Just a note about the ZMF pilot pad and the Edition XS - While you can kind of get it to work, it doesn't fully/properly fit around the headband because it's too thick. You can kind of get it to work by pressing it in but I think it's best to find a different solution for the Edition XS in particular.
Please, PLEASE review the also from HiFiMan Deva Pro's next!!! IMO, as a total package it's THE best value in ALL of open-back over-ear headphones! Yeah, ALL OF THEM. ESPECIALLY for first time high end headphone buyers! (Aka no suitable DAC + amp setup.) The wired headphones & their near 2020 Sundara level quality drivers but with much more warm, "fun", & less hyper-analytical tuning are almost worth the $330 price of admission just by themselves! And that's before even mentioning the normally $150 if bought ala-carte & now deliciousy analog R2R based, 2nd Gen "Bluemini" combo R2R DAC + amp + "high-res" (LDAC & aptX HD) Bluetooth receiver dongle!!! :D
@@JTB-- OG Deva's only afaik. And there's a BIG ol' difference between the OG's & Pro's. Lol that new analog as all hell R2R based in-house "Himalaya" DAC is truly something fucking else, in the bestest way possible... Let alone the updated, now Stealth Magnet packing, & notably retuned for the better drivers. IMO, they went from being "a pretty fucking cool idea but still with a number "meh" factors" to an ABSOLUTELY GOD-TIER, BANG/$ TABLE DESTROYING VALUE basically over night w/ the Pro update haha.
@@JTB-- Source by any chance? I'm VERY interested in his thoughts. Though a proper review would be far, FAR preferred to takes from a loud show floor demo, I'll take what I can get. 🤷♂️ Haha.
Hey Resolve, I'm honored that you did the Stealth Arya comparison for me (from the Head-Fi request). I think it's still valuable to get confirmation that the Arya is more detailed/separated in your view. Maybe I can learn to spot these differences more going forward. For now I can just enjoy my Edition XS and pocket the difference!
If steamrolling the competition makes it more competitive, then this title is accurate. HiFiMan own the $350-$500 market with the Sundara and Edition XS.
I'm so happy to see you do this review! I had this shipped from China about a month ago as I couldn't wait for your review :). I was hoping for a bit more on the staging and imaging in the review.
Yeah, I might even compensate it to show that, or find some other solution for showing 'sound signature'. Because people really seem to misunderstand headphone measurements and targets a lot.
@@ResolveReviews You should make a measurement database like Crin's. It's super convenient just picking graphs and compare with whatever smoothness you want. BTW what is the smoothness value of Harman ? I wanna use it in Crin's graph comparison tool.
@@musicxxa6678 We're working on ways of representing the graphs that are a good balance of usability and accuracy. Then it'll eventually be put into some database.
@@ResolveReviews Keep up the good work. We are following! 11:26. I feel like you are hinting something here :) I hope you guys can find some correlations between the measurements and what we hear in terms of technicalities and other stuff.
@@kalakalaiand3343 Those require a really high end amp that costs more than the headphones or hell even a speaker amp though and the HE6SE has some tuning problems that the Edition XS rectified
IMO, a much better use of your money would be to pad-swap your Sundara. To do so, you'll need to acquire a pair of HIFIMAN pad mounting rings. (Generally speaking, though, you'd be better off saving for a truly special headphone... and/or upgrade your DAC and/or amp in the meantime.)
@@bubberduck4964 I am using SMSL M300SE DAC/Headphone amp.Although even plug to a desktop they will play alright.But with the SMSL (affordable but high performing dac with cyrrus logic D/A chips) they really sound outstanding.I have also "Focal listen" headphones but the Edition XS are outstanding!Also they are not heavy and they are comfort to listen on long sessions.Cheers!
@@bubberduck4964Planar headphones like this benefit from an amplifier (maybe a DAC too but that's less important). Pick up an AMP like the JDS atom or an AMP + DAC like the Fiio K11 and you'll be good.
@@bubberduck4964 you are definitely going to want to get a stand-alone amplifier does not have to be anything fancy but it will make a big difference in overall sound quality
Have had it for 2 weeks now and it’s an awesome headphone indeed. Headband/fit is hit or miss; personally i love it. Low clampforce and just dissapears after wearing it for a while. For me, it’s a perfect headphone 👍
I really wish they'd put the swivel on the Sundara and Ananda. That was the deal breaker for comfort for them both when I auditioned them. The Sundara was way worse than the Ananda for me, but I was always aware of them both when I had them on. No point in having headphones that sound amazing if they're uncomfortable.
They are actually much more comfortable with memory foam earpads. They have stiffer earpads and no swivel combined really bad for comfort. Memory foam pads nicely conform your face so you don't miss the lack of swivel.
Nice comparison, I have the Ananda for 3,5 years now and I still love it, sounds wonderful to my ears, and for my head comfort is super! I tried the Arya’s in some shops allready, and I don’t think they are worth the price jump, to close in signature, I will buy other brands who sound significantly different, but Ananda is my endgame Hifimann until it breaks.
The more gear I've tried, the more I've come to agree with the points in this video. There's no substitute for trying stuff. And gotta actually use it for a few weeks. And sound quality isn't the only factor to consider, as usability factors into enjoyment (e.g., comfort/durability/maintenance in headphones; Ares II has a variable delay making it unsuitable for games or movies; Soloist 3xp controls aren't great and DC offset quirks you need to work around).
Listening to this on my 1 week old Sundara! Somehow chose Sundara since its universally acclaimed as opposed to XS which had 2 RUclips reviews a week back.
Based on the excellent sound quality reviews of the HiFiMan Edition XS I was very close to making a purchase. However, I've been hesitant to buy this model for one basic reason: unfortunately, the design that enables it to be worn comfortably by those with a larger head makes it fit too loosely on others (like me) whose head is smaller. I've seen this caveat mentioned several times by reviewers and customers who've said they couldn't get the ear cups to seat properly on their head, or the slightest movement would cause the headphones to shift and threaten to fall off. HiFiMan just introduced the "Ananda Nano" model for $599, and I'm eager to see if it will offer comparable sound quality to the XS, but with a better fit on my small cranium.
Excellent comparison. Having a Sundara, I think I would prefer the Ananda or saving for an LCD-X (in order to get a different/complimentary experience wrt a HifiMan. Thank you
yes as a Suds 2020 owner I wouldn't buy this as well, esp as also have Deva Pro which for musicality I really enjoy, I also use the blue mini to drive my Sundaras when wandering about just requires a 2 part cable and I can use blue mini 2 r2r with any of my balanced headphones
@@Reeeepicheep I don't know. XS seems to have better bass than the Ananda according to Resolve and except that both Ananda and XS seems similar. Besides one can get a brand new XS for a similar price as a used Ananda (which is important due to the infamous Hifiman QC control). So, for some one (including Sundara users) who wants to venture into the egg shaped hifiman cans (which generally has better sound stage), XS seems to offer better VFM.
If anyone has fit issues with it like me, where the XS is too loose, bend the metal bits of the headband carefully until it fits to your liking. Got a better seal with it when I did and it wouldn't feel like it would fall off my head when I leaned back lol.
When they are gonna invent adjustable clamping force lol. You can swivel and adjust the headband height but you can't change the clamping force conveniently.
@@ResolveReviews I would be glad to send you some CBD Salve to help in your recovery . It helped Zeos to recover from his terrible Anime / autoerotic accident of 2012 . Poor kid hasn't been able to do a face reveal in years
So, I bought this headset summer of 2023. I need a headphone that felt as an upgrade to my Fidelio X2HR. Now there are plenty of upgrades to that in terms of quality, but when it comes to soundstage the X2HR is actually pretty good. The upgradepath most obvious was the Hifiman Sundara. Now I've somewhat large ears so I wanted a more oval shaped headphone. The Edition XS. It is amazing. I've heard details I've never heard on the X2HR. It was great. Except for the headband. Now I wear L/XL caps to give an idea of the size of my head, and even in the lowest position this headphone would not fit correctly. The earcups would be slightly lower. Also the headband is simply not comfortable for longer sessions. Me personally can have sessions of 6-8 hours. The Edition XS becomes annoying. So...I got rid of it a while ago and back on my Fidelio X2HR. Not sure what I'm going to buy next.
Funny, You mentioned the clamp force and overall airiness of XS. I went to a music shop to listen to those and see if they fit. Results fit perfectly, sitting firmly but still had to pull the yolk to the limit for the upper part of it to sit on top of my ear. (I was told, this is how You're supposed to wear those) Back to the clamp force/sound signature. Because of my big head my 1st impression was that they were suprisingly warm, it's probably because of the stuff You mentioned.
I think I would buy these over the Sundara strictly because of looks and functionality. Weight is lower and it has more bass. I think I will pull the trigger on these in the next couple of weeks.
I'm looking for something like the Sundara around the $500 mark, give or take a few, but with more low end. Something a little more fun while remaining detailed with good separation. U shaped but not fatiguing. I would be willing to go close backed.
A question for the experts: Is the Ifi Zen Dac V2 powerful enough to power a Hifiman Edition XS? And does it absolutely need an external power pack, or is the power from the USB port sufficient? Thanks :-)
Yeah, I wish he'd been clearer about driveability, I couldn't understand anything he said, 1. because he said the amp names too fast, 2. because he seems to like talking only about expensive stuff that most of the world knows nothing about, and that shouldn't be necessary for midrange headphones (impact-appropriate budgeting means not spending nearly as much on the source as on the transducers). If I look at the specs the BAL output of the ZenDAC v2 can put 330 mW into 32 ohms, but iFi also recommends that output for 16-600 ohm headphones. Assuming that means at least the amperage capability stays the same going down from 32 to 16 ohms, you would get around a 185 mW max into the EdXS. So with the EdXS efficiency of 92 dB/mW, that means your max output works out to 92 + 10*lg(185) = 114.69 dB, almost perfect for even the loudest passages in the most dynamically demanding symphonic music. But this is only when powered from the wall, otherwise iFi says "If powered from USB, power output may vary".
I have ZEN DAC V2, and it does NOT give enough power to the XS. Even with a DC 5V P/S, i doesn't matter. At 3 o'clock on hi-gain, the XS starts to fart out. This, when the volume is only JUST starting to get loud enough for a comfortable 85-90db (for me, anyway). So, it depends on if you use EQ and how loud you like your music. I'd certainly run the Zen Dac into a separate amp, for the XS.
@@JohnSmith-oe4bw Yeah, what you call "comfortable" mandates that employers provide hearing protection if they're subjecting you to such sound levels throughout an entire workday :)), but at the same time what I said above was just a best estimate considering iFi didn't really tell us how the device performs below 32 ohms, there was always the possibility that it gets real weak real fast. I don't recommend that you keep listening at 80-90 dB average unless you're in a hurry to join us at the Hearing Damage and Tinnitus club, but I will agree that any amp that can't push these headphones to hearing-damage levels without distortion is not quite the perfect amp for them - ideally you want that headroom to be available, and the guaranteed fully linear behavior below it at normal listening levels.
Thanks. I got the Edition XS and much prefer it over the Sundara, mainly because of fit. I wonder if it would be worth upgrading either to Ananda or the next step up.
I had the HEXv2 and Ananda. The Ananda cleans up the signature a bit, less distortions and peaks, and adds some sparkle to the treble. The soundstage is a step up. However all of these nice things come at a cost... that extra treble detail can be a bit grainy sometimes. I couldn't say how the XS compares but if the tonal balance is closer to the Xv2 then I'd prefer it imo. Also, it could be amp pairing or pads on my end. Overall, Ananda's a great headphone. Slightly better than the HEX most of the time, but slightly worse some of the time, imo.
upgraded from philips fidelio x2hr (great intro headset ! i still love them) to Edition XS and man even as someone who doesn't consider himself an audiophile nor would i have ever considered spending this much on a headset ... this headset is AWESOME ! so much more clarity, i can hear more stuff on high quality flac tracks.... maybe i am becoming one xD Open planar is big plus ! much more natural, i don't think i can go back, the cons is that people few rooms away can hear it i need much more gain in the DAC to drive it though compared to x2hr, not really a complain The cable is too short though that a big turn off and the package is barebone
Very promising, but of you happen to buy from hifiman, keep in mind that the warranty is 1year for most headphones. I prefer the 2 or 3 year warranty European authorized distributors provide for these kind of expensive products
Just a PSA for people who wear glasses - these make a terrible squeaking sound whenever you move your head due to the loose fit and the earcups rubbing against the sides of the glasses. They sound great but the comfort is very poor - so poor that I uploaded a video just to highlight this. I completely agree with all the sound-related aspects of this review, but just wanted to share my experience in case it helps others who might have fit issues with the XS.
Exactly the video I am waiting for after I picked out my low-fi audiophile hobby again, and struggling which to go for next for open back planars. I have a SCHIIT Fulla for an entry DAC/AMP setup, will this work with Edition XD I wondered? Thanks!
I have the Fulla e in my bedroom system and have the Hi-Fi man 560 V4. It actually drives them quite well at about 1:00 and quiet tracks at about 4:00. The living room system uses a magni which actually gives more space and definition to the quality of sound.
Is there any plans to review the Hifiman He1000 V2? From what i've heard, they are the best of the HE1000 series with excellent tuning and technicalities. The model is still in production to this day so i'm suprised that you haven't reviewed them yet. Are they competitive at the 2.5-3k price point or are the Arya and LCD-X almost as good for half the price (with some EQ)?
@@bluemonstrosity259 i saw golden soud review, but crins rate the he1000 v2 on par with the focal utopia which got me curious since you can get the v2 for half the price when they're on sale. Plus goldensound had a very old models of both headphones (Arya v1 and the HE v2 with 2.5mm plugs).
Hello... Based on the body of the bass, the extension in the treble and the soundstage of the Edition XS, with which Amplifiers and DACs (desktop) do you think the synergy can be given? Thanks!!
Bought a pair of Amanda’s, loved the sound, but they only lasted 15 months...and they come with a 12 month warranty. They didn’t offer any good options. Probably just bad luck but I wouldn’t buy a Hifiman product again.
Hi Resolve, excellent review like always but i'm still wondering about something, overall for a planar the Ananda always sounded pretty natural to me, i'm wondering how it is about the Edition XS ? Is it as natural sounding as the Ananda for the most part or not ?
I've been looking for a set of over ear headphones with great soundstage and a bit more of a fun sound. I like to enjoy my music and I'm not super analytical, but getting details is nice. I s been searching for some sort of endgame headphone with my most expensive being the HE-4XX and they're great but not quite where I want to be. I've set my budget at under 800$ if I can but I still haven't found anything. These video reviews have been very helpful but the search continues.
If you're looking for something to last, you might want to consider the Sundaras. They're probably one of the best built Hifiman. They're still one of the best value for money headphones, even if new things have come along in other price ranges above and below it.
I got the XS a week ago. And I am used to closed backs with better bass (which I like) so I was disappointed at first. However turning the Xbass on my Zen Can was a game changer for me and I really like them. There are a lot of comments that they scale a lot with more powerful amps. Has anyone here compared the Zen Can with more powerful amp for these?
thats bullshit, as long as it is getting enough power, if your Zen Can can get your headphones loud enough you won't have any benefits from going to another solid state amp, it is technically transparent with a pretty nice SNR
@@RF-INF planars benefit from more current. Bigger amps with larger capacitor banks will drive planars better at the exact same volume. Manufacturers like audeze and hifiman have come out stating this fact.
@@enjoshi-godrez8775 So IFI Zen Can will not be enough for drive them? You have ruin my day, I had high hopes for these, but I would not buy a new amp just to drive them.
@@ixoye56 It will drive them fine, its just their Ican Pro isn't their most expensive amp for no reason, it is going to sound better but that varies from headphone to headphone how much difference a better amp makes and the XS are not that power hungry so the difference would be very small.
Bought this as a gift to myself for my 40th. A year later, i rarely use them. Comfort is so bad. The yokes require constant bending for a tighter fit so im worried they wont last. These are the only headphone i have that cause pain at the top of my head.
Same I just bought these after owning the HE-500 (my HE-500 are in pretty bad condition - they have kinda like a high peak? and made some weird sound) The XS are way better
It's a real shame the build quality is so poor on these, I've had two of which the height adjustment on the headband broke within a week, the sound is absolutely fantastic though.
I really wonder how this compares to the LCD X specifically for rock/metal. While I have yet to try out the LCD X I already suspect it will fly off my head at the first involuntary headbang, so the XS might be better for that role.
Not the exact comparison you were looking for but I have owned both the sundara and the ananda, and more recently the LCD-X and I can say that the latter is definitely headband inducing haha. The dynamics are unreal! Had to return it though due to some issue with one of the drivers.. broke my heart.
@@spacelama666 I almost wish you hadn't told me this lol. I'm currently using the Sundara for rock but if the LCD X is that much better I might have to bite the bullet on the weight and the price someday.
I’m wondering if you ever picked up the LCD X? I just got my Edition XS and I’m already looking for the next best thing planar wise. I’m between the LCD X, Arya Organic and He1000 v2
@danielgregson2023 I haven't yet. Though I've heard great things about the Arya Organic. If I personally had the money and needed an all-rounder, that would be my pick.
PLEASE explain "plucked" character of a planar...I cannot understand how this makes sense or what it means. Vague audio terms will be the end of me. So many words that no normal people will understand in relation to sound.
It's extremely difficult to explain unless you've heard it, but it's kind of like a 'plastickiness' that's common with planar magnetic transducers. Some are more noticeable than others for this quality, but when it's bad, there's a kind of artificial character to the sound.
@@TheHEADPHONEShow Is it all subjective to the user? I currently use a 7hz Timeless iem with Cayin RU6 (R-2R Dongle Dac) and I don't feel anything wrong/artificial with the timbre of the iem (you have recently mentioned Timeless having a prominent planar timbre) and I can appreciate the advantages it has such as speed, detail retrieval, thick bass response etc. Again, the headphone I use is a Hifiman Sundara (again a Planar) connected to XDuoo XA10 Dac/Amp, so may be I am used to the planar sound signature. P.S: I did feel a difference between Timeless paired with Hiby R3 Pro Saber DAP (ESS Saber Dac) vs Cayin RU6 (R-2R Dongle Dac) with the latter being more natural, comparatively speaking.
@@haberdasherrykr8886 Yeah it's a problem. Check out the audiophile term tier list I did recently. Simply put, at the moment there's no easy way around the fact that people use language to mean different things. It's not just a problem limited to audio stuff, this is just a problem of language in general. With audio it's just so much more salient because it's uniquely a perceptive experience, and so we are very limited with what we can anchor descriptions of experiences to.
I had the XS and the Ananda and ended up returning the XS due to the hotspot issue the headband caused. I believe I have a sensitive head though, as always your mileage may vary. I also noticed the pads on the XS were much stiffer than Ananda's, but after five minutes on your head they disappeared especially with the few degrees of rotation. My two cents on the XS align very close to Resolve's. More bass on the XS is the most apparent to me vs Ananda. I don't recall the highs on the XS being bothersome, but I don't think I'm as trebble sensitive as some. I also, for fun, added a bit of crossfeed to my music (15 out of 100) to add some soundstage depth.
@@davidmason8212 In my opinion, the XS works with more music as it has a flatter bass extension and not as detailed as the Ananda. Having said that, if you like the clarity of string and vocals over deep punchy bass then the Ananda I think would be better. The Ananda does have bass for sure, but in a side by side comparison the XS has subjectively better bass. Another thing to think about is how "good" is your equipments (DAC/Amp)? When I first tried the Ananda on a Fiio E10k it was harsh and I much preferred the XS. Once I got my Topping E/L 50 stack I thought the Anandas were much more controled. To be clear, both headphones sounded better on the better gear.
I’d argue it depends. Detail, better headband and slightly more neutral sound: ananda’s. Slightly bassier, punchier sound at the cost of slight detail and the headband doesn’t bother you: edition xs.
I've definitely noticed the upper treble to be too much for me. What sort of EQ would you recommend to tame the high end just a bit and fill out the mids/lower the slightly boosted lower mids?
Depends on your OS. Could be ViPER4Android on rooted Android, Wavelet on non-rooted Android, PulseEffects on Ubuntu varieties of Linux, Equalizer APO for Windows...
Hey Andrew, I posted this to a reply on Z's vid, can you comment on the situations I laid out and conclusion briefly? and maybe insight onto situation 4(excluding Z's comments I haven't finished his video, I know, I know!) Regardless thank you for the video, I am someone who has Ananda Seal so this is a weird situation and you cleared up a lot! "depends on what people define as bass and the fit, Resolve did a great job explaining it, when they both seal the bass is about the same with a slight edge overall to XS... however when both have broken seals the mid bass on XS is HUGE and sub bass is low, when seal on Ananda is broken the sub bass is lower than XS and the bass hump is closer to upperbass/lower mids and also lower... Then factor in the XS has lesser clam, but also swivels, his reasoning for getting the XS was for when the seal is broken it's superior. There are 4 ways it can play out. #1 BOTH Ananda AND XS BREAK SEAL(for whatever reason depending on a lot of factors like head shape/glasses etc) XS is dead better, has more SUB bass and MUCH MORE mid bass while Ananda has terrible SUB and MID bass but upper bass hump. XS WINS HOWEVER since the XS has less clamp there situation #2 despite some swivel if the XS BREAKS SEAL but the Ananda DOES NOT (as in my case) the XS has more MID bass but very low sub bass and the Ananda keep it's linear mid bass AND sub bass(which I prefer).... ANANDA WINS Now since the XS has swivel and Ananda does not we present situation. #3, Ananda BREAKS SEAL BUT the XS DOES NOT, meaning the XS has linear mid bass and sub bass, however the Ananda has SEVERLY reduced mid bass AND sub bass and a upper bass hump. XS WINS #4, NEITHER Ananda NOR XS BREAKS SEAL This one is murky since I haven't got thru video and doubt Zeos goes into this much depth or tells us but Resolve didn't give much info which has better Technical performance or really which soundsignature he prefers... We can assume since Ananda and Sundara are close technical performance is close, and the sound signature different is both sealed XS has a little more sub bass, better controlled mid treble, lower treble dip, maaaayyybbee a but of upper bass hump so this depends on your preference a lot. Both Ananda and XS have fairly similar and linear mid and sub bass, XS has a slight bass forward advantage, Sound Signature is pick and chose TOSS UP? (depending on which SS you prefer, I am at the point Zeos is saying the Ananda has more detail but XS has better stage, but we do not know the so the real answer for now is ????/Preference but for me I think I prefer Ananda!) So with all this info it's clear the XS winds ATLEAST 50% of the time IF NOT MORE so for cheaper it's the SAFER BET AT A CHEAPER PRICE and the better headphone overall, clearly however this is VERY situational and the real message here is Hifiman either needs to DISCOUNT THE ANANDA OR JUST FIX THEIR HEADPHONE SYSTEM TO MAKE SURE IT ALWAYS HAS SEAL!!!! Stealth Ananda coming soon? P.S. going to run this by resolve and see what he thinks checkout his video and see if he comments and maybe we can get more insight?"
Edition XS is safer yes, but I can see reasons to go for either. Keep in mind that there's very little musicl information contained in the ultra low sub-bass frequencies. Also, even with a leak in the XS, the bass rise is still fairly low and getting into the sub-bass. So that's why for me I pick the edition XS even with a leak. The other thing to note is that leaks aren't all going to be as extreme as a full air gap. A partial leak, which is more likely for most people, will give you more bass and also not drop out completely in the sub bass.
Or... ...how does this XS compare with the Drop x Hifiman Edition XX? I know the XS has the Stealth magnets. When I first saw the XS, I pondered whether it may be related to the XX.
Did you find anything? I got the Qudelix 5k and it sounds *exactly* like when using the Apple Dongle, so I’m now looking for a proper Dac/Amp that actually improves sound quality
Is there a non smoothed version of the harman reference ? And why some headphones (especially the dynamic drivers) looks like smoothed ? They have more smooth fr while planar fr full zigzags.
In India i m getting sundara around $300 and edition xs for $400. Should i just go for edition xs or should i get sundara. I have never used open back headphones or any audiophile earphones or headphones. I own sennheiser mtw3 as my daily driver. But i want something audiophile. I m planning to buy desktop dac/amp something fiio k11. Is it gonna be significant improvement over my truewireless?
In regards to the bass boost bit with resonant frequencies. Couldn’t you just put the Anandas around some books while you’re not using them to loosen the clamping force a tiny bit and get a little more bass in?
Well with the Ananda you probably do want a good seal. With Edition XS, it's not that you want a gap, it's merely that it's fine if there is one because Fs is so low. Fs is higher on the Ananda.
They probably factor in Research and Development costs when making a new model. Parts and tech could also cost more. Think of it like an Apple product where the newer models have better hardware and technology and cost more than the previous versions. Same with TV's, Game console's, Automobile's etc... You get the drift
I just got these since I really liked the Sundaras, but I have issues with both... Sundara's earpads touches my ears which causes irritation and the Edition Xs feels too loose, so much so I have to keep re-adjusting them. Idk if I feel comfortable bending the headband... Any suggestions? How do the Anandas compare with the clamp?
Hmm about that headband…..this type of headband tends to break about 1 inch above either earpiece. Doesnt matter if its metal. Metal fatigue sets in about 18 months of daily use. Of course thats my experience with 3 different sets over the last decade from other brands
in on review, I can't see this beating Ananda but before I even watch thank you for doing this one! The hypetrain was real but underground, seems like it's close to other stuff which the Ananda and Sundara always was but more options is better for everyone!
Just a note about the ZMF pilot pad and the Edition XS - While you can kind of get it to work, it doesn't fully/properly fit around the headband because it's too thick. You can kind of get it to work by pressing it in but I think it's best to find a different solution for the Edition XS in particular.
Please, PLEASE review the also from HiFiMan Deva Pro's next!!!
IMO, as a total package it's THE best value in ALL of open-back over-ear headphones! Yeah, ALL OF THEM. ESPECIALLY for first time high end headphone buyers! (Aka no suitable DAC + amp setup.)
The wired headphones & their near 2020 Sundara level quality drivers but with much more warm, "fun", & less hyper-analytical tuning are almost worth the $330 price of admission just by themselves!
And that's before even mentioning the normally $150 if bought ala-carte & now deliciousy analog R2R based, 2nd Gen "Bluemini" combo R2R DAC + amp + "high-res" (LDAC & aptX HD) Bluetooth receiver dongle!!! :D
@@Cooe. Thought they reviewed the Deva Pro's already?
@@JTB-- OG Deva's only afaik. And there's a BIG ol' difference between the OG's & Pro's.
Lol that new analog as all hell R2R based in-house "Himalaya" DAC is truly something fucking else, in the bestest way possible... Let alone the updated, now Stealth Magnet packing, & notably retuned for the better drivers.
IMO, they went from being "a pretty fucking cool idea but still with a number "meh" factors" to an ABSOLUTELY GOD-TIER, BANG/$ TABLE DESTROYING VALUE basically over night w/ the Pro update haha.
@@Cooe. I don't think Resolve did an official review of the Deva Pro's but I remember him talking about them after CanJam 2021
@@JTB-- Source by any chance? I'm VERY interested in his thoughts. Though a proper review would be far, FAR preferred to takes from a loud show floor demo, I'll take what I can get. 🤷♂️ Haha.
Hey Resolve, I'm honored that you did the Stealth Arya comparison for me (from the Head-Fi request). I think it's still valuable to get confirmation that the Arya is more detailed/separated in your view. Maybe I can learn to spot these differences more going forward. For now I can just enjoy my Edition XS and pocket the difference!
Lol 😂
What does Resolve mean here by 'Plucky' timbre?
If steamrolling the competition makes it more competitive, then this title is accurate. HiFiMan own the $350-$500 market with the Sundara and Edition XS.
They own all the price brackets. Edition xs is better than meze 109 pro
I'm so happy to see you do this review! I had this shipped from China about a month ago as I couldn't wait for your review :). I was hoping for a bit more on the staging and imaging in the review.
Got my Edition XS delivered from Hifiman yesterday (finally). Thanks for the review.
I think smoothing the frequency curve when own against the target is an excellent idea, hope you keep doing this
Yeah, I might even compensate it to show that, or find some other solution for showing 'sound signature'. Because people really seem to misunderstand headphone measurements and targets a lot.
@@ResolveReviews You should make a measurement database like Crin's. It's super convenient just picking graphs and compare with whatever smoothness you want. BTW what is the smoothness value of Harman ? I wanna use it in Crin's graph comparison tool.
@@musicxxa6678 We're working on ways of representing the graphs that are a good balance of usability and accuracy. Then it'll eventually be put into some database.
@@ResolveReviews Keep up the good work. We are following!
11:26. I feel like you are hinting something here :) I hope you guys can find some correlations between the measurements and what we hear in terms of technicalities and other stuff.
So, I'm in my mid fifties, and I do appreciate the upper treble boost. I can't hear anything over 14k, but under that, extra volume helps.
Resolve Edition
We miss your videos! All love my man ❤️
the legend
Please share your opinion about the XS especially compared with the ananda
Please come back ignore the haters
@@davidmason8212 have not heard it
Yep, these are my next step after the Sundara. Better bass, better detail and much bigger soundstage. Thanks for the review!
I would go for he6se tbh
@@kalakalaiand3343 Those require a really high end amp that costs more than the headphones or hell even a speaker amp though and the HE6SE has some tuning problems that the Edition XS rectified
@@adilahismail2440 yeah, they cost like €1500 in my country compared to €520-550 for the XS
@@adilahismail2440 agreed but i belive affordable amps like jot 2 with he6se will be better than xs for sure
IMO, a much better use of your money would be to pad-swap your Sundara. To do so, you'll need to acquire a pair of HIFIMAN pad mounting rings. (Generally speaking, though, you'd be better off saving for a truly special headphone... and/or upgrade your DAC and/or amp in the meantime.)
I"ve bought the Edition XS two days ago and I am stunned of how good they perform!Thanks for your review!
Do you just plug them into your desktop? how do you use them? I am very new to headphones lol and was looking at the edition xs
@@bubberduck4964 I am using SMSL M300SE DAC/Headphone amp.Although even plug to a desktop they will play alright.But with the SMSL (affordable but high performing dac with cyrrus logic D/A chips) they really sound outstanding.I have also "Focal listen" headphones but the Edition XS are outstanding!Also they are not heavy and they are comfort to listen on long sessions.Cheers!
@@bubberduck4964Planar headphones like this benefit from an amplifier (maybe a DAC too but that's less important). Pick up an AMP like the JDS atom or an AMP + DAC like the Fiio K11 and you'll be good.
@@bubberduck4964 you are definitely going to want to get a stand-alone amplifier does not have to be anything fancy but it will make a big difference in overall sound quality
@@bubberduck4964I recommend the Qudelix 5k
The Edition XS just sounds great, simple as that. Well worth the 500 bucks. If you are looking for a headphone in that price range you will love it.
Have had it for 2 weeks now and it’s an awesome headphone indeed. Headband/fit is hit or miss; personally i love it. Low clampforce and just dissapears after wearing it for a while. For me, it’s a perfect headphone 👍
Should I buy Edition XS or HD 660s?
@@Chopper153 edition xs is probably the best headphone under 1000 dollars. 660s is not even in the same playing field
2 years later, it's 260€ now, so maybe the best headphone under 300?
@@NO_SIMP_ZONEI tried both and yeah, the Xs is on a whole different level. Kinda surprised though, considering the 660s2 is twice the price
I really wish they'd put the swivel on the Sundara and Ananda. That was the deal breaker for comfort for them both when I auditioned them. The Sundara was way worse than the Ananda for me, but I was always aware of them both when I had them on. No point in having headphones that sound amazing if they're uncomfortable.
They are actually much more comfortable with memory foam earpads. They have stiffer earpads and no swivel combined really bad for comfort. Memory foam pads nicely conform your face so you don't miss the lack of swivel.
it's so personal though. I actually like the snuck fit of the Sundara's, I guess they just fit my skullsize really well.
Here is what a real useful video looks like! Thanks.
Nice comparison, I have the Ananda for 3,5 years now and I still love it, sounds wonderful to my ears, and for my head comfort is super! I tried the Arya’s in some shops allready, and I don’t think they are worth the price jump, to close in signature, I will buy other brands who sound significantly different, but Ananda is my endgame Hifimann until it breaks.
Have you also tried the Arya Stealth?
Been waiting for this
The more gear I've tried, the more I've come to agree with the points in this video. There's no substitute for trying stuff. And gotta actually use it for a few weeks. And sound quality isn't the only factor to consider, as usability factors into enjoyment (e.g., comfort/durability/maintenance in headphones; Ares II has a variable delay making it unsuitable for games or movies; Soloist 3xp controls aren't great and DC offset quirks you need to work around).
Listening to this on my 1 week old Sundara! Somehow chose Sundara since its universally acclaimed as opposed to XS which had 2 RUclips reviews a week back.
its a new product...should be edition xs only china exclusive...now they bring in on the western user
Six months later and XS is now universally acclaimed.
7:08 "thick and swollen" that's a new one. We going to start using engorged and throbbing soon. How about warm and moist? Lol
if you do start a review channel please let me know, for the short time it exists before being removed I think it will be very uhhh entertaining 😂😂😂
Based on the excellent sound quality reviews of the HiFiMan Edition XS I was very close to making a purchase. However, I've been hesitant to buy this model for one basic reason: unfortunately, the design that enables it to be worn comfortably by those with a larger head makes it fit too loosely on others (like me) whose head is smaller. I've seen this caveat mentioned several times by reviewers and customers who've said they couldn't get the ear cups to seat properly on their head, or the slightest movement would cause the headphones to shift and threaten to fall off. HiFiMan just introduced the "Ananda Nano" model for $599, and I'm eager to see if it will offer comparable sound quality to the XS, but with a better fit on my small cranium.
Excellent comparison. Having a Sundara, I think I would prefer the Ananda or saving for an LCD-X (in order to get a different/complimentary experience wrt a HifiMan. Thank you
yes as a Suds 2020 owner I wouldn't buy this as well, esp as also have Deva Pro which for musicality I really enjoy, I also use the blue mini to drive my Sundaras when wandering about just requires a 2 part cable and I can use blue mini 2 r2r with any of my balanced headphones
100% - if you have a sundara there’s no need to rush out and get the XS. Ananda on sale is a more logical next step.
@@Reeeepicheep I don't know. XS seems to have better bass than the Ananda according to Resolve and except that both Ananda and XS seems similar. Besides one can get a brand new XS for a similar price as a used Ananda (which is important due to the infamous Hifiman QC control). So, for some one (including Sundara users) who wants to venture into the egg shaped hifiman cans (which generally has better sound stage), XS seems to offer better VFM.
If anyone has fit issues with it like me, where the XS is too loose, bend the metal bits of the headband carefully until it fits to your liking. Got a better seal with it when I did and it wouldn't feel like it would fall off my head when I leaned back lol.
I have that same issue. I still find them to be a less secure feel. Love the sound hate the fit.
When they are gonna invent adjustable clamping force lol. You can swivel and adjust the headband height but you can't change the clamping force conveniently.
@@musicxxa6678 I wish that feature too in the future. I had to sell my SHP9500 bec. of fit issue. Too effin loose in my head when I tilt up/down 😑
Personally I don't get any notable clamp force or pressure with the Sundara, I think the headband is great
Same her, may e a little at first but I prefer the suspension strap on the. to the new headband that is on the deva pro I also have
Different head shapes, most likely.
You need a susvara
@@Cxs1a3 it's on the maybe list but I'm not ready for it yet, still working out my preferences
ill wait for the edition XS pro MAX ultra.
v2 though right?
5g fan edition se
I heard you wear hats due to an electrostatic headphones accident that burned off your mullet .
Just a rumor ?
Damn, you got me.
@@ResolveReviews I would be glad to send you some CBD Salve to help in your recovery .
It helped Zeos to recover from his terrible Anime / autoerotic accident of 2012 .
Poor kid hasn't been able to do a face reveal in years
hahaha
@@turbomustang84 Zeos recovered, oh OK 😂😂😂
You should compare it to the HE6v2 since that goes on sale for $550 and has an identical headband.
The FR looks similar to the HD800S but without the treble peaks at around 5kHz.
XS has more low end/Bass
Honestly I would like two know how it sounds compared to the he6 v2 since that headphones goes on sale close to the price of the edition xs
i've bought them for $400 and they amazing for that price tag, i tnink. also bought 6xx, but not listen them cause xs is much more comfortable
@@crazykev5 aliexpress with promocode
@@crazykev5 yep
Edition XS is $269 on Amazon Prime today
new price point
So, I bought this headset summer of 2023. I need a headphone that felt as an upgrade to my Fidelio X2HR. Now there are plenty of upgrades to that in terms of quality, but when it comes to soundstage the X2HR is actually pretty good. The upgradepath most obvious was the Hifiman Sundara. Now I've somewhat large ears so I wanted a more oval shaped headphone. The Edition XS.
It is amazing. I've heard details I've never heard on the X2HR. It was great. Except for the headband. Now I wear L/XL caps to give an idea of the size of my head, and even in the lowest position this headphone would not fit correctly. The earcups would be slightly lower. Also the headband is simply not comfortable for longer sessions. Me personally can have sessions of 6-8 hours. The Edition XS becomes annoying.
So...I got rid of it a while ago and back on my Fidelio X2HR. Not sure what I'm going to buy next.
For 500 i wonder how would it compare to the he6sev2 since similar price point
One key takeaway: “fashion” 👌
Thanks Resolve, great review as always! Do you think the BQ on these is better for durability in addition to the comfort?
No, about the same as the others.
Funny, You mentioned the clamp force and overall airiness of XS. I went to a music shop to listen to those and see if they fit. Results fit perfectly, sitting firmly but still had to pull the yolk to the limit for the upper part of it to sit on top of my ear. (I was told, this is how You're supposed to wear those)
Back to the clamp force/sound signature. Because of my big head my 1st impression was that they were suprisingly warm, it's probably because of the stuff You mentioned.
Amen i bought it. Searching forever, maybe i finally got an answer.
Dedicated review of the Arya Stealth coming?
I think I would buy these over the Sundara strictly because of looks and functionality. Weight is lower and it has more bass. I think I will pull the trigger on these in the next couple of weeks.
Sundara does not have more bass than the Ananda, XS. Slightly more dynamic though.
@@theunsbotha5188 I just ordered the XS 👍.
@@joshuasterling2144 on which amp are you listing it and what do you think of it? is it non fatiguing and enjoyable ?
Very good review, there are few of them yet.
👍👍
I'm looking for something like the Sundara around the $500 mark, give or take a few, but with more low end. Something a little more fun while remaining detailed with good separation. U shaped but not fatiguing. I would be willing to go close backed.
you might look at the Dt 1990s and try pad swapping them to the dekoni velour or hybrid pads.
A question for the experts: Is the Ifi Zen Dac V2 powerful enough to power a Hifiman Edition XS? And does it absolutely need an external power pack, or is the power from the USB port sufficient?
Thanks :-)
Yeah, I wish he'd been clearer about driveability, I couldn't understand anything he said, 1. because he said the amp names too fast, 2. because he seems to like talking only about expensive stuff that most of the world knows nothing about, and that shouldn't be necessary for midrange headphones (impact-appropriate budgeting means not spending nearly as much on the source as on the transducers).
If I look at the specs the BAL output of the ZenDAC v2 can put 330 mW into 32 ohms, but iFi also recommends that output for 16-600 ohm headphones. Assuming that means at least the amperage capability stays the same going down from 32 to 16 ohms, you would get around a 185 mW max into the EdXS. So with the EdXS efficiency of 92 dB/mW, that means your max output works out to 92 + 10*lg(185) = 114.69 dB, almost perfect for even the loudest passages in the most dynamically demanding symphonic music. But this is only when powered from the wall, otherwise iFi says "If powered from USB, power output may vary".
I have ZEN DAC V2, and it does NOT give enough power to the XS. Even with a DC 5V P/S, i doesn't matter. At 3 o'clock on hi-gain, the XS starts to fart out. This, when the volume is only JUST starting to get loud enough for a comfortable 85-90db (for me, anyway). So, it depends on if you use EQ and how loud you like your music. I'd certainly run the Zen Dac into a separate amp, for the XS.
@@JohnSmith-oe4bw Yeah, what you call "comfortable" mandates that employers provide hearing protection if they're subjecting you to such sound levels throughout an entire workday :)), but at the same time what I said above was just a best estimate considering iFi didn't really tell us how the device performs below 32 ohms, there was always the possibility that it gets real weak real fast.
I don't recommend that you keep listening at 80-90 dB average unless you're in a hurry to join us at the Hearing Damage and Tinnitus club, but I will agree that any amp that can't push these headphones to hearing-damage levels without distortion is not quite the perfect amp for them - ideally you want that headroom to be available, and the guaranteed fully linear behavior below it at normal listening levels.
Price was just lowered to $379. Just waiting for some more MM100 reviews before I make a decision.
Just got one.. its everything I was ever looking for.
Thanks. I got the Edition XS and much prefer it over the Sundara, mainly because of fit. I wonder if it would be worth upgrading either to Ananda or the next step up.
Resolve, how does XS compares to Edition X V2? Hifiman said it was an improvement over it, in the technical performance, XS is the same or better?
I had the HEXv2 and Ananda. The Ananda cleans up the signature a bit, less distortions and peaks, and adds some sparkle to the treble. The soundstage is a step up. However all of these nice things come at a cost... that extra treble detail can be a bit grainy sometimes. I couldn't say how the XS compares but if the tonal balance is closer to the Xv2 then I'd prefer it imo.
Also, it could be amp pairing or pads on my end. Overall, Ananda's a great headphone. Slightly better than the HEX most of the time, but slightly worse some of the time, imo.
The XS is a giant slayer of a headphone!
How does the XS compare to the HE6se V2? Both can be similar in price depending on timing.
Sundara current "wedge" pads fit me like a glove. Heads are different. "YMMV"
I'd have to hear it myself as I can't imagine it could be a $500 upgrade over my M570s.
upgraded from philips fidelio x2hr (great intro headset ! i still love them) to Edition XS and man even as someone who doesn't consider himself an audiophile nor would i have ever considered spending this much on a headset ... this headset is AWESOME ! so much more clarity, i can hear more stuff on high quality flac tracks.... maybe i am becoming one xD
Open planar is big plus ! much more natural, i don't think i can go back, the cons is that people few rooms away can hear it
i need much more gain in the DAC to drive it though compared to x2hr, not really a complain
The cable is too short though that a big turn off and the package is barebone
Yessssss finally
Very promising, but of you happen to buy from hifiman, keep in mind that the warranty is 1year for most headphones. I prefer the 2 or 3 year warranty European authorized distributors provide for these kind of expensive products
Just a PSA for people who wear glasses - these make a terrible squeaking sound whenever you move your head due to the loose fit and the earcups rubbing against the sides of the glasses. They sound great but the comfort is very poor - so poor that I uploaded a video just to highlight this. I completely agree with all the sound-related aspects of this review, but just wanted to share my experience in case it helps others who might have fit issues with the XS.
Exactly the video I am waiting for after I picked out my low-fi audiophile hobby again, and struggling which to go for next for open back planars.
I have a SCHIIT Fulla for an entry DAC/AMP setup, will this work with Edition XD I wondered? Thanks!
I have the Fulla e in my bedroom system and have the Hi-Fi man 560 V4. It actually drives them quite well at about 1:00 and quiet tracks at about 4:00. The living room system uses a magni which actually gives more space and definition to the quality of sound.
I wanna see you review one of hifiman’s more expensive dynamic driver headphones like the he-r9.
Is there any plans to review the Hifiman He1000 V2? From what i've heard, they are the best of the HE1000 series with excellent tuning and technicalities. The model is still in production to this day so i'm suprised that you haven't reviewed them yet. Are they competitive at the 2.5-3k price point or are the Arya and LCD-X almost as good for half the price (with some EQ)?
Go watch Golden Sound's review
@@bluemonstrosity259 i saw golden soud review, but crins rate the he1000 v2 on par with the focal utopia which got me curious since you can get the v2 for half the price when they're on sale. Plus goldensound had a very old models of both headphones (Arya v1 and the HE v2 with 2.5mm plugs).
@@orthosympa6993 there are HE1000V2 with 3.5? I'm not aware of that
Thanks for the Review.
Is there any frequency response variability between different units of the same headphone ?
Always possible.
Hello...
Based on the body of the bass, the extension in the treble and the soundstage of the Edition XS, with which Amplifiers and DACs (desktop) do you think the synergy can be given?
Thanks!!
Thanks for the review. Is the Hip Dac 2 able to drive this well?
Really liked the vid! is the headband the same with the he400se? Can i swap my sundara headband with the he400se?
I have the EF 400 I imagine the edition XS will be perfect for it
Bought a pair of Amanda’s, loved the sound, but they only lasted 15 months...and they come with a 12 month warranty. They didn’t offer any good options. Probably just bad luck but I wouldn’t buy a Hifiman product again.
Hi Resolve, excellent review like always but i'm still wondering about something, overall for a planar the Ananda always sounded pretty natural to me, i'm wondering how it is about the Edition XS ? Is it as natural sounding as the Ananda for the most part or not ?
I've been looking for a set of over ear headphones with great soundstage and a bit more of a fun sound. I like to enjoy my music and I'm not super analytical, but getting details is nice. I s been searching for some sort of endgame headphone with my most expensive being the HE-4XX and they're great but not quite where I want to be. I've set my budget at under 800$ if I can but I still haven't found anything. These video reviews have been very helpful but the search continues.
If you're looking for something to last, you might want to consider the Sundaras. They're probably one of the best built Hifiman. They're still one of the best value for money headphones, even if new things have come along in other price ranges above and below it.
I got the XS a week ago. And I am used to closed backs with better bass (which I like) so I was disappointed at first. However turning the Xbass on my Zen Can was a game changer for me and I really like them. There are a lot of comments that they scale a lot with more powerful amps. Has anyone here compared the Zen Can with more powerful amp for these?
thats bullshit, as long as it is getting enough power, if your Zen Can can get your headphones loud enough you won't have any benefits from going to another solid state amp, it is technically transparent with a pretty nice SNR
you can easily eq a bass shelf to any planar
@@RF-INF planars benefit from more current. Bigger amps with larger capacitor banks will drive planars better at the exact same volume. Manufacturers like audeze and hifiman have come out stating this fact.
@@enjoshi-godrez8775 So IFI Zen Can will not be enough for drive them? You have ruin my day, I had high hopes for these, but I would not buy a new amp just to drive them.
@@ixoye56 It will drive them fine, its just their Ican Pro isn't their most expensive amp for no reason, it is going to sound better but that varies from headphone to headphone how much difference a better amp makes and the XS are not that power hungry so the difference would be very small.
Bought this as a gift to myself for my 40th. A year later, i rarely use them. Comfort is so bad. The yokes require constant bending for a tighter fit so im worried they wont last. These are the only headphone i have that cause pain at the top of my head.
Grab yourself a HifiMan Comfort Headband Strap from Custom Cans. It's $20 and totally fixed the comfort for me!
These things blew me away. My last HiFiMan was an HE-500
best non-TOTL Hifiman fite me
Same I just bought these after owning the HE-500 (my HE-500 are in pretty bad condition - they have kinda like a high peak? and made some weird sound)
The XS are way better
The ananda and xs are currently on sale. Ananda for 320 Bucks and XS for 340 Bucks. Which one would you buy or listen to more?
Would be amazing if you can check out the new SRH840A and compare it against the old SRH840.
why aren't u reviewing the Arya stealth?
2:35 well then who else can i trust for reviews on comfort with a hat on??? (^:
What do you mean that the 7hz Timeless are noticeable for their timber? do you mean that they have a very distinctive timber? in a good o r bad way?
It's a real shame the build quality is so poor on these, I've had two of which the height adjustment on the headband broke within a week, the sound is absolutely fantastic though.
In terms of soundstage and imaging (holographic side) its better Sundara or Edition Xs?
I really wonder how this compares to the LCD X specifically for rock/metal. While I have yet to try out the LCD X I already suspect it will fly off my head at the first involuntary headbang, so the XS might be better for that role.
Not the exact comparison you were looking for but I have owned both the sundara and the ananda, and more recently the LCD-X and I can say that the latter is definitely headband inducing haha.
The dynamics are unreal! Had to return it though due to some issue with one of the drivers.. broke my heart.
@@spacelama666 I almost wish you hadn't told me this lol. I'm currently using the Sundara for rock but if the LCD X is that much better I might have to bite the bullet on the weight and the price someday.
I’m wondering if you ever picked up the LCD X? I just got my Edition XS and I’m already looking for the next best thing planar wise. I’m between the LCD X, Arya Organic and He1000 v2
@danielgregson2023 I haven't yet. Though I've heard great things about the Arya Organic. If I personally had the money and needed an all-rounder, that would be my pick.
PLEASE explain "plucked" character of a planar...I cannot understand how this makes sense or what it means. Vague audio terms will be the end of me. So many words that no normal people will understand in relation to sound.
It's extremely difficult to explain unless you've heard it, but it's kind of like a 'plastickiness' that's common with planar magnetic transducers. Some are more noticeable than others for this quality, but when it's bad, there's a kind of artificial character to the sound.
@@TheHEADPHONEShow answering vague term's meaning with vaguest of definitions 😅
We need a standardized and accepted glossary of terms Andrew
@@TheHEADPHONEShow Is it all subjective to the user? I currently use a 7hz Timeless iem with Cayin RU6 (R-2R Dongle Dac) and I don't feel anything wrong/artificial with the timbre of the iem (you have recently mentioned Timeless having a prominent planar timbre) and I can appreciate the advantages it has such as speed, detail retrieval, thick bass response etc. Again, the headphone I use is a Hifiman Sundara (again a Planar) connected to XDuoo XA10 Dac/Amp, so may be I am used to the planar sound signature.
P.S: I did feel a difference between Timeless paired with Hiby R3 Pro Saber DAP (ESS Saber Dac) vs Cayin RU6 (R-2R Dongle Dac) with the latter being more natural, comparatively speaking.
@@haberdasherrykr8886 Yeah it's a problem. Check out the audiophile term tier list I did recently. Simply put, at the moment there's no easy way around the fact that people use language to mean different things. It's not just a problem limited to audio stuff, this is just a problem of language in general. With audio it's just so much more salient because it's uniquely a perceptive experience, and so we are very limited with what we can anchor descriptions of experiences to.
I had the XS and the Ananda and ended up returning the XS due to the hotspot issue the headband caused. I believe I have a sensitive head though, as always your mileage may vary. I also noticed the pads on the XS were much stiffer than Ananda's, but after five minutes on your head they disappeared especially with the few degrees of rotation.
My two cents on the XS align very close to Resolve's. More bass on the XS is the most apparent to me vs Ananda. I don't recall the highs on the XS being bothersome, but I don't think I'm as trebble sensitive as some.
I also, for fun, added a bit of crossfeed to my music (15 out of 100) to add some soundstage depth.
Except the comfort issues and regarding the sound only which one sounds better ananda or XS ?
@@davidmason8212 In my opinion, the XS works with more music as it has a flatter bass extension and not as detailed as the Ananda.
Having said that, if you like the clarity of string and vocals over deep punchy bass then the Ananda I think would be better. The Ananda does have bass for sure, but in a side by side comparison the XS has subjectively better bass.
Another thing to think about is how "good" is your equipments (DAC/Amp)? When I first tried the Ananda on a Fiio E10k it was harsh and I much preferred the XS. Once I got my Topping E/L 50 stack I thought the Anandas were much more controled. To be clear, both headphones sounded better on the better gear.
I tried these headphones. Love their sound but they are too big for my head. WHY didn't they make an adjustable design? this is so stupid...
Is the Ananda at $430 a better bargain than the XS at $450?
I’d argue it depends. Detail, better headband and slightly more neutral sound: ananda’s. Slightly bassier, punchier sound at the cost of slight detail and the headband doesn’t bother you: edition xs.
Should I get rid of my Arya (stealth magnet) and just get the XS?
I wouldn't. Arya SM are on another level
I've definitely noticed the upper treble to be too much for me. What sort of EQ would you recommend to tame the high end just a bit and fill out the mids/lower the slightly boosted lower mids?
Depends on your OS. Could be ViPER4Android on rooted Android, Wavelet on non-rooted Android, PulseEffects on Ubuntu varieties of Linux, Equalizer APO for Windows...
@@d0nj03 what I meant was what EQ to fix the zingy treble. If I remember correctly it’s around -5dB at 12khz with a Q of 4
Hey Andrew, I posted this to a reply on Z's vid, can you comment on the situations I laid out and conclusion briefly? and maybe insight onto situation 4(excluding Z's comments I haven't finished his video, I know, I know!) Regardless thank you for the video, I am someone who has Ananda Seal so this is a weird situation and you cleared up a lot!
"depends on what people define as bass and the fit, Resolve did a great job explaining it, when they both seal the bass is about the same with a slight edge overall to XS... however when both have broken seals the mid bass on XS is HUGE and sub bass is low, when seal on Ananda is broken the sub bass is lower than XS and the bass hump is closer to upperbass/lower mids and also lower... Then factor in the XS has lesser clam, but also swivels, his reasoning for getting the XS was for when the seal is broken it's superior. There are 4 ways it can play out.
#1 BOTH Ananda AND XS BREAK SEAL(for whatever reason depending on a lot of factors like head shape/glasses etc)
XS is dead better, has more SUB bass and MUCH MORE mid bass while Ananda has terrible SUB and MID bass but upper bass hump.
XS WINS
HOWEVER since the XS has less clamp there situation
#2 despite some swivel if the XS BREAKS SEAL but the Ananda DOES NOT (as in my case)
the XS has more MID bass but very low sub bass and the Ananda keep it's linear mid bass AND sub bass(which I prefer)....
ANANDA WINS
Now since the XS has swivel and Ananda does not we present situation.
#3, Ananda BREAKS SEAL BUT the XS DOES NOT,
meaning the XS has linear mid bass and sub bass, however the Ananda has SEVERLY reduced mid bass AND sub bass and a upper bass hump.
XS WINS
#4, NEITHER Ananda NOR XS BREAKS SEAL
This one is murky since I haven't got thru video and doubt Zeos goes into this much depth or tells us but Resolve didn't give much info which has better Technical performance or really which soundsignature he prefers... We can assume since Ananda and Sundara are close technical performance is close, and the sound signature different is both sealed XS has a little more sub bass, better controlled mid treble, lower treble dip, maaaayyybbee a but of upper bass hump so this depends on your preference a lot.
Both Ananda and XS have fairly similar and linear mid and sub bass, XS has a slight bass forward advantage, Sound Signature is pick and chose
TOSS UP? (depending on which SS you prefer, I am at the point Zeos is saying the Ananda has more detail but XS has better stage, but we do not know the so the real answer for now is ????/Preference but for me I think I prefer Ananda!)
So with all this info it's clear the XS winds ATLEAST 50% of the time IF NOT MORE so for cheaper it's the SAFER BET AT A CHEAPER PRICE and the better headphone overall, clearly however this is VERY situational and the real message here is Hifiman either needs to DISCOUNT THE ANANDA OR JUST FIX THEIR HEADPHONE SYSTEM TO MAKE SURE IT ALWAYS HAS SEAL!!!!
Stealth Ananda coming soon?
P.S. going to run this by resolve and see what he thinks checkout his video and see if he comments and maybe we can get more insight?"
Edition XS is safer yes, but I can see reasons to go for either. Keep in mind that there's very little musicl information contained in the ultra low sub-bass frequencies. Also, even with a leak in the XS, the bass rise is still fairly low and getting into the sub-bass. So that's why for me I pick the edition XS even with a leak. The other thing to note is that leaks aren't all going to be as extreme as a full air gap. A partial leak, which is more likely for most people, will give you more bass and also not drop out completely in the sub bass.
@@ResolveReviews Thank you Andrew!
Or... ...how does this XS compare with the Drop x Hifiman Edition XX? I know the XS has the Stealth magnets. When I first saw the XS, I pondered whether it may be related to the XX.
Hi, what portable DAC would be best for the XS? I'm thinking of buying Astell&Kern HC2 Portable USB DAC/Amp
Did you find anything? I got the Qudelix 5k and it sounds *exactly* like when using the Apple Dongle, so I’m now looking for a proper Dac/Amp that actually improves sound quality
Is there a non smoothed version of the harman reference ? And why some headphones (especially the dynamic drivers) looks like smoothed ? They have more smooth fr while planar fr full zigzags.
How does the Edition XS compare to the Focal Elex?
In India i m getting sundara around $300 and edition xs for $400. Should i just go for edition xs or should i get sundara. I have never used open back headphones or any audiophile earphones or headphones. I own sennheiser mtw3 as my daily driver. But i want something audiophile. I m planning to buy desktop dac/amp something fiio k11. Is it gonna be significant improvement over my truewireless?
In regards to the bass boost bit with resonant frequencies. Couldn’t you just put the Anandas around some books while you’re not using them to loosen the clamping force a tiny bit and get a little more bass in?
Well with the Ananda you probably do want a good seal. With Edition XS, it's not that you want a gap, it's merely that it's fine if there is one because Fs is so low. Fs is higher on the Ananda.
Can someone recommend top 5 headphones under 200 closed and open. Also best amp dac to use under 100. Thank you
Are the mids really worse on the xs vs sundaras ? I was considering them because the sundara sounds too lean to me with hollow, distant vocals
I wonder why with headphones we can't expect a similarly or lower priced new model to beat an older model, like usual with other tech.
They probably factor in Research and Development costs when making a new model. Parts and tech could also cost more. Think of it like an Apple product where the newer models have better hardware and technology and cost more than the previous versions. Same with TV's, Game console's, Automobile's etc... You get the drift
They take advantage of the small market
Would you recommend Edition xs for cinematic music production ?
How does it compare to the Beyerdynamic 1990
I just got these since I really liked the Sundaras, but I have issues with both... Sundara's earpads touches my ears which causes irritation and the Edition Xs feels too loose, so much so I have to keep re-adjusting them. Idk if I feel comfortable bending the headband... Any suggestions? How do the Anandas compare with the clamp?
How would you rank this against the Focal Elex?
Hmm about that headband…..this type of headband tends to break about 1 inch above either earpiece. Doesnt matter if its metal. Metal fatigue sets in about 18 months of daily use. Of course thats my experience with 3 different sets over the last decade from other brands
I need a good headphone for watching movies something loud and good for action movies using a schiit stack.
in on review, I can't see this beating Ananda but before I even watch thank you for doing this one! The hypetrain was real but underground, seems like it's close to other stuff which the Ananda and Sundara always was but more options is better for everyone!
How does it compare to focal elex or clear?
I don't understand how you can say the Sundara is "the most neutral". It's sibilant AF.
Does this Headband Fits on my Sundara if i buy it from Hifiman ?
Can I blaze these offa my phone yeah??