Home Open Back Headphone Reviews HIFIMAN DEVA Review – Best For Consumers In 2023?

HIFIMAN DEVA Review – Best For Consumers In 2023?

The DEVA was a giant leap forward for HIFIMAN in 2020, but is it still worth a purchase today?

by Stuart Charles Black

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Hey guys! Before we get started, check out Apos Audio. They are a great up-and-coming distributor with a phenomenal-looking website and excellent customer service. They also offer free shipping, the lowest price guarantee, a 2-year warranty, and a 45-day return.

Big Thank You to Mark at HIFIMAN for the DEVA loaner unit!

Hey there friend, and Welcome aboard!!

Stuart Charles here, HomeStudioBasics.com helping YOU make sound decisions leading to a beautiful audio experience that will make you fall in love with music .. all over again.

Before we get into the HIFIMAN DEVA Review, grab a snack, sit back and relax because…

You’ve Come To The Right Place!!


Table of Contents

In The Box/Graph/Specs
Build
Comfort
Sound, Imaging, and Genre
Video Review
Amplification
Final Word

Now without further ado, let’s get rolling.

HIFIMAN DEVA

Price: Check Amazon!

At A Glance

Preview
Best Value In Headphones
HIFIMAN Deva Over-Ear Full-Size Open-Back Planar Magnetic Headphone with Bluetooth Dongle/Receiver, Balanced Input, Easily Switch to Wireless, USB/Wireless/Wired
Title
HIFIMAN Deva Over-Ear Full-Size Open-Back Planar Magnetic Headphone with Bluetooth Dongle/Receiver, Balanced Input, Easily Switch to Wireless, USB/Wireless/Wired
Color
Beige, Silver
Weight
12.5 Oz. (367g on my scale) - Official is 360g
Fit
Circumaural (Around-Ear)
Type
Open back, Planar Magnetic.
Materials
Cloth, Memory Foam
Connector
Detachable 3.5mm TRRS, 3.5mm TRS termination
Headband Style
Traditional
Impedance
18 Ohm
Sensitivity
93.5dB
Frequency Response
20Hz - 20kHz
Primary Use
Everything
Cable Length
Not Specified
Cable Detachable?
Folding?
Amplification Required?
Prime
-
Price
Price not available
Details
Best Value In Headphones
Preview
HIFIMAN Deva Over-Ear Full-Size Open-Back Planar Magnetic Headphone with Bluetooth Dongle/Receiver, Balanced Input, Easily Switch to Wireless, USB/Wireless/Wired
Title
HIFIMAN Deva Over-Ear Full-Size Open-Back Planar Magnetic Headphone with Bluetooth Dongle/Receiver, Balanced Input, Easily Switch to Wireless, USB/Wireless/Wired
Color
Beige, Silver
Weight
12.5 Oz. (367g on my scale) - Official is 360g
Fit
Circumaural (Around-Ear)
Type
Open back, Planar Magnetic.
Materials
Cloth, Memory Foam
Connector
Detachable 3.5mm TRRS, 3.5mm TRS termination
Headband Style
Traditional
Impedance
18 Ohm
Sensitivity
93.5dB
Frequency Response
20Hz - 20kHz
Primary Use
Everything
Cable Length
Not Specified
Cable Detachable?
Folding?
Amplification Required?
Prime
-
Price
Price not available
Details

In The Box

HIFIMAN DEVA

Bluemini

Balanced TRRS 3.5mm detachable cable

USB-C to USB-A charging cable

1/4″ adapter

User Guide

Warranty Card

Specs/Graph

Shoutout to Crinacle for the graph.

DEVA Specs

  • Type: Open back, Planar Magnetic.
  • Fit: Circumaural (Over-Ear).
  • Frequency response: 20Hz – 20kHz.
  • Impedance: 18 Ohms. What is Headphone Impedance?
  • Sensitivity: 93.5dB/mW.
  • Material: Cloth, Memory Foam.
  • Color: Beige, Silver.
  • Cable: Detachable 3.5mm TRRS (balanced)
  • Weight: 360g.

Bluemini Specs

  • Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20kHz
  • AMP Output in fact: 230mW
  • AMP Output in theory: 1125mW
  • THD: <0.1 @ 1W/1kHz
  • SNR: 95dB
  • Battery Life: 7-10 Hours
  • Weight: 25g
  • Bluetooth Codecs: LDAC, aptX, AAC, SBC
  • Transmission: Bluetooth/USB Type-C

Let’s talk…

Introduction

HIFIMAN DEVA Review

Many of my regular readers know my love/hate relationship with HIFIMAN.

My first light-bulb moment in audio came when I was listening to the HE400i out of a Bryston BHA-1 playing back a lossless file of Led Zeppelin’s “Over the Hills and Far Away.”

It’s a moment that’s been seared into my memory banks.

Though it feels like only yesterday, I will remember it vividly for the rest of my life.

The song starts out with just an acoustic guitar, then some vocals, and then the bass line and drums come in.

I’m really familiar with the drop and exactly how it sounds, so when the 400i completely shattered my expectations and rendered it in a way I had never experienced before, I was hooked, to say the least.

Everything sounded so natural but foreign; like I had never actually heard it before.

Plant’s voice, Page’s guitars, Jones’ Bass, and Bonham’s drums to me sounded like what perfection would sound like if perfection was attainable.

The resolution and cohesion of everything were so crystal clear that I was squirming around in my seat anticipating the impeding jam out.

When it finally happened, I remember thinking to myself:

“So this is what it was truly supposed to sound like all this time.”

Up until that point, I had never heard of a planar magnetic headphone.

Put simply, a planar outperforms a dynamic headphone pretty much across the board, from micro detail and resolution to instrument timbre and so on.

There’s a natural, buttery smooth quality about a planar that can be hard to put into words, and that’s in large part what made that first experience with the 400i so memorable.

The original 400i.

There’s a lot of snake oil in this hobby, from the over-emphasis placed on amps and dacs, to the ridiculously priced cables, to the obsession with obtaining more and more gear, and everything in between.

One thing that’s not a scam is the transition from a dynamic headphone to a planar (in my opinion, anyway).

That’s pretty much as close to being 100% objective in audio as it gets, and few people would argue with you on it.

For those looking into a first foray into the world of planar magnetic headphones, I would almost always point them in the direction of something like a 400S, 400i, Sundara, or 4XX.

That is until the 400se came along.

The DEVA is aimed at a slightly different demographic, however.

Let’s get into what sets it apart and why I believe it’s a better investment than most of the copy-cat cookie-cutter products you’ll find.

By the end of this article, you should have a clear idea of what makes it so special.

We’ll start with build!

Build

HIFIMAN DEVA Review

Many of you know about HIFIMAN’s build issues over the last few years.

The older production run of the original HE400i was flawless.

I had demoed the headphones on countless occasions, and there were never any problems with them.

In fact,

they had been demoed by hundreds (if not thousands) of people over the years without an issue.

One day I stumbled on a thread where people were having problems with the headband yokes, and I was puzzled as to why.

I had never had any issues with the model I demoed, so I started digging.

What I found out was that HIFIMAN began outsourcing cheaper materials and it made sense.

The newer batches were poorly built and thus they broke down over a shorter period of time.

Recently I went over to Audio Advice again because I needed the 400i and Sundara to do the big shootout on my YouTube channel between the 4 headphones: The 400S, 400i, Sundara, and 4XX.

To my complete shock, I was told by an employee that they stopped carrying HIFIMAN products due to poor quality control in many of their headphones.

Though saddened, I didn’t blame them.

I personally got really tired of having to explain all of these issues constantly to people who were interested in their products.

To put it bluntly, it became exhausting and frustrating.

Why can’t HIFIMAN just FIX IT?

They make incredible-sounding headphones, but their seemingly nonchalant attitude about the durability of the 400 series, in particular, was kind of starting to sour me on even recommending anything from them.

From the shoddy cable connections to the fraying of the wire to the poor design of the backs of the ear-cups to the headband issues, it was starting to really grate my nerves.

Fortunately for us,

the DEVA, and the updated build across the newer models improve upon most of those issues.

As it turns out, the DEVA was a giant leap forward for HIFIMAN in 2020.

The DEVA

HIFIMAN DEVA Review

The build of the DEVA is similar to a 400 series headphone in weight and overall design aesthetic.

It’s not heavy or light, but just right like Goldilocks’ porridge.

One thing noticeably different this time around is the adjustment blocks for the headband, a point of contention in older models to be sure.

They are a bit fatter and thicker than their 400 series counterparts, but they also seem more durable and sure of themselves.

They’re DUMMY THICC.

I find I can get a very accurate adjustment, and moving them up and down feels good.

There’s a faint click heard, and there are dots to help you achieve balance on either side, in addition to the very Remington-looking “R” and “L” font on the inside of each adjustment.

HIFIMAN DEVA Review

Unlike the original 400S and 400i, the cups don’t fully rotate.

They move similarly to the Sundara and 4XX; just enough to ensure a good fit on your melon (The Sundara doesn’t move much at all IIRC).

The DEVAs rotate down about 45 degrees as well, which also helps with fit.

So…

Already we have an improvement in build from some of the older models.

This time around, the methodology is the same, but the materials used in the DEVA seem more consistent with each other.

  • The connection between the headphone bale and the ear cup looks and feels a lot more robust and deliberate.
  • The slotted screw design seems less prone to damage because it was likely done by hand rather than with a machine.

Take that with a grain of salt, but it seems less likely to break down regardless.

HIFIMAN DEVA Review

The bale itself is similar in design to the Sundara, as it’s a uniform piece and feels a lot more streamlined than the older 400S and 400i.

The other improvement HIFIMAN made was finally fixing the cable connection.

No longer is it cutting out intermittently on the right or left side, and in fact now there’s only one connection (on the left).

This is likely the reason why Audio Advice stopped carrying HIFIMAN products.

Isaac told me that they were getting way too many complaints from their customers regarding the 400 series, as well as the Ananda, and I’m sure the cable connection was in large part the main culprit since I too had some of the same problems.

As far as the ear cups and headband? They also feel great to the touch here.

While we’re on the subject, let’s talk about comfort!

Comfort

In my DEVA Unbox & First Impressions Video, a couple of people commented on the thickness of the headband and how they didn’t like the looks of it.

They’re not wrong, this thing is DUMMY THICC.

While that may turn some people off, I find it strangely appealing as I prefer some cushion for the pushin’.

Make your headphone as thick as you want. As long as it’s comfortable, I’m happy.

The thicker the berry, the sweeter the juice.

Fortunately for us, the DEVA is incredibly comfortable and definitely one of the most comfortable headphones of all time, to be sure.

HIFIMAN DEVA Review

The clamping force isn’t as tight as a 600, which will elicit a sigh of relief from many folks.

I personally enjoy the clamp of the Sennheiser, as it feels like receiving a warm hug, but it’s definitely not for everyone even after they have opened up.

The DEVA isn’t like putting air on your head, but it rests so perfectly that I literally forget I have it on sometimes, similar to the feeling I get with an HD600 or a Beyerdynamic.

Like the HD600, it stays on comfortably long after the music has stopped, and I hardly notice it at all.

I can’t say that about many other headphones.

I’m currently wearing them right now without any music playing if that’s any indication of how good they feel on my noggin.

The headband padding is equally as comfy, as I haven’t once felt it dig into my skull even after demoing almost 24 hours worth of music on Spotify.

The ear cup padding is soft and plush, but there’s no velour this time around which I would have liked to see.

There’s still memory foam inside, and the outside of the cups is protein leather, but the tops resemble and feel like a type of rougher, breathable fabric.

Fortunately, this doesn’t negatively affect the way they feel on my head, so no harm no foul.

They’re still ultra-soft and plush, and I enjoy squeezing them.

What makes the DEVA supremely comfortable can also be attributed to the deepness and circumference of the cups, which allows your ears to breathe, also providing plenty of room inside.

The only small nitpick I have is that sometimes the headphones move around a tad much for my liking, which can have an interesting effect on the sound.

Speaking of sound, let’s talk about it!

Sound, Imaging, and Genre

Where the headphones sit on your head can have a somewhat profound effect on how they sound.

You’ll notice that sometimes they tend to slide backward, which kind of muffles the signature ever so slightly.

A quick nudge back forward rectifies this and they again become more open sounding.

This is likely due to HIFIMAN’s famed angled drivers, which sound much better the further forward the headphone rests on your dome piece.

Overall,

the sound follows the same general trajectory as its predecessors:

It’s very open and crisp, with plenty of micro-detail, clarity, resolution, timbre, and DYNAMISM.

Just kidding I hate that word.

There is a buttery smooth quality about the DEVA that echoes past headphones in the line, and there’s very little to complain about overall.

Let’s talk about bass first.

Bass

Note: The following were my impressions when I first listened to the headphones. I have since updated this article and added a graph.

The bass doesn’t thump like an Ananda or anything, but it still has very nice articulation and slams when called upon.

So it does thump like an Ananda. Sorta. LOL.

I haven’t looked at any graphs, but if I had to guess I’d say it rolls off a tad bit more than the Ananda, and less so than say, a Samson SR850 or AKG K240.

So mostly a flat line, with a small roll-off. That is my edu-ma-cated guess.

I find it to be pretty much the perfect balance of weight, texture, articulation, and modesty.

I haven’t once felt like it overpowered any of the other frequencies, and that’s certainly all you could ever ask for.

It’s humble but powerful like Evander Holyfield.

HIFIMAN DEVA Review

Mid-Range

I find the mid-range clarity exceptional, from vocals standing out just right, to the instruments sounding lively and clear.

Whereas an HD600’s mid-range around 1-3kHz sometimes becomes too shouty and in your face, I find the DEVA to sound correct in its portrayal of music for the most part.

Treble

Out of the box, the treble is going to be a bit hot and sizzly, similar to the 4XX’s treble.

It’s a little too metallic sounding and essy, but does tend to mellow out over time. “Hey MELLOW OUT MAN!!”

I listened to the DEVA out of a Creative SoundBlasterX G6 the majority of the time and found the combo to sound excellent.

Initially, I used the SoundBlaster Connect App to EQ 8-10kHz down by about 5dB.

Over time,

I found that the headphone almost became too dark.

This is extremely interesting to me as I’ve never been a huge proponent of “burn-in”, as I think it’s mostly just your brain just getting used to the sound.

This simply could have been what happened, as psychologically I became accustomed to the bright treble.

That said, I decided to increase it by 3dB. So now instead of being down -5B, it’s only down -2dB.

I find this to be a good compromise and have had it set on this for many hours of music listening.

You can clearly see this hiss in the graph which is definitely a flaw in otherwise excellent-sounding headphones.

Will your brain become acclimated to it?

Yes and no.

I do think our brains do their best to compensate for almost any sound signature after a while, but the DEVA is still peaky at the end of the day and you will likely always hear it in some form or fashion.

It’s important to note that the DEVA sounds phenomenal without much EQ, but you will need to lower 8-10kHz down a bit, as it’s still fairly hot (without EQ) after around 24+ hours of music and over 250 songs.

There’s really no getting around that in my opinion, as even after I turn the EQ off, I’m still hearing that metallic, essy character up top.

Imaging & Soundstage

HIFIMAN DEVA Review

I’ve always felt like a HIFIMAN sits right in the middle of something like an HD600 and K702.

It’s not a narrow image by any means but doesn’t quite have the width or depth of an AKG.

That said,

I found myself frequently experiencing that “out of my head” sensation with certain types of music, to the point of pausing the track and looking around quite a bit more than I was expecting.

Instrument separation is also fantastic, as you can pretty easily pinpoint where sounds are coming from without much effort.

This also makes a great gaming headphone, with excellent directional cues and a clear, neutral, open soundscape.

Not only that, but it doubles as a Bluetooth headphone AND an audiophile headphone.

You can listen wireless with your phone, or use the supplied 3.5mm balanced cable with an Amp/DAC.

But wait, there’s even more!

The Bluemini Bluetooth Adapter also doubles as a headphone Amp/DAC.

“Yo dog we heard you liek amp dacs so instead of you having to purchase one separately, we included it IN the package at no extra cost to you. Just pay shipping and handling.” XD

Seriously though; that’s a really great feature because a lot of people may not want to purchase a DAC/Amp right away and so it becomes super convenient to use with your laptop without having to spend any extra money upfront.

More on that in a bit!

HIFIMAN DEVA Review

Genre

I listened to it all, from Hip-Hop to Jazz, Classical, Indie/Synth Pop, EDM, Ambient, Acoustic, Classic Rock, Metal, Big Band, Soul, and even some Motown!

The DEVA is most certainly a jack-of-all-trades type of headphone and works really well with all of these genres.

I still think Classical is one of the hardest genres to replicate effectively (even more so than Jazz), but the DEVA does pretty well, all things considered.

It’s just not very forgiving, tends to get fairly piercing when a quiet passage heats up, and you might find yourself reaching for the volume knob to turn it down.

That said,

I enjoyed the headphone with pretty much everything I listened to (including Classical), so I wouldn’t worry too much about whether or not it will sound good with your preferred type of music.

Let’s take a break and watch a video…

Video Review

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Photos…

Photo Gallery

What about amplification? Will you need some extra power to get these cranking?

Amplification

The DEVA behaves similarly to the 400 series in that it has a pretty low impedance but also a low Sensitivity.

In short, it doesn’t resist power much but isn’t very efficient at 93.5 dB.

With that said, it’s not that hard to drive but won’t get loud enough out of something like a SoundBlaster G3.

Related articles to help:

I currently have 8 Amp/DACS here at the pad, and I’d feel comfortable using a DEVA with all but one of them.

I have:

  • A SoundBlasterX G6 – Output Impedance of 1 Ohm. Nice balance of crisp and warm.
  • The SoundBlaster G3 – Sterile and Neutral sound, but outclassed by the G6. Not enough power for DEVA either.
  • iFi hip-dac – A warm, laid-back sound that pairs well with a DEVA. Tidal/MQA compatible.
  • AudioQuest DragonFly Red – A bit more open and airy sounding, very crisp. Like opening your window and letting a cool breeze in. Tidal/MQA compatible, but maxes out at 24-bit/96kHz.
  • FiiO E10K – Slightly grainy in comparison to other Amps & DACS, but a fantastic sound overall. Smooth and crisp. Maxes out at 24-bit/96kHz.
  • FiiO K3 – About the same as the E10K, but with less power and an even smoother sound. No grain. Slightly more refined. Tidal/MQA Compatible.
  • FiiO K5 Pro – Similar in sound to the G6, slightly warmer due to its 1.2 Output Impedance. Incredibly versatile Amp/DAC. Sells out very quickly! Tidal/MQA Compatible.
  • iFi Zen – Very similar in sound to the K5 Pro. Can be used balanced with 4.4mm cables. Pairs well with all headphones I’ve tried. True Bass sounds marvelous. A bit less power than the K5 Pro, but will drive most headphones. Tidal/MQA compatible.

I wouldn’t get too hung up on which you go with. To start, I’d probably go with something like a K5 Pro and then upgrade from there if you want.

Let’s wrap this baby up…

Final Word

HIFIMAN DEVA Review

The DEVA was most certainly a giant leap forward for HIFIMAN.

Build issues have mostly been rectified, the headphone is incredibly streamlined in appearance, the sound is excellent, and it’s one of the most comfortable cans I’ve ever worn.

It’s a breath of fresh air for me to be able to recommend something this wholeheartedly, as it’s been quite a while since I have been able to do that.

Let’s quickly run down everything it’s capable of to finish this out:

  1. You can use it wirelessly with a phone, using either the Bluemini or something like a FiiO BTR5.
  2. You can also use it wired with your phone, with something like a DragonFly Red or hip-dac.
  3. You can use it wired on your desktop, with the supplied Amp/DAC, or with a separate Amp/DAC of your choosing.
  4. They aren’t too hard to drive but do happen to be fairly inefficient, meaning they require quite a bit of power from an amp to reach an acceptable listening level. Either a FiiO K5 Pro or Zen is my preferred desktop homie.
  5. 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.
  6. It has a built-in microphone for calls.

To come full circle from what was mentioned at the start, the DEVA is a headphone meant for a more casual listener who wants to find out what the audiophile sound is like.

It provides an incredible amount of value for the average person who doesn’t really know much about amps and dacs and just wants a fantastic value with plenty of features and extras.

In other words,

the DEVA to me is a headphone mostly geared toward casual consumers who need an all-in-one solution.

The great news? You get all of that plus a planar magnetic headphone.

Sound good?

Learn more:

 

Looking for my #1 recommendation in mid-fi (for aspiring audiophiles) without the extras?

Learn more:

NEXT: HIFIMAN HE400SE REVIEW

 

Well, that’s about it for today my friend! I hope you’ve enjoyed this HIFIMAN DEVA Review and got something out of it!!

Questions? Comments? Requests? Did I miss the mark on something? Please let me know down below or Contact me!!

Have you convinced the DEVA is worth a shot? I would love to hear your thoughts. Until next time…

All the best and God bless,

 

 

-Stu

[Xtr@Ba$eHitZ]

Can’t decide which headphones to purchase? Interested in a complete buyers guide outlining over 40 of the best options on the market? Click on over to the best audiophile headphones to learn more!!

Be sure to also check out my Reviews and Resources page for more helpful and informative articles!

HIFIMAN DEVA

4.8

Build

4.9/5

Sound Quality

4.6/5

Comfort

5.0/5

Soundstage

4.9/5

Versatility/Features

4.6/5

Pros

  • Great Package/Features. BT sounds excellent
  • Almost a perfect sound signature
  • Above average Soundstage
  • Comfort Exemplary
  • Build much improved

Cons

  • Bluemini as an Amp/DAC isn't a long term solution
  • Treble gets essy, needs some EQ
  • Pads still may come undone over time

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6 comments

Reinhart Frais July 12, 2020 - 9:04 am

Hi Stuart
Great reviews,great website Thank you.
I want to get a sennheiser 6xx du you think a dragonfly red will drive it well ?
Or is ther a better alternative I will use a I pot Tuch as a source and will use them only stationary.
Thank you
Reinhart

Reply
Stuart Charles Black July 20, 2020 - 5:25 pm

Hey man I know we just talked over email but yeah, I still love a DragonFly Red 🙂 Did you already purchase the 58X that we talked about?

Reply
Abhishek Roy June 15, 2021 - 5:45 am

Hey Stuart, love the videos you churn out on youtube. I recently took a dive into the audiophile rabbit hole and bought the Deva, now with my limited knowledge of the subject and the objective measurements done on audiosciencereview.com, I’m tearing my hair out trying to figure out which Amp would pair well with the Deva. In my country, we are still in lockdown so it’s impossible to go out and test the headphones with different amps. I came to know how output impedance of the amp becomes an important factor when dealing with low impedance and low sensitivity headphones like the Deva. The Fiio k5 Pro on specs has an output impedance of less than 1.2 ohms but the measurements done at audiosciencereview.com puts the output impedance at 2.2 ohms. 18/8 comes to 2.25 ohms which is margin territory for this pairing. Schiit heresy/magni and jds labs atom with less than 1-ohm output impedance look good on paper. Now my question to you is whether all this would matter while I plug my headphones into any of these amps? Since you have the K5 pro could you tell me whether they are able to drive the Devas easily? Looking forward to your reply.

Reply
Stuart Charles Black June 22, 2021 - 2:35 pm

Hey man thank you! I would just ignore ASR for the most part as he tends to contradict himself a lot. I won’t go into it now but if you’d like to know specifics I will tell you. There is def some good info there but the problem is that people tend to get way too caught up in it and as you’ve alluded to, make themselves crazy when really there’s no reason to be. The hobby to me is becoming very cult-ish and ASR is def leading the charge in that sense.

As for your question, don’t get too caught up in the numbers on the K5 Pro, although it does tend to sound warmer and more laid back for sure. Great combo Amp/DAC. It’s my daily driver. Would be good for cans that need more power in the future as well.

I do like the ATOM, and yes it is more neutral and crisp. You will notice that discrepancy most likely between it and the Zen or K5 Pro. Haven’t heard many of the newer Schiit products but I owned a Magni 2 and didn’t like it. I’ve heard they have improved though.

K5 Pro drives DEVA easily, yes.

The broader question of does it matter? It can I guess? It really depends on what you want out of the setup. a warmer and more relaxed sound does better with the DEVA because of its brighter treble and somewhat hissy character. For that, the K5 Pro is good because it kind of cancels it out. I probably would not pair a DEVA with a sterile or even neutral-ish amp.

Let me know where you’re at!

Reply
Stuart A July 9, 2023 - 8:47 pm

Hi Stuart, I am thinking of returning my HD6XX as it just sounds too muddy (veiled?) to me. Too much bass presence, weak in treble I get that the HD6XX is great if you listen to music all day but I listen in 1 to 2 hour sessions. I am not a bass head, just want to have clarity and quality at bass, mid and treble. I suppose a more ‘exciting’ listening experience. Will the Deva Pro provide this or is the 400se a better choice? Both are affordable. Or something else? I listen to rock, indie, some pop and some 70s prog rock amongst other things. Ability to do justice to old recordings would be nice. Classical occasionally. No gaming. At my age the weakest link in my system might be my ears so a boost in upper treble might help. Thanks!

Reply
Stuart Charles Black July 24, 2023 - 4:39 pm

Hey man!

You spelled your name right! 🙂

I haven’t heard the DEVA Pro but the DEVA was definitely more open and crisp with plenty of air. You certainly won’t have any trouble with mud or veil.

The 400se is great but it’s not quite as open as the DEVA which is why I don’t really use it for gaming. Other than that it’s great. I will say the treble is less bright which was something I believe they actually fixed in previous models (400i for instance). So less veiled than an HD600 but not as bright as a DEVA.

I may actually recommend you the K702 as it’s pretty neutral while placing just the right amount of emphasis on the treble and mids. No bass bloat. Great for Classical. The only thing is that I wouldn’t exactly call it an “exciting” listen. If you’re only listening in short burts and need something that will melt your face off, The HD25 is incredible. Not as great for Classical, but fits the other genres perfectly. It’s also not that comfortable, so definitely keep that in mind. I guess there are always some trade-offs with this stuff.

Keep me posted with questions!

Cheers,

-Stu

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