@BubbaJay, how would you compare the Sundaras to the HD700 or the Nighthawk? Mainly for clarity, subbass and stage. The LCD-2C also picked my interest but I read it's dark sounding.
Hifiman Sundara (HE400i upgraded, around $500)
- Thread starter mtoc
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NighHawk is pretty dark and doesn't have the clarity of the Sundara. It has non-fatiguing sound though so you can listen to it for long periods of time.
Sonic Defender
Headphoneus Supremus
Agreed. The Nighthawk, for me, lacks dynamics and while certainly non-offensive relatedly is also not very engaging.
omegaorgun
Previously known as FireLion
16:15 Now we are talking sundara sound stage, turn volume up make things bigger
22:25 Direct sundara competition which are triple the price and easier to drive
Sonic Defender
Headphoneus Supremus
The way you worded your sentence suggests that the Sundara is easier to drive (I'm pretty sure that isn't what you meant). I hope that wouldn't be the case as the Sundara are not really easy to drive. Using my Q5s AM3D via the 3.5mm input I have the volume at 100% and it is not at all loud enough, barely acceptable volume level. Granted that is low gain, but regardless, I have driven several other headphones to a much more satisfying volume level with the same input on the AM3D. It was a shame that HiFi Man made the connector chambers on the cup deeper than on the Edition X V2 as I have a simple, but nice, 4.4mm terminated cable that I can use with the AM3D but I could not test the Sundara through it. Safe to say that the Sundara is not easy to drive.
omegaorgun
Previously known as FireLion
Paraphrased Zeos and he mant the Helios was easier to driver, sorry for confusion.
Sonic Defender
Headphoneus Supremus
No worries, and I was pretty sure that you meant that the Sundara was harder to drive.
omegaorgun
Previously known as FireLion
He said to forget HD68X, 400I, DT880 and it was as good as a Sundara, not sure I agree.
Coffee Music
100+ Head-Fier
Does anyone know anything about the stealth revision version of the sundara as mentioned by "the headphone show" on utube released 4 days ago? From what I heard the pads are undoubtedly different and they made everything better from fit to sound. I wonder if the revision is just a change of pads?
I've owned the sundara for a year. LOVED the headphone. But about 9 months in both of the pads are ripped. Very disappointed because I took great care of them. Inside the pads are like blue greenish foams.
I've owned the sundara for a year. LOVED the headphone. But about 9 months in both of the pads are ripped. Very disappointed because I took great care of them. Inside the pads are like blue greenish foams.
SkyZippr
100+ Head-Fier
I'm considering getting myself a Sundara. Since this would be my first planar, I'm wondering if I need to take extra care of it in compare to regular dynamic headphones.
Currently I own an HD598, and I literally have never taken care of it. When not in use, it simply lays on my desk which is kinda messy all the time. I wonder if planars are, for example, sensitive to dust or something?
Currently I own an HD598, and I literally have never taken care of it. When not in use, it simply lays on my desk which is kinda messy all the time. I wonder if planars are, for example, sensitive to dust or something?
I bought mine within the last couple of weeks and it seems to have the updated pads. Very happy with mine as well.
I do have a question about the cable. I am looking to buy a balanced cable for use with this and some of the other headphones I have (Focal Elegia, Meze 99). The OEM cable for the Sundara is 3.5 mm stereo to dual 3.5 mm stereo plugs, while the Focal and Meze 99 both use 3.5 mm stereo to dual 3.5 mm mono plugs. The Sundara seems to work fine when using a cable with 3.5 mm mono plugs at the headphone end. However, would that make a difference if I was using a balanced cable? Another words, can I use the same 4 pin XLR to dual 3.5 mm mono balanced cable with all three headphones?
I do have a question about the cable. I am looking to buy a balanced cable for use with this and some of the other headphones I have (Focal Elegia, Meze 99). The OEM cable for the Sundara is 3.5 mm stereo to dual 3.5 mm stereo plugs, while the Focal and Meze 99 both use 3.5 mm stereo to dual 3.5 mm mono plugs. The Sundara seems to work fine when using a cable with 3.5 mm mono plugs at the headphone end. However, would that make a difference if I was using a balanced cable? Another words, can I use the same 4 pin XLR to dual 3.5 mm mono balanced cable with all three headphones?
CFGamescape
500+ Head-Fier
The build of the Sundara is pretty good, but you still want to be careful. The build and look is such that you will want to take care of it.
I wouldn't worry. They are built very sturdy and there is a thin fabric to prevent dust from getting on the drivers.
SkyZippr
100+ Head-Fier
It looks and feels damn good.
That's good to know. I was worrying that I might need to clean it with an air blower every now and then like cameras.
cfranchi
500+ Head-Fier
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What Hifiman headphone, with same sound philosophy than Sundara, would be an upgrade of Sundara ? I particulary like the natural sound / realism of Sundara.
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