Latest Thread Images

Hifiman Edition XS Launched
Dec 21, 2021 at 4:59 AM Post #496 of 2,788
Alrighty then:wink:
1640080750851.jpeg
 
Dec 21, 2021 at 5:36 AM Post #498 of 2,788
I am merely relegating what I heard in a direct a/b sound comparison between the Sundara and XS. The XS and XX are indistinguishable from one another outside of the different headbands.
The Sundara, alongside the LCD-5 and Aiva, are among the only planars that doesn’t sound too laidback in the mids. I should know, I’ve been hunting for the planar version of the HD600 for 5 years. Also..the Sundara doesn’t roll off in the bass providing you get a good seal. For me it reaches all the way down into the deepest of subbass like my previous LCD-2.
This is not at all a swipe against the XX but just an honest opinion:)
 
Dec 21, 2021 at 6:52 AM Post #499 of 2,788
Kammerat Rebekka said:
I am merely relegating what I heard in a direct a/b sound comparison between the Sundara and XS. The XS and XX are indistinguishable from one another outside of the different headbands.
The Sundara, alongside the LCD-5 and Aiva, are among the only planars that doesn’t sound too laidback in the mids. I should know, I’ve been hunting for the planar version of the HD600 for 5 years. Also..the Sundara doesn’t roll off in the bass providing you get a good seal. For me it reaches all the way down into the deepest of subbass like my previous LCD-2.
This is not at all a swipe against the XX but just an honest opinion:)
Click to expand...
I've directly A/B the Sundara and the XS, the XS is a step up. In terms of tonality, there's some measurements on page 28 directly comparing the Ananda and the XS, and they are very similar.

It would appear that this is a refined Ananda with stealth magnets, as it tries to reach for the HE1000 sound at a cheaper price.
 
Dec 21, 2021 at 6:57 AM Post #500 of 2,788
Well then we seem to be two people who’ve a/b’ed with the Sundara:)
I find vocals and the whole presence region too laidback over the XS opposite to the Sundara.

Edith: Alright I catch the drift. Please stay away until I say the same things as everyone else.
I’ll be a while…
 
Last edited:
Dec 21, 2021 at 7:45 AM Post #501 of 2,788
Kammerat Rebekka said:
My old friend bought one of these to compare with his Drop XX..and woe and behold, turns out they’re the exact same headphone.
Well I had a sneaking suspicion that would be the case seeing as the two share the exact same specs.
Old school planar fans will most likely adore this whilst I personally much prefer the more natural presentation of the Sundara. The classic uppermids drop-off is here..just like it’s Drop brother had.
Click to expand...

Hmm, the XX and Edition XS measure very differently though, as you can see from the 1-3khz dip and upper treble drop. XS has a lot more upper treble, and much less of a mid range dip than the XX. Also brighter by quite a significant margin as a whole. Tuning-wise the XS is much closer to the Edition X, sitting somewhere between it and the Ananda. If your friend had the Ananda, could he comment on how they compare to the XS? Personally I find the XS tonally even more neutral than the Ananda.

But I can see your point that the Sundara is still somewhat more natural though. Personally I prefer the slightly and tastefully elevated treble on the XS. The typical HFM dip between 1-3khz also doesn't sound bad to me as it kinda resembles the experience of listening to acoustic instruments in a concert hall. I recall Brent Butterworth also commented similarly on the HFM dip in one of his articles, but I can't seem to locate which one.
 
Dec 21, 2021 at 8:01 AM Post #502 of 2,788
Kammerat Rebekka said:
Well then we seem to be two people who’ve a/b’ed with the Sundara:)
I find vocals and the whole presence region too laidback over the XS opposite to the Sundara.

Edith: Alright I catch the drift. Please stay away until I say the same things as everyone else.
I’ll be a while…
Click to expand...
I don't disagree that the Sundara is more filled in from 1-3 kHz than most HIFIMAN gear, but it is inferior to the XS in all other aspects.

I've never heard the XX, but I can see that it is clearly the darkest of the HIFIMAN egg headphones, and the XS is clearly not that.
 
Dec 21, 2021 at 8:40 AM Post #503 of 2,788
VegasZ said:
Hello everyone, I'm new here and would like to clear a doubt. I have Qoa Vesper, Seaudio Yume, Moondrop Kato and Variations. Now I'm waiting to get a Hifiman Edition Xs. I use a Hiby R5s as a player. I really like this tonality, especially from Variations. Will Hifiman Xs be an upgrade from Variations? Will the Hiby R5s be enough to play the Hifiman well? I saw that the Hiby has 1040 mw x2 in the balanced output, does that mean it multiplies by 2 to know the maximum power?
Click to expand...
They're over ear open back planar headphones, so they are going to be different from the Variations. They have a wider soundstage, they will sound a lot "bigger". The Variations has a remarkably good soundstage for an IEM but it is still an IEM. The sound signature is also different, the Variations has a massive sub-bass boost but then somewhat thin lower mids. The Edition XS will sound more forward than the Variations. Less bass, the bass is very present and well extended but the Variations it's this massive subbass boost, it's too much sometimes for me. The Edition XS the bass is there, but it's never too much.

IMO, the Variations is a bit of a specialist IEM, it's fantastic for electronic music, and probably most modern music in general. I'm not sure it works great for (for example) classic rock. I have the Blessing 2 Dusk as well and I feel it's a much more balanced all-rounder tuning. I don't have the Variations long enough to really form a final opinion, but this was my impression. The Edition XS I think will be more towards the all rounder.
 
Dec 21, 2021 at 11:42 AM Post #504 of 2,788
I'm considering a used pair of Edition XS for $450 or a new pair of HE-560 V4 for $229 from Adorama to replace or supplement my HE-400se. I like rock, classic rock, alternative rock, alt-country, Americana, bluegrass, hard bop jazz and progressive house EDM.

Which is a better fit and deal at those prices? Thanks.
 
Dec 21, 2021 at 11:58 AM Post #505 of 2,788
Does the XS use the same Ultrapad V2 pads as the Edition X v2 or Serenity pads?
 
Dec 21, 2021 at 12:18 PM Post #507 of 2,788
What is a good desktop solution to drive these? They are maxing out my idsd signature, which does 4 watts on turbo. Any recs for something that outputs 7 to 10 watts for $600 or less?
 
Dec 21, 2021 at 1:09 PM Post #510 of 2,788
Kammerat Rebekka said:
My old friend bought one of these to compare with his Drop XX..and woe and behold, turns out they’re the exact same headphone.
Well I had a sneaking suspicion that would be the case seeing as the two share the exact same specs.
Old school planar fans will most likely adore this whilst I personally much prefer the more natural presentation of the Sundara. The classic uppermids drop-off is here..just like it’s Drop brother had.
Click to expand...
Sundara - natural?.. Highs a bit much for that. Lacking low bass (falls like a stone under 50 Hz).

The XX is a bit of a mess. It's not as good as the HEX v2 and HFM claims the Edition X as the parent for the XS.

Plus once you add in the stealth measures how can the XS be a knock off of anything?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 6 (members: 0, guests: 6)
Back
Top