Hifiman Edition XS Launched

[AT Khan]

Thstmakes sense. I don't get the obsession of the 400. Granted, it's great for the price, but it's a starter phone. The Sundara holds its own, though the 400 is just okay when you compare to nicer headphones.

You could say the obsession, which even I have for the XS, is... coming from rather lesser Hifiman headphones before this one (the Edition XS).
The same applies to folks who've never had planar-magnetics before, and so cans like the 4XX or 400S or 400SE are newly found crushes.
Also, the barrier to entry is way less in comparison to say, an Audeze. Like you said - as starter for under $150 or even $100 at times - definitely an eye-catcher. The only other ones, the Foster RPs, look a bit dated.

 

[JoshG1217]

You could say the obsession, which even I have for the XS, is... coming from rather lesser Hifiman headphones before this one (the Edition XS).
The same applies to folks who've never had planar-magnetics before, and so cans like the 4XX or 400S or 400SE are newly found crushes.
Also, the barrier to entry is way less in comparison to say, an Audeze. Like you said - as starter for under $150 or even $100 at times - definitely an eye-catcher. The only other ones, the Foster RPs, look a bit dated.

Oh, I agree. For a $200 budget, I would recommend them, bur I'd also say save a little more and get the Sundaras. Nevertheless, at that price I would recommend 400 for open back and probably dt 770 for a closed back. Both are about as good as it gets at that price... though Jubilee 58x is good too in that bracket.

 

[JoshG1217]

Ananda is wider and bass has more punch. Xs may be slightly more detailed. Still determining. You can't go wrong with either. Ananda is more comfortable because eof suspension strap

 

[OkPsychology]

Ananda is wider and bass has more punch. Xs may be slightly more detailed. Still determining. You can't go wrong with either. Ananda is more comfortable because eof suspension strap

Do the cups swivel on the XS tho? That was my major complaint about the Ananda’s fit. Oh, and I could also barely make them fit on the lowest adjustment setting due to my smaller noggin. The giant cups extended way down my jawline. Not at all comfortable

 

[JoshG1217]

Do the cups swivel on the XS tho? That was my major complaint about the Ananda’s fit. Oh, and I could also barely make them fit on the lowest adjustment setting due to my smaller noggin. The giant cups extended way down my jawline. Not at all comfortable

A little because there is play in the plastic headband, but jot much. They fit about the same.

The Ananda may be slightly more v shaped. They definitely have more bass than the XS. The XS has more subtle treble too, so perhaps a more neutral response than Ananda wirh more intimate staging. It reminds me more of gl2000 than Ananda. I'll need to get those out and do an a/b/c.

 

[dougq]

A little because there is play in the plastic headband, but jot much. They fit about the same.

The Ananda may be slightly more v shaped. They definitely have more bass than the XS. The XS has more subtle treble too, so perhaps a more neutral response than Ananda wirh more intimate staging. It reminds me more of gl2000 than Ananda. I'll need to get those out and do an a/b/c.

Wow. These seems to counter a lot of what I have heard. It's crazy how everyone hears things so differently. I was under the impression the xs would have more bass, and more stage. Haven't heard them yet though.

 

[JoshG1217]

Less stage, but mids feel more detailed. Like I said, more neutral than Ananda. Ananda is more holographic in the staging. It geel more spread out, but xs seems to do vocals slightly better. I like them both, but I'm definitely a bass head and love a wide stage, bur I also love detail. I can't widen the xs but I can eq in some bass. They are both great headphones.

 

[pokrog]

A little because there is play in the plastic headband, but jot much. They fit about the same.

The Ananda may be slightly more v shaped. They definitely have more bass than the XS. The XS has more subtle treble too, so perhaps a more neutral response than Ananda wirh more intimate staging. It reminds me more of gl2000 than Ananda. I'll need to get those out and do an a/b/c.

What source are you using? Are you using a balanced cable for more power? The XS definitely has way more bass extension than the Ananda. Like by a lot. I'm starting to wonder if people are going to be let down by underpowering these as the only amps I have currently are a soloist (which in real world tests outputs 15w@32ohm) and an A90 (that I don't use, but has quite a bit of power). The soundstage thing could be power related as well because you gain a lot of soundstage in planars from the control you get from more power that makes the micro detail reverb more accurate, conveying a deeper and more accurate soundstage. The stealth drivers advertised sensitivity and impedance I feel is a bit misleading and they really love more power. Just because they get loud, doesn't mean you're getting everything out of them. They got plenty loud off my PC but sub bass sounded like the driver was torn and flapping around like a plastic bag. Hifiman recommends at least 2w and I definitely agree.

 

[gzbaga]

Mine just arrived. First impressions - wow! Hifiman is really doubling down on the planar price war. First the Sundara 2020, then HE400SE, and now the Edition XS. All budget planars with exceptional performance. I am also pleased to see cup swivel on the yokes. I have never been a fan of the Ananda/Sundara headband which although distributes weight quite well due to suspension design, does not have any swivel and is a bit clampy. Although I do think the Ananda headband looks better.

Sound of the EDXS I would describe as effortless, pleasing, smooth and balanced. Tonally very close to the Ananda, with a more pominent bass presence, but this could be due to better seal/fit on the head thanks to cup swivel (should stop going on about this lol). Subtle differences in mids and highs. I don't have the Ananda at hand any more so a side by side comparison would be impossible, but with the updated neo-nanometer diaphragm, my guess is that technically the EDXS should be about on par with the Ananda. I will compare them to the HE1000V2 later, which I do have.

Measurement will follow soon after initial listening session.

 

[dougq]

What source are you using? Are you using a balanced cable for more power? The XS definitely has way more bass extension than the Ananda. Like by a lot. I'm starting to wonder if people are going to be let down by underpowering these as the only amps I have currently are a soloist (which in real world tests outputs 15w@32ohm) and an A90 (that I don't use, but has quite a bit of power). The soundstage thing could be power related as well because you gain a lot of soundstage in planars from the control you get from more power that makes the micro detail reverb more accurate, conveying a deeper and more accurate soundstage. The stealth drivers advertised sensitivity and impedance I feel is a bit misleading and they really love more power. Just because they get loud, doesn't mean you're getting everything out of them. They got plenty loud off my PC but sub bass sounded like the driver was torn and flapping around like a plastic bag. Hifiman recommends at least 2w and I definitely agree.

I thought these were less amp dependent. 2w? Where is that recommendation at? Unfortunately I just have an element 2. I'm not really sure if it will be enough.

 

[gzbaga]

Headfi seems to be down? Or at least going very slowly here on my end. Anway, for the squiggle lovers, here's the frequency response measurement for my pair of the Edition XS:

Edition XS (blue) compared to the Ananda (cyan):

Note: measurements are normalised in the mids around 500hz. Bass on the Ananda extends slightly better than the graph tells IMO, as it is almost impossible to get a perfect seal for them on the measurement rig due to the lack of swivel. But I think the Edition XS still has a bit more bass.

 

[bohn]

I'm starting to wonder if people are going to be let down by underpowering these

what would you recommend for someone who hasn't got an amp/dac

 

[pokrog]

I thought these were less amp dependent. 2w? Where is that recommendation at? Unfortunately I just have an element 2. I'm not really sure if it will be enough.

more forgiving to the sound coloration from an amp for sure, but not immune to being underpowered. topping amps tend to make headphones brighter and sharper, THX amps are even worse usually and they have plenty of power most of the time but they still sound just fine. warmer hybrid amps don't seem to over smooth them. forgot to test them on my liquid platinum (not on my desktop setup, had to drag it into my room to test) and it sounds great on them. the 2w thing was posted by hifiman somewhere but honestly it's a good rule of thumb for planars in general.

what would you recommend for someone who hasn't got an amp/dac

budget?

@gzbaga got any waterfall graphs? you're my hero already. i knew that bass extension was flat and i dont think the ananda seal is the problem, just that sub bass volume is hard to gauge by ear but oh man do you feel it when it's there.

 

[millzy]

more forgiving to the sound coloration from an amp for sure, but not immune to being underpowered. topping amps tend to make headphones brighter and sharper, THX amps are even worse usually and they have plenty of power most of the time but they still sound just fine. warmer hybrid amps don't seem to over smooth them. forgot to test them on my liquid platinum (not on my desktop setup, had to drag it into my room to test) and it sounds great on them. the 2w thing was posted by hifiman somewhere but honestly it's a good rule of thumb for planars in general.

budget?

@gzbaga got any waterfall graphs? you're my hero already. i knew that bass extension was flat and i dont think the ananda seal is the problem, just that sub bass volume is hard to gauge by ear but oh man do you feel it when it's there.

I've got a ifi zen dac v2 on order but it seems it only outputs 1.5w.
Do you think that should do it?
First real dac/amp purchase and didn't want to go too crazy after the XS purchase.

 

[pokrog]

I've got a ifi zen dac v2 on order but it seems it only outputs 1.5w.
Do you think that should do it?
First real dac/amp purchase and didn't want to go too crazy after the XS purchase.

i think you're thinking of the zen can. the zen dac outputs 330mW@32 Ohm to the balanced headphone jack, which i guess is better than nothing but the zen can would likely be leaps better. the zen dac is more of a dac with a headphone amp as an afterthought more than anything. i'm sure it's ok but you'll get a lot more out of planars with more power.