Listened to a lot of reviews on this and yours is top tier!!! Definitely subscribing for more content. Just enough "tech talk" yet not overdone and great job with adding the DAC/amp discussion at the end. For those of us considering this as our first purchase in headphones, I appreciated this "all in one" source. Don't know how big of a deal this is to do, but I would have benefitted with a written list of DAC/amp gear for reference as I am completely new to this. Cool that you defined sound stage vs imaging as so many assume we all know the difference. Many thanks!!
Wow...Really liked this review. When you talked about these headphones it did not just sound like audiophile word salad like most reviewers. Even though I enjoy other reviewers videos I think the vocabulary sometimes just goes way out of left field and makes 0 sense to anyone but the reviewer, if even them. I have the Sundara and its been my goto for a year or 2 now and now with the Edition XS on sale for 379 I am thinking of picking them up. Been watching reviews to see if the upgrade was worth it, this video finally has me pulling the trigger. Thanks again for the great content.
@@kenneths.perlman1112 8 months ago it was 379...I bought and returned them. They were so uncomfortable...just completely unbearable. For 269 though I will probably buy them again and get that 3d printed headband for them.
Great review and very informative. I always like you don't over complicate things when you talk about audio. I've been able learn a lot from you. I was going to purchase these then I found an Ananda Stealth about a month ago for a great price. I bought some Dekoni fenestrated lambskin pads also. This was my first planar magnetic purchase. I mad at myself I didn't dive in sooner. Thanks for the insight as always
Fantastic review! I own these as well, and found that Dekoni fenestrated sheepskin earpads are the most comfortable and give the best sound in my opinion. I cannot believe the soundstage on these things, but I have nothing above this price point. I will enjoy these for as long as they hold up! Thanks again for the review!
Hey! I have the same dac/amp and thinking of buying either XS or Sundara. I currently have a wired Deva/HE 5xx and it's good, but a bit too sharp on the high notes with the treble, way too treble peaky I would say. Would like a bit less of that peaky sharpness on the treble and more detail. If you have any input on this with your experience with XS or other cans like Sundara, I would greatly appreciate it 🙏. I listen mostly to japanese pop/rock, so the music is pretty bright as it is. Would that be a good step up from Deva? Thank you
@@Paul_Strength The XS is fantastic. The default tuning is okay, but I much prefer running them through an AutoEQ preset on Peace. If you have the patience to use Peace AutoEQ to tune them, they are that much more amazing. To me, nothing can compare. I can't speak for the Sundaras, but I did heavily research before I bought the XS. The XS is the newer version of the X which released for 1800 usd. I got my XS for 620 cad. The XS is an upgraded version of the X. Need I say more? If you consider the price to performance, the Edition XS are absolutely nuts. Sundaras I'll bet are okay, but the driver size and shape of the XS is what I feel really makes them shine. Huge soundstage and amazing separation with amazing bass that feels well extended across your ears. Google any review about the Edition XS and you'll hear the same thing. They give stuff at a higher price point a run for their money. They need an amp to drive, that's the only deterrent. I use these as my main headphones everyday and I wouldn't want to get anything else at least for a very long time. My production game has also leveled up significantly since I got them.
I bought 560S and Edition XS within the last month. Came from a pair of DT 770 pro 80ohm, EPOS H3 Hybrid, HS80, and Arctic Nova Pro Wireless.. messed with all the tunings/EQ settings on all, and I have a Magni. So here is my take: 560S is an incredible value. The earcups are a little small so you might find as the pad breaks in your outer ear can touch the little nub inside. Same issue with ANPW. I bought these both and A-B tested at the same time. The ANPW has incredible detail and in-game clarity for detail, footsteps, layer separation, directional awareness. I'd put it on the same level as the 560S if not slightly above (shocking I know). It is a clearer sounding headphone. The 560S is better for music especially when EQ'd, it can really deliver some nice thump and warmth in the bass region the ANPW could not match. 560S sounds more natural, ANPW more synthetic and it is closed back so the sound is injected into your ears. One thing I did not like about the 560S is the nasally characteristic GT mentions in the vid -- it's definitely there. For a pure out of the box competitive FPS experience: ANPW if you can deal with the fit. 560S is thumpy in the bass for gun shots in Valorant and can be distracting. Also in the stock EQ setting, I found the 560S difficult to hear footsteps as they sound distant and recessed DESPITE what reviews for these headphones say. In immersive/single player games the 560S would be fantastic. For music, 560S wins by a reasonable margin. With an Amp, the 560S and ANPW are around the same price. Edition XS, it is superior to these other headphones in all the ways. 560S competes with it, somewhat, in bass impact but the clarity, texturing, details, sub bass is not equal. Everything on the XS is more pleasing to the ears especially untuned without EQ. The XS can accept higher volumes without distortion and has a bigger sound stage with even better imaging. Comfort is subjective but the XS is better here too and unless you have dumbo ears will not even touch the inside anywhere. When you watch streamers on Twitch normally their background music blends into the sound and almost gets lost... you barely hear it, but not on the XS, it almost sounds like it's playing from your own PC. You cannot overload this headphone with sound data, it will always show you everything with defined etched detail and precision. You WILL hear new detail you never heard before especially when it comes to atmospheric noises inside maps in Valorant. The footsteps are not just audible but you get a real texture and depth to the actual shoe making contact with the ground and lifting off -- very real sounding and cool. They sound fantastic and are worth the $500, will it give you a competitive edge? Unlikely, as most pros are using IEM or $80 HyperX headsets and still perform at top levels so keep this in mind. Will you ENJOY sound more? Yes, 100% definitely. Tl;dr if you want a 8/10 music experience and a 9/10 gaming experience (10/10 competitive experience) go with ANPW. They will fill the role for most people and are definitely worth around $300 on sale. You will have to dig into the nuances of the other headsets as things are not always a direct upgrade in every area even when you pay more. This annoys me, personally. I will be keeping the XS over the others but it's not by as large of a margin as you may think. Compared to lesser headsets like HS80 every other headset I've listed here makes them sound like trash in both music AND gaming.
I never imagined I'd be in this rabbit hole this year but here I am I just pulled the trigger on the XS and your comment has me feeling way better about my decision thank you lol
A tip for those who might experience "hot spots" while wearing these, are Dekoni Nuggets.. they are small leather-bound blocks that are squishy and pretty small which helps alleviate the hot spotting that might occur.. I can wear them for hours with no discomfort. Definitely my daily drivers.
I watched this *after* i ordered my XS's but awesome review thank you. I got a Fiio k7 coming. I'm leaving a set of Fidelio 2xhrs so I'm excited. I've got like 5 pairs of sub $350 headphones... hopefully this saves me from those
How is your experience? I tried a bunch of sub $200 headphones but never a $500 one (currently daily driving the TYGR 300 R). But i'm still considering the Edition XS. Is it worth it?
Nice review. Although I came late to the party, I have one recommendation you probably wouldn't expect. I've tried these planars with different DACs and amplifiers, but my favorite by far is the Cayin RU6, a marvelous R2R dongle, for my taste, it just fits perfectly with the Edition XS.
@@peaceandquiet Absolutely, I don't even know the DAP but it gives 670 mw and that is plenty of power for the Edition XS and likely for almost every headphone.
My first pair of planars got them recently for 250$ off market place bought a upgrade xlr balance cable to pair with schiits Midgard and modius E it the sound is just amazing gaming and music
I just purchased a schiit stack. Magnius/Lokius/Modius and have been looking for a new set of cans. Hard to decide even with great in-depth reviews like this... Thanks Currently I have a modded pair of m1060c's that I open backed and a pair of DT 1770 pro stock.
@@mpdx0 I like the Maxwell a lot. Definity worth every penny of the $350 I spent on them. However, It is not in the same category as the XS. The XS is much more dynamic and resolving than the Maxwell. I use the Maxwell for gaming and work because of the outstanding mic quality. When I want to watch movies and listening to music, the XS is the way to go. Plus it is lighter which allows me to have longer listening sessions.
I own the edition XS and the 660s V1 and 80% of the time prefer the XS, great headphones... looking for a better amp now (ifi zen dac v1) isn't enough... any suggestions for an amp under 350 or a stack7combo under 500...
With the price drop I had to try. I have hd650s as my daily with a thx789 on a schiit modi uber. I was blown away by these hifiman. I have the 400i and they are ok, but these are on another level. Bass is WAY better, especially sub bass. Much brighter than the senns without being too bright and fatiguing.
I just ordered an Edition XS refurbished from Hifiman for $279 with their full warranty. I've had an a30pro and an su-9 for my source. I also already have a balanced cable for my Focal Elegias so I'm pretty sure I can just plug and play
Another great review! Should I give up on finding a dac/amp that can hook up in between my headphones and my (low headphone jack powered) a/v receiver? There's no pre-amp outs on the receiver. there's a USB (for power only) Does anything I'm looking for exist since I do all my music/game listening off of my a/v receiver but I need more power for my 300ohm headphones, and apparently, my planar Sundara's at only 37ohms.
The output impedance of a home theater receiver is pretty high and is definitely hurting your sound quality. Depending on your audio sources that you use, it may be best to split the signal of your source first. Does your receiver have an optical output? You could always consider a DAC with optical input and use that to connect to a headphone amp.
I haven't received my 109 Pro yet so I only have limited listening experience with it. In my brief time with the 109 Pro, I feel some people will like that sound signature more, as it has a little more treble and the bass is more punchy. The Edition XS is more subtle sounding out of the box, but has great bass texture and handles EQ very well.
Excellent review! Good job. Can you please do a quick comparison between the XS and the Meze 109 pro? Technical performance (soundstage, imaging, resolution) and tonality (bass, treble
If I get the XS paired with a Topping DX3 Pro+ (for convenience) and I've never heard a planar (the best I have heard is the HD560S with an ES100,) will I finally get a taste of what real audiophile hifi is? I never use my HD560S, I can't stand how harsh it sounds and it never made me want to keep listening to music and discover new songs. My fear is I'll be throwing money at a problem that might be me fundamentally misunderstanding what headphones can do. Any insight would be greatly appreciated from anyone willing to help.
Funny, my first 560s was harsh (sibilant to be precise) got it exchanged and the second one is perfect. I came from a fidelio x2 and the clarity the 560S has over it is amazing, I miss the bass sometimes but eh. May try an XS as I've never heard a planar before, just worried about the quality control.
Are these actually good for competitive gaming (imaging and detail and the like) ? I love Hifimans style but have yet to hear one that excels in gaming which is my primary use case.
Hello! And merry Christmas @GadgetryTech Would like to ask if this is really close to the arya organic? I saw the measurements and they are damn similar with a few changes on the treble. Hope to hear from you soon!
I can't speak to the Ananda fully, only because my listening experience with them was limited only to Can Jam (a headphone show), so I can't speak to everything about them. I've heard that the Ananda has a little bit better separation but a stronger/higher treble energy, which can be too much for some.
Great review. I have a joutenhrim 2 and want to use the XLR input since my system is all balanced. What aftermarket reasonable cable would you recommend?
18:37 What's the first dac/amp that you mentioned? The one that you said can juice up my ps5 audio. The name wasn't really clear and it's not mentioned in the video description.. :(
Great review! I have Senn HD650 and Beyer 990 250 ohm run off a Fiio K13 dongle on desktop mode. Fiio barely powers them on hard to drive tracks. Will the XS be easier or harder to drive?
I like the Edition XS for almost every parts except for the headband. It is way too large that the headphone would not fit perfectly even on the lowest setting for most people. And for me personally it does create a hotspot on the centre of the head which I end up putting a few Dekoni Nugget to make it wearable (and it also help adjusting the position of the headphone). The weight is leaning on the heavy side, but the low clamp force such that it rest on your head instead of clamping to your head does make the Edition XS considerably more comfortable than what it weight would suggest. For the sound quality of the Edition XS is priced very aggressively, however I do recommend finding a demo unit before buying because of all the comfort issues it had.
I ended up getting a geekria headband cover, it should be here tomorrow. If that doesn’t help( it will, it does fit stock, but I want a little more padding to have a better positioning) then I’ll try the nugs.
Yeah, I use my Sundara at the first notch so no way in hell this would fit. I'll just wait and get a better model one of these days, if not just stick to what works.
Hi, thanks for your YT content, it's very good! I'm strongly considering getting the XS. Right now, here in Denmark, a couple of places have it for the same price as the Sundara. Now, the only dac/amp I have is the Fiio K11. Do you think that will do the XS justice?
Have you reviewed the Monolith 1570 planar HPs..I just ordered them for $600..I’m going to order the XSs and do a comparison…I have the Magne Modi stack …two thumbs up
You're doing a great job, thank you, I have problem with the proper EQ setting for CoD 2 (footsteps etc....) could you please post the EQ settings for Hifiman XS ?
If you can play with Dolby Atmos enabled, it can be a better experience. Just make sure to leave the virtual sound disabled and use Atmos in "stereo mode". It sounds great that way
Hi , thank you so much for the video. I have understand that it could be a wonderful gaming headphones. Can I use it one my ps5 , should I add a dac ? Is it very confortable ? Sorry for my poor English I.m French
I can't believe you're wasting headphones like this on gaming. It's not like you're going to marvel at the separation of sounds and midranges while playing Call of Duty. Get the Philips Audio X2HR/00 Fidelio and you'll be blown away.
Excellent review, Joe - I really appreciate how you review. Of all the headphones I’ve had the pleasure experiencing my biggest love is still the VZR Model One; they just do everything right with the music I’m mostly in to, which is abstract electronic music with a lot going on. I haven’t heard/auditioned the XS. But I am curious: How does the XS compare to the VZR in imaging, layering, and soundstage both lateral and vertical, width and depth? Cheers man!
Thanks! The Edition XS is so, so different sounding the to the VZR. The VZR's focus is entirely on pin-point imaging, something it definitely excels at. It's also built like a tank and should last a really long time. The Edition XS is more delicate feeling. The audio and technical performance is better from a tonality perspective, where things sound more natural when listening to music. It's most noticeable in the mid range, where the Edition XS has a more forward presentation of vocals and string instruments. The Model One has better imaging, but the XS has better sound stage (both vertical and lateral). Hopefully that helps!
@@bradhuskers yeah, just get a balanced cable. It will scale with a desktop source though. I use a btr7 in 4.4. Or a qudelix 5k with a 2.5 adapter from ddhifi.
@Hijynx87 Nice. By the way? I added the geekria sleeve to the headband, now it's even more comfortable! People complained that these headphones were too big if you had a small head. However, adding the geekria sleeve, makes it perfect!
finally someone that kinda understand the difference between NEED a amp and WANT a amp !!! The edition XS works just completely fine with laptop, iphone dongle dac or even a ps5 controller and can get LOUD ENOUGH, yes even with 92db sensitivity. Most of the audiophile people are kinda over 50 with hearing loss so they say they NEED a amp but they are talking subjectively. Even some younger people listen to way loud music and damaged their hearing a little bit without even knowing, saying subjectively you HAVE TO use a amp. objectively the edition XS works just fine without a amp and an amplification only makes them sound LOUDER, its a comon audiophile mythos that with a amp something sound "better" but in fact, it only sounds louder. If you want to damage your hearing even more to get even more hearing loss, yeah buy a amp and cranc it full up so the edition xs sound "better", maybe sprincle some salt on them too, the salt makes them sound "better", trust me
Lol, love it. I found that with some EQ tuning if you lower the preamp gain to compensate, some built in headphone amps may not give the performance some people look for. After that, you just want a clean output and some extra power to give you the extra overhead. There's always the case that sometimes people just want a volume knob and a nice box.
It is not a myth. I purchased my first amp and received it yesterday. While it is not a NIGHT AND DAY difference, it's absolutely there. I am only using 560S so I imagine the difference is even larger when stepping up to more power hungry headsets. Everything from the detail clarity, to instrument separation, to bass tone/warmth/abundance shifts about 10% positive. This is coming from the headphone output on a UMC22 which is already superior and louder than most motherboards can go from a PC. The amp can get significantly louder than the UMC22 without adding any distortion or breaking up as well -- that part is not even close. The UMC22 at about 75-80% of its maximum volume falls apart so badly that it becomes unlistenable. At this same volume level the Magni amp is crystal clear. It is not placebo. If you are listening at low/medium volume levels or just care about gaming performance then I will say an amp will not benefit you. For someone interested in stepping up music performance then I recommend EQ'ing your equipment to the best of your ability first and then deciding where to go from there. You can gain a lot from simply EQ'ing your product and it may get you close to where you want to be.
I picked these up from Amazon for under $300 and could not stand how uncomfortable they were. They sounded good but man that headband put a ton of pressure on the top of my head. The build also felt very cheap. I was afraid the plastic portion that connects to the metal bracket for the yolks would break. I had to return them.
Wondering why you didn’t compare it further to the Ananda? It’s $200 more. Heard it sounds pretty much the same, with one big advantage that it runs off of anything. Looking forward to the Meze 109 Pro. I’m actually torn between getting an Edition XS, Ananda, SV023 or Meze 109 Pro
What producing / mixing / mastering headphones can I get that are accurate, detailed but with hard hitting, punch, slam, kick with flat extended bass? I almost exclusively make and listen to underground techno and house music. I don’t want a boring headphone that saps the fun and excitement out of this kind of punchy, hard hitting, sub heavy music. Focal clear mg pro seem to tick the boxes but they’re very expensive.
Will my Fiio K7 be enough to power these? I have the HD 600 and want more sub bass and soundstage. Looking at this. I find the lower mids of the HD600 a little shouty at times as well.
The Zen Dac is honestly enough. But if you really want to hear loud then the Zen CAN would be good. Keep in mind that everything over 84 DB can result in permanent hearing damage.
Thank you was waiting on this one! Best Dax/Amp for Xbox Series X & PC? Is it even possible? Will there be a Sonar tune video for this? I continue to share your channel with all my gaming and audio friends. Great content much appreciated!
There aren't amazing DACs for Xbox but one of the only ones I would consider is the Astro Mixamp because for $130 it gives you game to chat mix and Dolby Atmos support. I wish the headphone amp was more powerful but it's an option. Otherwise just plug into your controller and use something like Dolby Atmos if you are trying to fine tune the sound a bit. I likely won't be doing a Sonar tune because it sounds amazing out of the box. The only EQ would likely come down to personal preference and not so much as a "fix" to these. I hope that helps, and thanks for the support!
@@GadgetryTech Thanks for taking the time to reply! Last questions. I do already have the Artis Nova Pros so could I just use that dac for Xbox & PC with the HiFIMan headset? Does it give it enough power and make it worth using over the Nova Pro? Thanks again
I Would love to see you review the hifiman ananda stealth magnet version i wish the hifiman arya stealth magnet version and the HE 1000SE had the edition xs Headband I plan to order the dekoni sheepskin for my hifiman edition-xs with a Magni Heretic sliver version with the ifi uno and use the dac inside it as little combo or the xDuoo MU-601 or xDuoo MU-605 and the earpads That touches your face are made of REPREVE a Material Made from high quality fibers from recycled materials including plastic bottles
Being an open back like this, quite a bit leaks out. Noise pickup would depend on what kind of mic, the gain, and where it’s placed. Noted for future content though! Thanks
Question: would an audio interface like my Audient Id4 have good enough preamps to drive a headphone like this, or would you still get a decent standalone preamp to power this headphone in order to get the most out of it? I’m trying to look into a good pair without having to buy anything extra in the process.
@GadgetryTech - HiFiMan Edition XS vs VZR Model One (powered by Go XLR) for Gaming? (Competitive and casual both, also playing on XBOX series X and PC) like apex legends or war zone and games like Destiny 2.
That's tough because they are vastly different sounding! I think one thing to note is the Go XLR headphone output is pretty weak. It will not do well powering the the Edition XS at higher volumes if you like to listen to it loud. The Model One has significantly higher bass levels, so if you like explosive sounding bass, the Model One would be better. The Edition XS is noticeably better detail retrieval in most areas though, making it very easy to pick up subtle noise. Imaging is excellent on both.
Good review. I tried the Edition XS, Ananda and Arya Stealth. I personally liked the Ananda better than the XS but honestly for the price the XS is fantastic (I just hate the headband). The Arya Stealth is better than Ananda and XS but also considerably more expansive.
Yeah the XS sounds much closer to the Ananda than the Ananda does to the Arya Stealth. I love the Arya but like you said there's a big price gap there. The Ananda is a bit easier to drive as well.
@@GadgetryTech I love these headphones. Have you heard about the ifi hip dac 2? Would that be sufficient to provide enough power to enjoy these headphones?
I've used the Ananda and now currently own the Sundara. I found the Ananda to be better in the technical areas but found the tuning to be worse than the Sundara. I heard the XS is even worse than the Ananda, not sure if that's true. I prefer to have a more neutral tuning and the Sundara does that pretty well, so I can sacrifice detail/soundstage/comfort for that. The highs on the Ananda were too much for me. Sundara tames that. Haven't tried the XS.
Yeah the Sundara has a softer high but shifts some of that energy into the mid range a little. The Sundara is also very comfortable to wear (the new revision). I would give the Edition XS a shot if you can ever demo one though just to compare. It sounds slightly warmer/fuller sounding with a taller sound stage and better instrument separation.
@@GadgetryTech They're comfortable enough but I did find the Ananda to be far more so(huge earpads/holes). Different price points though. Definitely wouldn't mind trying the XS but I'm pretty sensitive to the high frequencies and couldn't handle anything more than what the Sundara offers. I honestly feel as if 99% of people don't need anything than a properly powered Sundara, especially since they're so cheap these days. I got mine for $225 CAD, literally a joke and IMO smashes most things up to $1000. It's kinda crazy. Except the cable, that needed to be replaced.
I just got xs edition for ps5.with 3d audio tempest turned on they sound dull, not very detailed.cant think whats go in on, as I am using ifi zen dac v2 amp.any thoughts please.
Planars are notorious for needing power despite their rated sensitivity. You need more power than the zen dac can do. 1w to 1.5w @32 ohms class a or a/b at the least. I would not recommend class d as planars are usually sensitive to thin sound.
These would be the perfect pair of headphones for me but the quality control is putting me off. So many people on reddit experiencing the same issues with buzzing and and loose wires from within the drivers
LMAO CoD .. At least I'm not the only crazy person using this headphone for playing games. I'm just up in the air about which DAC Amp combo to use for gaming. My old EPOS GSX 1000 not the new one is pretty damn good for just that, but it lacks the power so I'm thinking about adding an amp or just using the Dolby Access on some other combo. I'm thinking about the xDuoo TA-10R Tube DAC/Amp because it looks sweet and many people think it's good enough. Being real most DAC and or combos being real sound basically the same. Coloring your music from flat can be done in a EQ.
The STAX is a wireless, closed-back planar magnetic headphone, so the odds are stacked against it right off the bat. I can say that the STAX S3 does a great job with that being considered. The Edition XS has better texture to the bass, but the S3 has a harder hitting bass. I think overall the Edition XS has a more natural timbre, and is the better technical performer across the board. So in a simple sense, it's definitely better sounding to me, but that's subjective. If you do not need wireless and bluetooth, then the Edition XS is a better sounding product. I would not travel around with the Edition XS though. The STAX Spirit S3 is much better for that.
This for $269 right now is bananas.
yea these seem like a no brainer now that theyre $269. unreal.
Yeah, I'm into this "gateway drug" into audiophilia now, too, because of that!
That's why I'm here :)
MINE IS ON THE WAY. I'm so exited. very large upgrade from my ATH M50x's
@@tildonmedeiros8436 mannn these are so much more comfortable to wear vs the M50x's gz on ur purchase ! these things are amazing.
Listened to a lot of reviews on this and yours is top tier!!! Definitely subscribing for more content. Just enough "tech talk" yet not overdone and great job with adding the DAC/amp discussion at the end. For those of us considering this as our first purchase in headphones, I appreciated this "all in one" source. Don't know how big of a deal this is to do, but I would have benefitted with a written list of DAC/amp gear for reference as I am completely new to this. Cool that you defined sound stage vs imaging as so many assume we all know the difference. Many thanks!!
Wow...Really liked this review. When you talked about these headphones it did not just sound like audiophile word salad like most reviewers. Even though I enjoy other reviewers videos I think the vocabulary sometimes just goes way out of left field and makes 0 sense to anyone but the reviewer, if even them. I have the Sundara and its been my goto for a year or 2 now and now with the Edition XS on sale for 379 I am thinking of picking them up. Been watching reviews to see if the upgrade was worth it, this video finally has me pulling the trigger. Thanks again for the great content.
$269
@@kenneths.perlman1112 8 months ago it was 379...I bought and returned them. They were so uncomfortable...just completely unbearable. For 269 though I will probably buy them again and get that 3d printed headband for them.
Thanks for the thorough review and recommendations on source components
No problem! Thanks for checking out the video.
Awesome review, great talking points! Excellent presentation! Thank you!
Great review and very informative. I always like you don't over complicate things when you talk about audio. I've been able learn a lot from you. I was going to purchase these then I found an Ananda Stealth about a month ago for a great price. I bought some Dekoni fenestrated lambskin pads also. This was my first planar magnetic purchase. I mad at myself I didn't dive in sooner. Thanks for the insight as always
Thanks so much! That seems like a great combo for music. I'm sure you must love them!
Excellent review, you covered everything in a structured and clear manner!
Fantastic review! I own these as well, and found that Dekoni fenestrated sheepskin earpads are the most comfortable and give the best sound in my opinion. I cannot believe the soundstage on these things, but I have nothing above this price point. I will enjoy these for as long as they hold up! Thanks again for the review!
Thanks! I hear so many amazing things about that pad!
I just discovered your channel and I have to say the way you explain things is excellent and easy to understand, great for a beginner like me.
They are insane, I have them with Topping DX3 Pro plus and I would say they are well worth it. Got em on b-stock clearance too. No issues.
I bought the same setup. Can't wait to receive it and try it out.
Hey! I have the same dac/amp and thinking of buying either XS or Sundara. I currently have a wired Deva/HE 5xx and it's good, but a bit too sharp on the high notes with the treble, way too treble peaky I would say. Would like a bit less of that peaky sharpness on the treble and more detail. If you have any input on this with your experience with XS or other cans like Sundara, I would greatly appreciate it 🙏. I listen mostly to japanese pop/rock, so the music is pretty bright as it is. Would that be a good step up from Deva? Thank you
@@Paul_Strength The XS is fantastic. The default tuning is okay, but I much prefer running them through an AutoEQ preset on Peace.
If you have the patience to use Peace AutoEQ to tune them, they are that much more amazing. To me, nothing can compare.
I can't speak for the Sundaras, but I did heavily research before I bought the XS. The XS is the newer version of the X which released for 1800 usd. I got my XS for 620 cad. The XS is an upgraded version of the X. Need I say more? If you consider the price to performance, the Edition XS are absolutely nuts. Sundaras I'll bet are okay, but the driver size and shape of the XS is what I feel really makes them shine. Huge soundstage and amazing separation with amazing bass that feels well extended across your ears.
Google any review about the Edition XS and you'll hear the same thing. They give stuff at a higher price point a run for their money. They need an amp to drive, that's the only deterrent.
I use these as my main headphones everyday and I wouldn't want to get anything else at least for a very long time. My production game has also leveled up significantly since I got them.
a marvelous review and explanation!
have been enjoying my XS together with iFi Gryphon for couple months. This duo sounds amazing!
I bought 560S and Edition XS within the last month. Came from a pair of DT 770 pro 80ohm, EPOS H3 Hybrid, HS80, and Arctic Nova Pro Wireless.. messed with all the tunings/EQ settings on all, and I have a Magni. So here is my take:
560S is an incredible value. The earcups are a little small so you might find as the pad breaks in your outer ear can touch the little nub inside. Same issue with ANPW. I bought these both and A-B tested at the same time. The ANPW has incredible detail and in-game clarity for detail, footsteps, layer separation, directional awareness. I'd put it on the same level as the 560S if not slightly above (shocking I know). It is a clearer sounding headphone. The 560S is better for music especially when EQ'd, it can really deliver some nice thump and warmth in the bass region the ANPW could not match. 560S sounds more natural, ANPW more synthetic and it is closed back so the sound is injected into your ears. One thing I did not like about the 560S is the nasally characteristic GT mentions in the vid -- it's definitely there. For a pure out of the box competitive FPS experience: ANPW if you can deal with the fit. 560S is thumpy in the bass for gun shots in Valorant and can be distracting. Also in the stock EQ setting, I found the 560S difficult to hear footsteps as they sound distant and recessed DESPITE what reviews for these headphones say. In immersive/single player games the 560S would be fantastic. For music, 560S wins by a reasonable margin. With an Amp, the 560S and ANPW are around the same price.
Edition XS, it is superior to these other headphones in all the ways. 560S competes with it, somewhat, in bass impact but the clarity, texturing, details, sub bass is not equal. Everything on the XS is more pleasing to the ears especially untuned without EQ. The XS can accept higher volumes without distortion and has a bigger sound stage with even better imaging. Comfort is subjective but the XS is better here too and unless you have dumbo ears will not even touch the inside anywhere. When you watch streamers on Twitch normally their background music blends into the sound and almost gets lost... you barely hear it, but not on the XS, it almost sounds like it's playing from your own PC. You cannot overload this headphone with sound data, it will always show you everything with defined etched detail and precision. You WILL hear new detail you never heard before especially when it comes to atmospheric noises inside maps in Valorant. The footsteps are not just audible but you get a real texture and depth to the actual shoe making contact with the ground and lifting off -- very real sounding and cool. They sound fantastic and are worth the $500, will it give you a competitive edge? Unlikely, as most pros are using IEM or $80 HyperX headsets and still perform at top levels so keep this in mind. Will you ENJOY sound more? Yes, 100% definitely.
Tl;dr if you want a 8/10 music experience and a 9/10 gaming experience (10/10 competitive experience) go with ANPW. They will fill the role for most people and are definitely worth around $300 on sale. You will have to dig into the nuances of the other headsets as things are not always a direct upgrade in every area even when you pay more. This annoys me, personally. I will be keeping the XS over the others but it's not by as large of a margin as you may think. Compared to lesser headsets like HS80 every other headset I've listed here makes them sound like trash in both music AND gaming.
Thanks so much for sharing your experience! I love hearing and seeing stuff like this!
@@GadgetryTech You break down your videos so well, thought I'd add a little extra flavor. Thanks for the good work!
I never imagined I'd be in this rabbit hole this year but here I am I just pulled the trigger on the XS and your comment has me feeling way better about my decision thank you lol
Thanks for the comment. Now I really want to but this
@@leonardodelgado7573 I'm selling mine :D
A tip for those who might experience "hot spots" while wearing these, are Dekoni Nuggets.. they are small leather-bound blocks that are squishy and pretty small which helps alleviate the hot spotting that might occur.. I can wear them for hours with no discomfort. Definitely my daily drivers.
I watched this *after* i ordered my XS's but awesome review thank you. I got a Fiio k7 coming. I'm leaving a set of Fidelio 2xhrs so I'm excited. I've got like 5 pairs of sub $350 headphones... hopefully this saves me from those
How is your experience? I tried a bunch of sub $200 headphones but never a $500 one (currently daily driving the TYGR 300 R). But i'm still considering the Edition XS. Is it worth it?
Just bought the exact same combo (Xs stealth magnets and Fiio K7). Waiting to be delivered, with some balanced cables as well. Are you enjoying them?
@@fortenhudid you received them?
What's your thoughts?
Nice review. Thank you.
Nice review. Although I came late to the party, I have one recommendation you probably wouldn't expect. I've tried these planars with different DACs and amplifiers, but my favorite by far is the Cayin RU6, a marvelous R2R dongle, for my taste, it just fits perfectly with the Edition XS.
Can Fiio M11S digital audio player drive these headphones easily?
@@peaceandquiet Absolutely, I don't even know the DAP but it gives 670 mw and that is plenty of power for the Edition XS and likely for almost every headphone.
My first pair of planars got them recently for 250$ off market place bought a upgrade xlr balance cable to pair with schiits Midgard and modius E it the sound is just amazing gaming and music
I just purchased a schiit stack. Magnius/Lokius/Modius and have been looking for a new set of cans. Hard to decide even with great in-depth reviews like this... Thanks
Currently I have a modded pair of m1060c's that I open backed and a pair of DT 1770 pro stock.
I have been using the edition x for gaming story mode it’s just takes everything way beyond for such big drivers
With sennhiser 1200 pro amp for sure
Would you say that the sound quality of the Audeze Mawell is in par with the XS. Im an XS owner and I am patiently waiting for my Maxwell to arrive.
Could you share your findings when it does?
@@simona295Remind me in like a month. I have both on order, just waiting for them to arrive.
What’s the verdict? How close do the Maxwell get?
@@mpdx0 I like the Maxwell a lot. Definity worth every penny of the $350 I spent on them. However, It is not in the same category as the XS. The XS is much more dynamic and resolving than the Maxwell. I use the Maxwell for gaming and work because of the outstanding mic quality. When I want to watch movies and listening to music, the XS is the way to go. Plus it is lighter which allows me to have longer listening sessions.
@@Slyclientthetechdad Thanks for your reply! Appreciate the insight
18:37, hold on a second, Bit of a noob here. Won't modmics which magnetically connect to the base fuck with Planar magnetic drivers in the headphones?
I have the Ananda stealth. I just ordered this one for another location. I’ll be interested to hear whatever differences there might be.
I own the edition XS and the 660s V1 and 80% of the time prefer the XS, great headphones... looking for a better amp now (ifi zen dac v1) isn't enough... any suggestions for an amp under 350 or a stack7combo under 500...
Topping DX3 pro+ keeps popping up. I'm about to pull the trigger on that combo.
With the price drop I had to try. I have hd650s as my daily with a thx789 on a schiit modi uber. I was blown away by these hifiman. I have the 400i and they are ok, but these are on another level. Bass is WAY better, especially sub bass. Much brighter than the senns without being too bright and fatiguing.
I just ordered an Edition XS refurbished from Hifiman for $279 with their full warranty. I've had an a30pro and an su-9 for my source. I also already have a balanced cable for my Focal Elegias so I'm pretty sure I can just plug and play
Another great review! Should I give up on finding a dac/amp that can hook up in between my headphones and my (low headphone jack powered) a/v receiver? There's no pre-amp outs on the receiver. there's a USB (for power only) Does anything I'm looking for exist since I do all my music/game listening off of my a/v receiver but I need more power for my 300ohm headphones, and apparently, my planar Sundara's at only 37ohms.
The output impedance of a home theater receiver is pretty high and is definitely hurting your sound quality. Depending on your audio sources that you use, it may be best to split the signal of your source first. Does your receiver have an optical output? You could always consider a DAC with optical input and use that to connect to a headphone amp.
Splendid review with plenty of detail.
How would you compare them objectively and subjectively to the 109 Pro?
I haven't received my 109 Pro yet so I only have limited listening experience with it. In my brief time with the 109 Pro, I feel some people will like that sound signature more, as it has a little more treble and the bass is more punchy. The Edition XS is more subtle sounding out of the box, but has great bass texture and handles EQ very well.
Excellent review! Good job.
Can you please do a quick comparison between the XS and the Meze 109 pro?
Technical performance (soundstage, imaging, resolution) and tonality (bass, treble
If I get the XS paired with a Topping DX3 Pro+ (for convenience) and I've never heard a planar (the best I have heard is the HD560S with an ES100,) will I finally get a taste of what real audiophile hifi is?
I never use my HD560S, I can't stand how harsh it sounds and it never made me want to keep listening to music and discover new songs.
My fear is I'll be throwing money at a problem that might be me fundamentally misunderstanding what headphones can do. Any insight would be greatly appreciated from anyone willing to help.
Funny, my first 560s was harsh (sibilant to be precise) got it exchanged and the second one is perfect. I came from a fidelio x2 and the clarity the 560S has over it is amazing, I miss the bass sometimes but eh. May try an XS as I've never heard a planar before, just worried about the quality control.
I understand 6xx improve with custom pads?
Are these actually good for competitive gaming (imaging and detail and the like) ? I love Hifimans style but have yet to hear one that excels in gaming which is my primary use case.
Thanks for the in depth review. Is the Hip Dac 2 a good dac amp for these?
Would the Fiio K11 be enough?
Hello! And merry Christmas @GadgetryTech Would like to ask if this is really close to the arya organic? I saw the measurements and they are damn similar with a few changes on the treble. Hope to hear from you soon!
I’d be interested in hearing your thoughts on the HifiMan Ananda. If you’ve tried it.
I can't speak to the Ananda fully, only because my listening experience with them was limited only to Can Jam (a headphone show), so I can't speak to everything about them. I've heard that the Ananda has a little bit better separation but a stronger/higher treble energy, which can be too much for some.
@@GadgetryTech Appreciate the reply!
Great review. I have a joutenhrim 2 and want to use the XLR input since my system is all balanced. What aftermarket reasonable cable would you recommend?
How would you consider this against Arya stealth when it comes to gaming performance and comfort
Edition xs is peak vfm headphone. Probably the best all-rounder cans under 1000 dollars.
Are there any portable options for an amp?
what is soundstage?
18:37 What's the first dac/amp that you mentioned? The one that you said can juice up my ps5 audio. The name wasn't really clear and it's not mentioned in the video description.. :(
schiit fulla e
@Djenta94 thank you!!!
Is fiio k7bt good combination with xs?
Great review! I have Senn HD650 and Beyer 990 250 ohm run off a Fiio K13 dongle on desktop mode. Fiio barely powers them on hard to drive tracks. Will the XS be easier or harder to drive?
Thank you!
I like the Edition XS for almost every parts except for the headband. It is way too large that the headphone would not fit perfectly even on the lowest setting for most people. And for me personally it does create a hotspot on the centre of the head which I end up putting a few Dekoni Nugget to make it wearable (and it also help adjusting the position of the headphone). The weight is leaning on the heavy side, but the low clamp force such that it rest on your head instead of clamping to your head does make the Edition XS considerably more comfortable than what it weight would suggest. For the sound quality of the Edition XS is priced very aggressively, however I do recommend finding a demo unit before buying because of all the comfort issues it had.
I ended up getting a geekria headband cover, it should be here tomorrow. If that doesn’t help( it will, it does fit stock, but I want a little more padding to have a better positioning) then I’ll try the nugs.
@@Hijynx87, thanks for the tip! I'll research the geekria headband cover.
Yeah, I use my Sundara at the first notch so no way in hell this would fit. I'll just wait and get a better model one of these days, if not just stick to what works.
Hi, thanks for your YT content, it's very good! I'm strongly considering getting the XS. Right now, here in Denmark, a couple of places have it for the same price as the Sundara.
Now, the only dac/amp I have is the Fiio K11. Do you think that will do the XS justice?
How would it do with a OTL amp? Dark voice
Would you choose these or the vzr model one.
Will Fiio K5 Pro ess be a good pair with the XS headphones?
Hi subscribed your channel, I am currently using dt 770 pro 80 OHM, is it worth upgrading in terms of BASS and SoundStage?
Thoughts on these for FPS games over the HD560s?
Have you reviewed the Monolith 1570 planar HPs..I just ordered them for $600..I’m going to order the XSs and do a comparison…I have the Magne Modi stack …two thumbs up
Will a Fiio M11 ESS audio player will be able to power it , to its fullest??
You're doing a great job, thank you,
I have problem with the proper EQ setting for CoD 2 (footsteps etc....)
could you please post the EQ settings for Hifiman XS ?
I knew I liked you. You like listening to Tool . Great review my friend
Maynard!
@@GadgetryTech 😹😹😹 . Right !!! Happy New Year my friend
would the iFi ZEN DAC V2 work with with balanced wire?
yes, you can buy an balanced cable for the Edition XS and use the balanced output of the Zen DAC
do you use dolby atmos with it or is stereo enough for games?
If you can play with Dolby Atmos enabled, it can be a better experience. Just make sure to leave the virtual sound disabled and use Atmos in "stereo mode". It sounds great that way
Will there be good synergy when pairing the XS with the Fiio K7?
between aune ar5000 and hifiman edxs, which you recommend?
I'm planning on driving these with a 3d gen Focusrite Scarlett 2i2, would that be enough to make them shine while I don't buy a dedicated amp? Thanks!
Hi , thank you so much for the video. I have understand that it could be a wonderful gaming headphones. Can I use it one my ps5 , should I add a dac ? Is it very confortable ? Sorry for my poor English I.m French
I can't believe you're wasting headphones like this on gaming. It's not like you're going to marvel at the separation of sounds and midranges while playing Call of Duty. Get the Philips Audio X2HR/00 Fidelio and you'll be blown away.
Excellent review, Joe - I really appreciate how you review. Of all the headphones I’ve had the pleasure experiencing my biggest love is still the VZR Model One; they just do everything right with the music I’m mostly in to, which is abstract electronic music with a lot going on. I haven’t heard/auditioned the XS. But I am curious: How does the XS compare to the VZR in imaging, layering, and soundstage both lateral and vertical, width and depth? Cheers man!
Thanks! The Edition XS is so, so different sounding the to the VZR. The VZR's focus is entirely on pin-point imaging, something it definitely excels at. It's also built like a tank and should last a really long time.
The Edition XS is more delicate feeling. The audio and technical performance is better from a tonality perspective, where things sound more natural when listening to music. It's most noticeable in the mid range, where the Edition XS has a more forward presentation of vocals and string instruments.
The Model One has better imaging, but the XS has better sound stage (both vertical and lateral). Hopefully that helps!
@@GadgetryTech Indeed it helped. Thank you very much!
@@GadgetryTech
In your opinion, will the ifi hip dac 2 be sufficient to power these headphones?
@@bradhuskers yeah, just get a balanced cable. It will scale with a desktop source though. I use a btr7 in 4.4. Or a qudelix 5k with a 2.5 adapter from ddhifi.
@Hijynx87
Nice.
By the way?
I added the geekria sleeve to the headband, now it's even more comfortable!
People complained that these headphones were too big if you had a small head. However, adding the geekria sleeve, makes it perfect!
This or focal elegia?
how are these with tube amps? i generally don't like planars with tubes..
As a man with smallish head, I might look into thickening the headband to get the earpieces up a little
whats about a DAP like Sony WM1A Enough power? thanks
Can Fiio M11S digital audio player drive these headphones easily?
finally someone that kinda understand the difference between NEED a amp and WANT a amp !!! The edition XS works just completely fine with laptop, iphone dongle dac or even a ps5 controller and can get LOUD ENOUGH, yes even with 92db sensitivity. Most of the audiophile people are kinda over 50 with hearing loss so they say they NEED a amp but they are talking subjectively. Even some younger people listen to way loud music and damaged their hearing a little bit without even knowing, saying subjectively you HAVE TO use a amp.
objectively the edition XS works just fine without a amp and an amplification only makes them sound LOUDER, its a comon audiophile mythos that with a amp something sound "better" but in fact, it only sounds louder. If you want to damage your hearing even more to get even more hearing loss, yeah buy a amp and cranc it full up so the edition xs sound "better", maybe sprincle some salt on them too, the salt makes them sound "better", trust me
Lol, love it. I found that with some EQ tuning if you lower the preamp gain to compensate, some built in headphone amps may not give the performance some people look for. After that, you just want a clean output and some extra power to give you the extra overhead. There's always the case that sometimes people just want a volume knob and a nice box.
It is not a myth. I purchased my first amp and received it yesterday. While it is not a NIGHT AND DAY difference, it's absolutely there. I am only using 560S so I imagine the difference is even larger when stepping up to more power hungry headsets. Everything from the detail clarity, to instrument separation, to bass tone/warmth/abundance shifts about 10% positive. This is coming from the headphone output on a UMC22 which is already superior and louder than most motherboards can go from a PC. The amp can get significantly louder than the UMC22 without adding any distortion or breaking up as well -- that part is not even close. The UMC22 at about 75-80% of its maximum volume falls apart so badly that it becomes unlistenable. At this same volume level the Magni amp is crystal clear. It is not placebo. If you are listening at low/medium volume levels or just care about gaming performance then I will say an amp will not benefit you. For someone interested in stepping up music performance then I recommend EQ'ing your equipment to the best of your ability first and then deciding where to go from there. You can gain a lot from simply EQ'ing your product and it may get you close to where you want to be.
Did yours come with owner's manual?
I picked these up from Amazon for under $300 and could not stand how uncomfortable they were. They sounded good but man that headband put a ton of pressure on the top of my head. The build also felt very cheap. I was afraid the plastic portion that connects to the metal bracket for the yolks would break. I had to return them.
Wondering why you didn’t compare it further to the Ananda? It’s $200 more. Heard it sounds pretty much the same, with one big advantage that it runs off of anything.
Looking forward to the Meze 109 Pro. I’m actually torn between getting an Edition XS, Ananda, SV023 or Meze 109 Pro
The all new Yamaha YH-5000SE Headphones are coming out in a few months that will be a game-changer
What producing / mixing / mastering headphones can I get that are accurate, detailed but with hard hitting, punch, slam, kick with flat extended bass? I almost exclusively make and listen to underground techno and house music. I don’t want a boring headphone that saps the fun and excitement out of this kind of punchy, hard hitting, sub heavy music. Focal clear mg pro seem to tick the boxes but they’re very expensive.
upgraded from the porta pro, paired with zen air dac, best bang for bucks for sure.
Will my Fiio K7 be enough to power these? I have the HD 600 and want more sub bass and soundstage. Looking at this. I find the lower mids of the HD600 a little shouty at times as well.
Should be more than enough, impedance is quite low
Is ifi zen dac v2 enough to power the headphones or I would really need to add the ifi can?
If you want to unlock the full potential of the xs, then yes, you need the ifi zen can.
The Zen Dac is honestly enough. But if you really want to hear loud then the Zen CAN would be good. Keep in mind that everything over 84 DB can result in permanent hearing damage.
Thank you was waiting on this one! Best Dax/Amp for Xbox Series X & PC? Is it even possible? Will there be a Sonar tune video for this? I continue to share your channel with all my gaming and audio friends. Great content much appreciated!
There aren't amazing DACs for Xbox but one of the only ones I would consider is the Astro Mixamp because for $130 it gives you game to chat mix and Dolby Atmos support. I wish the headphone amp was more powerful but it's an option. Otherwise just plug into your controller and use something like Dolby Atmos if you are trying to fine tune the sound a bit. I likely won't be doing a Sonar tune because it sounds amazing out of the box. The only EQ would likely come down to personal preference and not so much as a "fix" to these. I hope that helps, and thanks for the support!
@@GadgetryTech Thanks for taking the time to reply! Last questions. I do already have the Artis Nova Pros so could I just use that dac for Xbox & PC with the HiFIMan headset? Does it give it enough power and make it worth using over the Nova Pro? Thanks again
@TacticoolNinja did you try it with the steel series dac? If so did you like it? On series x
I Would love to see you review the hifiman ananda stealth magnet version i wish the hifiman arya stealth magnet version and the HE 1000SE had the edition xs Headband I plan to order the dekoni sheepskin for my hifiman edition-xs with a Magni Heretic sliver version with the ifi uno and use the dac inside it as little combo or the xDuoo MU-601 or xDuoo MU-605 and the earpads That touches your face are made of REPREVE a Material Made from high quality fibers from recycled materials including plastic bottles
I may review the Ananda Stealth down the road but I'm not sure yet. Maybe one day!
Make sure you use the XLR input with the EF400 and the Edition XS.
Oh and I noticed an 8k peak and did notice the capability to have punch and slam with EQ if you so desire.
I wish he would wear them with sound at moderate level and use mic to let us hear how much sound leaks out.
Being an open back like this, quite a bit leaks out. Noise pickup would depend on what kind of mic, the gain, and where it’s placed. Noted for future content though! Thanks
Question: would an audio interface like my Audient Id4 have good enough preamps to drive a headphone like this, or would you still get a decent standalone preamp to power this headphone in order to get the most out of it?
I’m trying to look into a good pair without having to buy anything extra in the process.
This or the DT 900 Pro X?
Same questions
I'm still lost with this XS and Ananda, still can't decide which to buy. lol
@GadgetryTech - HiFiMan Edition XS vs VZR Model One (powered by Go XLR) for Gaming? (Competitive and casual both, also playing on XBOX series X and PC) like apex legends or war zone and games like Destiny 2.
That's tough because they are vastly different sounding! I think one thing to note is the Go XLR headphone output is pretty weak. It will not do well powering the the Edition XS at higher volumes if you like to listen to it loud. The Model One has significantly higher bass levels, so if you like explosive sounding bass, the Model One would be better. The Edition XS is noticeably better detail retrieval in most areas though, making it very easy to pick up subtle noise. Imaging is excellent on both.
Nice review mate. THere's not much poetry involved with you describing the sound which i prefer. ^^ Subbed!
Thanks! Yeah I try not to blast off tons for fancy words if they don't directly mean something. Thanks so much for the support :)
Good review.
I tried the Edition XS, Ananda and Arya Stealth. I personally liked the Ananda better than the XS but honestly for the price the XS is fantastic (I just hate the headband).
The Arya Stealth is better than Ananda and XS but also considerably more expansive.
Yeah the XS sounds much closer to the Ananda than the Ananda does to the Arya Stealth. I love the Arya but like you said there's a big price gap there. The Ananda is a bit easier to drive as well.
@@GadgetryTech
I love these headphones.
Have you heard about the ifi hip dac 2?
Would that be sufficient to provide enough power to enjoy these headphones?
I've used the Ananda and now currently own the Sundara. I found the Ananda to be better in the technical areas but found the tuning to be worse than the Sundara. I heard the XS is even worse than the Ananda, not sure if that's true. I prefer to have a more neutral tuning and the Sundara does that pretty well, so I can sacrifice detail/soundstage/comfort for that.
The highs on the Ananda were too much for me. Sundara tames that. Haven't tried the XS.
Yeah the Sundara has a softer high but shifts some of that energy into the mid range a little. The Sundara is also very comfortable to wear (the new revision). I would give the Edition XS a shot if you can ever demo one though just to compare. It sounds slightly warmer/fuller sounding with a taller sound stage and better instrument separation.
@@GadgetryTech They're comfortable enough but I did find the Ananda to be far more so(huge earpads/holes). Different price points though. Definitely wouldn't mind trying the XS but I'm pretty sensitive to the high frequencies and couldn't handle anything more than what the Sundara offers.
I honestly feel as if 99% of people don't need anything than a properly powered Sundara, especially since they're so cheap these days. I got mine for $225 CAD, literally a joke and IMO smashes most things up to $1000. It's kinda crazy. Except the cable, that needed to be replaced.
Great review….
What size hat do you wear?
7.
I just got xs edition for ps5.with 3d audio tempest turned on they sound dull, not very detailed.cant think whats go in on, as I am using ifi zen dac v2 amp.any thoughts please.
Planars are notorious for needing power despite their rated sensitivity. You need more power than the zen dac can do. 1w to 1.5w @32 ohms class a or a/b at the least. I would not recommend class d as planars are usually sensitive to thin sound.
These would be the perfect pair of headphones for me but the quality control is putting me off. So many people on reddit experiencing the same issues with buzzing and and loose wires from within the drivers
anyone tried this with a chord mojo?
Didn't really explain planar very well. The diaphragm is driven by ribbons embedded into the polymer diaphragm
XS are on sale for $269 on Amazon Prime today. Great Deal if you can deal with the comfort of this headband. These hurt the top of my head
Great review, but you may re-think your lights setup. Your right eye looks like someone would beat you up :)
Now that my pair are on the way, Hifiman is selling refurbed XS for $280. I rolled the dice and am betting on their warranty.
LMAO CoD .. At least I'm not the only crazy person using this headphone for playing games. I'm just up in the air about which DAC Amp combo to use for gaming. My old EPOS GSX 1000 not the new one is pretty damn good for just that, but it lacks the power so I'm thinking about adding an amp or just using the Dolby Access on some other combo. I'm thinking about the xDuoo TA-10R Tube DAC/Amp because it looks sweet and many people think it's good enough. Being real most DAC and or combos being real sound basically the same. Coloring your music from flat can be done in a EQ.
Would be nice if Hifiman got into producing gaming headsets.
I need to talk to their North American head about it. It would be pretty cool to see.
I'm not so sure why a $1200 pair of cans are now under $300.... Too good to be true....
Can you tell how the Edition XS compares to Edifier STAX SPIRIT S3 ?
Is it a massive improvement ?
The STAX is a wireless, closed-back planar magnetic headphone, so the odds are stacked against it right off the bat. I can say that the STAX S3 does a great job with that being considered. The Edition XS has better texture to the bass, but the S3 has a harder hitting bass.
I think overall the Edition XS has a more natural timbre, and is the better technical performer across the board. So in a simple sense, it's definitely better sounding to me, but that's subjective. If you do not need wireless and bluetooth, then the Edition XS is a better sounding product. I would not travel around with the Edition XS though. The STAX Spirit S3 is much better for that.
@@GadgetryTech thank you so much! Made my mind!
Hi... pls suggest which portable dac is best suited for this edition xs headphone