HIFIMAN SVANAR Wireless

Note: The original review can be found on the Headphone List.

Introduction​

Hifiman is a familiar name that needs little introduction, for its reputation in the audiophile community far precedes it. "Planar magnetic" technology forms the nucleus of their extensive research and development, as reflected by the numerous headphone releases powered by the fruits of their technical know-how.


The springboard for this relatively young technology is the humble dynamic driver, a tried-and-tested architecture for producing a highly accurate and "warm" sound. Months ago, I reviewed Hifiman's HE-R9, a full-sized circumaural headphone boasting their proprietary "topology diaphragm" dynamic drivers. What I heard was a technically-impressive headphone with an "organic flavour".


The famous New York-based company didn't become renowned because of its dynamic driver releases. The sudden proliferation of the "topology" diaphragm in their latest releases marks a significant deviation from their business-as-usual. But this can no longer be classified as an experiment.


Earlier this year, Hifiman took an ambitious leap of faith by launching their flagship in-ear-monitor (IEM), the Svanar. Powered by the same "topology diaphragm" engine, the Svanar was priced at an eye-watering USD 1999. A statement piece, Svanar's lavish pricing is inaccessible to most audiophiles who aren't willing to smash the two-kilo-buck ceiling.


Thankfully, Hifiman understands its target demographic. The Svanar's "topology diaphragm" technology has trickled into a more wallet-friendly package, albeit in a new form: the Svanar Wireless (TWS). Killing two birds with one stone, Hifiman does one better by miniaturising their revolutionary "Himalayan" R2R DAC architecture into the Svanar Wireless. Two remarkable technologies for the price of $499.


A far cry from the Svanar's original price tag, the Svanar Wireless has some lofty shoes to fill, given that it shares the same moniker with its wired sibling. Today, we examine Svanar Wireless based on its own merits. The Svanar Wireless can be purchased from the Hifiman Store.

Technology​

There are a lot of good things to unpack with the Svanar Wireless. Firstly, Hifiman has successfully distilled its exclusive R2R ladder DAC architecture (known as their Himalaya module) into its diminutive proportions: a feature unheard of in the TWS market. Paired with an amplifier chipset promising 45mW of power into a 32-ohm load, the Svanar Wireless promises high-fidelity audio whilst breaking the low volume ceiling that plagues most TWS units in the marketplace. On top of that Svanar Wireless is also LDAC compatible, giving users the option of lossless streaming.


In classic TWS fashion, the Svanar Wireless comes with typical accoutrements such as deep active noise cancellation (ANC) and transparency mode to filter ambient noise in or out, depending on your use cases. However, the one point of differentiation is the Svanar Wireless's "Hi-Fi" mode, touted by Hifiman to significantly improve overall sonic performance. While it doesn't explicitly explain how this mode improves its final performance, I suspect it triggers its Himalayan R2R module's oversampling capabilities.


Hifiman further states that the Svanar Wireless case provides 28 hours of continuous charge, and the earbuds themselves can store up to 8 hours of charge. This is of course, dependent on the mode being employed and how long for. Mileage varies between users, depending on their personal preferences.


Lastly, the real meat and bones of Svanar Wireless lie at its beating heart: the topology diaphragm. Hifiman's game-changing topology diaphragm relies on the different resonant and metallurgical properties of competing materials. Depositing a thin layer of nano-composite material on the surface of the dynamic driver or diaphragm allows the Hifiman team to fine-tune the acoustic properties and performance of the IEM. This newly-minted technology has already been established in Hifiman's HE-R9 and HE-R10D.

Unboxing​

The Hifiman Svanar Wireless comes packed in a black-and-red themed cardboard box, adorned in your standard hero shots of the Svanar wireless unit itself, accompanied by the unit's specifications and the package's contents listed behind the box.


To keep this section brief, the box contains the actual unit itself, a mix of miscellaneous-sized tips (S, M, L) in foam and silicon, and a USB-C charging cable, each component generously encased in plush foam for added security and protection.

Design, Build and Comfort​

The Svanar Wireless charging case comprises a distinct, angular aesthetic with sharp lines and bold contours. Reminiscent of a multi-sided die, the Svanar Wireless' appearance is novel in a sea of ubiquity. Sadly, the case itself is a rather bulky affair, less so a pocketable one, its oversized nature a hindrance to outdoor use.


Underneath its clamshell opening, you'll be greeted by the Svanar Wireless earbuds themselves. There are elongated stems on each end housing a miniaturised microphone. Most shells are fashioned from plastic (despite its silver-alloy appearance), save for the inner housing fabricated from carbon fibre. The deliberate combination of feather-light materials enhances the Svanar Wireless's comfort factor for prolonged listening sessions. While plastic wouldn't be my first choice regarding premium fit, finish and durability, there is no denying that its lightweight stature is 100% complementary to users who listen to music for hours on end.


The spout on each channel is surprisingly short, which may prove troublesome for listeners with deep ear canals. However, the inner ear portion of each channel is moulded exceptionally well, resting snugly and comfortably without detectable fatigue over long periods.


In short, the Svanar Wireless certainly leaves an impression on both the eyes and ears. Apart from a few niggles, Svanar Wireless merges style and substance.

TWS Features​

Toggling between each mode is an effortless affair. All a user needs to do is tap and hold for 5 seconds to switch from one mode to the other upon pairing. A verbal prompt (in a female voice) confirms the switch.


ANC: ANC is the first mode that triggers after the first toggle. ANC is an important feature for undisturbed listening in urban environments. From public transport to construction, cosmopolitan cities are especially susceptible to chronic noise pollution.


The Hifiman's ANC feature is pretty effective in nullifying the distracting effects of wind noise and roaring car horns on my daily commute. Unfortunately, it doesn't eliminate the voicings of passers-by very well, which can prove distracting if you're using the Svanar Wireless for phone calls.


Transparency: Transparency mode is the second mode that triggers after the double toggle. Instead of silencing the outside world, Transparency mode filters noise in to ensure that the listener is aware of his/her/their surroundings at all times. This is especially important for crossing busy roads or walking down questionable alleyways.


Svanar Wireless provides enough passage for external noise to enter, but voicings appear flat and dull, with a noticeable haziness that makes audibility difficult. It is well suited for picking up on ambient noise, but not so much with human conversations. At this price point, I think Hifiman could invest more R&D into refining these two features for future product iterations. Perhaps with a software update?


Hi-Fi: The mode that matters the most to audiophiles. Now, I cannot attest to what is happening internally (equalisation versus an overdriven amp etc.), but what I can do is detail my subjective findings are clearly as possible.


Firstly, there is a noticeable boost in the lower treble which aids in detail-retrieval in odd-harmonic rich instruments. Notes are less hazy, albeit shouty on occasion. Bass bloom while deeper, exhibits more discipline and less unruliness in the sub-registers. Lateral width is improved, as is layering between voicings and instruments. And for listeners who like their music loud, Hi-fi Mode gives the listener more headroom for cranking it up. For the rest of the review, I've chosen to use Hi-fi mode permanently.

Sound Quality​

Summary​

Svanar Wireless derives its base tuning from its larger predecessor, the Hifiman HE-R9, which shares Hifiman's proprietary topology technology. To keep things succinct, the Svanar Wireless boasts a focus on tube-like warmth and even-harmonic richness with higher-than-average technical chops; a consumer-friendly tuning that fares well with dynamically compressed recordings, no matter how poor.


The Svanar Wireless has a syrupy midrange with a distinct sweetness in the lower-mids, erring on the side of "dark". The slowness (attack and decay) of the sub-bass emphasises reverb which results in significant colouration in the bass. It's a very welcomed tuning for day-to-day listening: a reminder of why audiophiles appreciate the undeniable coherency of a single dynamic driver.

Bass​

The Svanar Wireless has a robust bass response with a strong presence. Mid-bass runs deep, with a lingering swell of sub-bass that provides definition and texture. The upside to this is that recordings are presented in a manner faithful to their analogue forebears. Bass textures are accentuated with verve, without any perceived haziness or sacrifices in micro-detail.


The downside is the boominess from a sluggish PRAT, which can mask hidden details in the mid-bass. The dimpling of the driver as it compresses. Thankfully, the crowning strength of the Svanar Wireless is its midrange, which compensates for the bass response's propensity for lingering. Agility is not its strong suit, but its alluring qualities are what endears listeners.

Midrange​

The Svanar Wireless has an incredibly moreish midrange that can only be described as luscious. Colouration is done on purpose without perceived gaps in the midrange, save for tasteful boosts in the lower midrange. I've described a lot of earphones in my tenure as "warm", many erring on the side of too warm without the pre-requisite technical chops to back it up.


This time around, Svanar Wireless reverses that trend. This is by no means an analytical earphone, but it strikes a healthy balance between enjoyment and finesse. Notes are presented with strong definitions, with classical instrumentation (pianos etc.) rendered realistically. Unlike its cheaper rivals, the Svanar Wireless does a fine job compensating for the sub-bass gulf that threatens to smear details in the rest of the frequency band.

Treble​

Presence is what injects liveliness and energy into the frequency band, giving it a sharp profile that forms the bulk of what we define as "clarity". Here, there is a detectable segmentation in the treble region between the upper and lower treble, with the latter taking precedence over the former.


The lower treble is the focal point of the presence region, highlighting the gentler undertones with a mellower tone. Principle tones still retain their fundamental timbres without deviating from the status quo, but the liveliness or up-top sparkle tapers off early to avoid unpleasant peaks. The definition is clear below but purposefully avoided up top. Overall treble detailing is on par with sub-$500 wired flagships, which is unprecedented territory for a TWS.


This aversion to upper treble is warranted; ear-piercing shriekiness and raspiness detract from the overall listening experience. However, I believe the Svanar Wireless could use a dB more in the upper regions to "spice" things up with more airiness: a healthy juxtaposition between air from the top (presence) and bottom (bass).

Soundstage and Imaging​

The Svanar Wireless subverts the TWS norm by exhibiting excellent width and depth laterally between both channels: an impressive feat for a TWS IEM. The overall soundstage borders on an out-of-head experience, stretching a fair distance from the ears. It doesn't reach the depth-of-field headphones can achieve, but the Svanar Wireless displays qualities some of its wired rivals can't achieve.


The positioning of instruments and vocals within its peripheral field is realistically placed amongst one another. Imaging, while not analytical, offers an ease of separation and identifiability between each sonic cue. It is important to note that the bass-bloom mitigates the psychoacoustic distance between instruments and vocals, which hurts distinguishability slightly by creating a closeted-in effect.


However, compared to other TWS IEMs in the market, the Svanar Wireless is still miles forward in terms of unadulterated raw performance. It maintains a coherent image whilst offering users remarkable transparency even in the most abrupt swings in volume.

Comparisons​

Grell TWS 1​

Introduction:​

Axel Grell made the bold decision to venture into the sphere of consumer electronics as he departed his cherished role at Sennheiser, a position in which he pioneered some of the industry's best premium headphones like the revered HD650. The eponymously named Grell TWS 1 earmarks its first foray into the TWS segment of the market, the biggest differentiator being Axel's breadth of expertise in R&D.


Priced at USD 199, we're pitting two fan-favourite brands whose repertoires mainly lie in wired earphones, less so TWS ones.

Design:​

German minimalism teethers on the edges of form and function, free from superfluous elements that throw off the design language of a product. The Grell TWS 1 bears the same trademark austerity, with a satin-finished space-grey aluminium frame coming in at just 7.3g on each channel.


Case-finishing is essentially the same, save for an odd design quirk. The L-channel earpiece is stored on the right side of the case, and the R-channel earpiece is stored on the left side. It takes a bit of "brain" reprogramming to get used to.


The earpiece nozzles are rather girthy, less so length-wise, which may limit how well it seal in larger or smaller ear-canals. In theory, the touch controls on the Grell TWS 1 appear to be well-thought-out. The right earpiece contains the bulk of basic commands, allowing users to control the volume (swipe up/down), play/pause music (tap once), and activate a voice assistant (double tap). Conversely, the left-hand side allows users to skip forward or back (swipe left or right), switch to transparency mode (single tap), and switch to ANC or NAR ala Noise Annoyance Reduction mode (long press for 3 seconds and seconds respectively).


Right off the bat, these agglomeration features aren't all that well implemented. Firstly, the connection quality between the source and TWS1 is susceptible to drop-outs and constant extraneous interference. Secondly, the TWS1 struggles to register the more complex gestures and commands, triggering incorrect responses.


And thirdly, the Grell TWS 1 suffers a similar fate as the Svanar Wireless. Each "mode" is ineffectual at filtering noise in/out. Additionally, the NAR mode doesn't seem all that useful, providing an awkward cross-section between ANC and standard listening modes.

Sound Quality:​

To be clear, the price differential between both products makes this a partial contest. The Grell TWS-1 has a V-shaped frequency response, with a sizeable scoop in the lower-mids and mid-bass. On their own merits, the bass and upper mids are expressive, with the classic "Axel-Grell" veil that suppresses unruly peaks. Long-term enjoyment and musicality are priorities numero uno on the TWS 1. Treble exhibits solid qualities, with a fair amount of porousness and airiness that we've come to expect.


Unsurprisingly, the Svanar Wireless is the master in most regards. Both IEMs feature a boomy bass response that could be described as cavernous. However, the TWS 1's low end is miles back in terms of bass texture, microdetail and control. Timbral reproduction is an organic affair on the Svanar Wireless, with life-like mids and a lusher tonality to the treble. Indexing for soundstage depth-of-field and imaging proficiency is the same affair, with the Svanar Wireless being two steps ahead in raw performance.


But of course, this leap in performance comes with a leap in price. I have to give credit where credit is due. The TWS1 fared bravely and commendably, given the sizeable valley in price.

Conclusive Remarks​

The Svanar Wireless is (probably) the king of the hill in the marketplace for flagship-level sonic performance. From a musical but analytical sound signature and its ability to span beyond the ears, the Svanar Wireless is a worthy little brother to the Svanar wired.


While there is room for improvement in its set of features, the Svanar Wireless is

General/Build/Comfort/Packaging
I don’t think anybody needs an introduction for Hifiman. They’re well known for their line up of planar magnetic headphones, and recently their in house R2R DAC. I have the opportunity to test out the Svanar Wireless, which is based on their flagship single DD IEM that shares the same driver configuration, namely the topology diaphragm. You may check out this link for more information about the coating.
The build quality of Svanar wireless is as premium as it can get, with an ergonomic design focusing on comfort (more on this later) with a sheath of carbon fibre compared to the wired Svanar which is brass. The charging case does have a faux leather kind of look to it, the surface is a little too smooth and sometimes it's hard to open the case. As for the fit, do take the time to choose the right eartips as this will either make or break the seal for a good sound as well as fit. The packaging is rather straightforward and minimal, various types of eartips.

Specifications
Frequency Response: : 10Hz-35kHz
Bluetooth Version: : Bluetooth 5.2
HIFI Mode: : up to 4 hrs
ANC Mode: : up to 6 hrs
Transparency Mode: : up to 7 hrs
ANC Spec: : up to 35dB
Waterproof: : IPX5
Single Head Weight: : 8g
Charging Case Weight: : 83.7g
Transmission Distance: : up to 15m (barrier-free transmission)
Codecs: LDAC, SBC, AAC

Gears used for this review

• iPhone 12 Mini with Apple Music
• Google Pixel 5 LDAC with UAPP Tidal
• Hifiman Svanar Wireless

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

*An important note prior going into the sound impression, Svanar Wireless’s sound is very tip dependent, in fact it can make or break the sound, so please take your time to tip roll and get a good seal. I took quite a bit of time to look for one that’s suitable for me, because the bundled ones don't fit my ears at all.

General Features
Touch Control

• Works well, fairly sensitive and doesn’t require a lot of effort to use it

Proximity Sensor

• Auto pause when the sensor detects the earpiece is taken out and resume playback when the sensor detects the earpiece is in ear again

Connectivity/Range

• The box/manual clearly mentioned that LDAC is bandwidth consuming, hence connectivity issue is to be expected, that is true and it does occurs during my time when i’m listening to it with LDAC codec
• I suspect this has got something to do with the R2R dac processing indirectly affecting the LDAC connectivity
• AAC and SBC on the other hand works fine and has no connectivity issue
• The workaround to resolve the LDAC connectivity issue if you insist on using LDAC codec is to trigger the playback quality to Connection Quality(330kbps/303kbps) or Balanced Audio and Connection Quality(660kbps/606kbps), i noticed these two mode does that cause the connectivity issue to occur that much

ANC/Transparency Mode

• The noise cancellation works alright to cancel out the noise from certain low frequencies, it doesn’t work that well when it comes to mids and high frequencies such as when people are talking or when you’re out in a noisy environment, simply put, the noise cancellation’s performance is nowhere near the AirPod Pro
• Transparency mode is also average, it does make you aware of the surroundings but when people are talking to you, with the music still playing back, you can’t really hear the voice of the person talking to you, again, nowhere near the AirPod Pro’s transparency mode

Battery Life

• Battery life is fair with the Hi Fidelity mode coming in around 5 hours ish for my usage with LDAC and at 40% listening volume
• ANC and Transparency mode does have a lot longer playtime ranging from 6-7 hours based on my observation when leaving it to loop through the songs
• The claim on the battery life is quite inline with Hifiman’s and i honestly have no issue with the shorter battery life on Hi Fidelity mode simply because of its sonic performance

Sound Impression with Hi Fidelity Mode (Tested with AAC and LDAC)
This is the default mode on every startup, also my preferred tuning/mode that I use most of the time. With the processing from the R2R dac embedded within the TWS, it does have the R2R tonality that sounds slightly analog-ish, timbre sounds very natural to my ears as well. Bass has very good punch and speed, tracks like Metallica’s Lux Aeterna, Slipknot’s People=crap!, are being handled by Svanar Wireless effortlessly, without sounding muddy nor bloated. Sub bass does rumble when the track calls for it, however it is not basshead kind of bass, sounds clean and good quality rumble. Good seal from the eartips is very important here. The mids are not too forward nor recessed, vocal positioning is quite center, but not very “in your face”, male vocal sounds a little lacking in terms of body, certain artist’s vocal can sound a little “brittle” especially for Zhao Peng, where his voice is supposed to sound deep and full, female vocal on the other hand sounds good with decent texture and body. Treble has a good amount of air and presence, this makes the whole music presentation sounds very airy. It is energetic but never offensive nor harsh. Detail retrieval is good as nuances can be picked up easily. Soundstage and imaging is really impressive for a wireless earphone. It has a very holographic kind of soundstage to my ears, good width and height perception, a little lacking in depth but other than that, it is really impressive. Instruments can be pinpointed easily where it’s coming from with good accuracy.



Sound Comparison with ANC and Transparency Mode
ANC Mode

• The difference between ANC mode vs Hi-Fidelity mode is very noticeable, i would even go as far as saying its day and night difference in terms of sound
• Bass is not as punchy on ANC but still with decent quality and control
• Sub bass rumble more or less similar to Hi Fidelity mode
• Mids are slightly recessed compared to Hi Fidelity mode
• Treble doesn’t sound as airy nor extended as on Hi Fidelity Mode, indirectly also affecting detail retrieval
• Soundstage also doesn’t sound that holographic compared to Hi Fidelity Mode

Transparency Mode

• Transparency mode to my ears is slightly better than ANC mode, but of course when compared to Hi Fidelity mode, obviously the latter is far superior in terms of sonic performance
• Bass and mids are more or less similar sounding with ANC mode
• Treble is slightly better offering a little bit more air compared to ANC mode
• Better width,depth and height perception on the soundstage

Final Thoughts
All in all, the Svanar Wireless is a very good TWS if you are looking at it from the sonic performance, the general TWS features such as noise cancellation, transparency mode, and connectivity issue does hinder the overall rating of Svanar Wireless. If you’re looking for a good sounding TWS, Svanar Wireless no doubt is the one for you if you’re willing to overlook a certain shortcoming of it, but of course I did mention the workaround above and it pretty much resolves the issue for me. The price is indeed premium for a TWS, but looking solely at the sonic performance, i’d say it rivals the wired IEMs around 100-150$, also the tech within the TWS such as the R2R dac, i’d say its a fair price considering the design and engineering effort needed for such device

*Svanar Wireless is sent over by Hifiman for the purpose of this review. I thank them for the opportunity as always

If you are interested in getting one, head over to their official webstore
Hifiman Svanar Wireless - Non affiliated

TONALITY: 8.5/10
TECHNICALITIES: 8.2/10
TIMBRE: 8.2/10
SOUNDSTAGE: 9/10
IMAGING: 8/10
CONNECTIVITY: 6.5/10
CONSTRUCTION: 7.5/10
COMFORT: 8/10
CONTROL: 7/10
SOUND VALUE: VS TWS: 8.8/10 VS IEMS: 6.5/10

INTRO

Hifiman is a well established audio products company from China that have a wide range of products release including Planar headphones, DAP, DAC-AMP, IEMs and TWS Earbuds.

They have patented R2R DAC-AMP as well, which was use with their Deva Pro headphones as well as the Svanar Wireless I will review today.

Priced 500$, the Svanar Wireless is a flaghip TWS buds using R2R DAC-AMP and promising excellent sound quality as well as loud and dynamic rendering. Like most Hifiman IEMs, it use the Topology diaphram technology too.

Let see in this review what I will conclude about these luxurious TWS IEMs.


CONSTRUCTION



Like everybody seing the products pictures, I was expecting the Svanar TWS to be made of light alluminium alloy, but it's all plastic, front part seem different part of more high quality plastic. Overall shell is big and chunky but have an ergonomic share and is quite light, so with the right (non included) eartips and shallow fit I find it comfortable even for long listening session. Why shallow fit is mandatory? Because the nozzle is very short.
Desigh aesthetic isn't the most beautiful too, at least based on reaction from friends and family which find it weird looking. Personally it's more the big bulbous size that puzzle me, but this indeed permit to expend soundstage it seem.

The waterproof rating of these is IPX5, which mean you can wear it under the rain. I did it, no damage to be report.



The charging case is most luxurious looking part of the Svanar TWS, it's a bit heavy and don't fit well in pocket but have a sturdy elegant built. My qualm about this is that sometime the buds don't fit perfectly for proper charging.



Packaging is very minimalist, nothing to write really. Accessories is about 5 pairs of silicone eartips and 2 pairs of memory foams ear tips. As well as basic USB to USBC charging cable.



CONTROL



The control is enough minimalist to not be confusing, but not always up there in term of proper working.
I mean, everything work well most of time but it does happen that you take out the Svanar and touch pad dont work, you then need to put them back in and so forth.
It can happen only one buds will connect, you then need to do same thing.
It can be problematic when issue happen on the go and you dont have the charging carrying case to reset connectivity properly too, for ex, when you hold 3 sec the touch pad, it switch to Noise Cancelation, Transparency or Hifi mode, but it happen often it disconnect doing so.

When it does work, it's more intuitive than something like Final ZE8000 in term of proper touch pad sensitivity.

One press do Play/pause, 2 press go back song and 3 press next song. It's reactive 90% of the time.

Real issue is the ''disconnected'' surprise when you change mode when holding touch pad for 3 seconds as stated above.

SOUND MODE

ANC MODE

The noise cancelation is rather light but present. In fact, music play at lower volume than Hifi mode but we hear less outside noise than max volume of Hifi mode with music on so it does seem the 35db attenuation is legit....but I dont think it worth the leaner dynamic less musicality it deliver.

TRANSPARENCY MODE

Compared to Hifi mode, we here more outside noise, so the mic do add outside noise awareness, but here at max volume it play louder than ANC mode too...dynamic is better and this mode is quite usefull for at work.

HIFI MODE

Only worthy mode sound quality wise in my opinion, yet, Ldac issue make it sometime frustrating. Anyway, whole sound experience become more dynamic, open, full bodied and holographic, timbre is less affected by digital noise artefact. As well, different between AAC-SBC and Ldac aren't night and day, yet very valuable for audiophile ears.


CONNECTIVITY

For me, this is where the Svanar Wireless show its ''Achilles heels'' and it would be lying not to say this very connectivity instability make me confirm I will never touch anymore earbuds for the rest of my Audiophile life. Well, with the above control weakness combined, which is in fact quite common with most TWS buds too. But perhaps not as frustrating.

So, listening to Ldac outdoor in a city is just plain impossible with these, it will have invasise intermitence and noise cutting, whatever you got your phone in front of these it will not be trustable. One intermittence and whole music track immersivity is kill for me so let say i swear alot walking with those with Ldac.

Buuuuuuuut! If you clost wifi it can slightly improve it, i try these with 3 different phone and it behavior differently, nonetheless, ive never been spoil with perfect connectivity on the go with Ldac, just never.

Then if you go SBC (+wifi off), connectivity issue is solved and the sound quality isn't disastrous, think about going from Flac to MP3, it's about what you get here, slightly less clean and edgy resolution, more noisy background but as open and holographic soundstage and overall similar dynamic and tonality.

But you don't pay 500$ for low bitrate codec.

While at home or in deep forest, connectivity improve with Ldac. Another reason to run away from city!

BATTERY LIFE

At about 70% of volume, using Ldac with Hifi mode i can get about 4H single charge, so with 3 extra charge we can expect about 16H of autonomy, which is quite good.

SOUND IMPRESSIONS

(all sound impressions are made with Ldac using High Fidelity mode)

The overall Svanar TWS tonality can be summarize as gently bright and bassy W shape, with a smooth balance, warm punch slam, lush mids and extended, crunchy and snappy treble.

The first thing that impress listener is the rich macro dynamic which is lively, heavy in note weight and holographic in it's presentation. The spatiality is the highlight here, Svanar offering most gigantic soundstage of all TWS IEMs i've try as well as most sub-500$ cable IEMs too.

It trigger an engaging and immersive musicality where it's easy to get lost.

It's evident too that Svanar take full advantage of it's R2R DAC-AMP which permit unreachable technical performance I will try to devlop a bit more here.

But let's begin with the bass, which isn't lacking both in mid bass slam and sub bass wide headroom resonance and rumble.

We are in warm bass territory that slip and boost the lower mids range frequencies in a liquid natural way, keeping a tactile sens of sepration in layering but not being perfectly define in separation.
The physical impact and tone fullness is more focus than timing in attack edge which is a bit colored by sub bass warmth.
Bass line are not the easiest to follow due to this, but the slam headroom is stretched, vast and euphonic in a very addictive way.
Kick drum is warm, round and chunky with good note weight, While toms will have a bit too much resonance sustain for well define attack lead.
It seem prime goal of lower end is to cover whole fundamental frequencies which permit to all tenor instrument to sound fully restitute, cello sound vibrant, lush and dense is attack while the double bass sound natural too, not detached in term of texture and tone.
Yes, the low end is quite colored here, it's far from lean and neutral and the sub bass extension isn't reaching down to 20hz, but the acoustic resonance mimic the rumble lenght and it does work even if it affect proper attack control, so don't expect tightest bass response, the Svanar TWS low end is more appropriate for pop, soul, classical, slow jazz, folk, rap and R&B than fast hard hitting music like metal, some jazz, some rock.

The mid range sit between bright and lush, with an open holographic layering, full lower mids and impressive note weight. It's really best of both world when it come to hifiman since the timbre is on the thick natural side but well textured and the presence is well rounded and bodied.
Both male and female vocal are fowards sounding yet not sibilant, shouty or overly boosted in presence grain, thus the lushness terminology, we can say creamy with hint of pepper but i will fall in gastronomic terminology too much perhaps.
What is impressive is the good technical performance of this mid range since sound layers are plenty and multi layered within a vast and hefty macro dynamic 3 D rendering.
The transparency is good too, so contrast of those sound layers don't mix up and keep their singular loudness amplitude in a lively and cohesive way.
I can't say it's cleanest mid range though since the bass do stole background air clarity for proper instruments spacing crispness.
Yet it's not thin nor cold nor dry in term of timbre, its quite natural and excell with vocal and woodwinds instrument.
Piano too sound wonderfull, softed in presence texture with well felt and extended note weight and attack, no presence grain to be find and no lean dynamic here.
Finally, violin lack a bit of attack lead bite and proper definition of it's presence, but tone is right, and rendering isn't thin nor shouty.

Then the treble is open, crunchy and snappy. We don't struggle following percussions line which are fast and edgy enough in rendering. We aren't in dark treble here and level of micro details are quite good even if it's not analytical way.
To my ears, it's more evident to spot the Bluetooth limitation in treble area, in the sens that for me clarity is about how clean and well resolve are high pitch instrument and micro details, I can't overseen that silence have noise with all bluetooth IEMs i have try and those Svanar are no exception even if dynamic amplitude permit to avoid this background noise to mix with the fine details and instruments definition and layering.
So the highs are full sounding, never thin, they don't lack in edge even if their hint of euphonic delimitation to micro details of definition.
Cymbals sustain release are fully blossom but not the most brilliant in extension, splash cymbals are a bit tamed in amplitude freedom, so it's not splashy but not crisp either.
I'm not sure to understand how the highs sound so open but their something about slight extra sparkle here, not in far upper treble region but the metallic snap is there with pulled string.



The Soundstage is main star of the show for me, its very wide and tall with decent depth too. It sound very out of your head, you feel you bring a whole room with you. Their no doubt its the biggest spatiality rendering I've heard with any high end earbuds.

Then it should mean the imaging excellent, which it is in TWS realm, but it's mostly about the dynamic rendering of each sound layer that permit good holographic separation in Y axis. For more static and less loud instrument, it will suffer from lack of clean separation in X axis. Nonetheless, its very very good instrument positioning perception.


COMPARISONS



VS FINAL ZE8000

The ZE8000 sound more neutral to L shape, warmer and have more sub bass boost and warmth that permit heavier note weight, thicker but creamier timbre and overall more natural timbre.
The dynamic is more laid back, resolution is darker but more liquid and organic than edgier resolution of Svanar, that offer a more W shape and punchy signature.
Bass separation is inferior and more bleedy than Svanar, its mellower in punch, its slightly thicker in term of bass to lower mids transition, it's slower and not very textured compared to Svanar too.
Mids feel leaner, and a bit more recessed both male and female vocal wise in term of plain presence boost but thisn presence is more bodied, have more lower harmonic balance and lushness, never sibilance will occur so it's smoother more butter yet less open, crisp, clean, detailed and well resolved than Svanar which have greater upper mids gain, more precise imaging and vaster sound layering capability.
Treble is edgier, crunchier and more sparkly too with the Svanar, ZE8000 offer a thicker softer treble with smoothed brilliance and very relaxed dynamic, it's not very textured nor very clean in definition, it does lack air on top compared to Svanar too, as well as fast attack control and clean decay.
Soundstage is way more tall, wide and deep with the Svanar, no comparison here.
Imaging is less foggy as a whole and sharper in each instrument definition with wider spacing between them with the Svanar, again, no competition.

All in all, while neutral in overall balance, the bass and lower mids coloring is quite intense with the ZE8000, it's evident than te technical peformance like imaging, soundstage, attack speed-control and resolution are extremely inferior to the Svanar, yet for tone and timbre lower only as well as vocal lover, the ZE8000 might win their hearth. I doesn't win mine though.

VS Unique Melody Ufree :

Now in term of technical competition, we have a closer match though it's all about the Bone conduction driver part of UM sound rendering which doesn't sound as lush, cohesive and natural as Svanar more dynamic rendering.
In term of macro dynamic rendering, UM feel more compressed and in your head, less open and airy than Svanar.
The bass isn't as round and heavy hitting as Svanar, it doesn't have alot of air in term of rumble, it's dryer with more boosted texture and presence. Lower extension is more natural and deep and vibrant with the Svanar, mid bass punch is a hint warmer but still more tactile and meaty than UM.
Mids are less lean and bright and boosted in texture presence than UM, vocal are more wide and open, less stock in your head and compressed, timbre is lusher too, not as bright in texture, overal mid range is more compressed, lean and artificial with the UM.
Treble is dryer and less crisp and sparkly with the UM, the dynamic feel again compressed, less airy open and free in natural decay than Svanar.
Soundstage is stock in your head way more with UM and less holographic, wide and deep.
Imaging lack proper space between both X axis instrument separation and Y axis sound layers separation with the UM.

All in all, Svanar is both superior in technicalities and tonal balanced, as well as timbre and tone naturalness and ultimately musicality: wich the UM crually lack.



VS HIFIMAN SVANAR+iFi GO POD (2400$ TWS DUO)

It most be noted here that I was puzzled to compare a TWS to cabled IEM with mid or high end source, so to be fair i downscale the Svanar with best TWS dac-amp out there. WHy down scale? Cause Svanar are 60ohm of impedance and benefit more than 120mw@32ohm amping.…

Nonetheless, it's evident technical performance like clarity, attack control, imaging accuracy, fine micro details and everything but soundstage is better with OG Svanar.

Yes, the TWS have bigger soundstage, which underline the benefit of R2R DAC-AMP, which i dynamic gain is superior to Go Pod, at least, for the very Svanar driver…

Tonality is near identical, but OG Svanar offer a more balanced W shape, hint less warm and bassy, we don't have as much sub bass resonance warmth in low end so the bass is more textured, better define in mid bass for kick drum presence and tighter-faster in attack control, which mean it's better separated from mid range too.

OG Svanar mids are cleaner, better resolved, edgier in definition and more transparent yet richer in texture info too. For ex, piano note are less warm and have longer cleaner natural decay. It seem upper mids are less smoothen and hint brighter too, female vocal aren't as lush and wide in presence than the TWS but they are better extracted and layered, less softed in definition edge. Overall mids are less colored and thick than TWS too.

Treble is more snappy and sparkly, percussions are easier to follow and level of macro and micro sound info are all superior with OG Svanar. Overall treble is cleaner, less softed in sustain-release.

Svanar TWS soundstage is taller and wider but not as deep since clarity isn't as sharp and clean, silence being more ''noisy''.

Imaging while less holographic is notably more accurate, precise and sharp with OG Svanar.

All in all, the Svanar TWS isn't far of OG Svanar tonality but technical performance can't compete with them, especially if we use high end source, but with something entry level like GO POD, the Svanar TWS surpass OG Svanar in term of spatiality and offer a more holographic and immersive musicality, with warmer but fuller tone and overall more pleasant performance even if not as technical.

CONCLUSION




The Svanar Wireless barely make me change my mind about TWS IEMs in general, I mean, it does in term of plain sound quality that can challenge cabled IEMs, but not in 500$ price range, more in 200$ and lower price range if connected to a good source.
Since i'm a passionate being, if something annoy me, it tend to ruin whole enjoyement experience and the Ldac connectivity issue was a very big drawback for me as well as random plain disconnection on the go if I change mode.

So, did the Svanar TWS are thinked for sedantary use? Well, with nowadays 4G and 5G wifi invading every space, I do think TWS is even more risky than before to buy if you live in a city or even a small village like me. If you live in forest....I guess it can be OK, but at they end it can be solve using AAC or SBC codec.

On the positive side: the Svanar Wireless are the very best sounding TWS buds i've ever heard, with the most dynamic and holographic rendering, beautiful mids and airy treble, and a warm slam that make my head bang more than one time.

Will i recommend this for serious audiophile? Nope.

But hey: Highly recommended for TWS lover!






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PS: I want to thanks Hifiman for sending me this review sample. As always, those are my 100% independant minded audio impressions.

You can order the Svanar Wireless for 500$ directly from official Hifiman store here:
https://store.hifiman.com/index.php/svanar-wireless.html