HiFiMAN DEVA Pro

General/Build/Comfort/Packaging
Those who are in the community for a while should know who and what Hifiman does. They’re famous for their planar magnetic headphones, not just that, they do make source and amp as well. They cover pretty much what I would say as an ecosystem for their own brand. I have the Deva Pro with me today that’s bundled with the Bluemini R2R bluetooth module. We will take a look at how it’s performance with the bluetooth module, as well as on wired mode.
The packaging is the usual Hifiman packaging which they changed recently with an all cardboard look, bundled with an average dual 3.5mm cable, a foam headphone stand and that’s about it.
Build quality is very similar to HE400SE that I have tested as well and nothing much to shout out about, it keeps the weight light and it works, so that’s fine by me.



Gears used for this review

• Earmen Angel Dac/Amp
• Earmen ST-Amp
• Earmen CH-Amp
• Earmen Colibri
• Hifiman Deva Pro with stock cable and earpads, Bluemini R2R module

Foreword
My review is solely based on what I hear via my equipment and I never consider my reviews to be objective in any way rather a subjective approach. Do take into consideration that everyone’s ear anatomy is not the same, so the psychoacoustics perception might be different as well, but i believe it will not stray too far

Sound Impression with Bluemini R2R Bluetooth Module (LDAC Codec)
The timbre sounds quite natural and the tonality does have a slight emphasis on the treble (slightly bright). A very minor V shaped tuning to my ears, both the lows and highs are slightly elevated and slightly recessed mids, hence i call them as minor V shaped.

Bass

• Bass is fast and precise and never bleed into the mids despite sounding slightly elevated
• The sub bass does rumble when the track calls for it (Machine Gun Kelly’s Taurus)
• Mid bass is quite punchy as well and has good texture to it
• Not basshead kind of bass response, but overall very fun sounding kind of bass with sufficient quantity and good quality
• The seal of the ear pad is also important in order to achieve a good bass response

Mids

• The mids are not overly forward nor recessed,
• Vocal for both male and females has good enough textures to them
• Female vocal has a bit more energy compared to male
• Upper mids are generally safe to my ears and not shouty
• On certain track, male vocal does sound a little distant, but most of the time they are neither too forward nor recessed

Treble

• Treble response has plenty of energetic yet it is not harsh nor sibilant
• Fast and snappy transient response
• Very good resolution for the price, in fact i think it is actually punching above its price point
• Good detail retrieval, micro details can be picked up easily
• Technicalities are quite good for a bluetooth headphone

Soundstage/Imaging

• Soundstage is average to my ears, not too wide nor boxy, just slightly out of your head, lacking depth and height to my ears
• Imaging is good when they tracks are not busy, but when the track starts to get busy, it does sounds quite mushy

Driveability with the R2R Module

• Since the Bluemini module is sort of like a companion accessory for the Deva Pro, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the module will be able to push it to its optimum performance
• At just 40% of volume, playing via LDAC codec from my Xperia 5 II transport, it gets pretty loud and sounds like it has been driven to its optimum performance

Sound Impression on wired with CH-AMP and Angel as DAC
Listening via wired mode, the Deva Pro is entirely a different beast based on my experience. No difference in terms of tonality and timbre, but the tuning doesn’t sound that V shaped anymore.

Bass

• Bass has more control compared to the bluetooth module
• Tighter bass and slightly faster
• Sub bass sounds like it has better extension
• Bass doesn’t bleed into the mids

Mids

• Mids definitely doesn’t sound recessed and slightly forward compared to the bluetooth module
• Mids sounds quite lush when with this pairing

Treble

• Treble is energetic yet non offensive
• However, it does sounds like it lacks a little air and presence on the top end on both bluetooth and wired mode

Soundstage/Imaging

• The soundstage is definitely a step up compared to when it is running on bluetooth module
• Better depth, width, and height perception overall
• Not to mention, imaging is also better with slightly better separation and layering

Driveability

• On wired mode, it definitely requires quite a bit of juice to drive it properly
• ST-Amp with 1.8w is sufficient to drive it properly, but when i switched to the bigger brother, the CH-AMP with 3.8w of power, it sounds even more dynamic and so much fun to listen to iit

Final Thoughts
The Deva Pro as a bluetooth headphone, it is good, but when it is being used as a wired headphone, the performance is even better as it is scaling with your amp and dac setup.
Overall, i am recommending the Deva Pro for those who are looking to use their headphone wirelessly as well as wired setup, a dual purpose headphone. With the price being lowered to 269$ inclusive of the bluetooth module, this is definitely a steal

*The Hifiman Deva Pro was sent over by Hifiman for the purpose of this review, I received no monetary compensation nor was I influenced in any way to produce this review.

If you are interested in getting a pair, head over to their official store to grab one now! It is currently available for 265$ instead of the usual 329$
Hifiman Deva Pro with Bluemini R2R Module - Non affiliated

MatAudiophiles​

hifiman deva pro​

DEVA PRO
INSTAGRAM:

Prelude:
DEVA PRO is an interesting proposition from HIFIMAN because it is based on headphones with a large planar transducer and stealth magnets. They are open and practically protrude slightly from the head. However, what distinguishes them is that in addition to the possibility of a wired connection with a classic cable, a great bletooth adapter based on the R2R bluemini architecture with the original HIFIMAN chip is included. Does this approach to planar headphones make sense? I invite you to read my review!


Unboxing and making:
In the deva pro model dedicated for portable use, care was taken to put a rather rich set in a beautiful black cardboard box on a satin material. The set includes the headphones themselves, a 2x 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable identical to the one in the HE-400SE model. In addition, a large jack adapter and a bluemini adapter as well as a 1.9m USB cable and a handful of cardboard boxes with product information were included. Although personally I missed even the simplest case. After all, the model is dedicated to bluetooth solutions, so it’s nice to carry it safely. However, I can’t complain because the set is complete and the elements are of good quality. The headphones themselves are quite light and handy, despite the large size of the earmuffs, they are flat and very ergonomic. The design and workmanship refer to the he-400se model, but the Deva pro earmuffs are a bit thinner. However, the whole thing has a consistent color scheme and great quality for the current price of 269 USD is very good.


Sound:
My previous experience with the HE400SE and RE400 was very successful and resulted in many hours of listening. This time, Hifiman in the Deva pro model focused on a slightly different character of the sound. For obvious reasons, I used bluemini as a source for my assessment, but also the xduoo mu602 stationary amplifier with the MT602 DAC and the iBasso DX170 file player. I used my tidal playlist and my own files as references. So let’s get to the sound itself. What is worth noting, the headphones are only visually similar to the HE400SE model because sonically they present a slightly different character.

BAS: The low registers have been strengthened compared to the previous edition, i.e. the DEVA model. Tuning was used here with more bass base, greater resolution and stronger impact. These are still not headphones for lovers of strong sounds. Because the bass here is still kept in check and has a specific place. It does not flood the midrange or capture the entire presentation. Its resolution and tonal range is great, mainly due to the large mass and incredible speed characteristic of planar drivers. In rock songs, the dullness of the bass could delight, and its structure gave a lot of satisfaction. A lot also depends on the source used. These are probably the first headphones that sound better via bluetooth than wired. This is due to a really excellent bluetooth DAC/AMPA based on the R2R architecture in the kit. Initially, I planned to devote a separate article to it, but since it is dedicated to deva pro by default, but not only. So I decided to devote a separate paragraph to it here.

Diameter: The vocals are beautiful, natural, and although the whole presentation is a bit darker, close and direct vocals are what HIFIMAN got me used to. Their engaging and emotional nature is a really good solution. If someone likes rap, this is what they are looking for, jazz will also be found, metal, rock, soul is actually quite universal and spatial playing that will successfully find itself in any genre of music. When it comes to instruments, there are a lot of them, they have a lot of space and air, which translates into great feelings. The saturation of the instruments is considerable, and the stage is not cramped, although it is wider, the depth can also delight. In this price range, i.e. up to USD 300, this is an impressive result. Each instrument has its place while maintaining beautiful consistency and high technical quality.

Treble: The upper registers are not as bright and colorful as you might think, it is a darker presentation with beautiful and natural highs. However, it should be remembered that they are slightly tinted, which is not very noticeable, because it allows us to rest and relax after many hours of listening. The strings and details are at an impressive and very high level, and the whole thing has a lot of freedom and air. Such presentation of music allows you to relax and immerse yourself in natural and beautiful sound. Here I also like the unusual lightness while maintaining weight, which is often missing in headphones in this price range.
Comparisons:

DEVA PRO ($269) VS HE400SE ($109)
DEVA PRO is a more mature sound with much more space and air. Less musical, but more technically striking. The HE400SE, however, will appeal to treble lovers and those who do not plan to use bluemini. However, if we care about a better technical layer, and we can pay extra, DEVA PRO is a significant improvement over the still great HE400SE model at its price
DEVA PRO ($269) VS HE-R9 ($199)
The HE-R9 are closed-back headphones with a large dynamic driver. They have a very futuristic look, while still being extremely comfortable and providing above-average sound insulation. Deva pro is a slightly lighter, more open and organic approach to the subject, with less bass and more air. This is due to the differences in the type of transducers used and the design of the headphones. Deva pro is smaller, lighter, but due to zero insulation it is difficult to take it on a bus trip. In the case of the HE-R9, if we do not have any reservations about their design, they are excellent headphones on the R2R system in combination with the bluemini.
DEVA PRO ($269) VS SIVGA ORIOLE ($199)
Oriole are dynamic headphones with a very balanced and coherent presentation in wooden housings. When it comes to deve pro, hifiman chose a slightly more natural and darker tuning. With a lot of air due to the open design and, above all, as befits a planar driver, huge dynamics. Here, of course, it’s hard to talk about better or worse sound, simply Devy are headphones to relax with your favorite music, and sivga oriole will allow us to work with music thanks to its amazing balance.

Bluemini:
The second generation of this amazing bluetooth receiver based on hifiman’s proprietary solutions and the R2R system is above average when it comes to capabilities. First of all, we have full bluetooth 5.0 functionality here, along with an excellent chip from QALCOMA. In addition, a lot of power and amazing, natural sound. The device itself is brilliantly easy to use and provides up to 8 hours of listening to your favorite music. On the downside, I can definitely point out that it has a certain tendency to a very slight hiss at low volume levels or with high resistance headphones like the HE-R9. However, this is marginal and fully compensated by the amazing sounding R2R system with above average naturalness and sonic culture. In my opinion, the price of this module is fully justified, because its capabilities are impressive. We also have the option of using it with LDAC, APTX HD, APTX, SBC, AAC codecs, as well as with a USB cable. In my personal opinion wired sounds even more natural and transparent.

Summary:
Is HIFIMAN DEVA PRO FOR $269 a product to die for? First of all, they are headphones that, together with the bluemini, offer a complete and amazing show of musical possibilities, without a single cable and without any compromises. These are incredibly comfortable, slightly darker, but very natural headphones with a beautiful and dynamic presentation. Their size is optimal, and weight is not a problem. The open design brings a lot of advantages, but also a compromise between insulation, this should be taken into account when deciding to travel by public transport or walking around the center of Tokyo. In my opinion, this is an indecently good offer for such money. Their quality and functionality appealed to me a lot and guaranteed that I would not give up their freedom and purity of sound for a long time. Their strengths are the naturalness and realism of the sound, along with the incredible freedom and purity of the sound. Of the delicate minuses, I can definitely include the lack of a transport case. However, we must remember that these are planar headphones with an open design and while they sound phenomenal with the bluemini, they require a proper amplifier and a high-quality DAC.

Test material:
Bluemini, Qudelix 5k, xDuoo Poke II, iBasso DC06, iBasso DX170, xDuoo XP2pro, xDuoo mu601, mt602, ta-01B.
Test music:
TIDAL, APPLEMUSIC, own files.

Intro​

In 2019, HiFiMAN surprised everyone when they announced the Ananda BT, a pair of wireless, planar-magnetic headphones that were also open-back. It was unlike anything available on the market and had an extremely niche use case.

Fast forward to 2022, and HiFiMAN now has the Deva Pro, a cheaper alternative to the Ananda BT that address some of the key issues of that model, namely the lack of an analog-only mode and heavier weight.

Both of these issues are solved on the Deva Pro courtesy of the included BlueMini R2R module that can be detached as needed.

Let’s see if the Deva Pro can match their peers when it comes to sound quality, as they are taking on both wired and wireless planar magnetic headphones.

HiFiMAN was kind enough to provide the Deva Pro for review.

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This article originally appeared on Headphonesty.

Packaging​

HiFiMAN has a simplified look to all their product packaging nowadays, and the Deva Pro are no exception. The stealth magnet sticker points to the revised driver design of this model—more on the driver redesign later in the Sound section.

In the box​

• HiFiMAN Deva Pro headphones
• 1.5m, 3.5mm terminated cable
• 6.35mm to 3.5mm adapter cable
• BlueMini R2R module
• USB-A to USB-C cable

The supplied accessories are pretty decent considering how notoriously poor the stock HiFiMAN accessories are. For example, their flagship Susvara come with perhaps the least ergonomic stock cable in existence and lacks a carrying case or even an extra set of pads in the package.

Design​

HiFiMAN opted for a slightly different ear cup design than their existing HE-series of headphones or the likes of Arya or Ananda. The shape of the cup is not as oval as the Arya, nor as round as the HE-400se.


The ear cups are made of plastic though the silver finish meshes well with the aluminum yoke.



Another less noticeable design difference is the wire running through the underside of the headband from one cup to the other. This wire allows using the BlueMini module to plug into just one earcup and get sound on both sides.

Sadly, you cannot use BlueMini module on other Hifiman models that lack this “bridging” wire between cups.



The earcups have a perforated cloth material on the front with a solid pleather surround. The headband is foam-padded as well, though I wish the foam was slightly softer. Nonetheless, no hotspots formed on the temple or the sides of my head during the review period.

At the bottom, there are two 3.5mm inputs, with the left one being TRRS.



The yoke and headband are made out of aluminum. Unfortunately, the yokes have sharp edges that can be annoying. It’s not sharp enough to cause injuries, but it does illustrate some deficiencies in the fit and finish of the product.

Comfort and isolation​

Comfort is excellent due to the lightweight design, plush earcups, and low amount of clamp force. Isolation is non-existent, as expected from an open-back design.

BlueMini R2R module​

The highlight of the Deva Pro is the BlueMini R2R module (it can be purchased separately if you wish). This module allows the Deva Pro to become a “Bluetooth” pair of headphones, since the Bluetooth electronics are all inside the module instead of the headphones. The module can be plugged only into the left earcup.



There is a Type-C port at the bottom that can either charge the module or allows connecting to a computer to act as a DAC-amp. The solitary button can be used to power on or off via long-press, whereas a short-press disconnects the Deva Pro from the current device. A double press takes it into pairing mode.



There is also a status LED at the bottom, though voice-prompts are there as well to let you know when the BlueMini has connected, disconnected, or put in pairing mode. Finally, there is a mic at the bottom. It’s serviceable at best with a compressed-sounding voice and little noise cancellation.



The battery life is rated at 8 hours, although I only got about 6.5 hours connecting via the LDAC codec. This is not as good as most mainstream BT headphones, but, keep in mind, that those headphones do not use planar magnetic drivers.

There is ample power here to get the Deva Pro very loud. A quirk of the module is that the volume increments are not linear when connected via Bluetooth. At lower volumes, it’s too quiet, and then right after 50%, it gets tad too loud for me. Connectivity is stable until 7 meters, then there are occasional connection dropouts.

Internals​

HiFiMAN is using their tried-and-tested planar magnetic drivers on the Deva Pro, though they made the driver even more efficient this time. The most notable changes in their latest driver revision are the stealth magnet assembly and the neo-supernano diaphragm.

The stealth magnet assembly has magnets with rounded edges, which apparently reduces the turbulence as sound-waves pass through them. This apparently makes the magnet array almost “acoustically transparent” and reduces distortion.



Meanwhile, the neo-supernano diaphragm refers to the nano-scale thinness of the diaphragm itself, with a sub-micron level voice coil traced onto the diaphragm.

HiFiMAN Deva Pro Sound​

The following sound impressions were formed with the stock earpads and stock cable or the BlueMini module. The Questyle CMA-400i and Macbook Pro were used for wired listening, and Pixel 4XL was used for wireless listening. The LDAC codec was used throughout. Test tracks are available on Tidal as a playlist.

The Deva Pro have a bright-tilted sound with the bass being more emphasized in Bluetooth mode, whereas the treble gains more presence in wired mode.

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Bass​

Bass starts rising from 30Hz and becomes noticeable around 40Hz. Bass response is pretty much flat. In BT mode there is more emphasis near the sub-bass it seems, though the bass sounds rolled-off after 35Hz in all three modes (Bluetooth, USB, and wired).

The bass has a decent amount of punch and slam but lacks physical rumble. Also mid-bass texture is lacking to a degree. Bass is fast, thanks to the planar drivers, but can also veer towards distortion at high volumes.

Midrange​

The lower-midrange is well-tuned with male vocals having enough body. String instruments also have a good sense of “bite” in the leading edge of notes. Keyboards and pianos lack the heft or the note-weight to truly sound “grand” but they do not sound anemic in any way.

Unfortunately, the upper-midrange is quite intense. There is no noticeable frequency dip between 2-5kHz, resulting in a very up-front midrange. Such tuning also hampers soundstage depth and microdynamics.

This intense upper-mid focus makes female vocals sound overly energetic at times, and the lack of sub-bass extension coupled with flat mid-bass exposes this further. Colbie Caillat’s Realize is a good example of this intensity.

Treble​

Treble is peaky and the boosted upper-treble frequencies cause fatigue in long listening sessions.

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Cymbal hits have extra sizzle to them, which I cannot listen to for any extended period. The lower-treble emphasis also adds instances of sibilance, though those are rare.

Sibilance is more evident in wired mode, as the R2R BlueMini module reduces it noticeably. Treble extension is lacking as there is not much response after 12kHz. The boost near 11kHz cannot hide the lack of resonance, instead, it adds an unnatural “sheen” to hi-hats and crash cymbals.

Soundstage and imaging​

Soundstage lacks depth no matter which mode you use. Stage width is also compressed in Bluetooth mode but fares better in wired mode. Imaging is average as it’s hard to discern the location of instruments in ordinal directions.

Dynamics and speed​

Dynamics are compressed, with little macrodynamic punch and non-existent microdynamic shifts (subtle gradations) in volume. Speed is above-average for the price range, and busy passages could have better instrument separation.

Comparisons​

It’s hard to make an “apples vs apples” comparison with the Deva Pro since I have not used another wireless, open-back, planar magnetic pair of headphones.

The Audeze Penrose is wireless and has a planar magnetic driver but they are closed-back. The remaining Bluetooth headphones use dynamic drivers and are tuned very differently, e.g. the Sony WH-1000XM4. Compared to mainstream Bluetooth headphones, the Deva Pro are more resolving in the bass and treble and have better imaging.

Their open-back nature make them unsuitable for commuting, though, and the low clamp force is not ideal when wearing them during physical activities.

When it comes to comparing similar open-back wireless headphones, there are the HiFiMAN Ananda BT but they are priced near the flagship range and would be a very unfair comparison. So, the Deva Pro escape further scrutiny in the comparisons section by being the lone-ranger in their price bracket.

Conclusion​

The HiFiMAN Deva Pro are below average when compared to other wired planar-magnetic headphones in their price range. On the other hand, they are more resolving than the typical wireless, closed-back headphones out there, but also less practical and lack features like ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) that many consumers expect in this price range.

So, the Deva Pro face an identity crisis and do not excel as Bluetooth headphones or as wired planar-magnetic headphones. One potential use-case could be having them as an all-in-one solution, but then you are sacrificing the lifestyle features of the best wireless headphones and the sound quality of the best wired headphones.

The Deva Pro are an interesting experiment, but they are underwhelming with all things considered. I gave them an additional 0.5 as a bonus in the rating for being innovative, but innovation alone cannot hide the fatiguing sound signature and less-than-stellar build.

The Deva Pro have been kindly loaned to me by Hifiman for me to evaluate them and create this review. As always, they have not requested anything at all and I will include a link to the Deva Pro on the official Hifiman site because I feel that it is the least I can do.

My review will follow the normal course of being as sincere and unbiased as possible but it is always good to take into consideration that I have not spent any of my own money to test these headphones.

Official Deva Pro page: https://hifiman.com/products/detail/313

(non-affiliate link)



Intro…

The Deva Pro are the latest Bluetooth headphones from Hifiman, although, as with the original Deva, these can also be used via cable. I’ll get into details about that as we move along, but first a little background.

Back in 2020 I reviewed the original Hifiman Deva, a set of headphones that was available with or without the Bluetooth module. In my case, I reviewed them without the module and did not get to try them via Bluetooth. I found them to be a decent set of headphones for their price at the time and although they are not my favourite Hifiman headphones, I thought they would be a good option at a reasonable price, especially for those who liked the aesthetics (check out the original Deva review here to see more).

At the beginning of 2021, I had the chance to review the Ananda Bluetooth, a more expensive set of Bluetooth headphones from the brand. The Ananda BT were far from perfect but they still remain the best sounding set of Bluetooth headphones I have heard to date. They were priced at over 1000€ at the time and, although the price has dropped since then, they still remain a quite an expensive set of Bluetooth headphones with a few quirks that didn’t convince everyone.

The Deva Pro is a new release, or a fairly recent release at least, that addresses some of the complaints from the original Deva and solves some of the issues that were commonly mentioned with the Ananda BT, for a much lower price of around 300€, which is actually a very similar price to the original Deva BT 2 years ago.

Being a fan of Hifiman, I am always interested in trying out their stuff and while I am not a huge BT headphone fan (although my use of BT has increased quite a bit since having the Go Blu), these headphones are not the typical BT headphones, but I’ll get to that.



Presentation…

As with the vast majority of Hifiman headphones, the Deva Pro arrives in the typical black box with a silk lined interior. Inside the box we find the headphones, the Bluetooth module, a couple of cables and the usual warranty cards.

I am not going to go into the packaging and presentation in much depth as I have already covered it multiple times in previous Hifiman reviews, so I will just say that there are no complaints from me as far as packaging.

I would have liked them to include some kind of storage/transport case, as Bluetooth headphones are usually something that are aimed to be portable (or at least transportable), but that is more of a wish than a complaint.



Build and aesthetics…

The aesthetics of the Deva Pro have changed quite a bit in comparison to the original Deva. The shape and style is still the same, however, the light brown tan leather pads and headband have been replaced with a more classical black look. I know there were lots of people who weren’t overly fond of the original colour scheme so I think that the more classical black and silver look will please them. Personally I liked the original Deva aesthetics but I also have no issue with the new look.

The build quality is much the same as any other Hifiman headphone of the same style. Using the headband that Hifiman chooses on the majority of their new models, there is plenty of adjustment in the cups, which should result comfortable for most people. I personally find that this style of headband does create a bit of a hotspot on the top of my head with extended use but for some reason, it doesn’t seem to be as uncomfortable (for me) over long periods as the Edition XS that I reviewed recently, possibly due to the cup shape and how the clamp to my face. Comfort wise I find it almost identical to the HE400se, which can still be improved with nuggets or the addition of a comfort strap, but is not a necessity.

Where the Deva does result far more comfortable (for me) than the HE400se is in the pad section. Where the pads on the HE400se have a kind of towelling material on the inside, the deva have a smoother material, similar to that found on the Ananda etc. Personally I much prefer this as I find the other material causes me to itch (and produces more heat).

The connections used by Hifiman on the Deva Pro consist of a dual connection, one 3.5mm connector on each cup, however, the left cup also accepts a 3.5mm TRRS connector, which is how the Bluetooth module is connected. This is a system that allows the Deva Pro to be used with both the BT module and the normal cable that is included. It also opens the possibility of using other aftermarket cables of your choice. This is something that was a complaint from many with the Ananda BT, the fact that it could only be used via BT or USB, the Deva Pro solves this issue in a way that I find well thought out and implemented.

The Bluetooth module, which I will speak about more in the functionality section next, is made of plastic and is of a simple black colour. The shape is something that is hard to describe in words, so please look at the image, but it attaches to the bottom of the left cup and has the USB-C port, a single button and the microphone on the bottom.

In general I have no complaints with the Deva Pro build or aesthetics. It is not the most beautiful Hifiman headphone (that is reserved for the Susvara and HE1000se in my opinion) but I don’t see anything that I can really complain about in the price range.



Functionality…

The way the Deva Pro works is very simple. To use it in BT mode, you attach the BT module to the bottom of the left cup, hold the button to turn it on, connect to source and away you go. To use them with a normal cable set up, just remove the module and connect the cable to both cups. I believe you can also use a 3.5 TRRS cable to just one side if you prefer, although I am not sure about the pin out, that would need to be confirmed.

As I mentioned above, the bottom of the module houses the microphone, a status LED, the USB-C port and a single button.

To connect to the source for the first time, you switch on the module (hold the button for a couple of seconds) and once it is on, press the button twice to enter pairing mode. Once it has been paired with your device, the reconnection is instant when switching the module on. One thing I did notice is that the voice that informs you that you are powered on and/or connected is at the same volume independent of your source volume or previous listening levels. The voice is a little loud for my personal tastes but this is a bit of nit picking, it’s not like she actually screams at you.

Once on and connected, the button controls play/pause by a single press, to answer/end a call it is also one press of the button, with two presses to reject a call. Unfortunately this is all the control you get from the module. There is no way to skip tracks or control volume. This is not the end of the world but personally I like to be able to control volume on BT devices as the whole point of wireless is freedom from the source, so removing your phone (for example) from your pocket to change volume or track sort of defeats the object in my opinion.

The BT module features the Hymalaya R2R DAC inside, which is supposed to offer high sampling rates with low energy consumption. The module does support LDAC, along with aptxHD and aptX, so I have no complaints as far as connectivity. LDAC is smooth and doesn’t seem to have any issues staying connected, allowing me to freely roam my office while my phone is on my desk. There are also no issues with the source being in a pocket, so no complaints from me either.



Sound…

I have been using these headphones both with the module and with the normal cable, driving them in the latter from an Asgard 3 and also from the Gryphon in the office, with no issues as far as driving them at all. While the sensitivity of the Deva Pro is rather low at 93.5dB (18 Ohms), I didn’t find that they needed any special form of amplification, although they do need more than a phone to drive them. The module drives them fine also, not seeming to lack anything in comparison to using them via cable, and they reach levels that are way above my usual listening levels. In fact, the volume level becomes painful (for me) before I even hit 75% on my source volume.

Although I have used them in both scenarios, my review is going to focus on using them mainly with the BT module, as I feel that is what makes these headphones special. I am not saying that they aren’t good without the module (I will explain more as I go on) but I think the reason for purchasing them is to make the most of the BT module with having the cabled option available.

My first impressions of the Deva Pro were that they reminded me a lot of the HE400se (a headphone that I am very fond of and is my highest recommendation at its price point). After some more detailed listening, the sound is not identical to the HE400se but it is very similar, at least in my opinion, with some slight changes that could actually be dependent on the pad difference between the two units. I haven’t yet tried swapping pads between them (I believe they fit but I'm not sure) but it would be an interesting experiment.

Starting off with the subbass, the roll off is more pronounced than on other sets of Hifiman planars. It starts to roll off around the same point as the HE400se or even the Ananda, but the actual drop is more pronounced on the Deva Pro. This means that you will not get the low rumbling bass of other alternatives but that is not something that is really expected of an open back planar anyway. The extension could be better down low and a listen to “Chameleon” quickly proves this point, however, the sub bass that is there is quick and clean, as is to be expected of a headphones of this style.

Moving into the mid bass, this is well balanced and is basically a straight line all the way into the lower mids. This is the area of these headphones that reminds me the most of the HE400se and is nothing short of great. Bass is clean and articulate, never losing control no matter how busy the track gets.

From “Black Muse” by Prince, through to “Elephants on Ice Skates” or even “Whole Lotta Love” is a pleasure to listen to. Yes, this is typical planar bass, excelling at cleanliness and speed, and I do miss some dynamic driver warmth to be totally honest, but within planar presentation of bass, the Deva Pro really does hold its own and I do not feel that it is overshadowed in the Hifiman lineup until we start reaching models that stretch into the 4 figure sums.

As we get into the mids, the transition from the bass area is excellent, with not a hint of anything becoming stressed or muddy. As we reach into the higher part of the mids, the Deva Pro are just a touch more forwards than other Hifiman options, with a bit of a boots around the 1kHz region. The typical Hifiman dip around 2kHz is still there and this little extra around 1kHz does make it a little more obvious. This doesn’t sound bad, far from it, but it is certainly not as balanced as other models. I feel that the HE400se is actually a little better in this area.

The 3kHz peak on the Deva Pro is also not really present in comparison to something like the HE400se. The highest point is actually around 5kHz and as I have mentioned in the past, my ears seem to be far more sensitive to the 5k mark than the 3k mark. This means that vocals are not quite as forward as on other models and added to the slight reduction in the low mids, and that peak at 5kHz, can mean that they lose a little of their richness, along with a bit of an extra sizzle that can be a little piercing depending on the track in question.

The extension of the treble is good, with enough air for my personal taste, although I do again feel that the HE400se is slightly better in this regard. I am not complaining about the extension or sense of air, it is far better than many competitors, but in comparison to other Hifiman products, it does fall slightly behind.

As far as soundstage and imaging, it is as good as the majority of Hifiman planars. Ok, it is quite a bit behind something like the Arya (especially if we are talking V2) but it is easily on par with something like the HE400se.

Background details are easily identified, with placement and layering being what I have come to expect as a minimum from the brand. If coming from other Hifiman models, the Deva Pro may not seem anything special in this regard, but if coming from other brands in a similar price bracket, it will certainly be something special.



Conclusion…

I have compared the Deva Pro quite a bit to the HE400se in this review, at least in regards to sound. To be totally honest, I still feel that the HE400se is the best option under 500€ for a set of planar headphones, or any headphones in general, I am just a planar lover. In a straight “sound to sound” comparison, I feel that the HE400se are a little ahead of the Deva Pro and they come in at less than half the price.

However, we are not just comparing sound, there are so many other things that fit into the equation. Where the HE400se are a simple set of headphones, the Deva Pro comes bundled with the Bluemini R2R. This opens up a whole new world of possibilities, giving them not only the possibility of being used as a bluetooth headphone (along with a mic for calls), they can also be used via USB, all while featuring a Himalaya R2R architecture DAC.

They improve on the functionality of the Ananda Bluetooth, which may sound a little better in terms of audio, but is far behind the Deva Pro in terms of usability, and here we are talking about a set of headphones that is three times the price of the Deva Pro. In this regard I would no doubt recommend the Deva Pro out of the two. I feel that the Ananda BT is a very niche product that will fit a very select number of users and use cases, however, the Deva Pro is a very versatile set of headphones that should meet anyone's use case. Obviously these are not a set of bluetooth headphones that you would use on a plane or other transport, but the commodity of being wireless whenever needed, without a loss of quality, is something to be praised.

So, as a complete package, I feel that the Deva Pro is a set of headphones that really doesn’t have any direct competition. If you feel that the usability of the Deva Pro coincides with what you are looking for, then there really isn’t anywhere else to turn.

As always, this review is also available in Spanish both on my blog (here) and on YouTube (here).

The Deva Pro marks HIFIMAN’s approach to even more streamlining of their technologies and experiences. It’s the 3rd headphone to receive the stealth magnet array after the HE-1000SE’s original inheritance from the Susvara. As the time of writing this review the Arya Stealth is already storming over the market claiming the sub 2k territory, deservedly so with its strong dynamics, linearity, excellent timbre and staging qualities, a rather complete package combining a lot of desired traits.

Codename Himalaya​

There’s more to the Deva Pro though than “just” being upgraded to stealth magnet arrays.


The first edition introduced the Bluemini, a BT module that is connected right underneath the cups with a 3.5mm TRRS fit like a rifle’s magazine.


The Deva Pro now introduces the next evolution of the Blue Mini, the Bluemini R2R codenamed Himalaya, a resistor ladder DAC in full BT5.0 fashion supporting all the widely used formats like SBC, AAC, AptX-HD and LDAC and becoming a USB DAC if you decided to sit down cabled to your notebook or PC. During USB, Bluetooth and analog wired mode charging is happening at the same time if you wish so – very convenient.


Seeing that the R2R version of the Bluemini is replacing the old one in all current bundles speaks of HIFIMAN’s confidence about its sound and indeed it proves to be a more refined, more organic and grippy listen with better timbre. Grippy as in more tactile transients, improved dynamisms and better staging depth.

Physical changes​

Yes, as can be seen from the pictures the Deva Pro supports both TRRS in the left cup with the Bluemini and also a balanced drive via both cups through the 3.5mm TRRS entries, allowing your desktop setup to flex their muscles. Again, allowing you to listen through all modes while charging at the same time.

Now how does it sound?​

As with the OG the Deva Pro aims at HIFIMAN’s traditional neutral-bright again, meaning a rather linear continuity from mid bass to 1k, then taking a slight downward slop towards 2k a few miles later and then going up again until the lower treble starts rising slightly above the rest. This time cleaner and polished though, with textural nuances and their composition not “overbrittled” and smeared, which is especially a blessing in the mid to treble transition, giving the whole picture more clarity and cleanliness. Stealth magnets doing their work again. The whole range is in fact cleaner now, more open, way more sharp in placement and positioning. It’s only natural that we can expect HIFIMAN to implement this in all their headphones now and only a matter of time.

Bass​

Good control and well-behaved, more reactive to multiple bass lines now, allowing for keeping them separated yet also in line, meaning the Deva Pro can handle pitch differences and not lose composure – a sure sign of the driver being able to keep up during more complex parts due to its better speed, resolve and driver control.


As for extension, the Deva Pro does not reach the level of the Arya Stealth or Arya 2020’s subbass and neither the sustain and heft but it still goes down well before it rolls off.


As for bass levels, slam and punch themselves, these are not designed to batter your head or hit you with a hammer while you get up and yell for more, the bass is tuned towards a more neutral or reference approach and it fits like glove given the newly added technicalities. Yet the Deva allows for a good, thumping EDM session, the slamming of drums and the rumble of King Kong when he gets up for his mourning routine in his latest movie. Now again, everything with a rolloff of course but above 40Hz there is nothing to be missed and going down from there you will miss the lowest notes and their sustain. Still fairly good performance.

Mids​

The midrange evolves from the original DEVA in new and better ways but instead of just having slapped in the new magnet array HIFIMAN made some more homework to make sure that the tonality and timbre aspects follow the technical foundation. Thus the Deva Pro has been retuned to match the technical leap. Texture, sense of weight, speed, the detailing and nuancing of dynamics for each instrument in the mix is a whole step better now. Generally while the usual suspects apply when we speak about the Stealth magnets benefits, making a review like this almost repetitive, there is another aspect where the Deva Pro is improved upon: timbre and naturalness. In comparison to the OG friends of natural instruments will rejoice in timbral glory. Well, not at the level of the Susvara but more than competitive in its price range for sure.

Treble​

With cleaner treble performance and clarity due to better controlled soundwave flow, air between instruments and the air of fresh breath is more pronounced and apparent, giving the Deva Pro more openness and the feeling of resolve, while not pronouncing the 10khz+ frequency part which tends to give everything a hazy sheen.


As for emphasis the treble part is a bit more forward than the rest making for a sparkly and livelier presentation, giving instruments more illumination this time.

Headstage​

The improved openness is again, as we know by now, one of the results of its new technical foundation and of course the retuning of the driver to follow up. Less interferences and fractures lead to more coherent airflow or air “guidance”, being lesser prone to reflections on the way. Together with the cleaner presentation and better control the biggest change however is the placement of objects or instruments in the space. It’s far sharper now and moves or stays less “blurry”, thus the feeling of speed and textural composition also leads to a feeling of “effortlessness” compared to the OG Deva where it’s harder to “keep track”.


By now followers of HIFIMAN’s offerings know the pattern very well.

Conclusion​

Slowly and steady HIFIMAN’s is giving every headphone a cloak and a dagger, making refractions and diffuseness disappear into the shadows, quietly and smoothly with more precision than ever before. A further step to reach low acoustic impedance based on the original Window Shade system, now enhanced with stealth magnets. So far every iteration has been an improvement both on physical and acoustic design level and also in tuning, fixing timbre and balance issues in one sweep. The Deva Pro marks is superb value if you’re not in strict need of usual “BT Wireless” requirements that consider isolation from outside noises.


Good for any BT device on the market isolating that feature for itself in comparison as the Deva Pro beats them all in terms of sound. In addition it offers multiple ways to enjoy its sound, be it USB, BT or the power of your own amps.

DISCLAIMER:
The HIFIMAN Deva Pro was sent to me by HIFIMAN in exchange for an honest review. No monetary exchange took place. This is 100% my honest opinion.

Link to buy:
https://store.hifiman.com/index.php/deva-pro.html


Bass:
The bass is textured, has a solid body and well-controlled. The speed is quite good and transients are quick with a short decay. The sub-bass is rumbly but the mid-bass is lacking some punch and the overall bass region is levelled and close to neutral. The bass is more rumbly than punchy, the sub-bass extension has a far reach and goes quite deep but it does not envelope you in bass. The bass has good detail and sounds clean.

Mids:
The mids possess a decent amount of warmth which complements the bass. The mids are lively with a good amount of energy and clarity to produce soothing sounds that sound relaxing to the ears. Instruments such as the piano and the guitars sound rich and luscious, creating a relaxing ambience. Overall this tuning is very soothing and relaxing, and non-fatiging. The resolution and details on the mids are pretty good.


Uppermids/Treble:
The treble does sound a bit bright but somehow it is subtle to the point where it does not sound harsh and is not fatiging. the treble is very detailed due to the stealth magnets doing wonders with very miniscule details heard clearly. The treble extension goes quite far. Female vocals sound highly resolute and angelic. Cymbals and electric guitars might be a bit peaky for some.

Soundstage/Imaging
The soundstage is impressive, with this open-back headphones you get an airy, resolute and detailed experience. The soundstage is wide, like being in a large room. You get the feeling of that layer of air between your ears and the instruments, but it is not to a point where the instruments are too distant. imaging is good, able to accurately pinpoint the various instruments and separation is good too with instruments not sounding congested on busy tracks.


Verdict:
The deva pro is an amazing open-back headphone with bluetooth connectivity. It is the most resolute bluetooth headset and costs $329usd.With an overall neutral tuning, with vocals sounding natural, this headset makes most tracks enjoyable. This is easily the best sounding bluetooth headset.

For reference, check out my video:

The sample was kindly provided by HiFiMan for my subjective and unbiased review.
The selling price is $329, slightly more expensive than the original Deva and you can buy directly from HiFiMan store.

Introduction

The Deva Pro is a new updated version of the much acclaimed and multi awarded Deva (review) featuring the innovative HiFiMan Stealth magnets design and a newly designed Bluemini wireless R2R module.



Description and technical specifications

The Deva Pro is a classic planar magnetic headphone that can also become instantly wireless by simply attaching to the left ear cup the included Bluetooth module called Bluemini.
The Deva Pro uses the newly designed Acoustically Invisible Stealth Magnet by HiFiMan.
Unlike the sound waves created by a conventional magnet, the special shape of Stealth Magnets enables the waves to pass through the magnets without generating interference. HIFIMAN’s advanced magnet design is acoustically transparent, dramatically reducing wave diffraction turbulence that degrades the integrity of the sound waves.
The reduced distortion yields pure sonic output that is accurate and full-range.
The core design of the driver is based on HIFIMAN’s NEO "supernano" Diaphragm (NsD).
The new NsD is 80% thinner than previous designs, resulting in fast response and detailed image with lush, full range sonics.



Cable interface

HiFiMan have paid close attention to user feedback and thankfully they decided to re - design the Deva Pro with dual - sided 3.5mm sockets that can accommodate cables with 3.5mm mono plugs.
The left socket can act as a 3.5mm TRRS balanced input so it can also handle single - plug cables and of course the balanced R2R Bluemini module.
So with the Deva Pro, unlike with the original, users can use their balanced cables and it is much more easy to find after-market cables.



Speaking of cables, the one that comes with the Deva Pro is better than the one found in the previous version and it gets the job done.



Appearance and build quality

The design between the two Devas is identical and the only difference lies into the color scheme which is now silver - black and not silver - beige, a combination that I much prefer and I guess most of you will do.
Build quality is very good, the headphone has plastic ear cups with aluminum grills and yokes from solid metal.
The headband is padded, has a metallic inner reinforcement and is covered with leatherette on the outside.
The ear pads are filled with memory foam and have a leatherette outer perimeter combined with perforated fabric into the inner parts.
The ear cups have a swiveling action for better fit and the height adjustment is easily done without the need to apply excessive force.



Comfort

The Deva Pro is lightweight, at 360gr and it is super comfortable with roomy ear pads that can accommodate the whole ear and stay cool after a long time of use, while clamping force is minimal.
Of course despite being a wireless headphone, it is not suitable for outdoor use due to the fully open design and the loose fit.

Accessories

The Deva Pro comes in a cardboard box that can double as storage but no real carrying case is included.
There is also the cable, a long 2m USB type C cable for charging and connecting the Bluemini to a PC, the Bluemini module and a 6.35mm adapter.



Bluetooth Bluemini module "Himalaya"

The chipset shortage led HiFiMan to re-design the Bluemini from scratch and adopt the classic R2R method.
The Himalaya is a small module that plugs directly into the left ear cup of the headphone and incorporates a Qualcomm QCC5124 Bluetooth 5.0 receiver together with a discrete R2R Non-Oversampling (NOS) DAC and an independent balanced headphone output stage.
The Qualcomm chipset supports the high definition codecs LDAC and aptX HD.
Connection proved very stable without disconnections and a good working distance even inside the house.
When connected to a PC as a USB dac it can support high resolution files up to 96kHz / 24bit.
The new Bluemini is powerful and can output about 200mW but is still very efficient, consuming only 20mW so its battery can last for longer with a single change.
Actually I was able to get about 6 hours of loud music playback with the LDAC codec enabled.
The Bluemini can also be used in OTG connection with Android and iOS devices running from its internal battery but there is one glitch.
There is a strange volume limit and you can't get the full available range as you can do when it is connected to a PC or in Bluetooth mode.
I haven't tested with applications like Neutron or UAPP which supposedly can bypass the internal volume software of the host device but with streaming services like Tidal and Qobuz you get the volume limit, so this is something to consider if you plan on using it this way.
The Himalaya sound quality is very good under Bluetooth mode and much better when it is used with the cable as a USB DAC connected to a PC.
This new Bluetooth module, like it's predecessor, is not the most clean sounding when it comes to phone calls but it gets the job done.



Himalaya sound performance

The sound is full and dynamic with that organic R2R flavor that results in a pleasing, analog sound signature with natural timbre and good extension to both ends.
The Himalaya is rather neutral, faithful to the original source and does not run some kind of DSP to specifically match the Deva Pro.
It is a high fidelity, transparent DAC and using it is exactly the same as connecting the headphone to a quality external DAC/amp.
I have compared the Himalaya to the original Bluemini and I found it to be fuller sounding with a more engaging and musical presentation plus it is a touch more powerful and dynamic.

The Deva Pro is already good sounding with the Bluemini and a lot of users will stay completely satisfied without feeling the need to invest in a separate DAC/amp.
This is the strong selling point of the Deva Pro but while the Bluemini is an excellent out of the box solution, more demanding users can certainly do better because the Deva Pro responds very well to upstream gear and extra power.
The Bluemini is quite powerful but when you need spare headroom and better dynamics then a high quality, powerful external set up is going to greatly improve the overall experience and I would certainly suggest that you should try it when funds allow.
To test the wired performance I have mostly used the Topping EX5 and the Schiit HEL.



Sound impressions

The tuning is balanced with neutral bass response, linear mids and a little bright but smooth and controlled treble.
The general impression is that of a clean and clear sounding headphone that can resolve with finesse and present the music with an open and spacious manner.
Some would expect it to sound clinical or boring but that is not true since it has a touch of warmth and the presentation is quite musical and engaging.
The Deva Pro is not too full bodied nor too weighty but it has a rather lean and delicate character to it's presentation.



Bass is linear with good sub-bass extension for most of the time but it is not going to shine with deep bass electronic music nor offer a rumbling and thundurus experience.
The tuning is even up to the mids without any signs of bleeding so the bassline is crystalline, tight, controlled, with excellent articulation, exemplary layering and instruments never get masked.
The Deva Pro is lighting fast so it will not lose it's pace even with the most demanding and complex material.
Dynamics are rendered satisfyingly, at least regarding rise and fall, but the overall feeling is a little shy and constrained; it is not a hard hitting and shuttering headphone.

Midrange is neutral toned, vocals and instruments sound balanced and even, exactly in the way that they were recorded without extra emphasis from the headphone, so don't expect it to sound colored and mid - centric.
Texture is airy and fluid, mids sound spacious and crystalline but not as rounded as someone might expect.
Articulation is fine and the timbre is mostly natural but upper mids may sound with lesser intensity although nothing too noticeable while listening to music.

The presence area is perceived as a little bright but with better textural quality and extension than the original Deva and not as pronounced.
It is not something that can lead to listener fatigue and the sound is absent of harshness although the attentive listener will not fail to notice that there are signs of artificial and metallic timbre combined with a thinner touch.



For example the soprano voice can become a little shouty at certain phrases when reaching the higher parts of her tessitura, it is not irritating but still counts as accentuated.
Anyway the treble is mostly smooth and controlled with excellent extension and can resolve some fine detail without sounding analytical.

Soundstage master

The original Deva was one of the most open sounding headphones in the market but the Pro takes it even higher further improving the performance.
The soundstage is expansive and airy with excellent positioning accuracy and panning into the horizontal axis never sounding artificial or out of proportion.
It is not as holographic but still has some good depth layering and the soundscape is equally extended to the height as it is in the width while the listener is rewarded with some natural reverb and echo that gives a very open and spacious feeling.
Just listen to the Messa da Requiem by Verdi with the huge instrumental and choral forces to get a feeling of the soundstaging capabilities of the Deva Pro.



Compared to the original Deva

The original Deva is sounding less clean and not as resolving both in the quantity of the details and the quality of the expression.
The Pro is definitely superior in technicalities but sometimes it may sound too polished when the original has a little more "dirty pleasure" and organic character to it.
Frequency response is almost the same but the Pro is better controlled in the upper treble with fewer ringing artifacts although due to the extra clarity someone might confuse it as brighter.
Truth is that although both headphones sound quite similar, the Pro is perceived as the upgraded version per se and this is without counting in the Himalaya module which is better sounding than its predecessor.
But if you already own the Deva then I don't think that the differences justify upgrading to the Deva Pro and you would better save some money for a higher tier HiFiMan headphone.
(The comparison was done with the Himalaya module and with the cable)



At the end

The Deva Pro builds on the already successful Deva to offer the buyer an even better and enhanced version with upgraded sonics, dual cable entries and a superior Bluetooth module.
This is a great mid - priced planar magnetic headphone that you can enjoy out of the box without the need to purchase anything else and at the same time is one of the best Bluetooth headphones your money can buy.

Test playlist

Copyright - Laskis Petros 2021.

Hifiman Deva Pro is an open-back, planar-magnetic headphone that can be used both wired and via Bluetooth, thanks to its Bluemini R2R module. It is priced at $329.

• PAWEŁ
• NOVEMBER 14, 2021
• HEADPHONES

Introduction​

Looking at how big Hifiman has grown over the last few years it’s not a surprise, that they’re pointing their heads towards new and interesting segments of the audio market. That’s exactly what happened when they launched their Ananda BT and the original DEVA. As far as I know, these were the first open-back, planar-magnetic wireless headphones.
Looking at how popular they were, and they were both regarded as the absolute best Bluetooth headphones on the market, it was a matter of time till they’ll launch yet another one. They just did, and boy oh boy, this is big.

Packaging​

First, let’s take a look at the packaging of the new Deva Pro. It’s yet another Hifiman box, their packaging has been very consistent lately, and it’s no different here.
The box is modest, basic and it does its job just about perfectly. Nothing fancy, but at this price you can’t really expect that. Inside, apart from the headphones themselves, you’ll find a 3.5mm cable, since you can use the Deva Pro in wired mode as well, which is great news. The cable included is…it’s a basic, black Hifiman cable, there’s nothing more to say about it, to be honest.
Apart from the manual and some papers, there’s also the Bluemini R2R module sitting in the box, and it is one of two big updates compared to the original Deva, but more on this later.
To summarize, you’re buying a $329 pair of headphones and you’re getting a $329 kind of experience. It is good and straight to the point, and most importantly – the box is secure enough that you don’t have to worry about the safety of your new headphones while in transit.

Design, Build and Comfort​

Now into the build quality and comfort. The new Deva Pro is basically the same headphone as the original Deva when it comes to its physical aspects, apart from the colors. It is now a mix of silver and black, which looks way more universal and neutral to the eye.
I’m not gonna lie – I really like the appearance and the color scheme of the original Deva, but I know many people that found it…controversial. Even though it looked way better in person than in the photos, it still gained some attention because of that, and that’s not really desirable by the brand.

So, the actual build quality of the Deva Pro is pretty good, absolutely no complaints here. The headband regulation feels sturdy yet smooth, the weight distribution is excellent and every part that touches your skin feels pleasant. Also, they feel like they could take a beating, quite substantial in hand and not at all fragile. It feels more premium and durable than the 400se for example, as it should, considering the price gap.
As for the build of the R2R module, it is rather tiny and light. It’s made of plastic and there’s really nothing to say about it. It works, it’s comfortable, and I feel that It’ll survive a drop to the floor…but two drops, I wouldn’t be that sure. However, if you’ll avoid throwing them against the wall, I can’t see you having any problems with the headphone or the module, it’s really good.

Speaking about comfort – the Deva Pro with the R2R module attached is a very comfortable pair of headphones. It’s rather light, the clamping force feels just right, at least after a couple of weeks of use. The pads and the headband are both quite plush and soft, and I’m not having any problems with wearing them for a couple of hours. Actually, ever since I got them I have always used them while doing photos for our reviews, and having in mind that they often take hours to make, you can easily get an idea of how comfortable and convenient these are.

Tech​

For the tech paragraph, let’s start with the headphone. It uses a planar-magnetic driver, but now with Hifiman’s trademark “Stealth Magnets”. I feel like it often gets overlooked and underappreciated, so here’s why it is such a big deal:

Stealth Magnets are what sets the tone for the current generation of HiFiMan cans. They came up with a new shape, that makes it easier for sound to pass through it. Conventional, rectangular in cross-section magnets create a resonance between them. That resonance will color the sound in an unwanted manner. Having the edges trimmed at a 45-degree angle strongly reduces the resonance, allowing air (and sound) to move freely. Being all technical it goes like this: moving air changes its volume as it encounters the flared magnets. The changing volume also changes the speed. Less speed means a flatter Q of the resonance. How it’s possible that nobody else does it if it’s so simple? Well, it’s not easy to make magnets in that shape that are repeatable and have very good parameters suitable for planar headphones. So you either pay a ton of money for them, or you order a train of those at a bit less outrageous price. Then you put them in every product you have. Now we have them in both HiEnd Susvara, in basic HE-400SE, and everywhere in between, except the Ananda.

Impressive things don’t end here though, as there’s one more thing that seems almost unreal (at least it seemed a while ago), and is probably the biggest deal about the Deva Pro – the new Bluemini R2R.
Yes, the new Bluetooth module for the Deva Pro uses an R2R architecture for improved sonic quality and very impressive, low energy consumption. Just look at this graph:


Okay, if that’s not impressive, I don’t know what is. The battery life is about 8 hours, and this module packs some meat, driving the Deva Pro very effortlessly and with authority. Also, it supports all the essential Bluetooth codecs: LDAC, aptX HD, AAC, and SBC. Of course, you want to use this sweet LDAC if your device supports it.
What happens if the Bluemini R2R dies? You can then use the Deva Pro wired, and you’re getting a cable in the box. That means that you’re basically getting both wired and wireless headphones in one, and that’s very convenient. Remember the Ananda Bluetooth that could only be used as wireless? Well, that was really inconvenient, luckily Hifiman has changed it. Always improving, aren’t they.

Sound​

Up until now, this review was just praising the Deva Pro. Now, let’s get into the most important thing which is the sound, and I’m sorry…it doesn’t end here.
First of all – the Deva Pro is not tuned as the rest of Hifiman’s lineup, just like the original Deva. It’s slightly warmer, more delicate, and lush than the Sundara, Ananda, Arya, and so on. The tuning is actually quite similar to the OG Deva, but…Stealth Magnets and R2R dongle, oh my, what difference do those make. Let’s dive into it.

The bass is rich, full-bodied, expressive, and very well-controlled. It is definitely not a bass-light headphone, nor it’s boosted like the majority of Bluetooth headphones on the market. It feels just right, having authority and rumble that is really desirable in a Bluetooth pair of headphones. However, thanks to the Stealth Magnets and the new Bluemini R2R, the resolution and detail are on the level never seen in a Bluetooth pair of headphones…well, basically ever.
Let’s take a song called “Abraham” by Miles Mosley as an example. This track features that contrabass that is extremely well-mastered and just brilliant to test equipment on. Everything, from slight touches of the strings, to them vibrating and resonating in a quite funky and pleasant way is presented to you without even the slightest sign of hesitation. The amount of different textures and the overall resolution of the low frequencies are exceptional, considering this is Bluetooth.
The sign of a good bass response though, is that it can both be very textured and agile, but also thumpy and hard-hitting. A good way to test that is by playing the “Painkiller” by Judas Priest, from their live album “A Touch Of Evil”. Well, you all know that song, especially the beginning. The double kick drum played by Scott Travis hits fast and hard, leaving no room to breathe. It’s physical, it’s forward and authoritarian. Addictive.

The midrange is probably my favorite part. In my review of the OG Deva (here), I stated that one of my all-time favorite songs, which is A Thousand Shards Of Heaven by Lunatic Soul was presented to me in a way I’ve never heard before, despite hearing some really crazy expensive audio systems in my life. Having that in mind, I expected a lot by the midrange of the Deva Pro, and I wasn’t disappointed…quite the opposite actually.
It still got that lush, pleasant, and very natural tone to the vocals, but now with added resolution and detail, which don’t sound forced at all. It’s an upgrade that is coherent, organic, and just about perfect.
Back to the midrange, as mentioned above, it’s lush and natural sounding, but at the same time, it has a lot of air and coherence, which gives the overall sound that beautiful, romantic yet highly-resolving feeling. Mariusz Duda from Lunatic Soul sounds as beautiful and romantic as on the OG Deva, but now I simply hear more…more details, more air, more different textures.
Let’s get another example, this time it’s going to be David Bowie with his legendary “Space Oddity”, a 2015 remaster version from Tidal. The vocal on this specific version of this song sounds marvelously natural on the Deva Pro, I simply feel like I’m listening to a $1000+ pair of headphones, I’m not kidding. It sounds colorful, natural, airy, and accurate, without a sign of harshness or anything that could bother me. Brilliant.



Let’s get into the treble. It is actually a tad bright when it comes to its general signature, but thanks to great resolution and texture, it’s never harsh or unpleasant. It’s shocking how clean and detailed it sounds considering it’s a Bluetooth headphone, but yeah, I could actually say it about the whole frequency range.
So, we’re basically getting a “big boy” quality of the treble in every aspect possible, those stealth magnets are making wonders.
Let’s take a really interesting song called “Marble Machine” by Wintergatan. Definitely check it out on Youtube, it’s such an interesting “instrument”, and the audio quality is spectacular on Tidal.
Back to the sound though, the amount of details, crispy yet ringing little sounds coming from different places make this song a fantastic showcase piece to test equipment on, and the Deva Pro performs like a champ here. The whole treble response sounds exceptionally rich and engaging while being forward and crisp. It sounds like a perfect mix of technicalities and timbre that is highly resolving and very pleasant at the same time. It’s dynamic, well-extended, and basically very natural sounding, which is very, very impressive for a Bluetooth headphone. Apparently, the times of Bluetooth audio that sounded compressed, muddy, and harsh at the same time are gone, and they won’t be missed. This is a huge milestone.

This might be boring, but the soundstage is yet again…very impressive. It sounds like quality, open-back wired pair of headphones. Thanks to the overall sound being airy, very resolving, and detailed, the staging is another great thing about the Deva Pro. Fair, it’s not as wide as something like an OG Arya, Susvara, or even the Ananda, but for a Bluetooth pair of headphones…it’s absolutely bananas.
The vocals are easily projected in front of you, the imaging of every single instrument is spot-on, they don’t get lost or compressed. With very complicated music it sounds not AS accurate and spacious as many headphones on the market, but considering the price and once again, the wireless aspect, the Deva Pro plays in its own league, while all the other kids can just sit and watch.

The Deva Pro is a milestone. It’s revolutionary, well-engineered and its value is absolutely ridiculous. Thanks to the addition of the Stealth Magnets and the fact, that the Bluemini is now so much better than the original one, the Deva Pro is simply a no-brainer if you’re looking for quality, open-back headphones that can be both wireless and wired. The competitors are just left in the dust, and by a margin so big, that simply makes the Deva Pro one of the best audio products currently available on the market.

Comparisons​

Hifiman Deva


The original Deva stole our hearts back in early 2021. It offered a very pleasant, musical, and smooth tone while keeping that signature Hifiman technical performance. It has been one of our top recommendations for open-back headphones on the budget ever since. Today, it all changes, as the Deva Pro is just a vastly upgraded Deva, something I thought wasn’t going to happen in a while.
So, the overall presentation of both versions reminds somehow similar, offering a rich, smooth, and romantic tone paired with great detail reproduction. The Deva Pro however pushes the limits way further, thanks to its Stealth Magnets and the improved dongle, the resolution, detail retrieval, and spaciousness now sit in a completely different league.
This comparison shows just how good Hifiman has been lately. What’s worth noting is that the Deva Pro has a shinier and more pronounced treble, which could be a hit or miss for some people.

Dekoni Blue



Just like the Deva Pro, the Dekoni Blue is a planar-magnetic headphone and it’s coming at $299 (now dropped to $249), which makes them a natural rival for your wallet. Even though their functionality is vastly different, let’s dive into the sound comparison anyway.
The first obvious difference is the tuning. Dekoni is warm, thick, and bassy, with a relaxing and smooth tone. Yet, when compared to the Deva Pro, the Blue sounds muddy and it lacks coherency and details. The technical advancement of the Deva Pro is prominent because the drivers are so much technically impressive when compared to the Blue.
That means that the detail, staging, resolution, and overall accuracy are much better on the Deva Pro. Even through its Bluemini R2R, it sounds simply better than the Blue paired with the Topping D90se + A90, and that really means something. Sure, if you’re into closed-back and bass-boosted pairs then the Dekoni Blue might be a better choice for you, but when it comes to raw audio performance, the Deva Pro is a better headphone in every aspect.

Hifiman Ananda



The Ananda remains one of the best picks when it comes to open-back headphones in the sub $1000 market to this day. It is still better than the Deva Pro, but it’s not as drastic as I thought it will be.
First of all, the Ananda has an upper hand when it comes to staging. The soundstage is wider, deeper, and more accurate, mainly because of the imaging. However, this is the biggest selling point for the Ananda when it comes to this comparison. Other than staging, these two sound pretty close when it comes to technical performance, with a slight edge for the Ananda. The tone, however, is more musical and fuller on the Deva Pro, with their slightly boosted treble response and smoother mids. The bass feels more impactful on the Deva Pro, though the Ananda has better control.
The biggest difference is that the Ananda might sound too analytical and sterile for some people, while the Deva Pro is everything but this. Providing a more fun, punchy and romantic sound performance while still being wireless is a surprising outcome even for me.
Thanks to its functionality and the overall sound performance, I use the Deva Pro way more than the Ananda ever since I got them, and having in mind the price difference and the fact that the Ananda itself is a very, very good headphone should tell you how I really feel about the Deva Pro.

Summary​

Another day, another very positive review of Hifiman on Ear Fidelity. You’re probably starting to wonder if I’m a Hifiman employee, but of course, it’s not true. Over the years, Hifiman has proven that they are the mad scientists of the audio market. Constantly improving and pushing the value to its limits. This is just the case with their new Deva Pro, which is a spectacular product that’s a true milestone in Bluetooth, over-ear headphones market. The new improved Bluemini R2R and the addition of the Stealth Magnets make it the best Bluetooth headphone on the market by far. Absolutely magnificent.

Highly recommended.
Gear used during this review for the sake of comparison and as an accompanying equipment:

• Headphones – Hifiman Susvara, Final D8000 Pro, Audeze LCD-X 2021, Hifiman Arya SE, Hifiman Deva, Hifiman Ananda, Dekoni Blue
• Sources– Phone (LDAC), Topping D90se + A90, Little Dot MK III SE, XIAudio Broadway S

Deva Pro just how good is it?





Now you can hear for yourself

Just the other day I got to thinking. How much do people agree or disagree with my words and speech? What happens once I set my thoughts on paper and publish them? Do people believe me? How easy is it to explain what something actually sounds like? And, by doing so, are we putting bias into our cherished readers minds? Well, of course we are.



That is perhaps the purpose of a reviewer. A reviewer can take the marketing information from every company out there and give a more judged opinion of it. If we believed the marketing info was all a person needed to make a purchase, then the 1st headphone they came across they would buy. So given that there are many 1000s to choose from, we have been restricted a little in how we as consumers make our decision. It is impossible to sample every headphone on the market, even for the full timers out there. Let alone cost and storage, time would be a governing factor.

There simply aren’t enough hours for 1 person to do a meaningful listen of every existing headphone on the market. And more are coming out every week. All you can do is research. I’d like to give you another angle on that. I have managed to find a way that you, dear reader, can hear what I hear, or at least as near as dammit you can. I can put the headphones on, press record and what I hear is what you hear. The sound is being recorded next to my ear canal, making things like cup size, open or closed back, on ear or over ear, irrelevant to the success of the sampling.


Which brings us to the Deva Pro. I have been waiting a while to bring you this. I have both the original Deva

and the Pro version.

The original is $299, the Pro $329. For that, you get the headphones, which can be used as conventional wired, but you also get this little bluetooth gizmo, called a bluemini. The bluemini has a 3.5 mm jack which plugs into the left hand cable input of the Deva and Pro. It can then be used as the source for wireless sound. Not only that; the USBC charging port on the bluemini can be turned into a dac/amp for laptops and Android phones, thus turning the headphones into a portable dac/amp. The Deva Pro has an R2R Dac, the Himalaya, developed in house by HiFiMan, in which to do the processing. A versatile set of headphones, I’m sure we can all agree on that.





Why have HiFiMan produced an open back planar wireless headphone, when no one else is doing it? Only Fang Bian can answer that, but perhaps the question has answered itself. Because no one else is doing it… That should be enough. People normally buy a closed back wireless headphone because they are taking it out and about and people don’t want to hear loud music on the bus or the train or in the street. But what if a wireless headphone, like the Deva Pro was something where sound quality wasn’t necessarily secondary to convenience? In that case, might people be prepared to seek out the special places where they could enjoy really good sound without disturbing others? By the same token, that level of privacy may make for a more enjoyable, less noisy, listening experience. Added to that, we can go more serious and plug these into our smartphone using OTG, or even more seriously we can get our top of the line dac/amp out and plug these headphones into the 3.5 mm jack in the more traditional manner. There is no doubt that closed back wireless has a place. I wouldn’t want to spoil these headphones by getting them all sweaty. I run a great deal and I just can’t see myself wanting to take these out in that circumstance. A smaller set of on ears or even better still, TWS, tends to be my go to for such things. But for true musical enjoyment, planar full size open backs aren’t too bad an option.





Just how versatile is each headphone? The Deva has the edge on sensitivity but only by a smidgeon. The 18.5 ohms is contrasted with the 18 ohms of the Pro version. The non stealth magnet original model goes louder than the Pro. It tends to sound louder, even at the same volume, and let me explain that. There is more bass presence and a feel of more treble energy happening, prominent on the bluemini and diminishing in degrees as you up the quality stakes by using the dac/amp and then plugging these into the HM1000 Red R2R Dac/Amp. The OTG Dac/Amp, once I got the hang of it, worked a treat. I kept on getting the error message connected/disconnected until I simply switched off bluetooth on my phone. Following that, thankfully it was a breeze. I was able to utilize the USB Audio Player PRo’s bit perfect setting and I have assembled 6 seperate recordings of the track C Moon Cry Like a Baby by Simple Minds. It is a loud, perhaps thunderous 80s track, full of raw energy and crashing cymbals and difficult to follow vocals. Not an easy track for a headphone. The OTG volume hovered around 85% on the Deva and 90% for the Pro. There was enough there but only just enough. Just enough is ok and I got some good results from both headphones. It is perhaps the true test of each one, as this is the best connection they have available. Beyond that the source is taking up the lion’s share of what is being sent to the headphones.


The sound quality of both headphones is high, especially at this end of the market. There is no in ear monitor that I’d prefer over these full sized cans at this price level. The sound signature of the original has much to like, the Pro has much more. The original is no slouch. It delivers bass slam without the bloatedness of being contained within the cups of a closed back design. The soundstage is wide and this is due to the amount of treble energy and linearity being given by the drivers. When you bring the Pro’s into the mix the originals do show some weaknesses. The stealth magnet design is bringing a level of refinement (smoothness) and dynamics (the illusion of more space between the instruments and of there being more things going on despite that). It’s also got the edge on bass quality rather than bass slam. I’m being subjective here, but that’s what it says on the tin, so I make no apologies. The bass does not take up so much space in the track. It punches and withdraws much faster than the Deva. The Pro has not had the bass boosted as much. Which means there’s not been the need to boost the mids and highs. The clarity of the Pro design is something I found easy to spot. See if you can hear micro details more easily in the samples here. The original has a lot to offer; even for some tracks it may bring more pleasure than the Pro’s, certainly it will lend more instant excitement to some tracks. But for extended listening across all genres they can’t live with the new Pro’s.



Don’t take my word for it. You have all the time you can muster to listen again and again to the samples I have recorded. Please use headphones or earphones, you simply will not get the proper quality by listening to headphone samples from your smartphone speaker or even your hi fi speakers. This demands close attention and concentration. I’m hoping it’ll also be a bit of fun. I’m expecting to be able to post many samples of all sorts of headphones in the months to come, so you’ll be able to build up a virtual library of headphone auditions without getting up from your chair. Now how convenient is that? I am hoping that you can make some judgements on what might be for you using not only words and video but now by adding a listening experience to that. from there hopefully you can narrow down this minefield and make some realistic buying decisions that won’t be a source of regret in the future. How does that sound?