The Best Deal in Audio... Period.

[@kbar11]

Highly recommend 2 mods to these if you get them. The first which I think it mandatory is getting HD600 headband foam from amazon or aliexpress or wherever. Use two or three velcro cable management straps to attach it to the Edition XS headband. It is much more comfortable for hours of use with the extra padding. The second mod which is more preference but still good to try is getting a pair of velour hybrid pads for the XS, especially if you wear glasses it'll stop the constant squeaking from the pads. I also just find them more comfortable with no noticeable or negative impact to sound IMO, tho Im sure there some affect. I also bent the yolk inwards a bit to get more side pressure from the pads. That along with the HD600 headband pad really help remove any hotspots the XS gave me and now I use them for hours every day.

[@sidfuel]

custom cans in the uk have modded this headphone. they make extra grills for the xs and a headband strap.

[@TH-lo8mq]

I recommend the comfort strap from Capra Audio. I use them on my Sennheisers.

[@MinsideE]

I got a 3d printed suspension strap attachment for my xs on etsy and it works pretty nicely

[@VeeHausen]

Imho, I'd abandon the headband asap. Because the faux leather deteriorates quite fast after a year or two.

[@WiIza_]

Agreed, I didn't like these headphones purely because of the headband, it was so uncomfortable after only like an hour or so of wearing

[@Rei-gy3eo]

I feel like you should mention Hifiman's refurbished store as well. I bought these with a carrying case earlier this year for $269 when it was stilled listed for $500 new. It felt like I got a brand new product in a sealed box. It comes with the same warranty as their new products as well.

[@exactom6320]

There are some killer deals in their refurb/open box stores.

[@newbienewb4973]

I got the same deal, I love these things

[@GameNationRDF]

this is what I did. The carrying case is also really good

[@Kal8719]

I bought them for $500 after watching the review...and loved them ever since. It's a fantastic deal. Edit: after his initial review. Which was some time go.

[@ReverendDr.Thomas]

Mine were the equivalent of USD$320.

[@JošJedan-j2y]

Mine arrived few days ago.With sale price and all coupons I paid 190$ 😊 Incredible value indeed.

[@chrisjames654]

Same!

[@ReverendDr.Thomas]

@@JošJedan-j2y WOW! Bargain! I suggest you get a pair of THICK earpads for them.

[@WeBuild4Life]

I bought them for $500.... twice... had to return both because the first one broke in 1 day and the other had rattle. please hifiman :(

[@fernandotous9567]

I don’t want to pile on Hifiman QC like everybody else... but I’ve had four pairs of these RMA’d, and the last one still had driver buzzing.....which they made me keep. They do sound great, even at $500 compared to the competition, but you can easily find countless reports of people having issues with the XS. All three of my first pairs had horrible driver buzzing around 400-500 Hz, noticeable even at low volumes. Hifiman insisted that I was either imagining it or that this behavior was “normal” for the headphones, even though it was incredibly distracting when listening to music. To make things worse, in my first two pairs, one of the drivers just completely died after 6-12 months. The third “pair” they sent as an RMA replacement literally arrived with a dead driver straight from the factory. Now, I have my fourth pair, and honestly, I’m just waiting for it to fail too. Maybe I’ve just had extremely bad luck, but plenty of anecdotal evidence from others in the community agrees with how shaky Hifiman’s quality control is. This is just my experience, though. They are a good set of headphones, so I hope you don’t have the same bad luck as I did.

[@eliasbergstrom5300]

Mine have started doing the same thing on the right channel now after 2 years of active use. Super annoying and I'm kinda sad because of it, they used to be my go-to choice for everyday use in front of the computer.. Now I use my Audeze maxwells instead, and although they are decent enough, they aren't even close in basically every single sense.

[@timothylai8483]

might be ur amp.

[@Stand_Tall]

i bought a pair of ananda nanos, and the headband is rubbing on the earcups extremely hard, i just gave up on RMAing this one after my last one had a driver failure

[@scottieb1]

Even if it's only .01% - for headphones that cost this much (or as much as these used to) they should either have better quality control, better/more generous customer service (like repairs, for example), much longer warranties, or ideally all of the above. Broken/failed headphones is unlikely to happen (I suppose), but with HiFiMan it is still FAR more likely than with any other brand I've ever used. I had a pair of Shure SH940 which was notoriously easy to break - and Shure was AMAZING in comparison to HiFiMan when it came to service.

[@Korsera]

I had the exact same thing on day one tested with multiple sources. Mine was buzzing on 770hz and 220 hz. Returned it and got an Ananda Nano instead and been happy since then.

[@afraza5946]

Bro answered my Edition XS query in the best headphones for $300 video with a WHOLE NEW VIDEO?? Aright you my fav Ytber :D

[@jackintoshvids]

I've slowly been getting into headphones and Hi-Fi audio - Started with some Beyredynamic DT770 Pro's, followed by Meze 99 Classics, Sennheiser HD 560S, and my latest are some Grado SR80e's. My next goal was to pick up some planar magnetics - What a perfect time for these things to lower in price! Excited to try em out!

[@Joniyah444]

You’ll be hooked on planars 🎉

[@kenhuang4697]

planar is hard to beat. clean clear and open sound...

[@BreadBoyWeeb]

Which one is your favorite

[@rainbowkittycat627]

this is so funny to me, because i also feel like I swerved violently between dankpos and general audiophile community recommendations. Started with the grado 80es and the samson sr950s, then got the 560s and the 6xxs, then got the grado 80xs because my 80es broke, and now i'm also looking at planars lmao

[@jackintoshvids]

@@Joniyah444 That’s what I’ve heard from most headphone enthusiasts! Super excited to properly sit with some though- the only ones I tried in the past were Hifiman headphones (for the life of me I can’t remember which specific ones) and some Meze Elites (I was NOT forgetting those holy crap were they good)

[@Cons2911]

How'd the QC of hifiman? I've been hearing some concerns. I mean, everything breaks but if it's happening too often too soon.. And if you're spending 500 upwards.. Man

[@jakubjanicki9148]

Ive had to fix my sundaras 5 times now and had to resolder connectors. They still break sometimes and i dont know why. Edit: I also rma'd my first pair. Had trouble with hifiman service as they refused repair. Then hifiman themselves intervened and sent me another pair with faulty drivers and a faulty headband on top of that.

[@Cons2911]

@jakubjanicki9148 I'm not super picky but man, if it's expensive.. I don't want the pain. The expensive ones I have had so far is durable enough

[@RaindancerAU]

Have four Hifiman headphones since 2022, all four are still in perfect condition.

[@michaeljbus]

I bought a second hand OG Ananda 3 years ago and it's still going strong despite frequent use, it's only now the bottom of the pads are starting to degrade in one spot. Will just replace the pads when they get bad enough. And they're slightly creaky. But imo that's not a bad track record for probably 5 or 6 years of use overall.

[@ivanaviNiebla]

My Edition XS squeak a bit (apparently from the metal pieces/screws that hold the cups) when moved around, but only that, and it's really a non issue, it doesn't happen when using them. I guess it can be easily fixed, but I don't want to do anything to them until it's actually necessary, just in case, don't want to mess the best headphones I've ever owned xP

[@DCraig568]

Bought mine 6 months ago as an open box item from HiFiman directly for about $229, bought a balanced cable for about $40, and am running it with a Shanling H0 DAC AMP ($88 on amazon now) and the combo is amazing!

[@mr.yonosenada]

Wow. My son just gave me this as a gift and I am quite impressed. I have higher-end headphones but this is one is almost up there with them. He caught a great deal and I'm proud of him!

[@GameNationRDF]

I got these 1-1.5 months ago when I saw their clearance sale. I must say, it really changed competely how I listen to music. I am a massive jazz nerd and a musician myself, music is just *that" thing in my life. I dont have thousands to dish out to hifi gear from niche brands, so ı wanna make my dollar (well, euros in my case) count. Tbh I am running them through the phones output of a behringer xenyx 1204 usb mixer, so its not even a good pre-amp for these headphones by any standard, but the low impedance really helps these cans, I still get great sound out of them. I can drive them no problem. Even on my phone if I crank up to volume it starts to get in to crazy good territory. With these headphones, get ready to think that the entire band is in your room. The sound stage is so good that often I think I forgot to turn off my speakers, and then I take my headphones off and realize that they were off. Really really crazy buy for its price. If someone has a amp recommendation for these bad boys let me know (something around $100-200 range?)

[@Skelig]

I was strongly considering the XS at this price until about a week ago when I decided to just go the extra mile and buy the Arya Stealth instead, which at its current price is an unbelievable deal.

[@portalhead95]

The gap between Arya and XS is actually huge. Such a good decision going for Arya.

[@juice23]

So happy to hear this as I just picked up the Arya stealth. :)

[@smooth245]

Did the same thing. Arya at $599 was a steal

[@DanClem]

How is the Arya for PC gaming? Looking to upgrade from Fidelios

[@NRobbi42]

​@@DanClemGodlike for its price

[@jumpman1213]

I got the Ananda Nano for $320 from AliExpress on 11.11 sale. The Arya Stealth for 500 bucks looked like a mighty deal as well.

[@xDRhein74]

I bought the Edition XS at the updated price a month ago, I was waiting for this exact video to come out, its absolutely the best deal for less than 300 dollars bar none.

[@SMShoaibBD]

Please do a comparisn review between Arya Stealth and XS

[@thomassh2o]

I got these when they came out. using them for this video. Already tried telling my friends to get this deal. I was blown away when I first got into the hifiman planars

[@tpro7224]

Me too... didn't get the hype immediately, then got 4.4mm balanced cable and $150 dac/amp then WOW. Hands down better than anything for the price.

[@ineedyoutostop]

FT1 Pro is the only thing keeping me from jumping on the XS. I've been hearing good things from the few people who have it in hand but I'd really like to hear from you if you think it's worth picking up over the XS or not!

[@calvinyip364]

Agree. If the Fiio ft1 pro is half as good I rather buy the ft1 pro. I own the ft1 it's so comfortable

[@YuhNinja]

@@calvinyip364 Why do you say if its half as good as XS you would rather have the ft1? That sounds backwards.

[@jonathanng138]

Friendly reminder these are over ear headphones so comfort is going to be way way better

[@CoffeeGameMovie]

and the new aune AR5000 is an interesting option too

[@calvinyip364]

@CoffeeGameMovie I already own that it's amazing

[@prodantech]

The Arya Stealth is only $600 now. That’s a crazy deal too!

[@MurphysFilm]

Would love to see your take on the FiiO ft1 pro and compare to the XS

[@FabioGrenkh]

Oho, I hope the like means he’ll do a video about it

[@Petrus-d2f]

How about the Meze 105 AER coming soon haha

[@Nick-ep8ij]

Ive owned 2 of these and they both had audible driver defects. Disappointing but I do love how these sound. A buddy of mine also owns one of them and his left driver died entirely. Im not trying to be a downer here, but Amazon reviews reflect god awful QC too. If you get a good one, you're a winner because they sound awesome.

[@willielast]

The whole bad QC stuff is totally overblown. I've bought several Hifimans over the years and never had a single issue, but I have had to return many other brands.

[@brohammanraging8908]

@@willielast I've had two in a row with a faulty driver too, it's not overblown tbh it's just seems to be simply worse. Maybe it's better now but it seems to be such a common issue.

[@Bnnuy_Ded]

These headphones are capable of producing exceptional sub-bass frequencies when paired with an adequate amplifier and appropriate equalization settings. In terms of bass extension, they surpass any other headphones I have personally experienced.

[@tpro7224]

Agree 100%

[@ambbarofficial]

I got the EDITION XS a year ago. These headphones are unbelievably good!

[@turnbasedtoddy7664]

Correction, for $75 the Phillips shp9500 headphones are absolutely the best deal in audio headphones right now. Actually they’ve been the best deal in headphones for years now that I think about it.

[@MatthewDiFazio]

Edition XS has been a favorite of mine for a while, and I think at under $300, it’s a no brainer. I commend HiFiMan realizing when prices need to be adjusted across their lineup. Also, great video!

[@aj8ky]

They had a big 11.11 sale on, but it appears they’ve now just kept that pricing going. I picked up some new Organics for 890.

[@MatthewDiFazio]

@ love the organics. Until I hear Arya Unveiled some more, those are by far my favorite Aryas. Nice pickup!

[@Accuracy158]

I feel like Hifiman has been selling these as refurb or open box at this price for a couple years now but it's cool that it's just the official price now.

[@Disco_Potato]

Refurb(both of mine were brand new) Ananda Stealth is just $259 straight from Hifiman. Same tuning/bass bump as XS, much better headband.

[@bklynrickel]

Headband easily modded on the XS.

[@at2.2.2]

@@bklynrickelwhat would you recommend in terms of modding for a smaller head? I’ve seen some custom straps you can attach, wasn’t sure what to go for.

[@bklynrickel]

@@at2.2.2 Capra Audio. Also, Geekria headband sold on Amazon.

[@SuperReview]

I also like Edition XS better than Arya.

[@SteveHuffer]

Thank-you for saving me from myself.

[@vainxler]

really? o_0

[@SuperReview]

@ Arya treble is not compatible with my ears.

[@vainxler]

@@SuperReview which arya are you referring exactly?

[@SuperReview]

@@vainxler V3 / Stealth

[@Riki-tiki-tavi]

Edition XS + Fiio k11, probably the best deal in the audio world, for $400 🙌

[@tpro7224]

4.4mm balanced cable worthwhile upgrade 👌

[@madmatt151]

I had gotten these a few years ago refurbished for 279 and thought i got the greatest deal ever! This is the headphone I tell everyone to get. I just watched this and your Bokeh review and those are my two daily drivers!!

[@tpro7224]

My go to choice also. 😎

[@BigWig-f6d]

Sold! Couldn't use your link cause Im in Canada but I was just about to buy hd 600 and this video popped up. Bought them immediately. Can't wait to hear them. Thanks for the heads up!

[@CalmlySith]

Please get a cushion headband too. thicker one does help with hot spot by A LOT!

[@EdepsizProfiterol]

I bought it. Loving it. Works like a charm for movies, games, bassy musics, rock/metal... My Fiio K7BT is more than enough to power it. Perfect all arounder. It works even with my phone for medium volume listening. The only problem is... Will it last for many years? The infamous Hifiman QC issues...

[@alouisschafer7212]

The Sundara got me addicted to Planars two years ago. Nothing compares to planar. Especially when equalized to your liking. My profile has a dip at 5k and a slight raise from 125hz downwards to give them a warmer sound and get the cold 5k peak out of the way because the Sundaras tuning is 100% too "cold" out of the box in my opinion. So I will buy these and hand the Sundara down which is crazy to think about that something like the Sundara is a hand-down headphone now with these on the market at this price.

[@zdbosoxfan3670]

I LOVE my edition XS. Currently listening with an ifi HipDac 3 and use the bass boost mode for the sound I enjoy.

[@jakeanddar]

I just bought these a month ago for the price you mentioned. However returned them not due the sound quality but I found them uncomfortable due to their massive sized frame and weight. Sucks cause I did find them very clean and detailed. Mids > awesome ,Highs > great but I stuggled to hear lows well running off my Yamaha Receiver. I love the bass my Beyer Dynamic DT770's produce ,but different style ,I know. Maybe I my try different HIFiman's in the future that adjuct smaller on the head. and I don't have a small head! LOL Cheers! Great video!

[@orlandosaez9604]

What is the microphone that Josh shows around 8:09? Is this the best option for this setup? Other recommendations are welcome.

[@ErikKaija]

i think he says later its the mezze boom mic

[@LaHoraMaker]

Got mine from Amazon Refurbished at around 190 EUR. I paired them with a Qudelik-5k and I am so happy about them! (Coming from Sundara and testing tons of headphone... These are my favorites right now)

[@thatzaliasguy]

Anyone know the microphone cable shown at 8:08?

[@delicrux]

it is important to note most planars and estatic headphones measure very flat in comparison to dynamic drivers, but the clarity separation and sound stage most estat and planars offer allow th bass to be present without clashing or distortion

[@KenMoreira]

and now im awaiting those Unveiled reviews sitting around your desks... I wonder when you'll get the Arya Unveiled in :D

[@hunteer963]

Edition XS is a great headphone, with this Black Friday offer it would be an amazing buy. Good recommendation!!

[@timschwarze1739]

I would love to see you compare the XS to the new Fiio FT1 Pro! Got mine in the recent AliExpress sale for 160€, so 100€ cheaper :)

[@ReverendDr.Thomas]

Which did you get? It is unclear.

[@Bootrosgali]

My for kicks conspiracy idea is that this is a last minute HiFiMan hackjob before the Pros take over..

[@znoozaros]

I only see ft1 pro for 200+ and the regular ft1 closed for 160 ? got a link ?

[@tentend321]

@@Bootrosgali 269$ edition xs definitely isnt a last minute hackjob, it's been like this for the past few months on their official website, and refurbished has been for 239$

[@AlumarsX]

I got the FT1 because I needed closed and comfy. The XS seems wildly uncomfortable, especially if youre a baldy

[@Kekmit]

I can't say anything about QC as I've used them only for ~3 months, but you should definitely buy either a capra 3d printed strap or custom cans leather strap. I ordered capra strap about 2 months ago and it's still "in delivery" (thank you USPS), but custom cans order came in like 2 weeks (I live in Europe tho). It's a game changer for comfort. Before, I could only wear these for ~1 hour max before my head started to hurt too much, but with custom cans strap I can comfortably wear them for hours.

[@koolthing18]

When the Edition XS dropped in price there first time, I figured somebody would make this video eventually. Nobody did for kind of a long time. I thought maybe that reviewers quietly took back their praise? Glad to hear somebody bringing this headphone up again. I was considering paying wayyy more for another planar. I figured this would be my next headphone when it came out. Feels like a steal now. thx

[@angelOcrisu]

Maybe Ananda V3 is the deal to consider. They costs 360 usd/euro depending the region with BF deals and sound fantastic.

[@lawrencewang3327]

I LOVE my Ananda

[@angelOcrisu]

@lawrencewang3327 Me too. It's end game for me. Let's hope they won't break after 2yrs. I also have the hd660s which has better mids but Ananda is an all rounder.

[@worldwanderingfisherman2166]

I got the ananda v3 for 300 usd, nothing can beat that.

[@angelOcrisu]

@@worldwanderingfisherman2166 For sure it can't at that price. 👍🏻

[@lawrencewang3327]

@@worldwanderingfisherman2166 I wouldn't say nothing. But yes Amanda still sits reeeeaaaaaally high up on my recommend list to this day

[@ftlbaby]

I have owned the HIFIMAN HE400i for 8 years now. I had to repair the overbuilt but still janky cable connectors on each earphone by removing the screwy bits and soldering the cable directly. Oh yeah, I had to replace the earpads after 4 years and the fabric band has been shedding forever (but still holding strong.) I upgraded to the Sundara 18 months ago and I love them both! The Sundara is a moderate upgrade in sound (especially bass), but a substantial upgrade in weight and comfort. My son has been beating on the HE400i for the last 18 months as his gaming headphone and they are still sounding great.

[@beast4000]

with this price drop what do audiophiles recommend as far as a dac/amp setup? im mainly on a new mac mini these days

[@tpro7224]

Cheap to expensive? Moondrop Dawn Pro, Fiio K11, Topping A90 Discrete with aforementioned K11. 4.4mm balanced cable too.

[@matt-dw]

Cool to see this video pop up when mine are arriving tomorrow! Purchased a barely-used pair off amazon for £175, which is equivalent to $180 + tax. My current best set of headphones are the 15-year-old AKG K702, with notoriously weak bass and, to me, a bit of a honky/tinny sound unless EQ-ed so I'm excited to experience these Hifimans and compare the two.

[@ReverendDr.Thomas]

I ordered a pair of custom-made earpads for my Edition XS. They are far thicker than the whimpy stock pads. Incidentally, Mr. Valour, there are no long vowels in "Sundara", nor in "Susvara".

[@underby2483]

ordered! thanks joshua i totally trust your judgement after buying sundara

[@bren.r]

You won’t be disappointed. I found the XS more enjoyable than my HE1000 v4 Stealth.

[@chung1235]

Hi, I really enjoy your reviews. I typically use my Airpods Max as my main. I really like the transparency function. I also have Sony XM4, Beats Studio Pro, B&W PX7, AKG 702, and a bunch of nice IEMs (Westone W60, AKG NC5005, Shures, etc.). I saw your video on the price drop for the Hifiman Edition XS and I've always been curious about the improvements offered by planars over my current kit so I visited the Hifiman website and found the ANANDA Stealth Magnet refurb available for $259. At this price, which would you recommend? I would probably need an amp as well. Should I refrain and just be happy with what I already have?

[@TheDigitalcrack]

easily and whole heartly agree. XS is one of the most overlooked greatness of headphones

[@JLP1989]

Question - I want to buy a decent pair of headphones for listening to my vinyl collection and other hi-end audio playback. I have a pair of Bose QC35's for everyday use and on planes. What difference would I hear when using this pair as an example?

[@tpro7224]

Casual listeners may not notice alot of improvement. If you're an active listener who appreciates the subtle nuances of instrument separation and vocal details? Best way to describe it is listening to music with a magnifying glass (Joshua Valour's words) But, it can be a $ rabbit hole for sure. With these Hifimans, a 4.4mm balanced cable and a $50-100 dongle DAC or desktop DAC/Amp you'll appreciate a noticeable quality improvement.

[@tpro7224]

Kinda missed your first part re: vinyl collection. Definitely would recommend try before buy in that case. My previous reply was more directed toward the HiRes Lossless universe.

[@TheThebluebob]

Would you recommend these over the DT 1990 Pro, Audeze Maxwell and the Sennheiser HD 560S? For music, gaming, movies.

[@tpro7224]

Not sure about DT and Audeze, but better than Senns hands down. 4.4mm balanced cable and Moondrop Dawn Pro dac/amp power or higher almost a necessity.

[@YuhNinja]

Ive had the Maxwell, and even though i want to eventually have a "headphone collection" some day, i find it hard to ever justify getting a new headphone when the Audeze Maxwell's are so universally great.

[@henrydyess9863]

I picked these up a year ago for ~350 in a different country and already thought I was getting a great deal then. I'm wearing them right now, they were absolutely worth the price then and are certainly worth it now.

[@ComradeNevidimka]

Legitimate question from someone that doesn't understand technical details or explanations well. How do the Arya Stealth and Hifiman Edition XS compare to the beyerdynamic 1990 pro (original)? Those are my daily drivers now, is it worthwhile to upgrade?

[@superidyt]

This is the first time a reviewer has preferred the XS over the Ananda. I have my doubts about which Ananda they are referring to when they make comparisons (there are 3 versions). Most users comment that the Ananda is more analytical and detailed, in addition to having a wider soundstage vertically. The XS, on the other hand, sounds more balanced because it has more present bass. A big point against both is comfort. While the XS has a headband that hurts the top of the head, the Ananda presses the jawbone laterally. Very goos review and considerations as always.

[@n0aimatall]

It's so true. I bought them on sale and they are so freaking awesome, couldn't believe it. Games, Music or every day stuff... I just use them. I think your earlier review made me pull the trigger if I remember correctly.

[@Phaseish]

do you have a tesla, i am curious what sound system do you have in your car if you are doing other trims.

[@casparwhittey]

I bought the edition XS at your recommendation, and they do sound incredible (coming off of Sundara's). However, I now have a rattle/buz in the left driver within a month of owning it. I'm seeing some similar QC complaints from folks on reddit/internet forums - it would be great if you could comment or get hifiman to comment on their quality control data. The new pricing has me worried that, while the headphones sound incredible at outset, they are cutting corners elsewhere.

[@QuinnRiley-w2i]

What cable are you using at 8:09? i want headphones that I can use with a mic, but I don't want to get gaming headphones that have one attached to an earpiece 24/7, so having an option like a cable would be really nice :)

[@concinnus]

He says late in the vid that it's the Meze boom mic. Note that it uses the CTIA 3.5mm or split plugs. Don't use with an OMTP combo jack.

[@ignacio8597]

Look at mod mics

[@Jose-pv3bi]

Hifi man clearance sale is insane in general right now. I got a refurbished ananda stealth for 270.

[@brandothemando7140]

I’ve been following you since you had like 10k subs. Love seeing the growth! 😊

[@Fat_Jag]

I love seeing this right after my Sundara got here yesterday and now I can't return them. I'll just pretend I didn't see this.

[@CalmlySith]

Yes you are fine 🥹. don’t get into the rabbit hole lol

[@mikafoxx2717]

The Sundara are fantastic and possibly have better tuning. I've got other headphones like the HD600, Aune AR5000, and the Sundara is definitely the best of them. Add some eq for the bass to taste and you're laughing. I like an HE-1 mild bass shelf

[@raver-um3iu]

Great video, I like your reviews. I have watched a few reviewers in the past but you are the one where what you describe actually matches with what I (believe to) hear. Because of your videos I considered buying Hifiman in the first place. Started with the HE400se up to the Sundara. In case the price will drop for the Sundara in the future I am happy that I already sold it - to buy an Arya Stealth II. Never paid more for a headphoen, never was happier with how they sound. I love the Sundara and I like my Arya Stealth II even more.

[@TBombz]

If it's the absolute max for your budget, yeah they sound pretty incredible. Amazing with gaming, especially movies. Possibly the most expansive soundstage on Hifimans under $1000 except maybe the early Arya V1/V2 models. Expect them to start really falling apart in about 2 years. Unless you get different earpads and a headband cover, that pleather crap absolutely crumbles away.

[@jamesberryman9893]

Just a heads up to anyone out there that want these that have a small head. Just buy a pack of Dekoni Nuggets and apply them to the headband. I love my Edition XS.

[@Tai-y1d]

is it better than the aune ar5000? I'm deciding between the two, thank you for the wonderful video.

[@JagsP95]

1 thing for sure is that ar5000 will be more comfortable

[@chillstep4life]

I also am deciding between this and ar5000. I can't make up my mind 😅

[@KiraGaerled]

Once upon a time, upon reading a lot and being qutie convinced by traditional XS, i went and checked them out among many headphones, anticipating them to be a clear win. Meanwhile they didnt fit my head, sounded colored to my ear, and technicalities of planars completely didn't fit my expectations. It's important to check stuff out and have best comparion with similiar models!

[@lonelyone69]

Edition XS is the perfect daily desktop driver for quiet space listening. They take eq extremely well, pads are very common and you can even do headband swaps on them. 1 of the only big negatives is the centre stage presence which becomes a big problem in competitive FPS.

[@AliArghavan]

They are complementary headphones IMO. AR5000 is mid focused, Edition XS is brighter and reaches lower. There is no better between these. You need both 😁

[@grd_]

I just got these with a Fiio K11. Absolutely loving them. I thought they were too big since I was used to the Focal clamp force but they are extremely comfortable, can wear them for hours.

[@DarknessessB11]

The simple headband, too. I had the Ananda stealth for a day, and I could not deal with the pressure it put on the top of my head.

[@AutoGibbon]

Hey Joshua, just letting you know your videos are to blame for my pockets being a grand lighter! 🤣 Been using ok-ish gaming headsets for years, with the last pair being the PC38X. Now I have my first big boy sound setup Edition XS and Fiio K9 Pro ESS. The presence, or substance maybe, of these things is unreal. If I may recommend something, try Borders by Kalandra. Such an ethereal song, with the waves washing over the background, the singer's chalky voice gliding above, and thick, dense harmonies taking center stage. Just beautiful on these headphones.

[@sarahpark5768]

Had my eye on these for several months based on the prior video. I want one!!

[@SamuraiGuy]

I was literally telling my friend the other day about how the supposed "best headphone under $500" was being sold for $270. This video is perfect timing to confirm whether I should go with it or now.

[@MightyTubbyTuba]

Just a question, i have the hd600 , would these be a good addition to the start of my collection? Are they different enough to the 600s?

[@ivanaviNiebla]

Got this headphones for very very cheap a year ago at the beginning of my "audiophile" journey and at first I wasn't sure if they were original because I couldn't tell the increase in fidelity compared with my previous headphones (Bose QCII wired), which had an incredible sound-stage after a change of earpads, and I used them equalized too, so they were pretty good (and I wasn't trained, it was, and still sometimes is, hard to tell the difference in fidelity between headphones outside of Sound-Stage and Frequency Response). It was until I decided to start gaming when I realized I could hear the music and the multiple sound efects very clearly and separate from each other. At that point I stopped questioning if mine were original, and why are they so well regarded. (And when testing them they have 0.01% of THD, so that's pretty great I guess). Easy recommendation if you can get them, and I really want more people to have them so more mods come out, I want even more sound-stage hahaha

[@chrisbee9164]

Great review mate can I ask a quick question how would you compare these against the Sennheiser HD 660 S2 and also the Bayer dynamic DT 1990 Pro 2

[@paulwest3905]

While great for headphone amps at 18 ohms, I was rather disappointed that HiFiman don’t make many high impedance sets anymore. I wore out my HE-560s after three head straps and at least 7 ear pads. Nice that the Doc has made these XS affordable now. I had nothing but good experiences with their return department. I ended up buying Sennheiser 6XX and love them. Thanks.

[@1TechCritic420]

I might have to get these and upgrade. I have the Hifiman HE 400SE and Love them with a dac. This looks like a killer upgrade.

[@NawfalHasan]

What's a good dac to go with it? Also should i get both dac and amp?

[@tpro7224]

At minimum I'd recommend a 4.4mm balanced cable (twisted copper off Amazon), and a Moondrop Dawn Pro dongle DAC/Amp. Hifimans really shine with more power tho. It can be a $ rabbit hole for sure. Next level would be desktop DAC/Amp $100 plus. Also, in my opinion Hifimans sound better at high volume. Listeners who mostly listen at low to medium volume might not like planar's that much... hope that helps. 😎

[@michaelmcglynn968]

I just ordered a pair from the official store on AliExpress for $380 AUD, including shipping and taxes. That's crazy considering 2 years ago everyone was raving about it being the best headphone for $500 USD (about $750 AUD)! It seems like an absolute no-brainer at this price.

[@matteo4413]

If these pop up as open box at refurbished, they are also a great deal. I picked these up for $240 as refurbished from Hifiman earlier this year, and as far as I could tell, it was brand new. I have been very impressed with them, as my previous headphones were in the sub $200 price point. This is noticeabally superior in every way. They're also surprisingly easy to drive, I have a DAC/Amp to improve the sound a bit, but even without one, they still sound great.

[@BoomerPlusUltra]

If it fits your head - I tried this and could only wear it for two minutes. I find that suspension bands work best for me - the Arya or Sundara both being super comfortable for me.

[@Camride]

Meze 105 or XS? The 105 is not that much more, curious which is the better performer.

[@bren.r]

XS without question. I’d even consider them more enjoyable than my HE1000 v4 Stealth. If you can get past the build quality of the XS, get it.

[@bklynrickel]

Don't know about the 105. Happy with my 109. I must say XS is simply a very exciting listening experience. Not ordinary in the least.

[@trog69]

I have my Edition XS paired with a topping stack. D70 OCTO DAC/A90 Discrete amp. The sound is incredible! A real upgrade from my HD6xx's and a Modius/Midgard Schiit stack.

[@avenger7800]

They dont ship them to my country from amazon, any other places to buy from?

[@Smitty_Werbenjagermanjenson]

I would buy these, but I managed to find a used Arya Stealth for like $400 earlier this year. I wonder if HifiMan is just unloading stock to replace the XS in the near future?

[@jamesryan1926]

Fine by me, I just picked one up for $270 to complete the first stage of my PC audio overhaul 🤣 Next step is going to be a JDS Labs Atom 2 stack.

[@qorinn]

I've just ordered it the other day. I'm so excited for it

[@calvinyip364]

The headband looks like the same for the he400se. I got an issue with the he400se headband. The hotspot in the middle is a deal breaker. I cant wear them long. It looks the same though. Also i did read some user comments about channel imbalance etc. Has their qc improved?

[@bakakafka4428]

Headband is indeed crap. And yes, they're QC is still the same. As is their customer service. Get it from a store that takes it back without restock fee if you must try this.

[@calvinyip364]

​@@bakakafka4428Cant I buy all my headphones blind buy

[@josuegt1213]

Does anybody know whats the name of the microphone use in the video minute 8:08 i will really appreciate it

[@byversus8227]

how is it compared to arya stealth? I noticed that u never mentioned this headphones since its review

[@nazibkhan775]

I have the Edition XS and it's easily the best sounding headphones I own. My only complains are the comfort and the build quality. Comfort is something I can overlook for a better sound quality, but man the build quality for this price point is absolute trash. The headband extension creaks and it's a sharp metallic sound that annoys the heck out of me. I even got a replacement through the warranty and the second pair has this issue as well. Really wish Hifiman did more for the sound quality of these amazing sounding cans. Who knows maybe I'll just end up changing the headband altogether sometime in the future. But yeah, just wish it was more comfortable and better built

[@KmtS9]

Got this a few weeks ago for $250! After contemplating since last year - back when it was $400. Thank goodness i waited. Now just waiting for the HD600 to restock from where i buy from and i should be set for a little while.

[@danb5779]

Do you recommend a better cable? I love this headphone and was thinking about it.

[@jacktaylor8308]

appreciate the videos! I am looking to get my first hi-fi setup (purely for music listening) and the sundara just went on sale for $180! For someone just getting into this hobby, is the moondrop dawn pro plus the magni+ a good enough dac and amplifier combo or is there a cheaper but still quality option I'm better starting off with?

[@tpro7224]

Moondrop Dawn Pro ok, but they really shine with more power. 4.4mm balanced cable a necessity.

[@j.concepcion9168]

Got this with the Fiio K11 R2R for gaming and music. No complaints. Using the Capra suspension strap I can wear these for hours without fatigue.

[@WrathOfTheGoth]

The Sundara headband is its biggest weakness for me. I have a big head and the design of the Sundara puts all the stress point on the weakest components of the headband. I went through 3 headbands over 3 years with mine. Love the sound. The price was good...until you factor in that each replacement headband from Sundara was in the neighborhood of $125. Now, you also have to understand that I put my headphones through a lot. I work remote and game a lot. I pretty much use my Sundaras (with an Antlion ModMic) 10 - 16 hours a day, 7 days a week. Since my third headband just snapped at the joint between the leather strap and the plastic housing (again) last week, this video could not be more timely. Going to give these a try. Visually, the headband design looks a lot stronger. Combine that with equivalent/better sound and it makes the most sense to me out of the options I have looked at (I feel like my next jump in headphones after this is going to go over the $500 range and into some of the more eye watering $1K+ stuff). My only hesitation are the comments about having a warmer sound. I prefer very neutral headphones. But excited to try these out.

[@BoomerPlusUltra]

I love the sundara and wore them a lot and had the headphone snap thanks to my big head. These have a headband that hurts my head. Go ahead and try them, but be warned.

[@WrathOfTheGoth]

@@BoomerPlusUltra thanks! I have seen similar warnings elsewhere. Was it the band across the top of your head or the clamping force or both?

[@jo54763]

Hey, I was able to buy an HE1000 headband and modify it to fit my Sundara. The original headband broke just in the same way you described. It cost me $25 on Aliexpress and took about an hour to trim down and fit into the Sundara. However, I will say, it was quite stressful taking apart the headband the first time.

[@yehieldavid]

What is the Boom Mic that you showcased on the video with the XS? I'm trying to find it online but can't. They make a great pair and thinking of getting it.

[@EuphieEuphoria]

Meze boom mic

[@glssjg]

IDK man we'll have to see what the Fiio FT1 Pro brings to the table

[@jinx20001]

hifiman have been making some waves with their pricing and its good to see because great headphones are great pretty much forever but they drop these things to 269, arya v3 stealths under $600, i couldnt believe that shizz, they were $1600 at release then down to $1300 and now they are brushing the price of higher end gaming headsets and are levels above, they have some great refurbished deals also. I like that they move the stack down in order to replace them with successors at the same price rather than just pushing the prices sky high with those successors and they should be commended for this. the XS at this price is stunning.

[@tksamac]

What is the microphone you recommend for the gaming hybrid setup? Please

[@IntheDAW]

how does it compare to the hifiman ananda nano?