Hifiman Edition XS Open Back

I was auditioning new headphones at CanJam Socal a few months ago. I knew going in that I wanted to listen the Edition XS and the Audeze LCD-X. Both sounded absolutely amazing, save for the loud environment of the show floor.I just couldn't justify almost 3 times the cost for the LCD-X. To me, the Edition XS are everything I wanted in a headphone. My music collection consists of 40% 80's, a mix of new wave, synth pop, and rock, 40% EDM, mostly trance and house, and 20% the kitchen sink, industrial, top 40 from the last 40 years, some jazz, etc etc.Firstly, the bass, oh the glorious bass. My HE400i's were the 2.5mm version that had a harsh bass cutoff that really seemed to remove anything under 100Hz.z The HD 6XX are midrange kings, but lacking in bass and ... MoreI was auditioning new headphones at CanJam Socal a few months ago. I knew going in that I wanted to listen the Edition XS and the Audeze LCD-X. Both sounded absolutely amazing, save for the loud environment of the show floor.I just couldn't justify almost 3 times the cost for the LCD-X. To me, the Edition XS are everything I wanted in a headphone. My music collection consists of 40% 80's, a mix of new wave, synth pop, and rock, 40% EDM, mostly trance and house, and 20% the kitchen sink, industrial, top 40 from the last 40 years, some jazz, etc etc.Firstly, the bass, oh the glorious bass. My HE400i's were the 2.5mm version that had a harsh bass cutoff that really seemed to remove anything under 100Hz.z The HD 6XX are midrange kings, but lacking in bass and especially sub-bass. The XS shine in the department, low, clean, clear, textured and tactile bass. My first few hours I couldn't stop finding all the bass heavy tracks I love and just losing myself in the low end. Maybe I am overstating the impact of the low end due to being deprived for so many years with my other headphones.The mids and highs, to me, are just fantastic. Clean, crisp, detailed like only a planar can deliver. The soundstage is wide and fantastic, with great imaging. For anyone with HE400i's these are a flat-out upgrade across the board. More of everything good and just done better.My only complaint is the overall fit. I never would have considered myself someone with a small head. I'm 5'10" a solid 205, size 12 shoe, near size 8 hat. That being said, these are almost too loose on my head. I have the adjustment on the cups fully closed and the headband just doesn't make enough contact on the top of my head to keep it totally secure.The clearance inside the ear cups is second to none with the large openings. When I wear glasses at night, sometimes there is a minor squeak from the pads rubbing on the glasses, this only happens when moving my head though. A few times it felt like a hot spot was developing on my head, a minor adjustment of the position fixed this. I plan on ordering a wrap for the headband or some Dekoni Nuggets. I think these headphones will be perfect after that small fix.In summary, between all the headphones I own, Audio-Technica M50x, AKG 240, Beyerdynamic DT990 Pro, Sennheiser HD6XX, Hifiman HE400i's and the Edition XS, I'm reaching for the XS 11 times out of 10 times for any occasion. The HD6XX have been downgraded to bedside duty and the other cans are probably going to collect dust at this point.As with any headphone, listen before you buy, but with that being said I feel these are some of the best cans you can get for under $1,000.

Awesome planar headphones!!

I've been a fan of planar technology since buying my Magnepan MGIIIAs in 1988. Had never owned any planar headphones so I looked at Hifiman. I bought a used set for their HE400se, already broken in and I really liked them. Upgraded the stock grill to ones that provided more "air to breathe". That made a difference. Then I decided to try a model up the Hifiman lineup. Chose the Edition XS. Was pleasantly surprised! This model has a better Soundstage with more detail. This can only get better with use. I also like the fit of the XS better than any other headphones I've used. I recommend the Hifiman Edition XS.

Bang for the buck

The journey started with trying out Sundara headphones after a detailed discussion with Mr. Pritam. So I got a home demo for 3 days. Loved the headphones, after listening to music on my Sony XM4s Sundara felt a big step up. But still I felt it needed some EQ tuning with peace software, oratory1990 settings work really well it. But still I felt something was still lacking just a little bit. Had another talk with Mr. Pritam and explained the issue to him in layman's terms because I'm not an expert with technical terms. He suggested I try out Edition XS because the price difference isn't huge but the experience you get out of it more than worth it he said. So I went for another home demo and when I tried these on I understood what Mr. Pritam was saying. The audio ... MoreThe journey started with trying out Sundara headphones after a detailed discussion with Mr. Pritam. So I got a home demo for 3 days. Loved the headphones, after listening to music on my Sony XM4s Sundara felt a big step up. But still I felt it needed some EQ tuning with peace software, oratory1990 settings work really well it. But still I felt something was still lacking just a little bit. Had another talk with Mr. Pritam and explained the issue to him in layman's terms because I'm not an expert with technical terms. He suggested I try out Edition XS because the price difference isn't huge but the experience you get out of it more than worth it he said. So I went for another home demo and when I tried these on I understood what Mr. Pritam was saying. The audio stage, instrument seperation, the clarity, everything was just amazing! I don't the technical terms so best I can describe is that I felt I was actually listening to a studio recording. The difference from sundara was night and day and more than worth the price difference. The decision was instant that I'll buy edition XS and they arrived promptly in 2 days. I'm sure nothing can beat these in the 36k price segment, plus the balanced 4.4 mm cables which are given for free are really a must for these kind of headphones. For now I'm pairing it with my portable Fiio Q3 dac/amp but I'll give it some time before I get an actual desktop amp for this baby, I'm sure it'll feel like another upgrade then. Many thanks to Mr. Pritam for his expert suggestions and one madam (sorry don't know her name) on the phone who always picked up in two rings, always polite and and seamlessly made the home demo and final purchase happen in the shortest possible time. Highly recommend these headphones and highly recommend Audio Store as the team is very professional. Till my next upgrade, ciao!

Expensive but worth it.

Very clear headphones with a very neutral bass response all the way down to the sub bass, great soundstage and comfortable for long durations. They're replacing my AT ATH-AD700 (originals) and I don't regret it at all, especially for the better bass response after EQ. They are very large and I have them on lowest headband setting so if you have a small head they might feel too big and need to get a good fit.There is a very sudden rise in the high mids to low treble that I EQ out to be more gradual otherwise it can sound a touch harsh in contrast. I also use an EQ to get to the harman target and don't get any distortion in the music, I'm very sensitive to sound and not had any problems with distortion after EQ.All in all I would say these are the best open back ... MoreVery clear headphones with a very neutral bass response all the way down to the sub bass, great soundstage and comfortable for long durations. They're replacing my AT ATH-AD700 (originals) and I don't regret it at all, especially for the better bass response after EQ. They are very large and I have them on lowest headband setting so if you have a small head they might feel too big and need to get a good fit.There is a very sudden rise in the high mids to low treble that I EQ out to be more gradual otherwise it can sound a touch harsh in contrast. I also use an EQ to get to the harman target and don't get any distortion in the music, I'm very sensitive to sound and not had any problems with distortion after EQ.All in all I would say these are the best open back headphones you can get at this sort of price especially if you're wanting to EQ close to the harmen target or any other target as the delta will be small. If you want closed backs or features, there's better options elsewhere.

Hifiman - edition XS

For - Very detailed and Musical headphone no doubt .Against - But to get that level of detail , one needs seriously powerfull Amp for this headphone , i had to crack up volume to 90 on my Ifi grypheon portable DAC/Amp even with balanced cable.to get satisfactory volume.And Man , the earcups are way to large and definately a eyesore . It's heavy at 400 grams and the headband does creates hot spot on head. After a while you have to remove it . The confort level is just bearable .The headphone absolutely nails in Being Musical provided you have a good dac/amp as you never get the good enough volume , but the design and comfort are get a big thumps down . Even though i used Ifi Grypheon for it mostly, i found Fiio's KA3 portable usb dac also was able to drive it ... MoreFor - Very detailed and Musical headphone no doubt .Against - But to get that level of detail , one needs seriously powerfull Amp for this headphone , i had to crack up volume to 90 on my Ifi grypheon portable DAC/Amp even with balanced cable.to get satisfactory volume.And Man , the earcups are way to large and definately a eyesore . It's heavy at 400 grams and the headband does creates hot spot on head. After a while you have to remove it . The confort level is just bearable .The headphone absolutely nails in Being Musical provided you have a good dac/amp as you never get the good enough volume , but the design and comfort are get a big thumps down . Even though i used Ifi Grypheon for it mostly, i found Fiio's KA3 portable usb dac also was able to drive it confortably , even though u had to crank up the volume to 100%.

Love the sound!

Not an audiophile. But I love my music and want to listen to it at utmost detail (again not an audiophile still). I love my new purchase. It does exactly that. The sound is crisp, the deparation depth is very nice to experience. Love listening to even oldies, AR Rahman sir and some western classics. I also hooked this up with my TV and absolutely love Netflix on spatial and atmos quality sound. In love with these great headphones. I like the fact that I can pause and listen to my wife/kid and dont have to take them off completely :)

Mind Blowing, Impressive!

You may be wondering why I wrote 'Mind Blowing' in the heading and still given just 4 stars! Read on...!I ordered this headphone and it was my first planar IEM/Head phone. After much thought process / analysis, I ordered this headphone although I was worried about the QC of Hifiman headphones as this seemed to be a major issue discussed in many audio forums.In 2 days I received the Headphone and when I connected to my laptop and checked I did not hear anything from the Right side driver. Thinking there may be issue with the cable, I changed that too with the complimentary balanced cable sent along with the order and checked. Still the issue was there and raised the issue with the 'AudioStore' with a small video. They noted the defect and immediately raised a ... MoreYou may be wondering why I wrote 'Mind Blowing' in the heading and still given just 4 stars! Read on...!I ordered this headphone and it was my first planar IEM/Head phone. After much thought process / analysis, I ordered this headphone although I was worried about the QC of Hifiman headphones as this seemed to be a major issue discussed in many audio forums.In 2 days I received the Headphone and when I connected to my laptop and checked I did not hear anything from the Right side driver. Thinking there may be issue with the cable, I changed that too with the complimentary balanced cable sent along with the order and checked. Still the issue was there and raised the issue with the 'AudioStore' with a small video. They noted the defect and immediately raised a reverse pick-up from my place and in turn they further checked it and sent the same to Hifiman for replacement.In the next 2-3 days I got the message a new piece was dispatched.Received the new piece and when I listened to it after attaching it to a proper DAC/Amp, without my knowledge I was smiling; I have never heard music before with such depth and wide range. Very Impressive. The headphone is huge in size, hence portability will be an issue and it may not be a tight fit for many of us. Even my head is small, but still the fitment was good but you cannot call it tight. It is a perfect headphone to listen at home.Hope this Hifiman headphone would last long.

The Grand Sundara!

First of all, I received the Edition XS on 31st March 2022, and I was impressed by it on the very first day itself. However, I took time until today not to get carried away by the initial enthusiasm and give a fair review of these headphones. This review will be divided into various sections.My audiophile setup: Hifiman Edition XS running balanced from Xduoo XA10 (dual AK4493 class A 4w@32ohm Dac/Amp)My Listening sources: Tidal, Qobuz, native mp3 files and YouTubeBuild: There is no getting around it. Hifiman Sundara has better build quality than the XS due to the use of more metal in the construction. Sundara also feels more solid in the hand while weighing less. However, Edition XS has still good build quality for non-portable open-back headphones.Comfort: ... MoreFirst of all, I received the Edition XS on 31st March 2022, and I was impressed by it on the very first day itself. However, I took time until today not to get carried away by the initial enthusiasm and give a fair review of these headphones. This review will be divided into various sections.My audiophile setup: Hifiman Edition XS running balanced from Xduoo XA10 (dual AK4493 class A 4w@32ohm Dac/Amp)My Listening sources: Tidal, Qobuz, native mp3 files and YouTubeBuild: There is no getting around it. Hifiman Sundara has better build quality than the XS due to the use of more metal in the construction. Sundara also feels more solid in the hand while weighing less. However, Edition XS has still good build quality for non-portable open-back headphones.Comfort: This is a more subjective area. The Edition XS is very comfortable, far surpassing the Sundara. The earcups are much more spacious than the Sundara, and they also distribute weight more evenly. The headband also does not cause any pressure points on top of the head. However, YMMVSound: This section is the reason why I titled this review as "The Grand Sundara!". Imagine the sound signature of Hifiman Sundara but more open, grander in scale and with better bass punch and overall dynamics. You get an idea of the sound signature of the Edition XS. An interesting contrast from the Sundara, which I have noticed, is that this headphone has more vocal intimacy than the Sundara. At the same time, the sound stage, in general, is wider and larger in scale than the Sundara. This leads to a more enjoyable and slightly better-layered presentation of the sound than the Sundara. Here are some reference soundtracks and what to look for in each.1)We’ve Just Begun-Sinne Beg: Soundstage, vocal forwardness, Layering2)Naatu Naatu-RRR: Punch and Dynamics, fast-paced dance music3)Komuram Bheemudo-RRR: Male vocals, ballad-like tonality and theme4)Come away with me-Norah Jones: Female Vocals, melody5)Liar-Sandra: Flute in the beginning portion, female vocals6)Whiskey River-Willie Nelson: Male Vocals, busy instrumentation7)Your Love (Extended Version)-Kate Linn: Sub-bass at the beginning8) Straight Out the Gate-Tech N9ne: Hip hop, fast-paced music

Very good mid-fi headphones

Let me get the conclusion out of the way - these are probably the best price/performance headphones I've ever had from Hifiman. To qualify that statement, I've previously owned the 400i 2014 version, 560 2014 version, HEX, HE1K, HE1Kv2, Ananda, Sundara, and HE6seV2. The HEXS definitely has the Hifiman house sound & DNA. I find they have more clarity and definition than the entry level models I've experienced and aren't too far off from the higher end models. I have a love/hate with the headband. Compared to the Sundara for example, I appreciate the ear cup swivel and the egg shape cup versus the suspension strap and round style. I do end up having a hot spot on the top of my head after an hour or so though compared to the suspension strap style where I have no ... MoreLet me get the conclusion out of the way - these are probably the best price/performance headphones I've ever had from Hifiman. To qualify that statement, I've previously owned the 400i 2014 version, 560 2014 version, HEX, HE1K, HE1Kv2, Ananda, Sundara, and HE6seV2. The HEXS definitely has the Hifiman house sound & DNA. I find they have more clarity and definition than the entry level models I've experienced and aren't too far off from the higher end models. I have a love/hate with the headband. Compared to the Sundara for example, I appreciate the ear cup swivel and the egg shape cup versus the suspension strap and round style. I do end up having a hot spot on the top of my head after an hour or so though compared to the suspension strap style where I have no issue. My other gripe is I wear glasses and with the stock pads I get a squeeky sound with any head movement, so that's something to consider if you're a glasses wearer. Dig 'em for the price, but docked the 1 star for the headband hotspot and squeak when moving while wearing glasses.

What have I gotten myself into?

I am writing this after spending 4 hrs with the Edition XS.I am not into headphones, never was. The idea of having a heavy thing on the head to listen to music never thrilled me. I have a serious stereo setup. Like, seriously serious and I love it. The problem is, I don't get much time to be in that perfect listening position more than 3-4 hrs a week. For my love of music, I decided to get some portable gear. So, I started with a mid-range Fiio triple driver earphones (don't remember the model) and the R2R Cayin RU6 USB DAC+AMP (the RU6 is brilliant). I liked the experience very much and thought of upgrading (the problem with all audiophiles right). After some research, I zeroed in on the Hifiman Edition XS (not the standard headphone tech) and Chord Mojo 2. ... MoreI am writing this after spending 4 hrs with the Edition XS.I am not into headphones, never was. The idea of having a heavy thing on the head to listen to music never thrilled me. I have a serious stereo setup. Like, seriously serious and I love it. The problem is, I don't get much time to be in that perfect listening position more than 3-4 hrs a week. For my love of music, I decided to get some portable gear. So, I started with a mid-range Fiio triple driver earphones (don't remember the model) and the R2R Cayin RU6 USB DAC+AMP (the RU6 is brilliant). I liked the experience very much and thought of upgrading (the problem with all audiophiles right). After some research, I zeroed in on the Hifiman Edition XS (not the standard headphone tech) and Chord Mojo 2. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get the Mojo yet as it went out of stock by the time I wrapped up my research and decided to hit the ‘add to cart’ button. Thus, I hooked up the Edition XS with the RU6 that I have (yes…I had to change the setting to high gain and crank up the volume to 85% to drive the Edition XS) and played some of my beloved hi-rez/lossless tracks. Now the difficult part – describe the experience. I’ll just say – It made me smile and I felt I am listening to my primary stereo system. Beautiful soundstage and excellent clarity across frequencies.The only thing that I feel could have been better is the head band. Something like Ananda would have been more comfortable.Now I am thinking, what have I gotten myself into? What next?