[Flognuts]

This is the first headphone I've ever had that I haven't had the urge to update, end game for me, still very happy after a year.

Hifiman could have priced these at double the price and people would have been happy the the quality to price ratio.....one thing that interests me though, is if these sound this good at $500 AU then how good do the Arya sound when properly amped?

 

[rlanger]

This is the first headphone I've ever had that I haven't had the urge to update, end game for me, still very happy after a year.

Hifiman could have priced these at double the price and people would have been happy the the quality to price ratio.....one thing that interests me though, is if these sound this good at $500 AU then how good do the Arya sound when properly amped?

I agree. Just wish Chord would come out with the Mojo2 already so I can upgrade my amp/dac!

 

[539465]

This is the first headphone I've ever had that I haven't had the urge to update, end game for me, still very happy after a year.

Hifiman could have priced these at double the price and people would have been happy the the quality to price ratio.....one thing that interests me though, is if these sound this good at $500 AU then how good do the Arya sound when properly amped?

Arya's are endgame for so many people that if you don't like them then it's you not them but in the non-ironic breakup sense. Also "properly amped" can be had for well under $500 you don't need a $1000+ amp for headphones you can get gently used for around $1000 or really to get 99% performance from really any headphone lets be reasonable.

 

[chris.d.m.]

I have the 2018 Sundara's and have honestly barely used them as their bass is to me, less than desirable.
They also sound a bit distant, Albeit they have a very clear top end.

I have not read through this thread in a long time but...Can anyone kindly fill me in on IF there is an upgrade path forward that appreciably improves the 2018 Sundara? Would the only straight forward option to improve bass response etc be pads or?

 

[Lolito]

I have the 2018 Sundara's and have honestly barely used them as their bass is to me, less than desirable.
They also sound a bit distant, Albeit they have a very clear top end.

I have not read through this thread in a long time but...Can anyone kindly fill me in on IF there is an upgrade path forward that appreciably improves the 2018 Sundara? Would the only straight forward option to improve bass response etc be pads or?

Audeze LCD 2F, or X, so 1500$ upgrade.

 

[539465]

I have the 2018 Sundara's and have honestly barely used them as their bass is to me, less than desirable.
They also sound a bit distant, Albeit they have a very clear top end.

I have not read through this thread in a long time but...Can anyone kindly fill me in on IF there is an upgrade path forward that appreciably improves the 2018 Sundara? Would the only straight forward option to improve bass response etc be pads or?

you could just buy the updated sundara all you need are new pads from what I understand.... I would also invest in the Zen CAN the bass boost and 3d both help improve the bass (and it brings sub-bass up specifically for rolled off headphones like sundara) and soundstage respectively

 

[seanwee]

Audeze LCD 2F, or X, so 1500$ upgrade.

I've listened to both before i got the Sundara. If you're after clean sound, those two will be significant downgrade. If you're just after bass quantity and a dark warm sound they are fine choices.

I have the 2018 Sundara's and have honestly barely used them as their bass is to me, less than desirable.
They also sound a bit distant, Albeit they have a very clear top end.

I have not read through this thread in a long time but...Can anyone kindly fill me in on IF there is an upgrade path forward that appreciably improves the 2018 Sundara? Would the only straight forward option to improve bass response etc be pads or?

Of all the planars i've listened to,vs 2018 sundara the LCD-XC was slightly better, Meze emperean like a warmer and slightly bassier version of the sundara and HE-1000v2 sounded more airy but lacked the dynamics of the sundara.

I've heard good things about the HE-6 but i've never gotten the chance to try it.

 

[Dawgfish]

I have the 2018 Sundara's and have honestly barely used them as their bass is to me, less than desirable.
They also sound a bit distant, Albeit they have a very clear top end.

I have not read through this thread in a long time but...Can anyone kindly fill me in on IF there is an upgrade path forward that appreciably improves the 2018 Sundara? Would the only straight forward option to improve bass response etc be pads or?

You could buy the updated pads from Hifiman: https://store.hifiman.com/index.php/palipad.html

This will turn them into the 2020 or so silent revision Sundara that most reviewers and users agree was a pretty appreciable improvement. Eq also does wonders for the Sundara if you don't mind doing that (many people do). I find the Sundara responds extremely well with eq especially with bass.

 

[chris.d.m.]

You could buy the updated pads from Hifiman: https://store.hifiman.com/index.php/palipad.html

This will turn them into the 2020 or so silent revision Sundara that most reviewers and users agree was a pretty appreciable improvement. Eq also does wonders for the Sundara if you don't mind doing that (many people don't). I find the Sundara responds extremely well with eq especially with bass.

Thanks, that sounds like the best option,

Re; the other comments, much appreciated. I still have the 2018 Sundara here ...But will be getting the newer LCD X's soon. Which is why I was thinking if all goes well with the X's & I keep them (which are clearly a darker or softer signature) ...that it might be good to give the Sundara a pad update and have them as an alternate top end voicing option.

 

[Dawgfish]

That sounds like a good plan! You'll have two different sets of killer planars with different sound signatures.

 

[luizffgarcia]

I have the 2018 Sundara's and have honestly barely used them as their bass is to me, less than desirable.
They also sound a bit distant, Albeit they have a very clear top end.

I have not read through this thread in a long time but...Can anyone kindly fill me in on IF there is an upgrade path forward that appreciably improves the 2018 Sundara? Would the only straight forward option to improve bass response etc be pads or?

All you really need is a low shelf EQ man, then you get all the good stuff the Sundara has to offer + great bass.

I was underwhelmed by the Sundara until i applied Oratory's EQ and then added a bit more bass, here it is, i highly suggest you give it a try:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/toi8vyjholngvc2/Hifiman Sundara.pdf?dl=0

 

[Benaudio]

Or Armin’s EQ; it’s a bit simpler, a bit more bass and sounds great to me:

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...ara-review-headphone.22529/page-4#post-747868

 

[chris.d.m.]

I've listened to both before i got the Sundara. If you're after clean sound, those two will be significant downgrade. If you're just after bass quantity and a dark warm sound they are fine choices.


Of all the planars i've listened to,vs 2018 sundara the LCD-XC was slightly better, Meze emperean like a warmer and slightly bassier version of the sundara and HE-1000v2 sounded more airy but lacked the dynamics of the sundara.

I've heard good things about the HE-6 but i've never gotten the chance to try it.

Intersting. Curious if you've heard the newer version of the LCD X? & think they could still be described as dark & warm. I'll get a pair soon to check out but my guess is they're still somewhat warm, but a bit less dark.

As well if you have the pali pads on your Sundara's that you seem to like quite a bit. Thanks.

 

[Lolito]

Or Armin’s EQ; it’s a bit simpler, a bit more bass and sounds great to me:

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...ara-review-headphone.22529/page-4#post-747868

Is that really working? can you eq boost the bass and the sundaras still won't distort? that is what he says, and that guy is serious. Probably planars not just respond well to eq but do need eq always to sound right? audeze need eq too. In any case, can you get the missing bass out of sundaras with eq??? thanks!!

 

[luizffgarcia]

Is that really working? can you eq boost the bass and the sundaras still won't distort? that is what he says, and that guy is serious. Probably planars not just respond well to eq but do need eq always to sound right? audeze need eq too. In any case, can you get the missing bass out of sundaras with eq??? thanks!!

Yep, the Sundara will not distort if you boost the low frequencies, not even a little and not even if you boost by a LOT. And yes you can get all the missing bass and then some more, EQ makes the Sundara the perfect set at least for me, but people still refuse to even try because of that (the way the engineers wanted the sound to be) bulls***.