Upgrade from the HFM Edition XS

[SmartCheetah]

Hi

I'm looking to upgrade my Edition XS to another open (planar?) to compliment my recent purchases of the HIFIMAN EF400 and the Aune S17 Pro. The Edition XS are great, their sound signature seems to pair pretty nicely with the lush warmness of the S17. With a small EQ I think they sound very good in music and spectacular/cinematic in single player gaming.

I'm in love in their expansive soundstage, which is absoluty essential for me in my next headphones. This is why I pass on the HE6se V2.

I was considering mainly the Ananda Stealth and the Nano. The former is supposed to be a tad warmer and spacey, while the Nano more Edition XS-like in sound presentation, but not necessarily more spacious sounding especially compared to the Stealth version. However reviews are quite conflicted in this regard.

Any advice is appreciated

 

[dunring]

I've had the almost the whole Hifiman lineup. From the XS the Ananda stealth will be halfway improvement to the Arya Stealth and isn't a bad upgrade. If I were doing it I'd go with the Arya Stealth open box or refurb from them and if you like them on Facebook they extend the warranty to 18 months. It's going to be noticeable then, extra detail you'll really enjoy. Also the Arya just feel more durable, I wish all their models had that fit and finish. It's the ski style headband which is so much more comfortable than any models with the rock hard bar style foam band too.

 

[SmartCheetah]

I've had the almost the whole Hifiman lineup. From the XS the Ananda stealth will be halfway improvement to the Arya Stealth and isn't a bad upgrade.

thank you. What about the Arya non-stealth? Have you had a chance to try them both? I'm especially interested in their soundstage, also vs the Edition XS.

 

[UrAvgPlay3R]

Hi

I'm looking to upgrade my Edition XS to another open (planar?) to compliment my recent purchases of the HIFIMAN EF400 and the Aune S17 Pro. The Edition XS are great, their sound signature seems to pair pretty nicely with the lush warmness of the S17. With a small EQ I think they sound very good in music and spectacular/cinematic in single player gaming.

I'm in love in their expansive soundstage, which is absoluty essential for me in my next headphones. This is why I pass on the HE6se V2.

I was considering mainly the Ananda Stealth and the Nano. The former is supposed to be a tad warmer and spacey, while the Nano more Edition XS-like in sound presentation, but not necessarily more spacious sounding especially compared to the Stealth version. However reviews are quite conflicted in this regard.

Any advice is appreciated

I would say go straight for Arya or HE1000 (any version that you would prefer) as well. Heard the HE1000 V2 once on Ferrum stack and it's very impressive

 

[bagwell359]

Hi

I'm looking to upgrade my Edition XS to another open (planar?) to compliment my recent purchases of the HIFIMAN EF400 and the Aune S17 Pro. The Edition XS are great, their sound signature seems to pair pretty nicely with the lush warmness of the S17. With a small EQ I think they sound very good in music and spectacular/cinematic in single player gaming.

I'm in love in their expansive soundstage, which is absoluty essential for me in my next headphones. This is why I pass on the HE6se V2.

I was considering mainly the Ananda Stealth and the Nano. The former is supposed to be a tad warmer and spacey, while the Nano more Edition XS-like in sound presentation, but not necessarily more spacious sounding especially compared to the Stealth version. However reviews are quite conflicted in this regard.

Any advice is appreciated

What's the budget?

 

[SmartCheetah]

@bagwell359 Up to 1000USD (equivalent), unless there's something absolutely worth more, then up to 1500USD. But I expect rather diminishing returns after the Edition XS, which already punches hard.

 

[bagwell359]

@bagwell359 Up to 1000USD (equivalent), unless there's something absolutely worth more, then up to 1500USD. But I expect rather diminishing returns after the Edition XS, which already punches hard.

The Arya (none of them) is enough of a step up over the XS to justify the cost - IMO, unless used or refurb. Another way could be upgrade of your DAC, or save up.

The biggest stage size of the HFM Series is the HEK v2, and its the easiest to listen too of that Series without PEQ. However the stage size is always huge, even on intimate recordings which doesn't really matter with most music, but for classical and small acoustic works it does bother me a bit. Used you can find one for under $1k, but it could be 5+ years old. I think the HEK Stealth has better bass and a very large but more appropriate stage size and a used one isn't going to be more than about 15 months old, but it does have a need for PEQ (not EQ) at a few spots in the 4-7k area - again IMO.

Nothing beats listening for yourself.

 

[SmartCheetah]

Thank you for your input.

Another way could be upgrade of your DAC, or save up.

It's not a matter of saving up. I simply prefer not to spend more than $1000-1500 on headphones. Call it a mental block I'm very happy with the XS, if it turns out there's no straight and noticeable upgrade unless I spend significantly more, then I'll stick with the XS and my other headphones to complement it.

Today I ordered the Ananda Nano (which should be closer to Aryas) just to find out how they compare to the XS. I'm simply curious. I'm going to borrow my friend's Meze 109 also (I know it's a different animal) for testing too.

 

[bagwell359]

It's not a matter of saving up. I simply prefer not to spend more than $1000-1500 on headphones. Call it a mental block

Sage thinking.

I'm very happy with the XS, if it turns out there's no straight and noticeable upgrade unless I spend significantly more, then I'll stick with the XS and my other headphones to complement it.

Nice

Today I ordered the Ananda Nano (which should be closer to Aryas) just to find out how they compare to the XS. I'm simply curious. I'm going to borrow my friend's Meze 109 also (I know it's a different animal) for testing too.

Good thinking. Please report back with what you think. Not going overboard on spending or advice from others is excellent.

 

[SmartCheetah]

Please report back with what you think.

 

[SmartCheetah]

@bagwell359 The Nanos are a touch brighter, much more resolving, transparent and snappy. I love the tuning, in fact I realized that my EQ profile I've been using with the XS for months brings them closer to the stock tuning of the Nanos, it's "my" tonality. Paradoxically, I find them more musical, at least in tracks mixed/mastered well. They're clean, but not leaner or thin, quite the opposite. They also pair well with the warmish and lush character of the EF400+S17Pro stack. Overall it's a bigger upgrade than I expected to be honest when I was doing research. The only "but" is the soundstage, I expected a bigger step up from the XS. The Nano feels more precise and accurate in the stage, but it I feel it lacks some of the space and airiness.

So I'm considering returning it and trying the Arya Stealth. I'm pretty sure the soundstage is great (is it bigger than in the Nanos though?), but have little idea how they sound in general. Is it clean, a tad sterile, but punchy and fast like the Nano, or "neutral-dark" like the XS. Or yet different?

 

[bagwell359]

@bagwell359 The Nanos are a touch brighter, much more resolving, transparent and snappy. I love the tuning, in fact I realized that my EQ profile I've been using with the XS for months brings them closer to the stock tuning of the Nanos, it's "my" tonality. Paradoxically, I find them more musical, at least in tracks mixed/mastered well. They're clean, but not leaner or thin, quite the opposite. They also pair well with the warmish and lush character of the EF400+S17Pro stack. Overall it's a bigger upgrade than I expected to be honest when I was doing research. The only "but" is the soundstage, I expected a bigger step up from the XS. The Nano feels more precise and accurate in the stage, but it I feel it lacks some of the space and airiness.

So I'm considering returning it and trying the Arya Stealth. I'm pretty sure the soundstage is great (is it bigger than in the Nanos though?), but have little idea how they sound in general. Is it clean, a tad sterile, but punchy and fast like the Nano, or "neutral-dark" like the XS. Or yet different?

Soundstage is better on the Stealth than the Nano. Then there is the "Organic" also. - which I can't opine on. I like the Stealth more than the v1. v2, and Nano - but I think its a bid more subdued in the treble and you may not like that. For the biggest soundstage in the entire HFM line that I have heard is the HEK v2 followed by the Stealh and SE, But its more cash outlay.

Any meets or good dealers nearby? I'm not sure our tastes are close enough, and I'd hate to give you a bum steer.

 

[SmartCheetah]

Any meets or good dealers nearby? I'm not sure our tastes are close enough, and I'd hate to give you a bum steer.

All good, thank you for your input.

Also, I already ordered the Arya Stealth I mean, the difference between the XS and the Nano turned out to be much more significant than I anticipated, on Nano's favour. So I trust that the even higher model won't disappoint and decided to buy it and return the Nano. Also I had a chat with @Ichos and he was quite clear that the Arya Stealth is the best headphone of the three.

I got the open box directly from Hifiman, with a 49USD bonus code for exactly 60% of the full price from a local (online) store here in Poland. Didn't have to push my mental block too far

I like the Stealth more than the v1. v2, and Nano - but I think its a bid more subdued in the treble and you may not like that.

I have EQed out the treble in both the Edition XS and the Nano as it was too piercing. I'm actually quite treble sensitive, so I should be fine.

 

[Dan821]

So I'm considering returning it and trying the Arya Stealth. I'm pretty sure the soundstage is great (is it bigger than in the Nanos though?), but have little idea how they sound in general. Is it clean, a tad sterile, but punchy and fast like the Nano, or "neutral-dark" like the XS. Or yet different?

Well, I had XS and I am not sure if they can be called neutral-dark even in comparison to rest of Hifiman family. They are a bit V sound and quite bright. The fact is that I have not heard Nano but in general Hifiman headphones are rather bright (treble centric), neutral and clear. If you are treble sensitive maybe you should look also at some Audeze or Meze models.

 

[568812]

I found the 109 Pro rather brightly squewed. I hope you feel different.