[tigon_ridge]

With Topping, you know you're going to get a clean sounding device. With Schiit, you know you're going to get a magical sounding one. I choose magical, anytime. But it's not my purchase, so it's really up to the buyer, what they're looking for.

Both are clean. Pretty much every headphone amp is clean. Any distortion that is audible is orders of magnitude more due to the headphones than the amps. A "magical" sounding amp is whichever pairs best with your headphone(s). My Schiit Vali 2+ doesn't sound all too magical with the Sundara, even after trying two other tubes. I have not tried other Schiit amps, besides the Asgard 2 and OG Mjolnir, neither of which has the warmth needed to pair well with the Sundara. Newer Schiits seem to be warmer, according to impressions. The Sundara seems to prefer warm sounding amps that are virtually unlimited by current output, i.e. speaker amps, via speaker taps. Now, those can be "dirty," with significant noise floor.

I think what many refer to as "clean" is actually just an overdamped sound. This is the type of sound that often feels thin, dry and lifeless, lacking naturalness and body/presence. True cleanliness is simply an output signal that is faithful to its input, and this is measurable. However, every modern headphone amp is capable of levels of cleanliness that are far beyond human detection, such that any "dirtiness" is imperceptible compared to a theoretical 0% THD + noise signal.

Two amps can have virtually identical distortion measurements and still sound quite different. These electrical signals outputed by different amps may measure identically, but behave differently when driving transducers, and this discrepancy even varies in degree by different headphones. The Sundara, for example, goes from "okay" sounding with my HP amps to completely transformed through my speaker taps. My HE-6se v2 doesn't seem to exhibit quite the same drastic change. It is intriguing.

 

[HWB3]

My Sundara's sound good with my Magni 3+ and even better with my Asgard 3. I pair them with a MMB2 and Loki Mini. Not as much so with my Vali 2++. Where they really lit up was when I put the jumper in my Emotiva BasX A-100 and they got the full power going to the speaker terminals. They love power.

 

[Ufasas]

Lavricables.

the one i posted in previous posts is spot on, 19,99~ revolving around that price, but from China

 

[Ufasas]

Hi all, I am thinking of upgrading to a Fiio K7 BT to power my sundara.
currently using a styleaudio HD1V from eons ago.

Just to check what would be the noticeable difference(s) if I switch to the K7?

Fiio k7 non-BT would do well, as i use it now, but i had fiio k5 pro also, but never tested with Sundara, but i am guessing k5 pro would have done plenty for those cans, juicy enough DAC

 

[Matoriv]

i prefer a all-in-one option rather to have separate amp/dac.
Have ordered the K7 BT (because the BT and non-BT options pricing not much difference).
Cant wait for it and thanks all for your inputs!

 

[gonzalo1004es]

If you have not, try the ZMF pads for the Sundara that were released recently.

Nice bump in the base without altering the FR response on the Hybrid version.

Better seal and seems more durable overall.

Is comfort similar to the stock pads? Do you feel any change in terms of refinement of the sound?

 

[IXOYE]

IMO, Sundara with EQ is the best headphone Hifiman ever have produced, I have own several more expensive Hifimans, but to me Sundara sounds best.

 

[bagwell359]

IMO, Sundara with EQ is the best headphone Hifiman ever have produced, I have own several more expensive Hifimans, but to me Sundara sounds best.

Which models? What amp(s)?

The Sundara is pretty fine esp for the price, but I count 15 HFM models past and present that I'd rank ahead of the Sundara.

 

[tigon_ridge]

Well, so far there are at least three people who agree with me that the Sundara, when driven right, is TOTL-tier sound quality. I can provide one testimony that was a PM sent to me years ago in response to my first post about the Sundara + Crown XLS 1502 combo:

replies:

I was curious as why the Sundara was no longer listed in their signature. Really piqued my curiosity, so I had to investigate/sneak around. Turns out that was because they only very recently lost their Sundara to a driver failure, and is looking to buy/trade for another Sundara! HAHA

Literally just 9 days ago was the listing date! :O

This person was willing to trade all but their HE-500 and VZR Model One. Makes me ever more curious about the long fabled HE-500!

 

[bagwell359]

TOTL tier? Recommended under $300 US - sure thing...

I posted this list of 15 HFM headphones I know (past and present) that IMO are better than the Sundara in the XS thread. HFM pricing agrees.

Susvara
HEK Stealth, SE, v2, v1
HE-6 6 screw, SE, SE v2
HEX v2
Arya 1, 2, Stealth
Ananda Stealth

I left off the 4, 5, 5LE, 6 4 screw as they are known by few.