Recommend upgrade from HD598: Sundara, Edition XS or something else?

[BigEarsMan]

Looking for something in the sub $400 range.

I have the hd598, fidelio x2hr, and dt880. I want something for music and gaming. I really enjoy cinematic single player games. I drive them using the schiit stack.

There are things I like about all of them and there are things I don't like. For me, the hd598 performs the best overall. I love the mids and I think the treble is just about right. Maybe slightly too harsh. My 598 also have brainwavs hm5 pads, which made them a bit warmer in sound signature. At first I didn't like it but it grew on me and now its my favorite of the bunch. To me they have been working excellently with 3d audio on ps5 as well. More so than the other two. I really liked the x2hr for a while, but after going back to the hd598 I realized how much I missed the mids, even for gaming. And the treble is better on the 598 too.

All this to say I'm thinking of upgrading. I want something like the HD598, with as good or better soundstage, nice mids and good bass extension as well. I was thinking about the Sundara or the Edition XS.

What do you guys think?

 

[dunring]

I've had all those and have the Hifiman Deva Wired Pro for a daily driver and the HE5XX which doesn't need equalizing. The Deva does for music but not for gaming. Both are extremely comfortable with no treble harshness at all.

 

[earmonger]

Consider the Audio-Technica ATH-R70X: king of comfort, better soundstage than Sennheisers, bass down to 5 Hz if you want to pump it with EQ (though there's plenty already). You already have an amp to help it sound best.

https://www.theverge.com/2018/7/6/17535412/audio-technica-r70x-review-professional-headphones

But Edition XS will have more bass and additional treble.

https://cammyfi.squig.link/headphones/?share=Hifiman_Edition_XS,Audio_Technica_ATH-R70X

 

[plmon]

Looking for something in the sub $400 range.

I have the hd598, fidelio x2hr, and dt880. I want something for music and gaming. I really enjoy cinematic single player games. I drive them using the schiit stack.

There are things I like about all of them and there are things I don't like. For me, the hd598 performs the best overall. I love the mids and I think the treble is just about right. Maybe slightly too harsh. My 598 also have brainwavs hm5 pads, which made them a bit warmer in sound signature. At first I didn't like it but it grew on me and now its my favorite of the bunch. To me they have been working excellently with 3d audio on ps5 as well. More so than the other two. I really liked the x2hr for a while, but after going back to the hd598 I realized how much I missed the mids, even for gaming. And the treble is better on the 598 too.

All this to say I'm thinking of upgrading. I want something like the HD598, with as good or better soundstage, nice mids and good bass extension as well. I was thinking about the Sundara or the Edition XS.

What do you guys think?

The Edition XS would probably be my recommendation for your use cases. But it's a lot less warm than the HD598 from my recollection. IMO, the HarmonicDyne Zeus was closer in tonality and also had good soundstage, though I'm not familiar with the new Elite version.

 

[CheekerBreeker]

XS is not a bad choice, especially for the current prices of <300eu/dollar, just not the most comfortable. They adhere pretty well to the harman curve.
I liked EQing the bass, which was a bit soft

 

[WILLJS]

I can't recommend the Sundara any higher, a big upgrade from HD6xx, DT770PRO, and ATH-M50x (everything I own in a similar price bracket to your existing cans).

 

[BigEarsMan]

The Edition XS would probably be my recommendation for your use cases. But it's a lot less warm than the HD598 from my recollection. IMO, the HarmonicDyne Zeus was closer in tonality and also had good soundstage, though I'm not familiar with the new Elite version.

Have you heard the Edition XS? How are the mids?

 

[plmon]

Have you heard the Edition XS? How are the mids?

Yes, I've heard them. The mids are fine, but might be a bit lean compared to the HD598. They're more similar to the mids on the X2HR.

 

[BigEarsMan]

Yes, I've heard them. The mids are fine, but might be a bit lean compared to the HD598. They're more similar to the mids on the X2HR.

Thanks. I might have to consider some other headphones then.

 

[E8ArmyDiver]

Having upgraded recently from Sundara 2020's to Ananda Nano I wouldn't recommend the Sundara..While IMO,it is an absolute benchmark for nuetrality,after listening to the Nano's for the past week,I realize how lite the bass on the Sundara is,as well as how much smaller & more compacted the imaging & staging is..
I also would NOT recommend the Edition XS..I own the Deva Pro,which has the same headband design as the XS & I HATE that design..It is unstable when you move your head & easily falls off if you tilt your head forward or back...
The Ananda is within your budget..I haven't heard them but if they are at all like the Ananda Nano I could easily recommend them..The fit is excellent,as is the stability & comfort..The Nano is a little out of your budget,available for $475.00 delivered from the right dealer(soundapproach.com with 10% off sale)but the Ananda is available for $359.00 from several dealers..Here is a quote from an online review:
"The HiFiMAN Ananda has one of the most ideal frequency response curves for a wide range of music, coupled with excellent detail retrieval, speed, and imaging. Bass extends all the way into the sub-bass without any drop-off. It's tight, well-controlled, and doesn't drown out any of the rest of the frequency response. Mids are present, but not elevated, providing exceptional detail retrieval. In particular, 3-5khz isn't as noticeably dipped as is common with many other headphones, and this means piano tones, acoustic guitars, and female vocals come through with a unique clarity that isn't overshadowed by other parts of the mix. Treble is also handled exceptionally well without any peaks causing problems throughout the consonant range around 8.5khz. While the frequency response elevates to be moderately counter-clockwise tilted, it's still focused and non-fatiguing."...........
One last thing...If you choose ANY HiFIMan cans,give them at least 100 hours run in time before passing any judgements..The bass can be sloppy,the mids plasticy & treble sibilant & brittle until you get some real time on them...

 

[BigEarsMan]

Having upgraded recently from Sundara 2020's to Ananda Nano I wouldn't recommend the Sundara..While IMO,it is an absolute benchmark for nuetrality,after listening to the Nano's for the past week,I realize how lite the bass on the Sundara is,as well as how much smaller & more compacted the imaging & staging is..
I also would NOT recommend the Edition XS..I own the Deva Pro,which has the same headband design as the XS & I HATE that design..It is unstable when you move your head & easily falls off if you tilt your head forward or back...
The Ananda is within your budget..I haven't heard them but if they are at all like the Ananda Nano I could easily recommend them..The fit is excellent,as is the stability & comfort..The Nano is a little out of your budget,available for $475.00 delivered from the right dealer(soundapproach.com with 10% off sale)but the Ananda is available for $359.00 from several dealers..Here is a quote from an online review:
"The HiFiMAN Ananda has one of the most ideal frequency response curves for a wide range of music, coupled with excellent detail retrieval, speed, and imaging. Bass extends all the way into the sub-bass without any drop-off. It's tight, well-controlled, and doesn't drown out any of the rest of the frequency response. Mids are present, but not elevated, providing exceptional detail retrieval. In particular, 3-5khz isn't as noticeably dipped as is common with many other headphones, and this means piano tones, acoustic guitars, and female vocals come through with a unique clarity that isn't overshadowed by other parts of the mix. Treble is also handled exceptionally well without any peaks causing problems throughout the consonant range around 8.5khz. While the frequency response elevates to be moderately counter-clockwise tilted, it's still focused and non-fatiguing."...........
One last thing...If you choose ANY HiFIMan cans,give them at least 100 hours run in time before passing any judgements..The bass can be sloppy,the mids plasticy & treble sibilant & brittle until you get some real time on them...

Is there anything else you'd recommend? Hifiman seem to have the best reviewed headphone for the price range, but you're right I see many reviews complain about the comfort and QC.

 

[earmonger]

Just a nudge that comfort and QC on the Audio-Technica ATH-R70X are impeccable -- as is the sound. I was debating ATH-R70X vs Sundara when I got them, and there were just too many "buts" in the Hifiman reviews.

 

[E8ArmyDiver]

What a bunch of CRAP!
I have owned HiFiMan HE400i,Sundara 2020,still own the Deva Pro Bluetooth & now the Ananda Nano & have NEVER,EVER had a single problem with any of them!
I can't comment on HiFiman customer support for problems because I've never had any!
As for comfort,I made my statement about the Deva Pro/Edition Xs design being horrible,BUT for Sundara/Ananda/Ananda Nano/Arya & up, comfort & fit is EXCELLENT!

 

[jacobalexandermcc]

What a bunch of CRAP!
I have owned HiFiMan HE400i,Sundara 2020,still own the Deva Pro Bluetooth & now the Ananda Nano & have NEVER,EVER had a single problem with any of them!
I can't comment on HiFiman customer support for problems because I've never had any!
As for comfort,I made my statement about the Deva Pro/Edition Xs design being horrible,BUT for Sundara/Ananda/Ananda Nano/Arya & up, comfort & fit is EXCELLENT!

I second the point about comfort for the XS being horrible and the Arya being great! These (the XS, the Arya V2, and the Arya V3) are the only Hifimans that I've tried, and quite honestly, the V2 and XS sound very similar. Food for thought: You might be able to find an Arya V2 for a similar price point to the XS nowadays, and reap the benefits of the added comfort! I have a feeling they (the V2) sound slightly better, too, I've just never been able to compare them directly / simultaneously

 

[CheekerBreeker]

I second the point about comfort for the XS being horrible and the Arya being great! These (the XS, the Arya V2, and the Arya V3) are the only Hifimans that I've tried, and quite honestly, the V2 and XS sound very similar. Food for thought: You might be able to find an Arya V2 for a similar price point to the XS nowadays, and reap the benefits of the added comfort! I have a feeling they (the V2) sound slightly better, too, I've just never been able to compare them directly / simultaneously

Those Swivel/strap headbands are the best. XS really hurts my noggin, the ananda hurts my jaw. But 250 for an xs + a Capra headband is just a steal