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

[@Kal8719]

I bought them for $500 after watching the review...and loved them ever since. It's a fantastic deal.

[@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 :(

[@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

[@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.

[@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

[@SpookySkeletonGang]

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

[@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)

[@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

[@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.

[@orlandosaez9604]

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

[@SMShoaibBD]

Please do a comparisn review between Arya Stealth and XS

[@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

[@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 😁

[@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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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!

[@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

[@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?

[@Phaseish]

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

[@Dp3ch3Mod3UndrGround]

These or the Sennheiser 660S2? I prefer my cans on the more bassy side.

[@sundayparam]

edition XS are way cheaper. Just bc of that id go for the XS

[@tpro7224]

More bass than Senns hands down. 4.4mm balanced cable a necessity. They really shine with higher power dac/amps.

[@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

[@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.

[@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?

[@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...

[@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.

[@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

[@markharwood7573]

I wonder whether the 18 ohm rating makes them really easy to drive. My wife plays a digital piano through 'phones and likes the Sennheiser HD595 & 600 but they need an outboard amp because the piano's built-in headphone amp is just slightly under-powered. It might be good to bypass the extra amp if these 'phones were loud enough.

[@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?

[@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?)

[@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%

[@arturtarnowski4023]

Is it better than Aune AR5000 in your opinion?

[@CoffeeGameMovie]

Im curious about this too, AND the fiio FT1 pro is in the corner it will be a monster in this 250-400$ range.

[@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.

[@CinemaDemocratica]

I listen almost exclusively to what might be described as "hotel bar jazz" -- for example, Cyrus Chestnut's "Blues for Nita" : Small ensemble, piano-dominated, accessible. Mostly trios and quartets, at very low volume. (I also need to add a microphone.) For me it's down to this set, or the new Meze 105. They're roughly price-appropriate and this seems to be a more even-across-the-full-spectrum offering, but I worry a little about Josh's comment regarding these being "thin in the lower midrange." That doesn't sound like the best con to find in a headset that's going to be playing a lot of piano music. So what does the room think? For my use-case, these or the 105's? (TIA)

[@danjones7561]

I just tried "Cyrus Chestnut's "Blues for Nita"". A few notes later, I put it in my favorites :)

[@CinemaDemocratica]

@@danjones7561 I'm too old and crotchety for playlists but I'm happy to share a few track titles and artists that I like (and you can and should do the same, obv). I wonder if Josh would be happier if we did that here, or in the comment thread of one of my own vids? I don't know the etiquette.

[@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

[@avenger7800]

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

[@cziperlan1374]

I've picked the XS up on a summer sale a few months back and have been daily driving them since simultaniously with the HD600s. I would say that I've found my endgame with these two and don't really know if there is even worth in chasing the hifi cloud even further. Though I'm wondering if I should pull the trigger on a tube amp just to see what it's like with my gear.

[@rafaml]

Hey! How do you think those two compare? Which do you prefer?

[@michaeljbus]

For a tube amp to play nicely with the XS you'd need to get either a hybrid or a high end amp with plenty of current, not an OTL amp or high voltage / low current amp. I have a TA-26S which sounds great on my HD560S/6XX/800S, but distorts to high hell with any Hifiman planar (tested Sundara, Ananda, Arya Stealth). Can use it as a tube preamp for a solid state amp but I don't notice much difference in sound. Could be worth looking at something like a schiit Lyr+, TA22 or similar. Truthfully though the differences with amps are subtle, if you have a good enough amp your money is probably better spent on a different sounding set of headphones.

[@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

[@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.

[@dhiaoshaish]

I like techno and electronic music, i also love synth. will these do well with this type of music

[@griper00]

not really. unless you eq them. so i guess yes and no but the eq is basically mandatory. they are also kinda treble heavy so keep that in mind.

[@MadelnMachines]

Me too - I like the Ananda Nano and Ayra Organic and LCDX - didn't like the Ayra Stealth or Focal Clear. Haven't heard the XS though.

[@stolester]

How is ananda nano for electronic music​@@MadelnMachines

[@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.

[@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. 😎

[@tksamac]

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

[@B-0-K-1]

I have a question for all audio nerds out here: lets say we have two pairs of headphones, one with bad frequency response curve (if I'm not using the correct terminology I'm referring to the graph shown multiple times throughout the video) but it uses equaliser type programm to dampen/enhance the volume in frequencies where it's needed and one with the perfect curve (is it a straight line?), will there be a difference, assuming identical end volume? Is it even possible to equalise the curve like that and why won't all the manufacturers do it?

[@FabioGrenkh]

What would be the next step up over the Xs? Arya Organic?

[@lazyviolinist3418]

I would be between getting these or the Focal Azurys. Cost is probably going to make me go with the Hifiman, if the performance of the Focals isn't that much better. What do you think?

[@thatzaliasguy]

Anyone know the microphone cable shown at 8:08?

[@marley720]

I upgraded from Hifiman Sundaras to OG Focal Clears, and would like another Hifiman headphone to compliment it. It would either be the XS or Arya stealth (which is also heavily discounted). Do you think that the soundstage and technicals of this headphone would make it worth purchasing, or would it sound bad in comparison?

[@CalmlySith]

Arya has the better build quality, if that matters to you. XS feels Super cheap really, imagine when you shake the cans, it sounds plasticky... Both sound amazing though. (Arya is Brighter, better separation and technicality.) To me XS build is not good…just ok 😅, I wouldn’t keep it for collection. But if for daily drive at 245$ is insane deal.

[@zdbosoxfan3670]

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

[@JinX0011]

Josh - any chance you could recommend any specific DAC and AMP to pair these with (from your recommendations in the description or other)? With the money I'm saving, time to upgrade LOTS of things! Say, budget is around $400...maybe $500 for something amazing. For reference, I'm currently using a iFi Zen v2, but the balanced input has gone bad, so time for something new.

[@CalmlySith]

Although you didn’t ask me but, I’d recommend looking into SMSL Raw-MDA1 around 345$. It balance and sounds Sooo good with my XS and other planars.

[@JinX0011]

@@CalmlySith Thank you for your response! Much appreciated! Looks like it may be down around $240 currently!

[@CalmlySith]

@@JinX0011 You’re welcome!!! Try them out if you can. To me, Either go with this tier, or Jump up to R2R. To my ears It’s a Bigger jump than keep buying a similar stuff(dac/amp) over and over. I’m not a DAC collector so no thank you. 😂 PS: Raw-Mda1 paired Great with my HE1000 Stealth too. ofc, R2R is better for maybe 20%.

[@JinX0011]

​@@CalmlySith Got the SMSL Raw-MDA1 hooked up today. Getting lots of crackling/popping noises, trouble with audio cutting out on the balanced headphone output. Restarting the device seems to fix the audio cutting out, but the crackling/popping is a little irritating. Maybe static electricity related, but I've not had a problem with this before on other dac/amps. Tried updating firmware, but still faint crackles/pops occasionally. I've read some others having similar problems over on audiosciencereview. How about you?

[@JinX0011]

​@@CalmlySith ​ @CalmlySith Got the SMSL Raw-MDA1 hooked up today. Getting lots of crackling/popping noises, trouble with audio cutting out on the balanced headphone output. Restarting the device seems to fix the audio cutting out, but the crackling/popping is a little irritating. Maybe static electricity related, but I've not had a problem with this before on other dac/amps. Tried updating firmware, but still faint crackles/pops occasionally. I've read some others having similar problems over on another forum (I can't seem to type the name w/o my reply being deleted). How about you?

[@BoneDaddy3309]

What's your choice between Edition XS and AR5000 for gaming/music?

[@rickgear2579]

WOuld you recommend this or the Aune5000 for gaming. Both have a similar price and I can only pick one!

[@Ilyin_Ivan]

Thanks for the review, Joshua. These headphones are really great and give maximum detail and sound for their price. I bought them in March 2023, along with the Hifiman EF400. I can say that it's not a bad combination, but these headphones can sound much better. Together with the Hifiman EF400, some of the musical material sounded quite tedious and even painful. But relatively recently, I replaced the amplifier with the Aune S9c pro. And my God, they played 200% better than the Hifiman EF400. One of the decisive factors in buying Aune was your review of it.

[@Alex-oj8po]

Sad to hear this cause I just bought these headphones (still waiting for them to arrive) and I have a EF400. I'm wondering did you have them plugged into the 3.5mm or the 4.4mm ports? Because for some reason Hifiman decided to have quite a high output impedance on those ports and I find pretty much everything I plug into those specific outputs sounds quite bad.

[@Ilyin_Ivan]

@Alex-oj8po I connected to 4 pin XLR.

[@Alex-oj8po]

@@Ilyin_Ivan Ok well that's disappointing. Still waiting for them to arrive. I do also have a Lyr 3 to try them on if I find the EF400 painful and the problem isn't the DAC

[@ju20asf]

Audeze Maxwell vs these? Sat with both in my basket and not sure what to pull the trigger one. Love wireless, happy to go wired if its that much better. Mostly music, movies and single player games.

[@kaos_4043]

How is it compare to Arya? I have Arya for reference

[@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.

[@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.

[@Igor-ol5kz]

What do you think when you compare then with the Audio-Technica R70X?

[@JPX728]

Great video, quick question can I drive these with just my phone s23 Ultra, MacBook, Samsung s10 ultra tablet or do they require amp/external dac? and if they do what would be a good budget one to pair with these. Don't want to spend more that the cost of the headphone lol

[@tpro7224]

Moondrop Dawn Pro for dongle DAC, but they really shine with better power. Act quickly though, they're going fast.... this vid has 100k+ views!

[@tpro7224]

Oh, and 4.4mm balanced cable... like $30 on Amazon, but they're are better ones available too.

[@JPX728]

@@tpro7224 much appreciated for the info 🙌🏽

[@Larkinzzz]

How are these in cup size compared to the Sundara?

[@mattrismatt]

Unlike the circular cups and pads of the Sundara, the Edition XS has HIFIMAN's ear-shaped cups and pads... so only larger/protruding ears will make contact with the headphone.

[@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!

[@s18018]

I know they're different prices, but LCD-X (2021) vs Edition XS ?

[@fobesreece]

I just got the sundaras open box for 180. If i had a budget of 400 max to get a dac/amp to oair with it, would you recommend returning to get the XS and a worse dac/amp? Or stick with the sundaras and get a better dac/amp?

[@mikekreeki]

Newbie question: Would these make good music production/monitoring headphones? Compared to those specifically marketed as monitoring headphones?

[@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.

[@sirjonsmithiii992]

My daily is HIFIMAN HE-560 V4. I recently bought skullcurshers ANC 2 to replace my broken work out headphones. Makes me realize how much I miss bass. I don't want the fake bass for my standard phones, but not sure what to upgrade to.

[@chadlanc]

What's good for heavy bass?

[@tpro7224]

Fiio FT3 32 ohm are very good for price, great bass. Hifiman the better choice overall tho.

[@kingstoler]

HD650/ 600 remain the best bang for your buck. For planars I'd much rather pick something like the Audeze MM-100 than any Hifiman.

[@byversus8227]

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

[@RarePotions]

Since they are both around the same price but one is wireless, how does the Audeze Maxwell compare music and gaming wise to these headphones?

[@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. 😎

[@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".

[@oviyenessh23]

can I know what microphone did you attached to the hifiman edition XS in the video?

[@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.

[@issadad]

Do these require an amp? Or will they play well off an iPhone 14?

[@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.

[@joonasvahasalo6635]

how about HE6se V2 being available as open box for 399 for a year in their online store ? How does that shake it up

[@ralden9983]

this. ive tried both and he6se v2 are on another league but i had to return my first pair since qc is still bad and there was a huge imbalance

[@anonamouse5917]

I see they have an 18 ohm impedance. What amp would you recommend to drive these at concert levels?

[@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.

[@victorkangnz]

Awesome review! I love the intro music - is it on any of the streaming platforms? Can I get the artist and track title?

[@Jacksndaie]

Do these run well from the recent MacBook Pro dac/amp?

[@emeruen]

is this a good upgrade from the ananda stealth?

[@mpdx0]

I loved these headphones but the build quality was concerning… ended up returning and went with aune ar5000.

[@edenight893]

I know you are not fond of the arya stealth but what about its current price point at 659€(I dont know for the $ market), it's almost half the cost of the arya organic and I dont really know if it's worth the difference. Thx in advance for any response.

[@shayeinge9932]

Josh, does it make any sense to buy this if i own 2020 sundaras and the focal elex? Our likes for sound are very similar so a yes or no could be really helpful.

[@EnsoReloaded]

How is timbre compared to Sundara?

[@amanieux]

how does it compares with sub $269 iem ?

[@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

[@Demactus]

How would you compare these against the new Sennheiser 490 pro? the Sennheiser also had a price drop and I can get them around 360 here whereas the Edition XS costs me 330 so would be good to know

[@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.

[@hunteer963]

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

[@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!

[@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.

[@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.

[@carlosmanueldelgadonule2313]

How do these comopare to the DT 880 or K702 for Classical Music use?

[@MadLadsAnonymous]

How are these against Aune AR5000, SR7000?

[@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.

[@areitz1962]

How's the comfort?

[@tpro7224]

Might be big and loose for some. Not tight for sure.

[@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.

[@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!