What is your opinion after trying the Hifiman Sundara compared to the Fidelio x2?
I have received my Sundara and I can give you some impressions. I don’t believe too much in burn-in and so I have listened to Sundara right out of the box with my Mojo. Keep in mind that I LOVE the comfort, large sound, warmth, smoothness and musicality of my Fidelio X2 + Mojo combo. My listening genre is mainly rock, pop, soul.
What to say? Well I’m quite surprise... in a good sense! I was expecting something with a lean and rather bright sound with moderate bass, to say a boring sound : how wrong I was! What I heard was a clean and clear sound (don’t understand lean and bright) proposed with AUTHORITY and control : the planar sound?
Voices are really beautiful (more realist than Fidelio X2) not too forward (like my previous Kennerton Vali) not too distant (like my previous Amiron Home). Guitars, accoustic and electric, are impressive of realism. Mids bass can slame with authority, their quality is quite high (better than Fidelio X2) : drums are engaging and have a very high quality. Sub bass have moderate impact (Fidelio X2 is much more impressive). I’m not worried about treble, they are not aggressive (I’m treble sensitive).
Soundstage height is impressive (much better than Fidelio X2), its quite obvious when listening to well recorded live songs for example. Soundstage width is rather large but maybe less than Fidelio X2. Soundstage depth is moderate (better again than Fidelio X2). Instruments separation is very good. Sound is not in your face (like the Kennerton Vali). All of these contribute to the large soundstage effect : you have the impressions to be in a tall hall when listening to music.
Sundara has great technical qualities, much better than Fidelio X2, however it stays musical, a strong point of the Fidelio X2, and it contributes I think to a rich and melodic sound that is addictive (planar sound again?). My previous Amiron had also nice technical qualities but because of recessed mids was boring during long listening sessions. More than neutral, Sundara sound is natural : the words that come to my mind are realism, authority and spaciousness.
Build quality seems nice, Sundara is very cute, much smaller than Fidelio X2, materials used are nice : Sundara however seems more ´frail’ than Fidelio X2 which is sturdy like a tank. No cracking sound when adjusting the yoke, however adjusting the right cup is much harder than the left cup : for me it is a build assembly issue. The cable : for sure I have seen more ergonomic, I would have preferred a lighter cable like the one of the Fidelio X2 (even if this one is too long, nothing is perfect). Maybe I’ll replace the cable by the Beyer T5p textured cable : more friendly and not bling bling.
Comfort is very good (I have BIG ears, however they don’t feel compressed inside of the pads). Sundara feels lighter than Fidelio X2. Clamping force maybe is bigger than Fidelio X2. Sundara comfort is nearly on par with Fidelio X2.
When connecting the cable to the cups you need to push a bit and you have to hear a firm click, otherwise no sound : that is what I had the first time and, because of the QC issues I read on the forums, I thought to a driver failure!
Pairing with Mojo is great, nice musicality, plenty of power, dynamism and control : I feel its in line with what I have read from Headfonia and Georges Dobrescu.
Certainly I have to make a bit of burn-in if I believed what has been written by fellow reviewers (Georges, Headfonics, SilverEars) : quite happy to think that sound can be better!
At 350 EUR I’m more than happy with Sundara : its technicality and musicality give an addictive sound, my first planar experience is successful. Sundara is a very good alternative to my beloved Fidelio X2. I have looked at Hifiman since years but now I’ll be more than receptive, their house sound is a success.
. Its a bit drier sounding though, mostly on the 3rd track.
. If you enjoy it then by all means have a good time 
