMAN Arya (Stealth)
Price: Check Amazon! | Check Apos! | Official Review: Here!
There’s nothing inherently wrong with the Arya, other than it’s way overpriced thus why it’s fairly low on the list.
If the Edition X was too much at around $1,200, the Arya is laughable at its original asking price of $1,600.
That said, it’s come down considerably and now sits at around $600-$650, a much better value for what you’re getting and a reasonable-ish increase in price from the Ananda/Edition XS.
My condensed thoughts about the Arya is that yes, it sounds slightly better than an Ananda/XS in terms of overall resolution. But nothing about it warranted roughly $700-$1000 price jump. This is why I never recommended them and told people not to buy them.
At the current price of $600-$650? It makes a whole lot more sense, that much is certain, but I would wager that after buying and comparing both, you’re still probably not going to feel like that extra $300-$400 (or whatever) is worth a small increase in resolution.
Or maybe you will. Like Grampa diapers, it depends.
And, the Organic sounds a lot better, but we’ll get into that in a bit.
If HIFIMAN has taught us anything over the years, it’s that they experiment with pricing A LOT.
In fact,
for whatever reason, they still sell a lot of their older models at the original inflated prices and typically don’t discontinue anything unless it falls into the category of extreme dinosaur status.
The Arya also hearkens back to the design of the original Edition X, and it could be a good or bad thing depending on who you ask.
The cups rotate around completely and the headphones are more flexible and malleable than both the Sundara/Ananda design as well as the newer Edition XS/DEVA/400se design.
That is to say that HIFIMAN basically has a few different designs that have alternated throughout the years:
- Edition X/Edition X V2/400S/400i – Fully rotating and folding cups (up and down) Ostrich headband, dual 3.5mm terminations into each earcup. Old design.
- Ananda/Ananda Nano/Sundara – No cup rotation but the cups can fold up and down, rounded headband, dual 3.5mm terminations into each earcup. Design revision #1, 2017-2018.
- Arya Stealth/Arya Organic – Fully rotating cups, Ostrich headband, dual 3.5mm terminations into each earcup. Old design again.
- Edition XS/DEVA/DEVA Pro/400SE/2020 Revision 400i – Slight rotation in and out, rounded Dummy Thicc headband, dual 3.5mm terminations into each earcup. Design revision #2, 2020 – present.
Sound-wise,
we’re getting an incredibly neutral, unforgiving signature that really does work well with good source material.
One of the main differences between these and something in the mid-fi line (400 series) is the bass doesn’t roll off at all. With an Ananda, you can expect a roughly 5dB roll-off vs. something like 10+ on 400 series models.
The Arya, like the Edition XS and Ananda, also tends to be more open sounding, with slightly better resolution, decay/release, and instrument timbre than a typical 400 series headphone.
Mid-range fidelity is about the same, with a gradual decline after 1kHz and coming back up at 2-3.
Still,
because of what we just talked about with regard to openness and the like, you won’t notice this slight dropoff nearly as much as you will with the 400se and other 400 series models. With those headphones, it’s a slight problem, but with an Arya, I’d say it doesn’t present much of an issue.
Treble is handled well, with less bite and sibilance than the original models, and overall, the Arya presents a more refined, even-sounding headphone across the board with much fewer issues.
#6
HIFIMAN DEVA
Price: Check Amazon! | Official Review: Here!
The DEVA is a bit higher on this list due to value alone and was the first in HIFIMAN’s build revision of 2019-2020.
This saw a completely revamped design, with dummy thicc adjustment blocks, a new headband pad, a new bale structure, and different padding. All of this contributed to a good build, but comfort was improved as well.
You’ll seldom feel them that much on your head but they do slide around from time to time. For me, this is a nitpick but your mileage will vary.
- Required Reading: The 15 Most Comfortable Headphones Of All Time [Definitive Guide]
The DEVA is ranked highly on all of my lists and will likely always be.
This is due to its crisp, open sound, great resolution and timbre, and versatility in being able to handle gaming and film with ease.
Perhaps the most important reason is because the overall value of what you getting in the package is quite tremendous.
- You can use it wirelessly with a phone, using either the Bluemini or something like a FiiO BTR5.
- You can also use it wired with your phone, with something like a DragonFly Red or hip-dac.
- You can use it wired on your desktop, with the supplied Amp/DAC, or with a separate Amp/DAC of your choosing.
- They aren’t all that hard to drive.
- Because the cable is detachable, you can use it as a gaming headphone with something like the Boom Pro and a Creative G6 on your console. You can also use an attachable Mod Mic if you want.
- It has a built-in microphone for calls.
Simply put, the DEVA is still a solid choice for a lot of people and is priced pretty fairly all things considered.
I will caution you that the treble does suffer from that bite similar to a 4XX, but I actually EQ’d it down a bit and since HIFIMAN headphones typically respond very well to equalization, it made them sound just right.
#5
HIFIMAN HE400se
Price: Check Amazon! | Check Apos Audio! | Official Review: Here!
There are a couple of reasons why the 400se is higher on the list than the DEVA:
- The treble bite/sibilance issue has been fixed.
- The headphones are dirt cheap.
In fact,
the 400se is just about the best overall value in Mid-Fi from a sound standpoint and they’re basically giving them away at $109.
I go back and forth quite a bit on this, but it’s unbearably tough to recommend anything else when you can get the amazing experience I described with the original 400i for basically peanuts. (Price subject to change).
As mentioned earlier, the 400i was $449 in its heyday.
That’s right, you read that correctly.
The 400se is essentially the same sound at around $340-$349 less than the 400i.
See what I mean about HIFIMAN experimenting all the time?
This is quite insane when you think about it since prices usually inflate over time. HIFIMAN kicks all that to the curb by somehow making high-fidelity audio more accessible to the average person with an average bank account; an incredible sentiment and one that doesn’t go unnoticed.
The resolution, timbre, separation, and overall tuning for such a dirt cheap price seems almost criminal, but that’s the state of many audiophile products nowadays and it’s most certainly a breath of fresh air when you consider all the overpriced and/or horrific sounding consumer trash that exists.
#4
HIFIMAN Ananda (Stealth)
Price: Check Apos Audio! | Check Amazon! | Official Review: Here!
There aren’t too many instances where a significantly more expensive headphone is a true upgrade from a cheaper one, but the Ananda at its original price was certainly an exception; from 2019 when I first heard it right up until the present day.
The Ananda continues the fantastic build of the Sundara, but the cups are shaped a bit differently and it’s a little heavier at 399g.
It doesn’t feel heavy though if you can believe it!
Some people are going to despise the look of this gargantuan Super Mutant Behemoth headphone, but it really is beautiful in person. Was that some sort of strange subtle oxymoron? I don’t know, but it sounded like one lol.
The cups actually kind of mimic the shape of your ears and are bigger, thus providing a lot more room for them to breathe.
This also creates a better Soundstage experience. Just don’t forget to slide them forward so the cups are touching the backs of your ears.
This will maximally max meat maximize the immersion factor and help you get the true planar experience.
Lube sold separately.
In terms of sound, everything is much more open this time around and it represents a true upgrade from the Sundara. There’s more air, more space, more width, and more depth.
The Sundara has good spacing and instrument separation, but the Ananda’s is great.
Minus the Bears’ “Pachuca Sunrise” sounded better than I ever remember.
This is a song that I’ve heard many times over the years, but the spacing, tone, and overall resolution coming through the Ananda were breathtaking, to say the least.
As far as the bass is concerned, it’s exceptional, and one of the headphones’ best qualities.
It’s fairly flat, doesn’t roll off much at all, and provides a ton of impact and slam without feeling bloated or cheap.
I find this type of sound to be nearly perfect; everything sits in the mix as it should, and I’m not finding any one thing overpowering another.
The only caveat here is the Treble.
99% of the time it’s going to sound great, but there are instances in which it comes across as kind of bright and perhaps slightly hot.
Overall, the Ananda provides exceptional resolution, timbre, separation, and an above-average soundstage all at an incredibly affordable price. More on that in a sec.
Things to keep in mind:
- The piece that connects to the ear cup is shaped a bit differently than the Sundara, but both are made of the same material.
- Years back, I had some issues with the wire terminations going into each of the ear cups. The sound was cutting out intermittently, but HIFIMAN has since fixed the issue. It seemed to be only happening with one particular model inside the store, but again, Audio Advice dropped HIFIMAN from their lineup many years ago.
To recap, just think of the sound of the Ananda like chewing Winterfresh Gum while sipping Lipton Brisk Iced Tea as you’re skiing down a mountain in January. I know it’s abstract but work with me.
You’re going to feel this crisp, brisk sense of detail in yo ear canals, but it’s not really cold in a negative way if that makes sense.
It’s refreshing, and while it does come across as a bit more sterile and clinical sounding than the Sundara, it’s not a chore to listen to.
It’s an absolute joy to listen to in every sense of the word by golly, and don’t let nun of them uther folks tell u otherwiize.
Feels good, man.
#3
HIFIMAN Arya Organic
Price: Check Amazon! | Official Review: Here!
As much as I try to deny it, I can’t. The Organic does sound significantly better to my ears than an Arya Stealth, and if you read the official review, I was fairly shocked by it.
The Stealth version, by contrast, is closed in, dark, and almost veiled. The Organic has much better separation, air, Soundstage, and resolution, and it’s really not much of a contest. It’s a lot more open and natural sounding.
The Stealth is by no means a bad headphone, but it’s severely outclassed in my opinion and I’m glad I never recommended it at its original price years back.
The Organic follows the general design of the Arya/Edition X variants, but there are wood accents spanning the circumference of the cups. I’m unsure of whether or not this is real wood, or if it contributes to the sound discrepancy, but the rest of the headphones are fairly identical to the Stealth in terms of overall design and aesthetic.
The same Ostrich-style headband makes another appearance, and the flimsy pad contains the same vinyl-ish material found on other Arya variants.
Unlike Ananda iterations, the Arya Organic folds and rotates completely around and in almost any direction you can imagine. If you’re having trouble, just imagine a gymnast pulling both of her legs behind her head.
Now, if you’re wondering if the Organic is worth the cash, click here for the review.
#2
HIFIMAN Ananda Nano
Price: Check Amazon! | Official Review: Here!
Between the Ananda Nano and Stealth, which you go with depends entirely on if you’re OK spending an extra $40-$60 for the Nano.
To my ears, the sound of both is more or less very similar, but the Nano, to me, has a bit of a bit livelier, cleaner, and more open presentation than a Stealth though this could be my imagination.
You’re getting the same bright-neutral treble, excellent mid-range fidelity, and a hard-hitting low end that works well with countless genres. The Ananda, to me, remains the best step up from mid-fi and will provide you with better resolution, separation, and overall timbre across the board.
Soundstage is above average as well, and while not completely “out of your head” it does provide a subtle sensation that things are happening around you. This adds to the immersion and can make for a very fun and interesting session as you discover all sorts of stuff you missed previously.
The Nano version is mostly adorned in silver this time around, but both headphones function almost identically. Both sets of cups fold up and down vertically, but not around.
I’m a bit unsure why the Ananda variants aren’t as flexible or malleable as the Arya/Edition XS iterations, so prepare for a more rigid, robust frame that simply doesn’t move much. Built well? Abousltely. A bit too stiff? That’s never what she said, but yes, the Nano can be a little unforgiving if you’re expecting it to be pliable (if you will).
The headband is once again rounded off, and the flimsy pad is the same as the one on the Stealth version.
Fortunately, comfort is still phenomenal and the weight is distributed evenly across the unit, so you’ll be able to use them for extended sessions whether you’re casually listening to music, mixing down a track, or watching a movie/podcast, etc.
As far as amplification, the Nano, like the Stealth version, despite a low-ish 94dB Sensitivity, is pretty easy to drive given its extremely low 14Ω Impedance. With my iPhone 11 + Go Link, I have plenty of headroom and don’t need to jack up the volume much at all.
#1
HIFIMAN Edition XS
Price: Check Amazon! | Check Apos! | Official Review: Here!
Coming full circle has never felt better, from a price standpoint as well as the overall sound.
Here we have a perfectly priced step up from mid-fi without the essiness/bite/sibilance found in the Ananda. It’s also dirty cheap right now so snag one while you can.
That said, prices of both the Ananda and Edition XS have come way down. When I originally wrote this article, the Ananda was more expensive.
Now, they both sit at very similar prices and which you go with depends mostly on if you prefer a crisper, brighter treble, or a more toned down and subdued one.
If it’s the former, go with the Ananda. It will sound slightly essy/hissy from time to time, but it mostly depends on the source file and you can always EQ it down a decibel or 2 if need be.
If you prefer a somewhat warmer sound with a bit of a darker treble, go with the Edition XS.
Both retain the incredible resolution that makes them stand out from the other 400 series models, and both represent an excellent step up from a mid-fi planar like a 400se, Sundara, any other mid-fi dynamic, etc.
Comfort is excellent on both, but I have to give a slight nod to the XS. It’s slightly less intrusive, a bit less rigid (meaning it’s easier to get a good fit), and also houses the updated build found in the DEVA, DEVA Pro, and 400se. Keep in mind this is a minor nitpick and both are incredibly comfortable.
All in all, the XS (and Ananda) in my mind are the result of a years-long maturation process from HIFIMAN, and they should be applauded immensely for it.
Maturation process? What do you mean by that?
What I mean is that as alluded to earlier, it seems HIFIMAN has learned its lesson with regard to pricing.
Never before has it been easier to upgrade from Mid-Fi without burning a hole in your pocket.
You may remember that the Ananda’s original asking price was around $1000.
It then dropped to around $700, but now sits at an astonishing $360.
The XS? It’s even cheaper at around $269 (All subject to change at a moment’s notice). What?! It seems crazy to think the original Edition XS was ever $1,200, but that’s the state of audio nowadays.
So if you’re looking for a true upgrade from Mid-Fi, I wouldn’t think twice. Either of these 2 are some of the easiest purchases you’ll ever make.
With that, what about amplification? Will you need something to power all of these puppies?
Amplification
- HE-4XX – 35 Ohm, 93dB, inefficient but still not very hard to drive.
- Edition X – 25 Ohm, 103dB, not very hard to drive, can be used with a mobile phone.
- 400S – 22 Ohm, 98dB, not very hard to drive, can be used with a mobile phone.
- 400i – 35 Ohm, 93dB, inefficient but still not very hard to drive.
- Sundara – 37 Ohm, 94dB, inefficient but still not very hard to drive.
- Arya – 32 Ohm, 94dB, harder to drive than the Ananda and Edition X. Will take a smidgen more juice but don’t freak out about it.
- DEVA – 18 Ohm, 93.5dB, inefficient but still not very hard to drive.
- 400se – 25 Ohm, 91dB, inefficient but still not very hard to drive.
- Ananda – 27 Ohm, 103dB, not very hard to drive, can be used with a mobile phone.
- Edition XS – 18 Ohm, 92dB, Similar to the Arya.
If you’re unfamiliar with these terms, don’t fret! It’s really simple.
- Impedance is a measure of resistance. The higher the number, the more it will resist any power being fed into it. What is Headphone Impedance?
- Sensitivity is a measure of efficiency. A higher number means it’s more efficient (thus better) at using the power that it receives. Generally, anything around 99-100dB and over is pretty efficient. What is Sensitivity in Headphones? The lower the number, the less efficient.
What do I recommend?
For your desktop, the ATOM is perfectly fine for all of these. Plenty of power, clean and neutral, sounds great.
If you’re mobile, I like the FiiO BTR5 or Hidizs S9 Pro.
DON’T OVER THINK IT!!
Well, that’s about it for today my friend! I hope you’ve enjoyed this article on The Best HiFiMan Headphones.
Questions? Comments? Requests? Did I miss the mark on something? Please let me know down below or Contact me!!
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What do you think of this list? Would you shake up the order? I would love to hear from you. Just keep it civil, alright mate? Until next time…
All the best and God bless,
-Stu
16 comments
Fantastic comparison Stu.
I’ve been taking an interest in planars.
Watched your sundara video too lol. Big juicy hamburger?!
I read they’ve essentially a V signature. Is that about right?
I also read other reviews that reckon the Sundara are ace but i think I’d be disappointed if i had a V sound :\ Having said that, i don’t own headphones with that profile (only hd599 and hd58x). I might love them.
However, i use the peace EQ on my windows PC and caught myself boosting the mids a bit on my hd58x. The annoying thing is that I’ve got about 10 different EQs and all of them seem to have some merit lol. I tend to dial down the treble a touch with the hd58x, up the bass a bit (because they have more bass ‘reach’ than my hd599 and i’d like to appreciate the subbass a bit) and can’t quite decide whether i want a little more in the mid range. Mid range seems to sound ‘richer’ to me but then, as with any EQ, you can potentially lose presence of other frequencies by boosting others. Then i’ll just completely confuse myself by switching to WASAPI or ASIO and like that too!!!!!
Anyway, I thought the Sundara are quite expensive – £310 in the UK. Do you think they’re worth it?
As you compared them to the HD600, who would you rate them in comparison to HD6xx (which i ‘think’ you rated higher than the HD600)?
Would you be able to describe their (sundara) imaging quality? I game 🙂
Finally, i had a quick google of ananda vs the sundara and people seemed to rate the ananda. having said that it’s about £950 O_o
Cheers,
Gazza
Hey man thanks much for the love!!
Haha yeap the Sundara was so beautiful I really actually wanted to eat it, no lie.
Where did you read that? Seriously let me know. That’s not even remotely true, lmao. Freakin’ disinformation agents like Alex Jones running amuck in the audiophile world. Sheesh.
Before I go off on a rant, let me collect myself. *Deep breath*
Okay. Lol. No it’s got a fairly flat bass with a small amount of roll off, but I much prefer it over something like a 600’s bass.
The mid-range is close to perfection, but will roll off gradually after about 1k going into the treble, which is crisp but definitely on the darker side. I’d wager juuust a bit north of neutral.
This is what makes the Sundara an all around perfect recommendation for an up and coming audiophile. It’s just a near perfect signature and does everything right. That middy roll off will bother some people, and does frustrate me on occasion, but it’s such a minor nit pick on an otherwise phenomenal sounding can. You’ll sometimes still get this sense that it lacks a certain energy, and that’s certainly true in some instances.
Still..
I think the Sundara successfully reconciled the grainy ISH 400S and sometimes too gooey Aunt Jemima 400i, delivering a quintessential audiophile experience (with a sick build to boot!)
In comparison to the 6XX, that’s tough. The Sundara is still going to sound more mellow vs. the crisper sound of the Senn’s. I still think the 6XX is a perfect audiophile headphone. There’s nothing about it that I don’t like. It hits all the right marks.
Imaging on the Sundara is very good. It def doesn’t have as wide a Soundstage as something like an Ananda, but it images very well and sounds rather open. I may look to other options for Gaming, although it will technically work. For instance I was very surprised at how well the 650 did for movies and gaming in contrast to the boxed in sounding 600. I wasn’t really expecting that but I do think the 650’s staging is slightly better.
Yeah the Ananda takes everything good about the Sundara and just amplifies it. This is why I’ve said many times I do feel it is a rare true upgrade from something in the mid-fi category. Anything over $500-700 gets dicey in a hurry but I think it represents a $1000 headphone to a Tee.
It’s the perfect all arounder actually. I would feel comfortable using it for literally anything: from mixing a track down, to gaming or watching Netflix, and it works for any genre as well. Truly a great headphone. Lots of air and a great sense of your atmosphere and space. Effortless Timbre and Resolution, perfect bass response, perfect amount of sparkle up top (although I’ve always thought it a hare too forward (easily EQ’d down 2-3dB at 9-10k).
Hope that helps! Let’s keep this going..
-Stu
hey Stu
Just watched a glowing review from your metal571 bro – the audeze LCD-1
I think metal is normally errr well not scathing but says it how it is. The LCD-1 sounds brilliant though.
made me wonder if it’s a better option than the sundara. Sounds like the LCD has a relatively narrow soundstage (for a planar) but apart from that everything else is v. good.
Metal said “insanely good treble”!
$400 though.
Maybe if you ask nicely you might be able to test 🙂
Take care,
Gaz
Watching his review now! I will let you know what I think. Hopefully Audio Advice has one of these on hand that I can demo. How have you been?
Hey Stu,
thanks for the list. I’m thinking of getting myself something nice and the Hifiman Edition XS seem like a nice option for a planar that isn’t audeze-expensive, which might be just the thing to complement my K702. From what I’ve read my guess is they sound like if a Sundara and an Ananda had a wonderful baby. Would you say that is the case? Source would be a Liquid Spark Amp out of an E10K until I actually notice any audible improvement from any other DAC, lol.
Hey Timon,
Thank you for the kind words! Haha. What a great analogy. May have to steal that as it really does describe the sound pretty perfectly. It’s not overly warm like a Sundara, but also isn’t overly bright. That’s not to say the Ananda is overly bright, but it’s leaning toward that direction. I still love how crisp and snappy it is, but yeah, the XS kind of strikes that nice balance between the 2.
Re: K702. I’m listening to one right now! It’s my daily driver pretty much in addition to the XS. I’ve always loved how dead neutral and honest the 702 is – placing just the right amount of emphasis on the mid-range and treble without going overboard. It does a fantastic job of revealing sub-par recordings and really commending very good ones. So much so that at times I have a hard time getting through a song due to how bad it sounds.
In any event, the XS is highly recommended as a nice complement or step up from the K702. It will provide a bit better timbre and overall resolution in addition to having that nice open, airy sound that you’re accustomed to in the 702 – perhaps even more so due to the drivers but also the cups. Everything is given just a bit more room to breathe. You’ll start to notice some crazy stuff in music. I’m going back to edit the article, but I will share with you something in particular that really jumped out at me and of which I wrote down.
In “Metallic Monks” from the Fallout 1 & 2 Soundtrack I heard this weird Robot Demon-sounding voice in the background that I had never noticed before. You can also hear some subtle voices/talking. Starts at around 11:00. This is what you can expect. You’ll start to hear all sorts of strange sounds and artifacts that really jump out at you in the most subtle way possible. You’re probably well aware of this with the 702, but the sentiment is slightly amplified in a headphone like the XS and really make you want to do a flip.
Haha, anyways.. I kind of went off on a tangent. Keep me posted with everything and hope I helped!
-Stu
Hello, I want to buy other headphones that offer a good balance between quality and price. I’m undecided between the Koss KPH30i and the Hifiman HE400se. Which one has the better soundstage? I own the AKG 702 and love the sense of space they provide. How far behind are these two in comparison? And one last question: do the Koss KPH30i and the Hifiman HE400se have a better soundstage than the Superlux 668B? Thank you
Roberto,
Thank you for the comment! It’s kind of tough as I love the 30i, but the 400se is an insane value and to my ears has better overall timbre and resolution. As far as Soundstage, I have to say I think the 30i trumps in that regard. The 400se, to me, lacks quite a lot in terms of Soundstage for gaming specifically, but does decently well for music. Do keep in mind that a lot of this depends on the track in question and how it was recorded, mixed and mastered. Still, the Soundstage won’t be nearly as good as a K702 I’m afraid. To me, it’s about average most of the time with some above average sprinkled in depending on the track. Certainly better than an HD600, but that’s not saying much lol.
In terms of what I know about the SR850 (similar to a 668B), and what I know about the 30i and 400se, no. The Soundstage of the 668B is going to be much better than a 400se and perhaps slightly better than a 30i. For an on-ear, the 30i has very good Soundstage to my ears.
Hope that helps man!
Please keep me posted with questions.
-Stu
Thank you very much for your response. I have a friend who owns the Superlux 668b, hence the question. I dislike closed-back headphones because they feel muffled, and I want the opposite. I might try the Koss since the price is low, so I wouldn’t lose much. I’ve also been thinking that the issue might be that I’m using the AKG 702 connected directly to a projector, which could be why the bass is lacking. Which amplifier/DAC would you recommend? Fiio K11? Perhaps a good Bluetooth one that doesn’t compromise spatiality. Thank you.
Roberto,
Yeah, the KPH30i is never a bad decision. You’ll be astonished at how good it is and will likely keep it around forever. As far as the K702, yeah you’ll want a dedicated Amp/DAC to go with that. I’m actually testing it again with the K11 for you on medium gain and you’ll have plenty of headroom. You could also go with an ATOM 2 Amp + DAC (separate) as well. Those, along with a K7 (or K7 BT would be great for you) are pretty much my main recommendations for those just starting. How much did you want to spend? Let me know and we can try to hone in on something.
Talk soon,
-Stu
Hi, just one more question out of curiosity. When you play PlayStation or watch a movie, do you use a Bluetooth DAC/amplifier, right? I can’t imagine how you would use an amplifier connected to a TV, for example… I would buy the BTR15, I just hope it doesn’t make the sound worse, haha.
Roberto,
I have quite a number of setups actually but with my PS4 I’m mostly using Amp/DACS that have an optical input since I can easily connect it to the PS4’s optical out. With TVs you do have the option of Coaxial as a lot of DACS have Coax, but I mostly stick to optical as it’s very convenient and sounds great for headphones. Fortunately for you, all of the options I just mentioned in the other comment have optical inputs so they work well with a PS4.
-Stu
Thanks for the tips! I have the Fiio K11 and BTR15 in mind, and I’m leaning towards the BTR15 because it’s Bluetooth. I know it can connect to the PlayStation and even the TV via optical cable, but for that, I’d need to have the headphone cable connected to the amplifier, meaning I couldn’t be too far from the TV, right? I don’t want to spend more than €100, haha.
Roberto,
I wouldn’t waste my time trying to connect a tiny BT DAC to a TV, but that’s just me. I would highly recommend a K7 BT since you can connect it to a console easily plus it works with phones too. I know you said no more than 100, but I would seriously consider saving some money and getting one since it’s pretty much exactly what you’re looking for.
That said, if you don’t want to do that, I would personally try and keep your gaming rig separate from a BT DAC if possible. So the K11 is a great choice at around your price point, but I’m not recommending a BT DAC as a do all if that makes sense.
Talk soon!
-Stu
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