FLAWED but I LOVE these headphones - HiFiMan Sundara

[@Nordraw]

Compare it to the new edition XS by HiFiMan

[@tylerstravis]

Spoiler: The XS is better.

[@Nordraw]

@@tylerstravis I know I have it! Very nice so far

[@myHuge249]

ive been daily driving these since like august and ive been loving them every second of the way. My first real "audiophile" headphone and the first time i listened to them i nearly shed a tear. By far the most comfortable set of cans ive ever owned, the tuning is gorgeous and well im just a very very happy customer overall. Only complaint is the cable which i recently just switched out.

[@myHuge249]

also for context i am now running it on a schit magni modi combo, was originally just using an audioquest dragonfly ( and for me honestly it sounded pretty good).

[@realshmoothie]

Hey, what cable did you end up going with?

[@scotto541]

What song was that?

[@myHuge249]

@@scotto541 if i remember correctly it was the foggy dew by the chieftains

[@scotto541]

@@myHuge249 I had not hear that before. Thanks for the rec.

[@jonob3695]

Would love to see how this compares with the newly released Edition XS!

[@derekd4349]

I just got the Edition XS and my gawd. It's beautiful.

[@MyouKyuubi]

@@derekd4349 It's basically the Ananda, but crafted like a Sundara, ultra-thin membrane + stealth magnets. Of course it's gonna sound amazing. :P

[@ThePCForever]

Sundara is way more comfortable. XS headband is terrible and the fit is way too loose, it slides off your head if you move. XS sounds a lot better though.

[@derekd4349]

@@ThePCForever i thought the same thing but the more i used them the better they felt/i adjusted. What you said is true but i barely notice them on my head due to the weight now.

[@derekd4349]

Actually i lied. I disagree with the sundara's being way more comfortable. I hated the feel of the sundaras but i suppose it is of course personal preference.

[@jboard6839]

I would love to see a "Sundara vs" series. Also a "6XX vs" series. I have both with a Schiit modius/magnius stack. I sort of have the upgrade bug, but am starting to realize the next real step up isn't a $500 headphone.

[@hartyewh1]

An EQ'd Amiron, I find is, a step-up, but after that for me at least it's the Ananda, LCD-2 Closed/LCD-X and perhaps something beyond. So far HD800s, Arya and a bunch of others aren't an option due to the weak bass that cannot be be EQ'd well.

[@RayceManyon00]

Go straight to the DCA Aeon Noire $900 and never look back.

[@Anomalyn1]

@@RayceManyon00 focal elex is enough

[@jackdanyal4329]

@@hartyewh1 I still didn't get why somebody pay so much for headphones and then EQing them. I think for that price good headphones should sound great without any EQ. if not, than they are just overpriced, or they are not for you. just my thoughts, nothing personal.

[@hartyewh1]

@@jackdanyal4329 If I thought the same then for me the K 371 would be as good as it gets basically. All the HD800s, LCD-X, Clear MG, Arya etc are worse tuned. I pay more for my LCD-X, HE6se V2 etc because with EQ they become so much better. I compare it to an untreated room with speakers and who would say why are you treating your room shouldn't good speakers sound good as is.

[@metal571]

This has become my 1-and-done standard headphone recommendation...along with a JDS Atom stack...and a warranty...and a cable.

[@thelastrhino2581]

Better than the HD-600?

[@metal571]

Of course

[@vangledosh]

@@metal571 how does the ananda compare in comparison? a serious step up?

[@glueplay]

@@thelastrhino2581 just a reminder that everyone has different ears and I for one prefer HD660's by far

[@thelastrhino2581]

@@glueplay Agreed. I for one prefer the HD-600 by far. But I respect everyone's opinion here of course. Enjoy your gear!

[@VextonHersteller]

I've unfortunately owned two sundaras both of which were defective out of the box. I can never get behind them as a brand after this experience.

[@ACE112ACE112]

oof

[@Lockk9]

I find the Signature-Zen-Dac suits the Sundara really well.

[@arghadeepmisra7865]

Does they need the Zen Can or it is possible to get most out of the Sundaras with just the Dac V2 (260mw@32ohms I think)

[@brandondoehrman]

Considering there's no audible difference between an $8 Apple Dongle and a $1000 overpriced DAC outside of placebo effect; I'd say just about any half decent DAC suits it well! Little humor aside, the Zen Signature DAC is very beautiful to look at. Nice purchase!

[@Lockk9]

@@brandondoehrman- I have 3 different Dac's at the moment, the Signature-Zen-Dac, the regular Zen-Dac and the FiiO Q3. All 3 of them sound different.

[@937362244]

@@Lockk9 How much of a difference do you notice between Signature DAC vs regular ZEN DAC? I'm sure it's not worth 2 times the price (plus you need an amp), but I'm curious what and by how much is improved over the standard Zen DAC. Do you hear any difference on SE vs BAL connection? Thanks in advance for answer!

[@pelilin2519]

@@brandondoehrman headphone is not iem. With iem i can see apple dongle is already great but with headphone. Nonono. You know even some iem scale up with some more powerfull dac amp. Headphones change by a lot in sound. At first i never bought dac amp and just plug straight into my pc until i bought topping dx3 pro+ now bruh i was shocked that my headphone can sound so thick and powerfull and the detail shines, staging increased, and imaging is just wow, and suddenly the overall sound just became more organic. So….. placebo effect? If placebo effect change that much then i will buy it. My headphone is grado sr80x.

[@ResolveReviews]

Beta Point Eight Target Gang!

[@sergiymarchenko1002]

lol

[@metal571]

Based

[@MattHough]

What incredible timing, I literally just picked these up today as I had issues with a shipment of 6XX's. They have been really fun so far, I have them paired with a Topping EX5. I completely agree with the point on turning them up, I feel I can crank these and they're not fatiguingly loud, but I agree can be dangerous. Great headphone so far.

[@larryeckerdt9750]

Coincidentally, I have both the Sundara and the 6xx. The Sundara has been a pleasure since Day 1 (paired with the Schiit Asgard), and the 6xx became more pleasing with the addition of the Darkvoice OTL. I will binge on one or the other for awhile, then jump back. I don’t want to spend gobs of money, but these are a nice yin and yang for a reasonable price.

[@BobbyDigital6411]

@@larryeckerdt9750 How is the bass response on the Darkvoice OTL with the Sundaras? I have a Valhalla 2 (Love it with my HD600s) and while the mids and highs are pleasing with the Sundaras, at high volumes the bass is pretty out of control and sounds "flappy". Just wondering since I would like to find a tube amp that pairs well with the Sundaras but I know most planars and OTL tube amps don't play very well together.

[@larryeckerdt9750]

@@BobbyDigital6411 You will need a tube hybrid (like the Lyr 3) or a tube amp that is not an OTL design, like some of the Woo amps. I run strictly SS with Sundara, and tubes with 6xx. I do use a Loki Mini to bump the low end slightly with Sundara. It’s not in the tube chain because even that little bit of boost is unpleasant on the Darkvoice.

[@BobbyDigital6411]

@@larryeckerdt9750 Thanks, I kinda figured as much. I'm basically doing the exact same thing as you right now. I've got my HD600s for my Valhalla 2, and the Sundaras with my Schiit Heresy. I was thinking about buying the Loki Mini but right now I'm just using Peace EQ APO and do a +3.5db bump @75hz and leave everything else alone.

[@Zysperro]

That's a bummer for me tbh, I don't like headphones that don't make it clear that it plays loud. Feels like I'm missing on something when I listen to them at normal levels, and the fatigue hits much later and can damage your hearing without you noticing it.

[@Michael_mki233]

Would be nice to see a comparison to the new Hifiman Edition XS. It's ~$150 more and people that have gotten their hands on it have had really good things to say.

[@KevinKing0584]

Just got mine three days ago. I don't have a Sundara to compare to, but I'm in love with these things (coming from the HD58X). The bass feels great, which I know is a common complaint of the Sundara. I wouldn't be surprised if they're dramatically higher on the curve sub-35Hz than the Sundara. Everything else he says about the sound of the Sundara I agree with for these, especially the "sharpness". The comfort is pretty good, they don't get hot thanks to the giant earcups. I WFH so I have headphones on for 10+ hrs a day with a mix of music, video calls, and gaming at night, I don't feel discomfort. I do wish the cups rotated. I have some Dekoni replacement pads on order as the foam in the pads are not great (and I prefer velour). The cable is also crap, but I've got a replacement on order. As he stated about amplification, my plan is to A/B test a few against my Schiit Magni 2. Overall I'm thrilled with this purchase. Exactly the "Mid-Fi" upgrade I was looking for.

[@bryanj78]

I got my Edition XS Friday. They'd be my endgame if I could just get them to stop sliding around on my head. Really, REALLY wish they had a better headband. Sound-wise, zero complaints

[@tylerstravis]

@@bryanj78 get the Dekoni Nugs!

[@tylerstravis]

I MUCH prefer my XSs to my Sundaras.

[@bryanj78]

@@tylerstravis Thank you! Just ordered some

[@VoicelessAuthority]

Very good review DMS. As an owner of an older version Sundara I can cosign on the masterful sound qualities of the Sundara. I also own a 660S and I think they are a KILLER duo

[@Tripokaridos22]

Me also... Do u feel that 660s are more natural?

[@VoicelessAuthority]

@@Tripokaridos22 Tricky question. The Sundara definitely creates a more 'open' presentation which helps, but 660s has a vocal naturalness and mid range that makes them slightly more natural for me. 660s really touches my soul where the Sundara often do not :)

[@glumfish6862]

I own a pair of HD 660S and enjoy the sound. I am looking on upgrading to maybe some planars and get some improved bass that the HD660S lacks in. So I was thinking of getting Audeze LCD-2C. Do you think that the Sundaras are different enough or better enough in some aspects, compared to the HD660S to justify upgrading or should I go for higher end headphones straight away. Thanks!

[@VoicelessAuthority]

​@@glumfish6862 I wouldn't call the Sundara an upgrade, more of a horizontal movement if you know what I mean. They deliver sound a bit differently but on similar overall quality levels to 660s. The Sundara objectively I think are better headphones and my friends who aren't into headphones say the same thing. One thing I would say is that the Sundara is better in the bass region compared to 660s but not a bass centered headphone like I have heard the LCD-2C are. Unfortunately I don't have experience with headphones above mid tier ($100-500) but overall I would say that if you stright up want a clear upgrade, you will probably have to spend more because 660s is competitive still at it's price. Hifiman Ananda is kind of a big brother to the Sundara, I would look into that!

[@glumfish6862]

@@VoicelessAuthority thanks for the detailed info! I’ll look into the Ananda. From what you described the Sundara has a different flavor of sound, especially in the bass. Would you say they are different enough to the 660S to spend the 300$ the Sundaras cost to try something new? Many thanks!

[@tomas_m]

THANK YOU for measuring the inner earpad size, please continue doing so. Really helps to sort out options for us with big ears.

[@1337dingus]

They also pair excellently with the much more affordable Fiio K5 Pro :)

[@fabiok5958]

Yea indeed i have the same setup, what gain do you use?

[@1337dingus]

@@fabiok5958 Mid (6 dB), rarely High for quiet recordings

[@JumCuggler]

Please take a look at the Edition XS. I'm looking at that as my endgame, and want to know if it beats the Sundara or maybe is a straight upgrade.

[@kyron42]

Good question.

[@tylerstravis]

I own both, and it beats the Sundara.

[@MyouKyuubi]

The Sundara beats the Ananda. But the Edition XS is the Ananda, upgraded with the Sundara's ultra-thin membrane and stealth magnets. So the Edition XS is probably better. :P

[@ydid687]

can you find synergy with a cheaper dac/amplification-fier lol? 700$ for sundara/edition xs/ananda is too much, damn this rabbit hole hobby

[@MyouKyuubi]

You'll do fine with a Schiit Modi and Schiit Heresy, bro, don't worry about it.

[@ydid687]

@@MyouKyuubi thanks man that makes me feel a little better

[@MyouKyuubi]

@@ydid687 That's the setup i use right this moment, and it works like a dream. I don't NEED an upgrade, for gaming, Sundara, and a Modi & Heresy stack, is endgame... Any better imaging or detail is superfluous. Personally, i've ordered the FiiO K9 Pro for its features... Which is a luxury, not a necessity. So yeah, you'll do fine with the cheap alternatives: Schiit Modi + Schiit Heresy (Dac & Amp respectively) FiiO K5 Pro (Dac-Amp combo) Those are my recommendations for cheap but good alternatives. They're basically the go-to's.

[@timmyahn6927]

I've been looking for a daily driver non-summit-fi type of headphone for a while, and these have always been on my radar. Haven't even started the video yet, but already super excited to hear what you think of them!

[@m1kethe1ke]

Verum 1 is recommended if you don’t mind waiting.

[@FlippityFlopp1]

If you have the money to spend on them go for it! I have been using the revised Sundaras for about 6 months now with the Schiit Modi and Magni Heressy and I love them, they are awesome for music, movies and gaming. Plus, they are very comfortable so you can wear them for hours with no issues, and as DMS mentioned, they are very good at evacuating heat, which make them perfect for daily drivers.

[@timmyahn6927]

@@FlippityFlopp1 Right now I'm debating between the Hifiman Sundara and the Sennheiser HD6XX. Unfortunately when it comes to the audio/hifi world I live in the middle of nowhere so I can't exactly test them for myself, just trying to go through as many reviews/thoughts about them as I can before purchasing one Edit: the new Beyer stuff is also pretty interesting, as the major turn-off for me with older Beyers in the price range I'm looking at was the nondetachable cable, but the new ones having detachable cable is nice

[@Bloogly89]

@@timmyahn6927 hey I own the Sennheiser 6XX, Hifiman Sundara, and Beyerdynamic TYGR 300R. I have a Topping MX3 to drive them. The Sundaras are my favorite by far. The sound is the best, and they are the most comfortable of the three. There is better separation of instruments with the Sundara, the bass extension and quality is very good, and the overall tonal balance is great. I've shown a few of my friends (who are less audiophile than me) and all of them have liked the Sundara the best out of the three.

[@jjcornelio7741]

it's amazing if driven properly

[@geereesh77]

Could you please review Hifiman - Edition XS and compare them to Sundara? Thanks.

[@bradhuskers]

These headphones are absolutely stunning. Purchased custom cables and a nice dac, and they are literally flawless.

[@inigopatch420]

can i ask where u buy that tube lamp? and if i can buy it in Europe btw love your content ❤️💪

[@ELJefeReviews]

Looks like I need to add this to my collection.

[@DMS3TV]

Yeeesssss bro! and the FiiO K9 Pro

[@metal571]

That is not an optional purchase, that is a requirement

[@Joelsfilmer]

@@metal571 The Fiio amp is a requirement. Really?

[@metal571]

Lol no I meant the headphone

[@Joelsfilmer]

@@metal571 Yeah, figured but wasn't sure. Speaking of amps I suspect you've also tried a lot with the Sundaras. Did you end up with a preference?

[@Yuu_Touko]

My Sundara turns one year next month. Never had a single issue with this pair of headphones, and even after a year i'm still in love with their rich and vibrant sound. Absolutely the best headphones that i've ever had, would happily recommend to anyone. :)

[@Enigma1990ad]

Haven't tried these out but I keep reading that these headphones suffer from QC issues where many customer reviews stating that one speaker got lower than the next. Been tempted to buy them but if a headphone is going to cost so much such widespread QC problems should be non-existent. Anyone in the comments had any issues with them?

[@arphet1]

I purchased them in September and haven't had any issues. Really nice sounding headphone.

[@cowhydrodynamics]

I personally haven’t experienced this but I still think you should be ready to return them back in case of a faulty unit

[@TooSmalley]

I bought mine used and they work great. No issues whatsoever

[@adeebmd5701]

No so far, that was from March last year.

[@ericfendall8543]

Mine broke in the first 10 days.

[@deshan79]

Id like to add that my pads fell apart after about 12 months or so which isn't bad considering how much I wore them, and I took a chance and went with Dekoni hybrid pads. I honestly think they sound pretty damn close to stock to the point I can't tell the difference but the quality and comfort is a huge upgrade.

[@jvwMUSIC]

if you replace again, i cant recommend the zmf ori pads enough

[@deshan79]

@@jvwMUSIC How do those affect the sound? For me the dekoni hybrids dont mess with the FR too much to my ears

[@deshan79]

@@jvwMUSIC also which material? Lambskin, cow, hybrid, or suede?

[@MadMensDen]

I bought them a while ago and I loved the sound, but they came out of the box with issues on the right side. The audio would just cut out randomly and the cable was DOA. I returned them and received another pair with the SAME ISSUES. The cutting out was worse, and the cable was also DOA. Sadly, I just took it as a "it wasn't meant to be" thing. So in total i spent 2 afternoons with 2 different pairs, and they sounded amazing, but I didn't want to roll the dice a third time

[@andreasschultze6644]

Amazing studio and lighting setup. Btw, Love my sundaras, especially after I replaced the cable with a Good balanced wired Connection. Pretty loud overall, with a balanced cable. I use them with ZEN DAC V2 , bass boost always on, and it‘s an amazing combo. Tried to eq it, but I like them raw with zen dacs boost.

[@rolivhuwa]

Which cable did you end up going with? I have similar pairing with Sundara + ZEN DAC V1.

[@josuad6890]

imho, zen dac (at least V1) didn't do sundara any justice at all. it simply lacks any technicality even though it can be loud enough with the power match button. get a dedicated amp for it if you can. the zen can works well for my sundara.

[@andreasschultze6644]

@@josuad6890 Well, Right now I‘m pretty happy with it, but I‘m pretty sure that there are better combos. Maybe I buy another amp if I can hear some next to my zen dac 2. I need to be able to Tell the Difference otherwise …. In the end it doesnt even matter.

[@andreasschultze6644]

@@rolivhuwa the only one I found in Germany on Amazon. :D Maybe you‘ve got some more choices at your location.

[@gnome6969]

Does anyone else have issues with hifiman's QC? I got the 4xx drop and after 5 months had issues with the sound only playing in one ear and then alternating to the other one. I got it RMAed and after 6 months, the issue came back again and the earcups fell off the headband because the glue/resin wasnt holding it in place. Also the leather on the earcup padding is slowly coming off. The headband design on the more expensive hifimans seem better, but I'm still worried about the leather on the padding.

[@kaizoor]

If there comes a comparing video around it would be interesting to see the He4xx in the mix.

[@MTheoOA]

Of course, there's Edition XS, and may be really something very dangerous against Sundara for the money.

[@juanigiolo2579]

Hi dms, you tested this with something cheaper like a IFI zen dac v2 or something like that???

[@mindhead1]

I’d like to see these compared to the Edition XS.

[@henhouseharry6193]

These were my first 'proper' headphone purchase and still listen to them every day. Replaced the cable and running on the end of a ifi zen/can stack. Love to unwind at the end of the day with my Sundaras on, close my eyes and play some Radiohead or Pink Floyd. Bliss!

[@ariyesh]

did you get a balanced cable? which one? got a link?

[@henhouseharry6193]

@@ariyesh Did look at the balanced 4.4mm pentaconn cables when I got them but there weren't many options and they were pretty expensive so ended up going for a standard 6.25mm. The ifi Can drives them plenty loud so haven't felt the need to switch yet.

[@Abhijith_Longterm]

Audio Technica _R70 vs Sundara VS HD650 VS HD600 VS HD560s

[@stereoman.]

I bought a pair in December and have now replaced the stock pads with Dekoni hybrids much more comfortable and improves the sound over stock, the stock pads have too much treble imo and are a little fatiguing after several hours usage, currently running them through a custom balanced cable into the Fiio K7 DAC and I'm very happy, one of the best pair of cans I've ever owned, up there with some headphones that cost three times as much!

[@PatrickQT]

My first steps into the audio hobby is with the Sundara 2021 and the JDS Labs Element ii and Im super happy with it. I dont have more expensive comparisons, but the difference between my 150 bucks gaming headset and this is huge. Currently thinking about upgrading to a LCD X or a 2c, maybe a focal clear mg? We'll see :D

[@onenary]

I own them since mid 2020, I use them for gaming & listening to music, very satisfied with them. Pads & Cable are still in great condition.

[@ahhalla]

Review on the Audio Technica ATH-R70x anytime soon?

[@methem6311]

That will be great

[@yayhoo8848]

I just bought the Sundaras and they are amazing in the sense I hear details that make listening to music very pleasing. With lesser headphones I always feel like I am listening to the headphone characteristics, but not with the Sundaras.

[@Tutku35]

I love my Sundara but honestly also wondering how it would stand against DCA Aeon Open X

[@deshan79]

Same here, I love sundaras and the only thing I'm tempted by is with open x or closed x.

[@emilnordgard5228]

Hey can you conmpare it to the harmonicdyne Zeus I really I’m between these two

[@dannybos7024]

Music = Sundara. Gaming/soundstage = Zeus.

[@rigsrm]

@@dannybos7024 do you own both? is the difference in music significant?

[@dannybos7024]

@@rigsrm The Zeus has a tuning that's more fun. It comes down to what you prefer.

[@jiewang8351]

sundara vs HD560s?

[@BenSkywalker70]

Ananda and Edition XS would be a very interesting comparison against the Sundara, the mid fi range HifiMan headphones.

[@soulfulfool]

Ananda cost more than LCD 2C

[@BenSkywalker70]

@@soulfulfool Ananda are $699 everywhere I look, 2Cs are $799, besides that though they seem more complimentary to me based on everything I've heard. One is laid back and warm, the other analytical and bright, seems like a good pair to own.

[@soulfulfool]

@@BenSkywalker70 well I live in stupid country where Ananda cost 955$ and 2C 755$

[@TotoroJourney]

@@soulfulfool I see, in here in Indonesia in brand new condition lcd 2c cost like 900usd, ananda like 700 usd here

[@soulfulfool]

@@TotoroJourney used in good condition lcd 2c in Poland cost like 510$ and cant find even 1 ananda xD

[@camoturtle18]

Sundara! I knew it!

[@OkGreat-]

I wanna know how the sundara compairs to the HE6se V2 and possibly the hifiman edition XS. Please and thank you!

[@samperez8924]

Hey DMS, nice Sundara review, I really think I am going to try and get them in the future. Say, I've been looking for some info about Electrostatic Headphones, is it in your plans to make a video about it of sorts or maybe review?? That could be interesting given that I didn't find that much about them in KZbin.

[@CaptBadLad]

I use these in combination with the iFi Zen DAC v2 and it is beyond great. Best purchase so far.

[@mikeneilson3722]

That is the comment I was looking for! I have a Zen Dac V2 and currently run Meze 99 Classics through it and I've just bought a pair of Sundara's. Do you have the bass enabled on the Zen Dac V2? Also do you use any other settings whilst listening?

[@CaptBadLad]

@@mikeneilson3722 i do have the true bass enabled. But that really just adds clear bass, while the natural soundstage of the Sundara can still be appreciated in all its glory. I also bought a balanced 4.4 mm cable, which arrived today. I tested them with Tidal master and hi-fi quality, and it was an amazing experience.

[@mikeneilson3722]

@@CaptBadLad That is exactly what I want to hear as it's the exact setup that I'm running so I'm now very excited now. Thanks for the quick response!

[@mikeneilson3722]

@@CaptBadLad I have the balanced 4.4mm pentaconn cable for my Meze 99s and I've read they are perfect for the Sundaras so I couldn't be happier

[@AinZak]

Please if possible compare the sundaras with the new edition xs and anandas. I own the sundaras and love them but just a little bit is missing - does the new edition xs deliver or is the next logical step the anandas - the aryas are just out of my budget. Is there a change that the brand new edition xs is the new insane great deal?

[@Bushviking]

Would like a comparison to the new Edition XS very much please!

[@gnome6969]

Wait, have you already completed your big changes to the rankings or should I wait and not empty my wallet? :)

[@DMS3TV]

Haven’t published changes to the list yet

[@nicksigalas4498]

Hi I’m looking to buy my first high end headphones to use with Apple lossless. I don’t have any amp/dac yet and I was wondering if the sundara would be a good option. At most I want to spend 500$ but if the difference between this and a 200$ setup I would prefer the cheaper one. Also, should I wait for the new AirPods max because rumors say they will support lossless. I forgot to mention I want it exclusively for music and I tend to like more of a u-shaped sound probably because most headphones under 100 don’t have very good mid range although I really would like for once to hear vocals with clarity. Thank you

[@RayanAbedin]

Very curious to see how this compares to an LCD-2 (not the Classic) as I think they would be a solid upgrade! Especially if using EQ

[@hartyewh1]

Without EQ I'd take the Sundara without a second thought. The LCD-2 is very dark sounding, but perhaps they would EQ to something more balanced. The LCD-X EQ's beautifully. The LCD-2 Closed, I think, is much better balanced in stock form than the open back ones.

[@marcwijtenburg1906]

How does this compare to the dt1990?

[@dannybos7024]

Finally. It’s here :) How long have you worked on this review?

[@DMS3TV]

Too long!

[@skyrimgod1218]

I would love to see what kind of scaling you get going up hifiman's stack with a comparison to the hifiman xs and ananda

[@MetalZaraki93]

Will you review the Ananda? I would love to know your opinion about them, especially compared to the Sundara. I can't decide on wich of them I should invest on. Maybe the edition XS too, they seem to be another bang for the buck, according to the opinion of who is trying them.

[@charlesnr]

As per HiFi guide post, still using the original Sundara. Paired with IFI ZEN CAN in 12 DB position with no bass boost and with Fantasia HE style silver plated 2M balanced cable from Amazon and DEKONI HE Fenesrated Ear Pads. Still an amazing bargain package that is hard to beat.

[@ThevenimX]

Wow. I genuinely though you had a review for Sundara already. You’ve spoken its praise for so many years already, its surprising that this is the first REAL review

[@shahidyt]

I have noticed their is a silver model, which costs more, but I can’t find any reviews or comparisons

[@mrhunterr2518]

I am on the ropes as to whether I should go for the Sundara or save up a bit more and go for Audeze LCD-2 C. I know these are 2 different price categories but it would still be interesting to know how they compare and whether it's worth it to go higher in this case.

[@KevinEnjoyer]

Go for the Arya if you can. The Sundara and LCD are not the same style or tuning philosophy, whereas the Arya is an upgraded and evolved Sundara. (Hope you have a small head. The Arya's headband was nearly too narrow for my head.)

[@Cassus123456]

I bought a used Sundara and the JDS Atom arrived yesterday and am a very happy man now. My 560s was great fun but this is on a whole new level. Mindblowing for me. It sounds better than real. I can nearly feel the dry drums and the cold metal trumpets. I hear hands touching guitars before touching the strings. It really feels as if I could touch the instruments and the singing ppl in and around my head. Amazing. Crazy. As soon as I can somewhere find a site where I can buy the k9 in installments, I will. . Using my Hidizs s9 as dac / "soundcard"

[@ethanoux10]

This or the HE 5xx / Deva

[@jamescruz8678]

4:27 Is that Rose?

[@DMS3TV]

It’s ace, though I wish I had rose. Real shame they sunset it.

[@BobbyDigital6411]

Very thorough and detailed review and helped me justify my purchase of the Sundaras lol :) Now I'm wanting to look into the FiiO K9 Pro even though I think the Sundaras sound pretty amazing on my Schiit Heresy. On low gain it sounds boring, flat, and kinda lifeless. But when I set the Heresy to high gain it's a completely different world and I'm baffled how it could possibly sound any better?

[@josuad6890]

this. I just did the same thing with my ifi zen can. turn the gain up, and suddenly it became a different headphone. So I just reduce the volume on the dac and crank the amp as high as I can.

[@chefsteve8381]

Ifi zen can and your good to go with 99% of headphones......

[@kyron42]

The zen can what?

[@chefsteve8381]

@@kyron42 zen can can

[@chris08091]

After watching this video I replaced the pads on my Sundara, your videos always amaze me. Even after watching all of them

[@Armbrust210]

Big Soundstage on the Sundara (for it's price)? When i've heard the 2020 Version, it was really narrow. More than the HD560S and ofc less than the HD800. In general it wasn't that wide. And i personally never heard someone attributed the Sundara a wide Soundstage. I'm really surprised

[@Armbrust210]

In Addition to that, 12:14, the 700$ K9pro + the 350$ Sundara adds up to more than a grand. Video was great though, as always

[@Joelsfilmer]

Humans are prone to QC issues. It might be down to physiology. I certainly think they have more depth than my HD650 but it's not mindblowing at all. The soundbubble effect is still present.

[@tylerstravis]

I've always found this strange too. I own both the 6XX and Sundara and on a hybrid tube amp, the 6XX (famously narrow) beats the Sundara in width

[@peergynt6515]

Damnit you should have reviewed these earlier, This is the first good sounding headphones I have ever had but I know nothing. I think I have pushed the volume up to quite extreme levels, but I don't notice it before I take them off, then I realize the volume is high enough to be my Livingroom speakers.

[@squibbly_mcgrink7689]

Say hello to hearing loss

[@moonabhinav]

Are you going to review fiio k9 pro AKM version?

[@VeeHausen]

I feel this is one of your best review/talk/impressions video is a long time! Kinda harks back to your true roots in this crazy hobby! Luv'd it!

[@UncleJunior79]

Great video as usual. Would you recommend the Topping E50 & L50 stack for the new Sundara? Thanks!

[@0megalul309]

if only hifiman stop releasing a new model every year for no reason. Ill get the sundara when they last for more than 5 years and when they release the 2024 revision pro s max stealth invisible magnets edition.

[@Kmaitland89]

I bought these a year and a half ago. They sounded great and I loved them. Then they broke and Hifiman said “sorry you are just out of warranty.” I expected MUCH better. A year and a half is not good enough. Also you can absolute change the pads. I did and they sounded just as great. I think that’s a placebo.

[@Minon157]

My old Sundara pads were flat I got Dekoni Elite Hybrids and I love them, my ears don't touch the driver anymore and sound barely changed and comfort is much better. (Just beware the pad is stiffer due to denser memory foam).

[@aricreza9607]

these are gonna replace my astros ig lol, and shout out that Ace of Spades and generalist ghost shell :)

[@S.A.S.H.]

I drive my Sundara's with a Little Dot mkII and the pairing is gorgeous, running just slightly to the right of top-dead-center. And yeah I bought a new cable after about two weeks. With the reduction in price recently they are agreat deal for the sound they put out. And I completely agree with your assessment of their audible strengths. I have a passive reasonably transparent switch box that feeds either my Topping D10s, or a Rega RP-8 with Audiomods tonearm and an Apheta 3 cartridge and a Pro-ject Tube Box DS2 phonostage with vintage 12ax7s in it. I'm completely happy with the sound and the quality is very close to what I get when I listen without the headphones. My "open" listening is a Freya+ pre with vintage GE 6SN7GTB tubers, into Parasound A23 power amps in mono mode, one each driving a B&W 706S2 in near-field setup.

[@kevinmccarthy3753]

I would love to hear your thoughts on Sundara versus Hifiman xs, Aeon open and closed X. In your review of the Aeon you said you would take it any day over the Sundara. Does this still hold true? Thanks in advance!

[@TheCujo1956]

I have these paired with the ifi zen dac version 2 dac/amp am they sound OK wondering if you have a an opinion on the combo?

[@stephenbeaumont-adam7702]

I run mine with the Topping A50S and think they are great. A nice alternative to my DT1990 & Aeon Open X, both of which I LOVE.

[@agmos01]

Great video. Tks! Review of the FiiO K9 Pro coming out soon?

[@c.s.herman860]

Sundara or HD650? My first headphone. Both available for $300cad

[@musicowls6183]

"Don't think this is going to affect your KD unless you're rocking Astros"... me listening to this with my 10 year old Astros....hahahaha

[@dab1750]

Would love to hear how these compare to the new Hifiman edition XS. I'm curious if the extra $150 to step up from the Sundaras to the edition XS is worth it.

[@AnukTheWolf]

Apparently Europe have been getting a new Silver revision of the Sundaras now, it has a different grill on the cups as well as a slightly different tuning (supposedly). Thankfully I still found the old black 2020 revision so I bought both to compare, but I'd love to see measurements of the new revision, if you can get your hands on them. There's basically none on the internet right now :(

[@Cassus123456]

Would any other less expensive thx AAA also do the Trick? 700 is half my loan/month.. i need food too. And water.. I bought the sundara yesterday.. couldnt resist..

[@zinnksother]

Mine broke suddenly after 9 months. The audio from the left driver just cut out. It seems like they have a lot of quality control issues. Meanwhile my HD 650s are still going strong after 6 years.

[@DanBujo]

What about the Zen DAC v2 to run these?

[@dannybos7024]

You'll be good to go.

[@DonGizzle615]

Works just fine 👍 A good combo at a decent price.

[@mattrismatt]

I own the Zen DAC and Sundara. Regardless of what you are told, the Sundara simply needs more power (at least 1 Watt /ch) to sound anywhere near their best. Also, amplifiers sound different, so you'll want to pick one that compliments your set-up and person tastes.

[@matsgueggel7470]

Hello maybe someone can help me. Im Looking forward to buy a new pair of Headphones. I Currently habe Vmoda Crossfade 2. I mainly use them at my PC for Gaming and Listening to music. I realy want to get a Open Back headphone for the wider soundstage. But i also want to use it for Gaming. Do you think the Sundara are a good option? Around here the Sennheiser/Drop headphones are not available.

[@chris08091]

Wish this vid was out months ago before I got them, HiFiman Sundara still has bad QC, even when I bought them june 2021 brand new

[@ThevenimX]

I was curious is the Element 2 was gonna make an appearance in the amps section but the baby brother is good too

[@GonzoGaming22]

Good bye headphones ,,, Hello IEMs . Better start reviewing what's going to be used more in the future my friend .

[@emonkhan1443]

My hifiman sundara has a hissing noise in the left driver at 850 to 980hz range and I haven't noticed it before. Anyone knows why? I have changed cables and audio source so the problem is in the left driver that's for sure

[@higochumbo8932]

My main problem with these is that the earpads pretty much disintegrated after a year of use and now I'm having trouble finding reasonably priced replacements, so I'm not even using them. Would you recommend any replacement earpads that, if expensive, are at least worth the price in terms of sound and durability?

[@-aexc-]

I recently bought the dekoni velour earpads for 40usd, they reduce the bass but increase the stage and comfort. if you don't want to change the sound at all dekoni also makes hybrid pads. they should also be more comfortable. (they are more expensive than the velour tho) also what were you doing with the pads, mine were in great condition after a year and a half. I only had to replace it because i moved to a humid place and the pads got fungus on it

[@alexhofmann5844]

Pairing the Sundara with a Topping DX3 pro+ (in high gain mode) sounded really nice too. Now I don’t have an Atom stack to compare it with, so if anyone has heard both, please share some insights! 🙏

[@loopsbrother2903]

did u get any response

[@LaPineBear]

cable recommendation anyone? not a balanced cable. im using a dragonquest dac with the helmD12 aaamp. so i need a less crazy cable!

[@NotTheOnlyMattAround]

Fantastic headphones with the worst pad swapping experience imaginable.

[@Akaite79]

I could have sworn you had already reviewed the Sundara. Some mandela effect in action

[@ariyesh]

"nothing 20$ can't fix". would you please clarify? new balanced cable? which one?

[@fahro2083]

I have the sundara and use them with the stock cales and an ifi go blu. Can anybody recomande affordable balanced 4.4 cables that can be purchased in Germany? Thanks and have a great day

[@augustoperez2376]

Hi, could you recommend me a pair of on ear headphones with a bright sound profile, I want something portable please I hope you can help me

[@qgp]

really great review! sundara's are one of my favorite, i need to try them on the jds labs atom for sure!

[@TheClownPrinceofCrime]

How about sundara pair with the zen dac and can stack ?