HiFiMan Sundara Closed-Back Headphone Review

[@DuranInternational]

Sundara closed back are great balanced! I got me a pair today for $229 worth it at that price in my honest opinion

[@stevendavis1135]

The fly trying to see what the sundara's closed back all about 😂

[@wavetheorysound]

It helped the review generate some buzz. I'll see myself out 😆

[@MRFUTURETECHNOLOGYGAMING]

​@@wavetheorysound That's hilarious

[@user-ft1dj7ur3i]

and it will be possible to invite this fly to the next review of headphones? 😂

[@publiusPolis]

The fly is a likely Grado spy.

[@shaned7793]

These are on sale for almost half price and your review gets me a little excited. I have the opposite preferences to you regarding mids. :-)

[@laika25]

So your advice is to throw away the included cable right upon receiving them in the mail?

[@CustomCans]

I enjoyed your review very much. I have been working on a heavily modified version of the HE400se which I think you would like and would love to hear your opinion on them. If you fancy having a go on a prototype pair, let me know.

[@wavetheorysound]

Email sent.

[@mggm9680]

I ordered one. It sounds huge with great base, mids are there and good details. I think it offers great unique sound for only 150 right now. I already have Hifiman Ananda Nano witxh are pretty much perfect but I want this closed back experience to watch movies in it.

[@delta9k]

Thanks for the review.

[@LandsPlanes]

Elegia or Sundara closed?

[@SimpleMailWork]

EQ. Schiit has a good equalizer but is completely useless due to the lack of necessary frequencies: 3-4k, 8-9k, 11-12k. I use Behringer EQ.

[@mr_unsane]

These are $149 rn on ebay and amazon.

[@PaulBloomlittledevil]

Hi @wavetheorysound, please could you give the Custom Cans damping kit a try with these, I was rather blown away by the improvement. I think Hifiman shouldn't have lowered the selling price so low as it is giving the potential of these headphones, a dissservice.

[@PaulBloomlittledevil]

P.s I don't work for Custom Cans, just a fan

[@sergiobrinas2452]

Hi, great review as usual. I wonder if these closed Sundaras would be a good improvement over the Audio-Technica MSR7Bs.

[@wavetheorysound]

Haven't heard that AT model, unfortunately

[@sergiobrinas2452]

@@wavetheorysound Okay, thanks for answering.

[@HansProbs]

7:29

[@joshswanedits]

Thanks for the Review! small tip for audio in your video's - really try sort out the mouth noise and swallowing sounds - you can try using a noise gate when mixing your audio.

[@JTB--]

I'm going to contact Hifiman about a constant buzzing I kept hearing while listening to the Sundara Closed-Back 7:20 😆

[@wavetheorysound]

Lol. Feel free to bug them about it 🪰😆

[@shaned7793]

If you were looking to treat yourself to a closed back treat for Christmas... Sundara CB or HE-R10D? I am all about mids and bass.

[@chinocracy]

Would have been nice if the fly appeared while reviewing the Harman Kardon Fly. lol I saw rather negative reviews by others on the Sundara closed since it uses different drivers from the open one. I'm inclined towards the HE-R9 instead.

[@vincentstephenson2397]

I bought a pair to test. Good bass, good kick to 'macro-dynamics' and enough detail for me. Sure it's not up there with my Denon 9200's but its pretty good for a quick rock out with planar characteristics without annoying the wife. Recommended over other closed backs at this price.

[@sergiobrinas2452]

Hello, by any chance have you not also tried the Audio-Technica MSR7B, to compare between the two?

[@AhloiFTW]

i own denon d2000, how is this compared to that.

[@rumblerumble2276]

Are you sure your camera mic wasn't being used for the sound leak test? I didn't hear a difference when you moved back with your mic.

[@wavetheorysound]

Quite sure. I'll use a different mic next time I do something like this.

[@johnsoriano3812]

very cool review

[@abdullahalzhrani6405]

great review when the he1000se review will come?

[@UmarAbid]

Thank you fore revew im new here I was thinking of buying this but I am also think of buy the Beyerdynamic - DT 700 Pro X Studio Headphones I'm trying to find out what the best head phones these ones or Beyerdynamic - DT 700 Pro X Studio Headphones and can I ask are these ear bads removal?

[@wavetheorysound]

Most Hifiman pads are replaceable but require a mounting ring. Most often those mounting rings come on the new pads.

[@waldos.429]

the schiit jotunheim 2 amp is warm, mid-forward, good bass, detail, and slightly closed in soundstage as well, i wonder if they would they pair well together or extenuate all of the problems. i think i want to buy them and find out

[@Reeeepicheep]

Tried it on bifrost 2 and jotunheim 2. Lasted two songs before tossing them back in the box. So bad

[@waldos.429]

i heard one guy say they were the worst things he heard at canjams on one of the vlogs

[@rumblerumble2276]

I'll be damned! Just checked my Arya Stealth box and there's a headphone stand. No nub issues on mine.

[@mo_kin]

How would they compete in technicalities to the Aeon-Closed X that tends to run on sale for $400-450?

[@wavetheorysound]

Unfortunately have not yet heard any Aeons

[@DJ_BROBOT]

I put money that the Aeons are better….I’ve owned them and they are worth the $800-900 they used to cost when new. Nobody, and I mean nobody produces $400 cans I’ve ever heard that overshot and were as good as higher tier cans unless modded.

[@jtampio]

Eager for comparisons to Aeon X, also planar closed around same price point.

[@kyron42]

Learning to EQ isn't difficult. It just takes a bit of time and trial and error.

[@wavetheorysound]

No, it's not difficult. It's more a convenience thing to me. Keeping track of all this gear already puts an obstacle between music and me. I've heard enough different things to know there really is not need to spend more time than turning a bass knob a radian or 2 to fix a tuning. Just grab something else. However, I recognize that some people enjoy EQ and I have no problem with them doing so.

[@kyron42]

@@wavetheorysound yep EQing is incredibly satisfying. It's like building my own speakers and fine-tuning the crossovers so that it sounds exactly how I like it. When I put on a headphone I select the EQ profile I developed for it.

[@hartyewh1]

The stand might not be the optimal platform for the leakage test. I usually just use my knee/thigh or someone elses head when available. Useful info still.

[@wavetheorysound]

Agreed. I either need a family member to move the mic while the headphone is on my head or get a dummy head... Maybe those aren't different 😆

[@shaned7793]

Why would you compare the noise cancelling headphones to the R9's, which have NO isolation at all?

[@wavetheorysound]

If I understand your question said comparison is to create a sound signature reference point, not a statement of isolation.

[@poolboy2179]

Would you recommend a replacement cable for my new Sundaras, reasonably priced please. THX!

[@wavetheorysound]

Yes. Hifiman stock cables are bad. Good budget options are Hart Audio Cables and Audiophile Ninja.

[@MRFUTURETECHNOLOGYGAMING]

Finally A higher resolution Web Cam or whatever you're using Now i don't feel sleepy to watch your videos because of the blurriness HE1KSE 👀🧐😃😃😃

[@wavetheorysound]

New studio lights! Generous bday gift from my lady!

[@HansProbs]

@@wavetheorysound yeah definitely noticed, worth it

[@PhoggHawk]

Really disappointed that the Stealth Ananda doesn't have the awesome leather box like the original one. 😕

[@laika25]

Saaay.... these companies that send items for review... Just how many total units of such item do they give out??? Seems like EVERY reviewer on Earth has received a copy... In the case of the Sundara closed back so far I've counted at least a dozen reviewers. 😅

[@laika25]

Huge difference! (leakage)

[@davidcoons89]

‘Camera issue’ aha sure..you got that fly off-camera like you said you were going to! 😂🤣

[@FusionMusic]

If I like the Grado sound, would this appeal to me with the forward sound? Thanks!

[@wavetheorysound]

Good chance, yes. Never a guarantee of course.

[@FusionMusic]

@@wavetheorysound lol awesome, good to hear! Also no worries, we're always taking our best chance to find the next best thing but as you said no guaranteed. But we try LOL. Thanks!

[@aco2518]

You need to get your hands on some Sundaras. It's a completely different headphone compared to this, and in my opinion, much better too. Anyway, loving your reviews, keep it up!

[@ProgInside83]

I had the open version of the Sundara and as objectively I can say that it is a great headphone, personally I did not like it so much. I like this one much more for genres like rock and metal. It has more detail than the open version and an incredible bass and mids rendering .

[@aco2518]

@@ProgInside83 Hmm, everyone is different, I didn't like these lol. Though would you agree they are not similar at all?

[@wavetheorysound]

I have one now. Hifiman sent me one after they realized I hadn't heard it yet, lol. I'm very backed up right now so it may be awhile, but it's here.

[@TheWorldTeacher]

@@wavetheorysound, the Sanskrit word “sundara” (beautiful) is pronounced with short vowels. ☝️

[@hameedn.b7004]

Nice

[@user-ft1dj7ur3i]

🔥🔥🔥

[@kyron42]

The Elegia sounds like it would be a great headphone with great punch and slam but unfortunately Adorama doesn't ship to Australia.

[@wavetheorysound]

Boo. No 3rd party couriers to use?

[@kyron42]

@@wavetheorysound yep maybe myUS would work.

[@sergiobrinas2452]

@@kyron42 Amazon?

[@kyron42]

@@sergiobrinas2452 thanks it's more expensive on Amazon than Adorama and I'm a massive cheapskate but Amazon is a very easy option.

[@lowrider007007]

Not sure on the styling, they remind me of ear defenders!

[@laika25]

...kay... kay... kay....😅

[@Wasur1959]

Beachwood=Plastic found on the shore, :) JK, Great vid as usual. Thanks WaveTheory.

[@kyron42]

It would be interesting to see a comparison with the Elegia after both are EQed. I wouldn't be surprised to see the headphones show do that comparison in the near future.

[@kyron42]

I don't like the Beach ear cups. Silver would have been much better.

[@colingordon0986]

Sounds like a skip unfortunately! Original sounds a lot better.

[@kyron42]

That's what EQ is for.

[@Reeeepicheep]

Sundara closed is horrifyingly bad

[@srkoenma2947]

Why