disastermouse
Headphoneus Supremus
Remind me again, you’ve heard the XS, or no?
Hifiman Edition XS Launched
- Thread starter kamikazeing
- Start date
bagwell359
Headphoneus Supremus
No. Just reading this thread and using my experience with the 3 HFM cans most often compared to the XS.
Nothing I wrote in that post or thread makes any claims that I have heard them.
Here, problem solved!
A soft piece of leather, a bit of double sided tape, that'll do it.
Steadier, non-slip, stays on my head without tightening the spring.
A soft piece of leather, a bit of double sided tape, that'll do it.
Steadier, non-slip, stays on my head without tightening the spring.
Last edited:
pk4425
500+ Head-Fier
Very clever!Here, problem solved!
A soft piece of leather, a bit of double sided tape, that'll do it.
Steadier, non-slip, stays on my head without tightening the spring.
BobSmith8901
500+ Head-Fier
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Very nice. It looks like it's made for the headphone! I've done something along those lines with my Drop HE-X4's, in my case to get better comfort--I added an OEM Sennheiser HD-650/6XX headband pad in a similar fashion using the smallest amount of Scotch velcro tape at either end, just enough to keep it connected. I have to extend the band out to the max but it gets rid of the hotspot and the fit is very good overall.Here, problem solved!
A soft piece of leather, a bit of double sided tape, that'll do it.
Steadier, non-slip, stays on my head without tightening the spring.
Last edited:
AT Khan
100+ Head-Fier
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Finally - first reviews coming in from our - celeb reviewers...
**TL;DR:** CheapAudioMan likes em. Says maybe his favs.
**TL;DR:** CheapAudioMan likes em. Says maybe his favs.
Gustavo1976
100+ Head-Fier
One coming home. Do you recommend a dac amp portable or can use dap. I have Fiio M11 plus. Thanks.
AT Khan
100+ Head-Fier
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Well I surely do recommend an amp. These are a bit hungry. But the fiiO M11 is quite powerful, so I think you're good there.
Glowing review, agree with everything in the video.
pk4425
500+ Head-Fier
Finally got a pair of these babies, which I have lusted after since they debuted as a China-only product last year. Thanks to fellow Head-fier @dougq for a smokin' deal and superb, smooth transaction.
First impressions: The Edition XS fulfill the hype -- and then some. I'm beyond delighted with these after the first two hours of listening.
I'm happy to compare these to a few headphones outside of the HiFiMan line -- I've owned/own HD 560s, HD 6XX, Elegia, Meze 99 Classics, ATH-M40x, ATH-M50x -- I think it's probably best and most accurate to compare to the HiFiMan headphone that I own, the HE-400se.
I know the Sundara is the step just below the XS in the HiFiMan, but I've never owned or tried it. Decided to jump straight from HE-400se to XS after my recent purchase of the Elegia showed me how mid-fi can be a considerable jump over entry-fi.
The Edition XS basically take what's good in the HE-400se and elevate it about five times. And it takes the flaws of the 400se and fixes them.
All of these impressions are without EQ. I'm not a huge EQ guy, as I like the varying sound signatures of the cans in my collection (HE-400se, Elegia, HD 6XX).
First, the Edition XS bass. It's more controlled, punchy and present than in the HE-400se, which already has good, entry-level planar bass. There's no grain, spike or congestion in the treble so far, which can be a problem in some complex passages with the HE-400se. But the biggest difference in the basic sound signature between the HE-400se and the Edition XS are the mids -- they're far more defined and present in the Edition XS than in the HE-400se.
Other thoughts about the XS compared to the HE-400se ... Clarity? Better. Imaging? MUCH better. Soundstage? Considerably wider. Comfort. The same -- both are very comfortable, but the XS has even less clamping force. Good for my fat, bald dome.
I'm not an audiophile with decades of experience and a fat checkbook. I've been active in this wonderful hobby and with its cool people for about five years, and my finances finally have allowed me to graduate from entry-fi to mid-fi. But the Edition XS are the highest-quality all-arounders I've heard. The only headphone I've heard that's better is the Focal Stellia, and that's a $3,000 can.
There's just nothing in the XS' sound signature that offends my ears and brain in the slightest, which is rare since I'm very treble-sensitive and suffer from raging tinnitus. And there's a HELL of a lot in the sound signature that matches my idea of audio nirvana.
Time to compare the Edition XS to the other mid-fi can in my collection, the Elegia. Yes, the detail and some of the treble in the Elegia match or possibly exceed that in the XS. But the Elegia don't do bass or soundstage nearly as well as the XS. The Elegia are great for strings, classical, vocals, acoustic, piano jazz, bluegrass -- music that lives in the mids. But they're not so great for rock, alternative rock or metal.
So far, the Edition XS have been great with every genre, just like my HE-400se, which are THE definitive entry-level can, in my opinion. But the Edition XS are just significantly better at everything than the HE-400se.
Finally, I don't get the fuss about power requirements for the Edition XS. I'm driving them to ample volume on low gain of my JDS Atom+ stack. The dial is at about noon or 1 p.m. I'm sure more powerful amps would elicit even more fidelity, but I'm already in rapture at what I'm hearing.
The Edition XS may stop my headphone churn for a while. They're THAT good. I feel like I would need to pierce the four-figure spend range to get anything much better.
I'm so damn impressed -- and happy!
Feel free to toss any questions my way.
First impressions: The Edition XS fulfill the hype -- and then some. I'm beyond delighted with these after the first two hours of listening.
I'm happy to compare these to a few headphones outside of the HiFiMan line -- I've owned/own HD 560s, HD 6XX, Elegia, Meze 99 Classics, ATH-M40x, ATH-M50x -- I think it's probably best and most accurate to compare to the HiFiMan headphone that I own, the HE-400se.
I know the Sundara is the step just below the XS in the HiFiMan, but I've never owned or tried it. Decided to jump straight from HE-400se to XS after my recent purchase of the Elegia showed me how mid-fi can be a considerable jump over entry-fi.
The Edition XS basically take what's good in the HE-400se and elevate it about five times. And it takes the flaws of the 400se and fixes them.
All of these impressions are without EQ. I'm not a huge EQ guy, as I like the varying sound signatures of the cans in my collection (HE-400se, Elegia, HD 6XX).
First, the Edition XS bass. It's more controlled, punchy and present than in the HE-400se, which already has good, entry-level planar bass. There's no grain, spike or congestion in the treble so far, which can be a problem in some complex passages with the HE-400se. But the biggest difference in the basic sound signature between the HE-400se and the Edition XS are the mids -- they're far more defined and present in the Edition XS than in the HE-400se.
Other thoughts about the XS compared to the HE-400se ... Clarity? Better. Imaging? MUCH better. Soundstage? Considerably wider. Comfort. The same -- both are very comfortable, but the XS has even less clamping force. Good for my fat, bald dome.
I'm not an audiophile with decades of experience and a fat checkbook. I've been active in this wonderful hobby and with its cool people for about five years, and my finances finally have allowed me to graduate from entry-fi to mid-fi. But the Edition XS are the highest-quality all-arounders I've heard. The only headphone I've heard that's better is the Focal Stellia, and that's a $3,000 can.
There's just nothing in the XS' sound signature that offends my ears and brain in the slightest, which is rare since I'm very treble-sensitive and suffer from raging tinnitus. And there's a HELL of a lot in the sound signature that matches my idea of audio nirvana.
Time to compare the Edition XS to the other mid-fi can in my collection, the Elegia. Yes, the detail and some of the treble in the Elegia match or possibly exceed that in the XS. But the Elegia don't do bass or soundstage nearly as well as the XS. The Elegia are great for strings, classical, vocals, acoustic, piano jazz, bluegrass -- music that lives in the mids. But they're not so great for rock, alternative rock or metal.
So far, the Edition XS have been great with every genre, just like my HE-400se, which are THE definitive entry-level can, in my opinion. But the Edition XS are just significantly better at everything than the HE-400se.
Finally, I don't get the fuss about power requirements for the Edition XS. I'm driving them to ample volume on low gain of my JDS Atom+ stack. The dial is at about noon or 1 p.m. I'm sure more powerful amps would elicit even more fidelity, but I'm already in rapture at what I'm hearing.
The Edition XS may stop my headphone churn for a while. They're THAT good. I feel like I would need to pierce the four-figure spend range to get anything much better.
I'm so damn impressed -- and happy!
Feel free to toss any questions my way.
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bagwell359
Headphoneus Supremus
Very nice review. If you want to try other HFM stuff under 1k, try:
* HE-6se v2 (u will need a bigger amp)
* used HEX v2
* used HE-500 (might need bigger amp)
* Ananda
* used Arya v1 & 2 should be below a K.
Don't need to hear them all but you would extend your knowledge on what u like.
I have the Focal Clear (on sale!).
I can not get to them at all - interesting that you consider Elegia as comparable .
I don't think of the Clears much.
pk4425
500+ Head-Fier
I compared the Elegia and the Edition XS, but I thought my description indicated they're not comparable.
For starters, the Elegia are closed-back dynamics; the Edition XS are open-back planars. The Elegia are detail monsters -- that's their big trick, one I enjoy. The Edition XS don't have any special tricks. They're just balanced, detailed and separated so well across the sonic spectrum.
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pk4425
500+ Head-Fier
Thanks for tips. I'll hear them eventually, but I have turned over my entire headphone collection and amp-DAC in the last two months. My money clip needs a break ...
And here is something that didn't work!
Devil makes work for idle hands. So I thought I have a go at the earpads.
I cut some thin leather leftovers I had and fixed them to the underside of the pad, thinking the suede side, would stop diaphragm reflections.
Not good!
It messed with the sound, sound stage got confused, sound became dull, a lot less bright and some of the resolution vanished.
Also, there was this squeak that appeared out of nowhere, I checked the pads after I removed the above, but that damn squeak wouldn't go away - finally I gave up for the night, sat back, took my glasses off and rubbed my eyes - squeek was gone!
It turned out to be the pads rubbing against my glasses handles - aaargh.
Well, you win some, you lose some.
Don't do it!
Devil makes work for idle hands. So I thought I have a go at the earpads.
I cut some thin leather leftovers I had and fixed them to the underside of the pad, thinking the suede side, would stop diaphragm reflections.
Not good!
It messed with the sound, sound stage got confused, sound became dull, a lot less bright and some of the resolution vanished.
Also, there was this squeak that appeared out of nowhere, I checked the pads after I removed the above, but that damn squeak wouldn't go away - finally I gave up for the night, sat back, took my glasses off and rubbed my eyes - squeek was gone!
It turned out to be the pads rubbing against my glasses handles - aaargh.
Well, you win some, you lose some.
Don't do it!
Last edited:
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