Hifiman Edition XS Planar Headphone Review and comparing it with Deva Pro

[@darindotson2874]

Fantastic review! Really helped my decision on getting these!

[@ianfann]

Thank you so much for watching!

[@Laowei1]

Thanks for the marvelous review, Ian! HiFiMan continues to bring great price to performance value! Best wishes for 2022 from Canada!

[@ianfann]

Thank you so much for watching Dwayne!

[@bradhuskers]

@@ianfann Question. Will my two small yet highly rated dac amp dongles, the apogee groove and the clarus coda, work well with the hifiman edition xs?

[@Allaces305]

Keep the great reviews coming... Also nice hat.. Ultra is here in Miami, FL in March 25-27... Awesome music festival..👍🏼

[@ianfann]

Thanks! Man i wished i could go attend Ultra again, have fun!

[@painkiller71]

Thank you for the review. I have Astell&Kern SR25 MKII which one is suitable with it XS or Deva Pro? Thank you

[@jamesberryman9893]

I find my Edition XS are extremely big on my head so thinking about getting the Deva Pro with the Bluetooth connector.

[@sockhopsinger]

Just found this video and very much enjoyed it. I do have one question. You mentioned you tried it with the Ifi Hip DAC. You also mentioned the XS needed more bass. Did you try the XS with the Hip DAC with the bass boost, and how did that change the sound? Thanks.'

[@ianfann]

Yes of course with xbass it's with more bass but I always review gear at it's stock condition.

[@sockhopsinger]

@@ianfann I know it had more base. My question, which, I guess I should’ve asked differently, what did you enjoy the sound of it more in the base realm once you added in the extra bass feature?

[@ianfann]

Oh hmm actually I preferred the leaner sounding bass.

[@gregorianin00]

My first purchase of planar headphones was deva pro. These headphones totally enchanted me. Every time I listen to something, I get a lot of pleasure from it. So, when I buy the XS, will it be the same progress for me in every aspect as it was compared to, for example, the ATH DSR7BT or not necessarily, because someone who likes the deva pro totally, may not like the XS anymore, e.g. because the bass is too cold or the treble is too insistent??? Best regards and thanks for video

[@Sob3r777]

I have the Edition XS for one week now and the box it came in was just simple brown box with stickers on it not the same as in this video seems like they made it cheaper as packaging. The Sundara's came in a more luxueus box...

[@OffisiellTrippleD]

great review!

[@ianfann]

Thanks!

[@francescosomma4284]

hello could you tell me if the topping dx3 pro plus is able to drive them? can't spend too much on an amplifier

[@ianfann]

erm i dont have the topping dx3 pro to try

[@bigmike716]

Is there a good aftermarket brand for a cable for these? And what amp do y9ou recommend for these? Under $500, hopefully.

[@ianfann]

For cables I recommend openheart brand which can be found on aliexpress. For amps I recommend the ifi zen can

[@yttean98]

You should really compare it against the Sundara, is it worth the upgrade, for about US$100-150? Some people say NO what do you think?

[@ianfann]

I say they are both different listening experience. One is warm and easy to listen to and the other is neutral with details. It depends on your preference

[@Gadgetibles]

I will prefer the deva becos of the Versatility..sometimes u just want to go wireless ..and with the deva u have that option even if i have to lose a little sound quality compared to the XS edition

[@BillyKueekSG]

I have the Sundara and Arya Stealth Magnet, wonder how this Edition X will fit in my collection?

[@bradhuskers]

Question. Just bought the hifiman edition xs. I own two small yet highly rated dac amp dongles, the apogee groove and the clarus coda, DOES anyone know if these dac amp dongles will be sufficient for the hifiman edition xs?

[@mahimjain5702]

I have a original deva wired (got it around 140$) Will this be a significant upgrade considering the price difference? Thanks

[@ianfann]

Yes it’s an upgrade, planar driver in the new one is different and newer, I’ve not tried the old one so I cannot confirm that it’s an upgrade in regards to the sound.

[@mahimjain5702]

Thanks for your reply. Just want to make myself clear i am asking about original deva vs the xs edition. That is 140 $ vs 500$. Is the difference in sound quality significant ? ( deva pro i heard is almost same as original deva, with slightly brighter highs) thanks

[@ianfann]

Oh I’ve not heard the original deva, erm a bit hard for me to recommend

[@gamingandmusic9217]

Thanks from INDIA. ifi zen dac v2 + ifi zen can + edition xs vs ifi zen dac v2 + Ananda ?? edition xs with dedicated Amp Vs Ananda without dedicated amp? which is better option?

[@ianfann]

Sorry bro I don’t have the ananda to compare.

[@LandsPlanes]

Hi! For you Edition Xs is much better than 400se? Edition xs cost 500 € in my country 400se 160€.

[@ianfann]

it's got better detail retrieval and resolution, better bass, better treble and it's more comfortable to wear as compared to the 400se

[@Hetsu..]

Hi would you say the mid range is recessed at all?

[@ianfann]

Not really and it’s borderline to be able to hear the difference anyway.

[@Hetsu..]

@@ianfann Thank you!

[@ianfann]

No problem

[@carminedesanto6746]

Finished ….interesting video. I’ve got the HiFiman 400i 2020’s …they’re ok..but just to have a planar headphone in my collection. Given the US $500.00 price tag is $640 CAD…it puts it to the upper price range of headphones. Question: apart from ease of use Headphone vs.IEM’s …what gives you better sound and a better sonic experience 🤔 I vote : IEM’s 🥳 Great video as usual ☕️

[@ianfann]

Headphones will give you a different sonic experience as compared to iems, headphones, especially open back headphones will give you a wider and airier sound stage. and of course the drivers are bigger and more powerful, the sound delivered to your ears.

[@carminedesanto6746]

@@ianfann True…BUT …I’ve got both the Sen’ 650 and HiFiman 4001 ( 2020) and quite frankly none can hold a candle to the KATO or IKKO OH10’s for just pure range and a level of WTF is going on in the music. I’m sure that you can get that deep ( feel it in your chest bass and crystalline highs …but at a premium in both headphone and it’s associated amplification chain. …..some thing to think on . Cheers 🍻

[@ianfann]

true also, iems give you that seal and full sonic delivery to your ears that headphone won't be able to and i do agree with you on that. frankly the he400se would not be as good as some of the iems that you mentioned but the xs edition when amped outshines all of my iems in terms of sound delivery and overall listening experience. then again, we shouldn't be comparing headphones and iems, they both serve different purposes in different situations. for me i would bring my iem out and about but i wouldn't bring my headphone out and start listening to my open back in a train or bus lol.

[@MTheoOA]

​@@carminedesanto6746 just being clear, i think overall the open-backs have a sense of scale that IEMS doesn't have any closer, and depth. Imaging is ok, and the FR too, but the punchyness of full sizes not. So, it's a bunch of loses IMO

[@carminedesanto6746]

@@MTheoOA I’ve got 650’s and a pretty decent amplification chain ..I can go from the 789 to the tubed 604 ( where I run the 650’s the most) that being said..I don’t run any EQ period. Back in my day ( yes I’m OLD ) my preamps were Krell , Bryston and Classe’ ..no EQ and their associated power amps. I’m old school ..if the recording is garbage ( most are overly compressed ) then there’s really no fixing it …you can polish a turd..but in the end you’ve got a shiny turd. As for my belief that IEM’s are superior to just about any headphone is an opinion ( maybe a prejudice) that maybe misguided..but as we all say hearing is believing. Hope you have pleasant company, good food and great tunes.🍻

[@abdulahsan3121]

how the XS compare to the ananda ?

[@ianfann]

I wished I could audition the ananda but haven’t got the chance to unfortunately.

[@konna200]

Sounds like my Ananda is more detailed and analytical bc i heard that you said that ´Sundara is more Analytical´ than --> XS? And i have them both its like Sundara with steroids in a good way IMO :D even more that XS edition? I think it is really closer to OG edition XX than Ananda... Im curious to know more about the Deva Pro actually now.

[@Cooe.]

They are very, VERY similar except that the Edition XS has the stereotypical Stealth Magnet improvements as well as a tad more "fun" and less obsessively reference/"hyper-analytical" tuning job. Aka the Edition XS is notably more warm & V-shaped, which I happen to personally much prefer for most music listening (ESPECIALLY for truly extended listening sessions where the hyper-analytical tuning of the Ananda's & Sundara 2020's can REALLY start to grate on my ears), but which you like more will be ENTIRELY personal preference. Same goes for the headband change (I prefer the actually padded band on the XS to the suspension band on the Ananda, but plenty have the exact opposite opinion).

[@Wingedmagician]

This was a hard choice for me given I didn’t have an amp to pair with it. I’m really hoping the headband doesn’t give me problems

[@ianfann]

good choice!

[@chad6]

EDITION XS

[@carminedesanto6746]

First and watching 🎧🤔

[@ianfann]

Great!