I just did - it’s home with me now
Went to audio 46 and listened to Susvara and HE1000SE with Ak se100 > Hugo 2 > ican pro
I listened to the Susvara first (mistake for my wallet) and my initial thought was this sounds like a planar 009. Now 009 can sound very different depending on upstream gear. I use mine with a Carbon and Dave. I next listened to the SE and while it was somewhat similar tonally, it had this slight splashiness in the treble, and was significantly more closed in (in direct comparison). As context I bought an original he1000 when it first came out, and returned it because of the splashiness I described. It seemed less apparent in the 1000SE, but it’s something I am sensitive to which many others are not.
It takes a lot to wow me with headphones and boy did these wow me. While there wasn’t one area where I could say this is better than both the LCD4 and 009 combined (except for maybe head stage) they take the best of both and the result is a phenomenal headphone. Obviously these are after just initial impressions so subject to change with burn in, and time.
here are my initial impressions compared to my 009 and LCD4
Bass
bass quality is slightly better than the 009 and it has a bit more quantity than my 009 without bleeding into the mids. I think the LCD 4 and Susvara are equal in terms of bass quality but the LCD4 has just a tad more quantity.
Mids
Susvara has slightly superior mids overall to my 009 and slightly inferior mids to my LCD4. That said, this is with 009 and Carbon - which can have an ever so slight grain in the midrange. This would probably be different with a BHSE, T2 or GG. I still think the mids on my LCD4 are king, but the Susvara comes ever so close.
Highs
009 has the best treble of any headphone I’ve ever heard, and Susvara is only a hair behind it. Both have significantly better extension and resolution than th LCD4. While this isn’t the LCD4s focus, it’s still good - best treble of any audeze phone.
Soundstage
009 and Susvara are just about equal. Both provide big, out of your head sound. The Susvara May have the edge here slightly because the increase in bass quantity vs the 009 makes everything a bit grander. LCD4 is more intimate - but also more closed in.
It’s really like my 009 and LCD4 had a baby - if that makes any sense. While the Susvara isn’t best in any one area (except maybe soundstage) compared to the LCD4 and 009 collectively it is the best all around because it doesn’t have a weakness, excels in all areas, and is only slightly (and I mean slightly) behind in mids (vs lcd 4) and highs (vs Stax 009).
It’s as open as my 009, with treble extension and quality that’s quite close, with the bass of the LCD4 and a midrange that’s just a hair behind the audeze. Now I get what all the fuss is about.
Exactly what I was looking for! Currently using the V281 - and it sounds great to me - but certainly possible it could improve with another amp. That said, the v281 has plenty of power for it. I’m at 0 pregain, and I max out at 2 o’clock. Also, running the Dave into the v281 single ended, so would have more power if I went balanced in.
Equipment
Dave - Carbon - 009
Dave - v281 - LCD4
Dave - v281 - Susvara
One note, I’m using the stock cable and regardless of whether you are a cable believer or not - they are just way to cheap to be included with a headphone of this cost. I don’t care if people by after market cables - give me something decent stock.
I am pleasantly surprised by the build quality. Not quite audeze or Stax build quality, but way way closer than previous hifiman’s ive tried.