Buying Guide
HiFiMAN Sundara is great. But the Edition XS is awesome! Should You Upgrade?
HiFiMAN is one of those brands that are well known for presenting some high-end Planar Magnetic headphones, including the Sundara and the Edition XS. Both these headphones are the perfect introduction to the world of planar headphones and are also suitably priced. So if you're looking to rediscover the joy of music listening, look no further! In this video, we will talk about the HiFiMAN Sundara and HiFiMAN Edition XS headphones.
Featured in this Blog
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Value for Money
I've found that the best gear isn’t always the most expensive. Some products punch well above their weight and deliver performance that rivals higher-priced alternatives. That’s what we mean with the "Value for Money" badge. It’s our way of telling you that you’re getting something special without breaking the bank. 🥜
These products are all about maximum returns for minimal investment. You’re not just saving money — you’re gaining an audio experience that exceeds expectations. Whether it’s build quality, tuning, or bundled accessories, these picks overdeliver.
When you see '🥜 Value for Money' products, expect impressive performance at an affordable price, making them a smart pick for budget-conscious buyers or first-time audiophiles.
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Ideal for Beginners
Lost in the vast world of audio equipment?
Don't worry, we're here to guide you 🤝! I believe that everyone's audiophile journey should start with something approachable and welcoming. These carefully selected products serve as the perfect entry point into high-quality sound, specifically chosen to help you navigate through sometimes overwhelming technical options. Think of them as your friendly neighbourhood guide who knows exactly where to start without getting lost in complex specifications.
These products strike an ideal balance between quality and accessibility, featuring user-friendly designs and straightforward functionality. They're specifically selected as the perfect starting point for your audiophile journey, offering serious performance without intimidating complexity or premium pricing that might discourage exploration.
When you encounter "🌱 Ideal for Beginners" products, expect approachable excellence - these are your stepping stones into the world of premium audio, designed to grow with your developing appreciation for great sound.
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Flat Sound Signature
I tend to describe a flat sound signature as the “studio monitor” of headphones—what goes in is what comes out. 🎚️ There’s no added flavour or colouration; it’s a true-to-source representation. Audiophiles and sound engineers who value neutrality and precision often gravitate toward this kind of tuning.
Here’s what’s actually happening: the entire frequency response is tuned to be as even as possible, so bass, mids, and treble are all balanced without any emphasis. This makes flat-sounding gear ideal for critical listening, mixing, or mastering, where accuracy matters more than excitement. But for casual listeners, it might feel a bit “boring.” That said, a well-done flat tuning can reveal the soul of a song like no other. 🎧
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Ultra-Wide Sound stage
Do you wish to bring the concert hall to your ears 🏛️?
I love describing ultra-wide soundstage as "audio magic" that creates a breathtaking three-dimensional environment around your head. These specialised headphones feature an exceptionally spacious soundstage that creates the illusion you're sitting in the sweet spot of a magnificent performance venue. Think of it like teleportation technology for your ears - suddenly you're not wearing headphones, you're sitting in Carnegie Hall with perfect acoustics.
The precise instrument placement and remarkable sense of space work together to transport you directly into the music, making you feel as though you're experiencing a live performance. This creates a listening experience that's grand, enveloping, and incredibly detailed 🎭.
When you encounter "😳 Ultra-Wide Soundstage" products, expect concert hall acoustics that make you forget you're wearing headphones through sheer spaciousness and realism.
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Crisp Vocals & Instruments
Vocals and instruments sound so good, it's like a warm hug !
I believe that when vocals are reproduced correctly, they should feel like the artist is performing right there with you. These headphones demonstrate exceptional prowess in reproducing clear, articulate vocals and instruments, with each element rendered in stunning detail and separation. Think of it like having front-row seats to an intimate acoustic performance where every breath, every string resonance, every subtle inflection comes through perfectly.
The natural timbre and tonal accuracy create an engaging presentation where every nuance is preserved while maintaining fatigue-free listening. Each word, note, and subtle inflection is reproduced with outstanding definition and emotional connection 🎤.
When you encounter "🍿 Crisp Vocals & Instruments" products, expect vocal excellence that brings you closer to the emotional heart of every performance. -
Perfect to Analyse Music
Delve deeper into intricate musical layers 🎼!
I believe that some headphones are like musical microscopes - they reveal details and nuances that most people never even know exist in their favourite songs. These specialised audio tools are meticulously engineered for those who seek to explore the deepest intricacies of sound, offering exceptional precision for detailed music analysis. Think of them as detective tools for music that help you uncover every hidden element in complex compositions.
These products enable you to dissect and examine every aspect of the musical landscape, from subtle instrument textures to precise timing, from delicate vocal overtones to intricate harmonic layering. They're specifically crafted for musicians, producers, and discerning audiophiles who desire profound insights into technical and artistic elements 🔬.
When you encounter "🔍 Perfect to Analyse Music" products, expect analytical precision that reveals layers of detail and musical craftsmanship you never knew existed.
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Audiophile Community Favourite
When I see a product that keeps coming up in forums, Reddit threads, and community meet-ups, I know it’s earned its place. "Audiophile Community Favourite" is our way of spotlighting the gear that real listeners — not just reviewers — swear by. 🦋
These are products that enjoy a sort of cult following for all the right reasons: consistently great tuning, build, and value. They're the kind of recommendations you'd get from a friend deep in the hobby. If you're the type who likes going with a proven crowd-pleaser, these picks are beloved by thousands of ears.
When you see '🦋 Audiophile Community Favourite' products, expect reliable recommendations backed by passionate users, often refined over years of trust and love from the community.
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Incredibly Popular
Some things deserve all the attention ⭐!
I've found that when something becomes incredibly popular in the audio world, it's usually for very good reasons. This exceptional audio gear has earned widespread popularity by consistently delivering outstanding performance that resonates with listeners across diverse preferences and experiences. Think of it like that blockbuster movie that everyone loves - sometimes, universal appeal indicates genuine quality rather than just marketing hype.
The widespread acclaim isn't just about trend or marketing - it's a testament to genuine quality and performance that has been consistently demonstrated through real-world usage. This popularity has been earned through merit, delivering reliable satisfaction to countless users 📈.
When you encounter "🥇 Incredibly Popular" products, expect proven excellence validated by the collective experience of satisfied users who've made these their go-to choice.
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Balanced Sound Signature
In my experience, a balanced sound signature is like a well-cooked meal—nothing overpowering, everything in harmony. If you’re someone who listens to a bit of everything—rock one day, jazz the next—this is the tuning I’d recommend. It doesn’t boost any part of the sound unnaturally, so what you hear is often how the artist intended it. 🎧
Here’s what’s actually happening: the headphones don’t favour bass, mids, or treble excessively. This results in a neutral, natural, and versatile sound that suits a wide variety of music genres. While it may not feel as “exciting” as some more coloured tunings, balanced headphones tend to offer the most accurate reproduction, making them a favourite among audiophiles and studio pros alike.
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Crisp Vocals & Instruments
Vocals and instruments sound so good, it's like a warm hug !
I believe that when vocals are reproduced correctly, they should feel like the artist is performing right there with you. These headphones demonstrate exceptional prowess in reproducing clear, articulate vocals and instruments, with each element rendered in stunning detail and separation. Think of it like having front-row seats to an intimate acoustic performance where every breath, every string resonance, every subtle inflection comes through perfectly.
The natural timbre and tonal accuracy create an engaging presentation where every nuance is preserved while maintaining fatigue-free listening. Each word, note, and subtle inflection is reproduced with outstanding definition and emotional connection 🎤.
When you encounter "🍿 Crisp Vocals & Instruments" products, expect vocal excellence that brings you closer to the emotional heart of every performance. -
Sharp & Precise Details
Are you a lover of sharp and precise details 🔍?
I believe that detail retrieval is like having audio superpowers - suddenly, you hear things in familiar songs that you never knew existed. These premium headphones are meticulously engineered to deliver remarkably detailed and precise sound reproduction, capturing every subtle nuance with exceptional accuracy. Think of them like high-resolution cameras for your ears that reveal the finest textures and micro-details that most headphones simply miss.
The carefully tuned drivers and advanced acoustic design ensure even the most delicate musical elements are reproduced with stunning precision. From the gentle brush of a cymbal to the subtle resonance of acoustic instruments, these products capture and present every sonic detail with remarkable accuracy 🎯.
When you see "📌 Sharp & Precise Details" products, expect extraordinary detail resolution that reveals new layers in familiar recordings with stunning clarity and precision.
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Perfect to Analyse Music
Delve deeper into intricate musical layers 🎼!
I believe that some headphones are like musical microscopes - they reveal details and nuances that most people never even know exist in their favourite songs. These specialised audio tools are meticulously engineered for those who seek to explore the deepest intricacies of sound, offering exceptional precision for detailed music analysis. Think of them as detective tools for music that help you uncover every hidden element in complex compositions.
These products enable you to dissect and examine every aspect of the musical landscape, from subtle instrument textures to precise timing, from delicate vocal overtones to intricate harmonic layering. They're specifically crafted for musicians, producers, and discerning audiophiles who desire profound insights into technical and artistic elements 🔬.
When you encounter "🔍 Perfect to Analyse Music" products, expect analytical precision that reveals layers of detail and musical craftsmanship you never knew existed.
Intro
Today we have something exciting we're talking about HiFiMAN headphones while we know HiFiMAN have made a name for themselves with the HE1000se and the notorious to drive HiFiMAN Susvara while they really sound good they are a little bit expensive. Today we have the more affordable options over here which certainly don't skimp out on the music of course we're talking about the Edition XS and the ever loved HiFiMAN Sundaras so let's get into it.
HiFiMAN Sundara
Alright so starting from the Sundara now this is a headphone that's been loved ever since it came out it saw a couple of revisions right from some minor earpad changes to even some tuning changes over the years but I think whatever they've done with the end product it still just as loved as it was earlier so that's really cool about the Sundara's and it's been one of the most popular beginner audiophile headphones we've seen at headphone Zone and even in the Indian Community filled with Audiophiles.
HiFiMAN Edition XS
Talking about the Edition XS for a little bit you get to see the all-new stealth magnet which you have even on the top tier HiFiMAN headphone so that's really nice to see that implementation done on headphones which are more affordable so you definitely know they're not skipping out a little bit about back to the Sundaras you have this shared kind of not exactly the same but you have this kind of inspired design from the Susvara earpads which is again good to see for just around 25,000.
Build & Design
Now talking a little bit about build quality I think these is where these headphones can really make or break your decision because even though the Sundara's are a little bit cheaper in this case they still built like a tank I mean anything you touch and feel over here feels premium so that's a really nice feature I think on these and even the headband, this kind of suspended headband it's in my opinion a lot more comfortable than what the Edition XS has. In fact you even get to see this on most of HiFiMAN Premium headphones be it the Ananda's or the Aria's or Susvara's anything you can think of using the suspension band because it's so much comfortable and at that price point it's nice to see that Sundaras get that.
So now coming to the Edition XS it kind of resembles the Ananda almost in everyway and in fact the outer design is pretty much I think the same you wouldn't be able to tell them apart if it weren't for the headband this coming to the headband over here this is a bit of a deal breaker for me now personally I don't like it a lot because it feels a little bit bulky it's not as comfortable as the suspension style but maybe your mileage may vary some people find this comfortable. I know a few people over here from Headphone Zone too but personally I'm not a big fan speaking about build quality I'm kind of sad to say that even though this is a little bit more expensive it doesn't feel as premium as the Sundara's I mean I'm kind of bummed out to see the same plastic design picked up from the Ananda's but apart from the other thing I really love about these are the oval shape design now this really helps in Sound Stage which we will talk about a little bit ahead in the video but that elevates the sound experience a whole lot more going from the circular design to the oval shape design.
Sound
So yeah all right so speaking about the sound in a bit more detail I think the HiFiMAN Sundara's are a little bit more mid-range focussed here so you have good emphasis when it comes to male vocals and guitars and drums as well I think that they work really well with the Sundara's that's why I think I liked a lot of classic rock on these they just felt natural you know effortless and that kind of is the main selling point of the Sundara's for me the way you can just kind of use and ease into most genres of music.
The Edition XS I will describe being a more neutral type headphone and this is going to be really good if you want the best out of your recording speaking of soundstage here things really get quite different between them and I think can easily be one of the huge selling points for either one of them to be your best headphone at this price range. Sundara sound good and everything but until I tried the Edition XS that changed a lot in Edition XS it feels like you're sitting with a pair of speakers in your room it's just that wide when you're coming from something like the Sundara's. Everything is nicely spaced out and because of the neutral sound that we spoke about earlier on the Edition XS vocals instruments everything feel really well laid out and I thought at times the female vocals didn't have that kind of body to the music but you know overall I would still say the sound quality on the Edition XS is a little bit more towards my liking than what was laid out on the Sundara's. Speaking bit of the bass I found that the Sundara they had more punch and slam to them the Edition XS had a better low end extension so this really worked when you had a series of low end instruments like let's say you're listening to a bit of bass guitars as well as different kit pieces in in an acoustic drum kit you'll find that every note plucked or every you know every every kick from beat just sounded a lot more laid out than on the Sundara's so that also is kind of a negative point on these because they are so neutral if you're using a poor quality recording maybe you can get away with it on the Sundara's but on the Edition XS it kind of sounds unforgiving and music may not be as good as of an experience if you have poor quality recordings so that is something to definitely keep in mind while you're trying out these headphones
Conclusion
All right so coming to where both of these headphones lie I don't think so it's very easy because they're not directly competing with each other I think in the entire segment there's a place for Sundara as well as an Edition XS on your listening desk for me personally I think if I had to really nitpick and choose one I would go with the Edition XS overall but that's just for my listening preference overall if you're looking for something that's mid-centric and really your first gateway into planar headphones. I don't think so even in 2023 there's a better headphone to start than the HiFiMAN Sundara's but if you're someone who likes a nice neutral sound a huge soundstage and just want to have a nice pleasant listening experience and get that a bit of a top premium headphone feel for now not a lot of money I think the Edition XS is the way to do that now regardless of which headphone you go for I would highly recommend driving them with a capable Amp and DAC because although they don't need the most demanding headphone amplifier out there I think given the right amount of power these things really shine and if you underpower them they can sound really really bad so that's it guys for today I think we have covered the Edition XS and the HiFiMAN Sundara's.
Outro
If you guys want to have these you want to try them out I would encourage you to drop by our experience Studio here in Mumbai or you can catch us on our headphone connect tour that we're having across cities
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