The Best Headphone for $500!

Hifiman XS Here - apos.audio/products/hifiman-e...
Sundara Here - amzn.to/3qwA2Y4
HD660s here - amzn.to/3qvSXSP
DT1990 Here - amzn.to/3iuLbUG
TOP 3 FAVORITE BUDGET HEADPHONES
🥇 HD560S - amzn.to/3NwLeNM
🥈 SHP 9600 - amzn.to/3NEsoEo
🥉 K361 - amzn.to/3xxKQsM
Favorite headphones
🥇 DIANA TC - abyss-headphones.com/products...
🥈Arya - apos.audio/products/hifiman-a...
🥉 DT1990Pro - amzn.to/3MzsBrg
TOP 3 FAVORITE CLOSED BACK HEADPHONES
🥇 Sony Z1R - amzn.to/3aDxOB4
🥈 Sony Z7 - amzn.to/3O0C2Bd
🥉 K361 - amzn.to/3xxKQsM
BEST Amplifiers -
🥇 Topping A90 - apos.audio/products/topping-a...
🥈 THX 789 / 887 - amzn.to/3QdJ0Vq
🥉 DX3 Pro - amzn.to/3O1wF4H
IEMS
🥇 Sennheiser IE300 - amzn.to/3Q8svd3
🥈 Moondrop Aria - amzn.to/3aEytlG
🥉(budget Option) - Tin T2 - amzn.to/39g6eta
SPEAKERS
🥇 SVS ULTRA Towers - amzn.to/3xzt9sU
🥈 Vanatoo T1E - amzn.to/3O5ag6q
🥉 Micca RB42 - amzn.to/3aBmXHP
ACCESSORIES
iFix It - amzn.to/3NCok7O
Soundrise Pro Stands - amzn.to/3tphpXt
IEM TIP Storage - amzn.to/3NAMQ9r
Headphone Case - amzn.to/39xOlkF​​​​​​​​
My Filming Equipment
Camera - A7S-3 - amzn.to/3mynq00
Sigma 24-70mm - amzn.to/3MtKBmQ
Sony 90mm - amzn.to/3QarT6P
​​Sachtler Flowtech 75 - amzn.to/3H4WEG9
Ronin RS2 - amzn.to/3HdOgUP
GVM Slider - amzn.to/3Q8nEIV
These are my genuine recommendations in various categories. They are affiliated links that help pay for this KZbin channel at no additional cost to you.
SOCIAL MEDIA
📷 / joshua.valour
🔔 / joshvalour
📫SENDING FOR REVIEW??📫
Email Me - [e-mail]
#Headphones​​​ #Bestunder500 #Hifiman
*As an Amazon, Drop and Apos Associate I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.
I use this money back towards the quality of video of this channel. To see how, watch this video - • AWESOME Studio Tour! -...

[@cptpepper7731]

I'm a new owner of Hifiman Edition XS, which I'm running off the Topping DX3 pro+. I admit that I'm new to this hobby, so perhaps my standards are a bit different and I'm not as fussy as other customers. In short, these headphones are a noticeable upgrade from the Philips Fidelio x2hr that I also own. Comfort: no issues. A lot of people are complaining about the lack of clamp tightness, but it seems fine to me and I don't have a big head. Certainly, they are not as tight as the Philips Fidelio and but after listening to the XS for a week now I find my Philips a bit too tight, so as you can see it's a matter of perspective. Once you get used to them, you don't notice they're on your head. Having said that, they will fall off if you try to dance with them on your head, but for normal lounging and listening to music, they're just fine. . As far as the sound, it's heaven. I think I prefer the Philips for heavy rock, but for everything else (jazz, classical, instrumental, vocals) the XS is on another level. The music has an almost haunting presence; it pulls you in. I'm not going to pretend that I know all the audiophile lingo about sound stage, imaging, etc. Suffice it to say, they are the best headphones I've ever owned and for me they're the endgame for this hobby. I have no reason to spend any more money on anything better. This is most likely the point of diminishing returns. I hope this help. I've certainly read many comments before finally pulling the trigger.

[@barbarapearce7323]

I feel like more comparisons to the ananda would’ve been really helpful here.

[@theunsbotha5188]

Yeah, very strange...

[@luigismilazzo]

Joshua have to sell the product at the higher price point.

[@theunsbotha5188]

@@luigismilazzo youtubers being youtubers I guess.

[@CapaNoisyCapa]

@@thibaultvandenbossche7639 Man, that kid is a troll.

[@bbeeezzy]

Yeah a rather conspicuous omission for sure. As an Ananda owner and big fan, I was disappointed too. But iirc Josh never liked the Ananda much at all, so not terribly surprising they're barely mentioned here. Anyway I really dug the video and I now feel that I have a decent understanding where the XS sit, overall. I hope to get a chance to try them, although, I admit I'm a little worried what that might mean for the Ananda's place in my collection. ha So thanks, Josh! Great work as always. :)

[@ryanbates7006]

Thank you so much for doing this review! I've been looking at this one for a couple months but couldn't pull the trigger until you did a review! Bought it today.

[@Gabriel.Glacial]

Exellent review, as always. Especially that you include comparisons to many headphones, especially the famous Sundara. This is very useful!

[@MichaelChan0308]

Finally! Love you vid Joshua. But can you cover the power requirements of Edition XS too?

[@davidmason8212]

Simply the best XS review on the youtube till now. Excellent explanation with alot of details many thanks for this nice review.

[@downwardspiral3252]

Thank you Joshua...I've watched many of your videos...I've learned a lot. I'm pretty much convinced to get the Hifiman XS, but I wanna make sure I power them correctly. Would you say the Schiit Fulla 4 dac/amp combo would do a good job on these? or do I need something more (THX 789?)

[@Bushviking]

As an owner of HD600 and Edition XS I think your impressions are spot-on. Well done, great review, tyvm!

[@Nordraw]

Those are my go to also

[@Wingedmagician]

HD600 and Sundara are the goto bang for buck. But you can go that extra $150 for the XS!

[@chefsteve8381]

He never mentioned the HD600 only the HD660s unfortunately.

[@immanueljungheim8512]

Thanks for the great video. But I also would've liked to see a comparison to the Ananda. :-)

[@IndecisiveConclusion]

Nice video, nice review! This is definitely more my price range, it sounds like the sound signature for me. What is that outro track? Also if you care for some highly detailed electronic productions for testing out headphones I have a couple suggestions. Tipper - Jettison mind hatch Ultimae records... Martin nonstatic, AES Dana, cell, not. And Anthony Baldoni - twelve twenty two

[@Andyhandle]

Enjoyable and in formative review thanks (from someone who's considering their first hifiman).

[@Pink-Kiwi]

was hoping to move from he400se to sundara but seeing as this thing aint a ridiculously large amount more than the sundara i might as well go a little further and get the XS, thanks for the review mate

[@henrikjutterstrom5639]

Thanks for compairing with DT-1990 Pro! That gives me a good reference. I found out that I really like headphones that can separate instruments in music. That’s why I really love the 1990. And also its tuning allthough a bit bright, but thats solved in eq.

[@AsreiMurasame]

You would have loved the V2 Arya. It is really in a world of it's own when it comes to separation and layering! I just wish Hi-fiman didn't discontinue it :\

[@tecno4u31]

So which has more detail and separation Dt or EXS?

[@LandsPlanes]

which is better dt 1990 vs edition xs?

[@alexjones1356]

​@@LandsPlanesdefiantly the xs. It has double the soundstage and less siblant

[@wyn2208]

@@LandsPlanes (I realize this is an old comment so I'm gonna respond for future readers) Personally I prefer the 1990, the XS are amazing headphones, their imaging and soundstage is the best I've personally tried, but I just find the 1990 more enjoyable, music just seems to hit different, that's with EQ though(the 1990 is nowhere near as bad as other Beyers when it comes to treble peak but a slight EQ to take the edge off the Analytical pads works very well for me), if we are talking out of the box then the XS is the clear winner IMO, haven't found an EQ that improves the XS... prob worth noting that I like the semi-closed nature of the 1990, I can't really escape noise in my home so the nature of XS cups being basically see through leads to them being terrible when near any kind of sound whereas the 1990 add a certain slight degree of isolation which I appreciate.

[@philipsills5298]

I’m lucky to have a pair of these which I managed to get within the first few weeks of release. Therefore, I’ve had them for a few months now and love them. I would say the bass on these is fantastic and significantly punchier than Sundara which I also own whilst retaining the treble. Great review buddy

[@PXzyan]

hey I have the Sundaras and I love them so much! I also do game... do you?? if you do.. Is the soundstage better? reviews say yes but.. What do you think?

[@millenwagon]

Soundstage and imaging is fab on the XS, finding them to be as good as hd 560s competitively, single player games SUPER immersive. Very impressive wide sound stage

[@mattrismatt]

@@PXzyan It's the Sundara's small-ear-opening pads that hinder their soundstage and imaging. Pad-swapping solves this... if you find a pair of pads that suits your desired sound.

[@PXzyan]

@@mattrismatt Hmm is that so? Before I buy these headphones, Do you know which earpads I should buy to improve soundstage performance?

[@bradhuskers]

@@PXzyan Yes. I owned the sundaras. After hearing the edition xs, I sold the sundaras. The edition xs is better than the sundaras in every single facet.

[@Obloms]

Great video. I got these couple weeks ago and so far these headphones have been very good. I was coming from HD6xx and was debating between HD660s and these and don't really regret going with Hifiman.

[@rigsrm]

how do they compare with the 6xx? do you still use the 6xx or will you always be using the XS from now on?

[@Mitchell999]

Yes what @koumei said, how would you compare? I have the 6xx and have the sundara but thinking on selling the sundara for the edition xs.

[@hesamalavi9]

I watched this video and and your video on Topping DX3 Pro+ and just bought the Hifiman XS and the Topping DX3 Pro+, and I can't thank you enough. Music just sounds so much better.

[@Paul_Strength]

I have the same dac/amp, do you have any other headphones, like Sundaras to compare the XS to? I have wired Deva and it's good, but a bit too sharp on the high notes with the treble. Thinking of buying Sundara or XS, but not sure which one to go with. Would like a bit less of that sharpness on the treble and more detail. If you have any input on this, I would greatly appreciate it sir 🙏. Since you have the same dac and XS, perhaps some other headphones as well

[@hesamalavi9]

@@Paul_Strength hey Paul, they are my only hifi headphones :).

[@stevenrayphoto1280]

Great review as always! I want to make sure I understand what you said in this video. You find the XS has a better upper mid and treble sound than the Arya stealth? If you had to pick between the XS and Arya for mixing and mastering which would you pick?

[@nofxer]

Bought these maybe a couple days after launch, and haven't put them down since. Definitely a great set of headphones to get the taste of the higher end of things without the pain to the wallet lol.. got me to finally set down the Sundaras, as good as they are. A strong recommend, and solid review.

[@thebeastmeister3009]

Hi, how do you find the fit of the Xs's? Are they decently comfortable? Thanks.

[@nofxer]

@@thebeastmeister3009 Out the box, the cups sat pretty good (I have a rather large head so some headphones are hit or miss for me) and the band's good too, but I was getting hot spots (didn't know what that meant until I felt them.. it's weird) so I bought some Dekoni Nuggets, made the problem go away; now I can have them sit on my head for hours at a time and it's chill

[@michaelaskew6025]

I bought them recently and am burning them in but already they sound wonderful. Thanks for the review, Josh.

[@fnvfanMSPR]

burn in doesn't exist

[@massgrave8x]

don't drink the kool aid.

[@LucidPixelsAnimations]

I dont really understand anything but your videos are so calming, they always put me in a good mood.

[@jackwu6740]

Great review! Btw will you be looking at the zmf atrium? For those in Asia it is worth contacting your local hifiman distributor for the edition xs. I got mine under North American MSRP.

[@marksalamon619]

I appreciate hearing your positive impressions of the Hifiman Edition XS. The Rtings headphone review site gave the Edition XS the highest cumulative score [8.7 out of 10] for frequency response accuracy, imaging, and soundstage. I"ve been looking for a pair of planar headphones that can offer good detail and balanced response across the sound spectrum without sacrificing overall "impact", and I think that the Edition XS may occupy that sweet spot at a price that won't break my budget. Several reviewers have mentioned that these headphones may not work well on those with a small head (like me) but I'm hoping I can find a practical solution to give me a comfortable fit if the Edition XS is a bit too big for my cranium.

[@smolzillamakes]

I was the victim of Hi-Fi man's quality control with my XS pair. in certain songs there would be this resonating buzzing in my left ear cup that I could hear and it drove me nuts. I really wanted to love these, but I'm too afraid to get another pair out of fear that I'll have the same exact issue. Which I really shouldn't have to be worrying about at $500 imo

[@Thailerr]

I had this exact problem with my He-4xx. Reach out for a warranty and HiFiMan will repair them. Was worried at first but it did get fixed and haven't had a problem with them for years now.

[@Yxzjvc]

I have the same problem! Got a replacement and it had this too, that sucks! When asking Hifiman they told to not use them with heavy bass, but i really love the planar precision with bass :(

[@ca77721]

@@YxzjvcThey told you not to use them with heavy bass?WTF

[@Yxzjvc]

@@ca77721 yes they did. Whatever "heavy" means.. Got a used Lcd-x now, i won't have any loudness issues with these anymore i guess ;)

[@Dibromatic]

Really respect the review style. Even a video that claims a best headphone is lacking hype and level headed.

[@joelmunoz6218]

Hello... Thanks for the review. What desktop amp would you recommend for the Edition XS? Thanks!

[@themastroiannis]

great review... thanks! we need a serious review (yours!) of the Avantone Planar. very few reviews online and not one which is trustworthy. read somewhere that it can compete with the Audeze LCD-X in neutrality and texture, but that seems pretty ambitious! hope you can get your "ears" on those Avantones.... thanks again!

[@heyguyslolGAMING]

Thx for the vid Josh. I heard the 660S recently at a local dealer and I must say I was quite impressed w/ it when compared to my HD58x.

[@m4nc1n1]

I upgraded my 58X to the 660s. Sold the 58X, but will always love that headphone. I have been into HiFi and home theater for 30 years but just got into headphones about 2 years ago. 58X was my first "good" set, and it was hard to sell.

[@makafuniruni]

I got the 660s, as replacement of my SUndara cuz the timbre was just not doin it for me on tha hp. And with eq it's a really really good headphone. But, I eventually returned it to try the xs. Glad i did.

[@pliedtka]

@@m4nc1n1 I did mod the 58X as per Solderdude to make more alive and smoother - very decent headphones, especially with a bit of EQ. Very comfy, like all of the 6** family. Only the narrow staging would be my major complain.

[@damiengrief]

How does this compare to the Hifiman HE500? I've had one for a while and I love its sound, but even after modding the headband, it's not super comfortable to wear for long periods of time. And I've been looking for a potential upgrade over them in terms of sound anyway. Was looking at other planars and was unsure if the XS or the Ananda would be good upgrades over the HE500 or not.

[@issomeonethere]

Little late to the party, but I just bought the XS and running it with my FiiO K7 balanced... and I could not be happier! It was really awesome the second I put it on for the first time. It fits my head very well, but I needd to do some hifiman repair aka bending out of the box... Thanks for a great review, as allways!

[@chad6]

Early xs gang rise up! Had these for a few months now, glad to see them getting the attention they deserve

[@thebeastmeister3009]

Hey, how do you find the comfort of them? Are they mostly comfortable? Thanks.

[@Jefafa73]

Will agree on the comfort controversy. I bought the XS about a month ago and the headband created a very sharp hot spot after about 30ish minutes. I loved the sound though, so I decided to go up to the Ananda. Only two downsides of the Ananda vs XS is the highs and low bass. Ananda bass extension is still there, but it rolls off vs the XS. The highs on the Ananda can be a tad bright, but not overly harsh and I slightly prefer the highs on the Ananda vs the XS, but I know sound is preference and it's not a "night and day" difference imo.

[@millenwagon]

I had the same issue but a large geekria hook and loop cover cured the hot spot. I can now wear these all day with complete comfort.

[@MarylandDevin]

Even on the tightest setting they sit too far down on my head and are too loose. I don't think I have a particularly small head. I've never had this problem before. I'm torn on if I'm going to keep them or not.

[@Jefafa73]

@@MarylandDevin I had that issue too. I might ha e gotten one notch on each side at most.

[@MarylandDevin]

@@Jefafa73 I was thinking about the ananda. Were you saying the bass isn't as much as the xs? I'm a bit of a bass head. Even the xs I had to eq in some more bass. I'm not sure I could live with less bass. I might have to look elsewhere altogether

[@Jefafa73]

@@MarylandDevin if you don't want to eq then I would look elsewhere due to the mention of being a bass head. Nothing wrong with that!! The Ananda matches the bass of Harmon target at 110hz and has a gradual roll off similar to the XS, but the XS stays "neutral" to Harmon down to 100hz with a "rolloff". Since I have the ears of an elephant I stuck with the Ananda and eq'd the bass up. If you're familiar with Oratory1990, I used that bass eq and left the rest of the eq alone.

[@VaalkinTheOnly]

I really love the original tags on this video XD I love it

[@aljaztrdina142]

Great review! Quick question: In 2024 for the same price, would you go for Ananda or Edition XS? 🎧🎶🔊 Driver on my Sundara broke and I am looking for an upgrade.

[@dreamstormPL]

Great review as always! I have similar opinion to yours regarding XS. I have these headphones for about a month, bought them nearly new for about 420$. I had latest review of Sundara before for a while. For me XS is a clear step up from Sundara. Sundara's build quality is better, but XS is not bad at all. For me they are much more comfortable than Sundaras. Sundara has softer pads but much more clamping force which I didn't like. Pards in XS are more stiffer. At first I thought they will be uncomfortable but I got used to it very quickly. In one point I can't agree - for me soundstage in XS is much wider than in Sundara. I guess it might vary on different amps. I use a handmade high quality amp/dac - much more expensive than these headphones and they scale really well with good amp. I also tried them with Dragonfly black and they are still fine. I still think that Sundaras are impressive at about 350$. I was amazed how close they were to my modified Beyerdynamic T1v1 - mainly in details. I'd love to hear XS with softer pads from dekoni, however I'm afraid that they will loose some soundstage when softer pads brings headphones closer to the hears. I guess I will risk it. I mainly listen to prog rock and other kinds of rock and some electronic music (Riverside, Archive, King Crimson, Pink Floyd, Tool, Lunatic soul, Mike Oldfield). Sundaras was lacking a bit of bass in this kind of music. While Sundaras sound just right and nautral, the XS have this wow effect. I highly recommend it :)

[@immanueljungheim8512]

Riverside FTW ❤️

[@ishanparikh5587]

Metalhead who also happens to listen to a lot of prog rock here. Can completely confirm this!! The XS does rock and metal music so much better than the sundaras do without sounding unnatural or bloaty.

[@aeonikus1]

Would you be so kind to shed some light about HP amp and DAC you mentioned? Is it some kind of DIY from any forum or is it your design? Tez dużo słucham Riverside i Lunatic Soul, nie mówiąc o pozostałych grupach które wymieniłeś :) Powiedz coś więcej o swoim sprzęcie do takiej muzy :)

[@dreamstormPL]

@@aeonikus1 Miło poznać kogoś o podobnym guście muzycznym. Już dawno nie mam XS. Jak je miałem to podpinałem pod EarStream kombo (amp/dac). Aktualnie mam na sprzedaż. Robiłem potem testy aq dragonfly black i to jednak nie grało dobrze. Góra w XS była ostra. Mój tor teraz nie jest typowo pod prog rock ale bardziej pod muzykę live, ale prog rock też na tym brzmi swietnie. Dac to BRZHIFI Nxc10 a AMP to Gustard H20 z wymienionymi opampami. Słuchawki crosszone cz-1 z kablem forza noire xlr i drugie Gold planar GL 2000. Mam jeszcze Avantone Planar. Avantony są świetne do prog rocka i w swojej cenie wymiatają, ale GL2000 to jest top topów. Potrzebują toru bardzo wysokiej klasy (i dużej mocy) ale jak to dostaną to dla mnie są lepsze niż Focal Utopia, choć inne. Na pewno lepsze dla mnie niż Abyssy. Znajomy twierdzi, że lepsze niż Susvary ale ja nie słyszałem Susvar. Do prog rocka fajne są Focale, bo mają dobrą dynamikę. Uwielbiam też cz-1 bo żadne inne słuchawki nie potrafią grać taką sceną, ale jest to zależne od realizacji.

[@ricardocamejomedilusa1038]

I think that Aeon X is very good in this price range, I agreed with DMS in this one, but im gona try this too

[@Sh0n0]

Aeon X is too big and goofy looking

[@LilBrujoFH18]

i just bought the hifiman edition xs for $500. i enjoy them. still enjoy my 660s

[@ToysForTheGods]

Do you feel these are better than the Drop + Dan Clark collab with the Aeon open X? I have been looking at both as a compliment to the Focal Elex.

[@jorgenjakobpetersen675]

Hi Josh, thanks for your many good reviews. I have a wish from you: when you describe comfort, could you include the lying down comfort? I believe the greatest advantage of headphones is portability and flexibility in use, I almost always use my headphones lying down and with my phone connected to my audioquest dragonfly cobalt. It's just so convenient, I won't sit right up two hours to hear a Mahler symphony or an opera....just to lazy for that . Thanks again for a great channel

[@lukasjanecka9996]

Same here. I really like to just lie down and relax to music with headphones which is a surprisingly big problem from my experience especially when you have a smaller head like I do. So many headphones are either too heavy or too loose for lying position - they would just slide down. And I would argue this is actually even bigger problem as most reviewers seem to prefer looser headphones over tighter ones. I personally consider the fit of HD600 line perfect because the headphones sit so securely on my head I could almost headbang with them :D And yet they are not uncomfortable. This gives me great sense of freedom and allows me to immerse in music more which matters a lot.

[@robg8963]

I've tried laying down with Ananda. Nope.

[@flyingpotato5652]

I just bought mine and they are a joy to listen to. If you have a pair listen to classical guitar, it is super sparkly and feels like it’s right there. Also the 8d audio videos are fun. If you close your eyes you can follow the sound while it dances around your mind, even above and below

[@kapaaaau]

How are you feeling with long-time usage, do your ears get some breathability over long periods of usage?

[@flyingpotato5652]

@@kapaaaau very breathable! I wouldn’t even call them over ear it’s more like overhead. They are massive. My cable for them recently started to break a little but it still works and is only a small problem!

[@heltunikt]

​@@flyingpotato5652 your cable started to break after just 2 months??

[@sunlonn]

The edition xs has a promotion in my place with just usd 400! I will buy it, thanks for your video!

[@nurmbms90]

Hey josh, great video as always. Just to check, apart from the bass, when you compare it to the arya, is it the stealth or none stealth?

[@MrBlitzpunk]

I actually think the egg-shaped hifimans is one of the best looking headphone imo. It looks so proper and audiophile-ish. I really wanted to get one of those but back then the cheapest option is i think the Anandas. But now there's a cheaper alternative, so im really looking forward to getting this one someday

[@utube9487]

Save your money, buy a 5 series Sennheiser (don't even need the 6 series) and at normal listening volumes they sound the same as the Edition XS.

[@MrBlitzpunk]

@@utube9487 i mean speaking solely on aesthetic, i don't like the looks of HD500, the 600 lineups though look sexy af. And speaking of sound, i already have a HE400se, the closest Sennheiser contender to that is the 560s? Not much of an upgrade i think. Was planning to get sundara in the future but damn i might as well got with the XS for the look alone

[@badgermcbadger1968]

@@utube9487 did you try both?

[@CapaNoisyCapa]

@@MrBlitzpunk If you already have the HE400se, it would be wise to save up a little more and take a bigger step. Don't get me wrong, the Sundaras are great, but you won't notice that much difference unless you start listening to the headphones instead of just enjoy music. I'd also look for some "low end" Focals. I was bored of the "planar sound" and got an Elegia for a very good price. It's a detail monster, punches way harder than my biodynas Denon and Fostex (let anole planars), but don't listen to anything poorly recorded/produced with them unless you like being tortured. ;-)

[@badgermcbadger1968]

@@CapaNoisyCapa elegia? Why not elex?

[@harrisonwu5881]

I am looking for a new headphones. Currently using a hd 58x and looking for an upgrade. Would you recommend dt 1990 pro or the XS? I play games and watch movie a lot

[@Hari-kx2er]

At the nick of time, when I was thinking of upgrading from Sundara to Edition XS!

[@inscythe]

Watching this review with my own Edition XS (also with the Dekoni Arya pads). Since it is my first egg-shaped Hifiman, I really am pleased with the tingly sensation just under my ears when the bass hits.

[@rafioled8997]

How would you compare the sound quality with and without the dekoni arya pads?

[@endody9519]

@@rafioled8997 Zeos (Z_reviews) made a review comparing the XS to the Ananda where he compared 4 types of dekoni pads on both headphones. (spoiler alert) out of the 4 pads tested Zeos preferred the ones that where the closest to the stock pads on the XS. Personally i find the stock pads very comfortable.

[@inscythe]

@@rafioled8997 I use the Dekoni sheepskin leather. It does tame the treble quite a bit and bump up the subbass slightly.

[@radissimo1]

@@endody9519 apart causing slight itchiness, but although sounds is IMHO better with dekoni sheepskin I perhaps need to grow to...

[@thebeastmeister3009]

Hi, how do the Xs's fit? Are they generally pretty comfortable? Thanks

[@tecno4u31]

Hi! Which has more detail and separation... Dt 1990 or Edition Xs? Thanks a lot.

[@adrianmorrish8494]

Nice Josh, where can I pick up a set of the areas 😁, I have the Sundara 2020 and the Deva Pro, is it really worth having this as well or maybe to replace mu Sundaras, I don't have an infinite wall or wallet space 🙂

[@adrianmorrish8494]

Actually has anyone tried both these and the Dev Pro in terms of bass quality and quantity?

[@mrg9279]

Great review

[@what_the_duckk]

These were the absolute best headphones I ever had the experience of owning but had to return them unfortunately due to the fit. It really is hit or miss with the fit. But the sound was exceptional, even for someone like me who hates headphones without any sort of bass impact.

[@MichaelChan0308]

What fit issue do you have Sir? I have a small head and this is extremely loose, but I fixed it with a US$15 headband

[@what_the_duckk]

@@MichaelChan0308 I find it kinda silly to have to purchase an accessory in order to wear something that costs $500. I thought about doing that but I decided against it and there’s no guarantee that it would’ve helped.

[@thiagotrevisandesouza6895]

@@MichaelChan0308 Witch headband?

[@timc_2433]

@@what_the_duckk what did you replace them with?

[@what_the_duckk]

@@timc_2433 I tried the 5XX but felt underwhelmed. I decided I’ll try and save up for the Anandas as they’ll likely be the most similar to the XS but with better clamp force (at least, that’s what I’m hoping for…)

[@vicdiablo003]

What’s your thoughts on the HE-X4? Would you recommend it ?

[@jaysboredman]

around 10:00 you started to talk about the importance in distinction of enjoyment headphones and technical headphones for producing. Could you make a video on the best 500$ headphones for Music Production?

[@sudheshsankarkk]

Thanks for sharing 🙏

[@Bigears616]

Hey Josh, I know the videos about the XS but was wondering what should I buy between the Audeze LCD-2C ($1169AUD) and Focal Clear OG Pro on sale for ($1399) $800 off since it’s the OG version typically ($2199AUD)

[@DistortedDan_]

Just got the edition xs a month ago and am running it off a liquid spark and it is incredible. Flat bass extension that is incredibly clean and powerful. Midrange is very nice, treble is very balanced though can sometimes sound a bit unnatural due to a boost in the air frequencies. I find that this really shines when listening to stuff like orchestral music as powerful crescendos really fill you with adrenaline with these. Something about them just let’s you really feel music

[@josephpilarski8045]

These have been my daily's since I picked them up. I found them to be a lot more enjoyable for long listening compared to the Sundara's. The head band being excluded from that. Add the fact that they come with a more than usable cable and you have a really compelling Headphone.

[@badgermcbadger1968]

I'm can't you just swap headbands? I know hifiman sells sundara style headbands for the xs

[@tylerstravis]

Finally! I've had mine for four months :)

[@abuanwp]

Please tell me which should I get? XS or Ananda? Thanks!

[@Catson91]

What would be good DAC for these? Is something like creative sound blaster X4 appropriate for it?

[@MasakTeritory]

Hi. Please, which headphones would you like to choose? Edition XS or Ananda? I have the opportunity to buy them for the same price and I cannot listen to them and compare them in advance

[@eddy6969100]

Bought these and they sound amazing ! I never experienced a headhphone with that much soundstage its crazy , Though im planning on getting a replacement because there's creaking noises coming from the right side of my pair and its been driving me nuts for weeks , also would like more clamp on these cause they tend to be loose compared to other headphones . The sound is super worth it though , really love them

[@gamingandmusic9217]

Hi, you mentioned that the xs has great soundstage. But the reviewer is saying the opposite. Im confused. Please help me

[@marksalamon619]

@@gamingandmusic9217 The Rtings headphone review site gave the Hifiman XS a score of 9.0 out of 10 for soundstage and a score of 8.9 out of 10 for imaging.

[@edwarddd999]

@@gamingandmusic9217 audio is usually very subjetive, I guess Joshua has tried other premium high end headphones, and that is why he considers the soundstage is not that great compared to 1000+ headphones, but if you come from a less expensive pair, for example in my case, I used the 6xx for almost 2 years, and when I tried the edition xs I was absolutely impressed, the soundstage is huge compared to sennheiser 6xx, and the detail in mids is just incredible.

[@gamingandmusic9217]

@@edwarddd999 Hi, thanks for your reply. Even i bought an edition xs and i am from the sundara previously.and i am totally happy with its performance. But, he said that soundstage of sundara is better than edition xs. Thats why I posted this comment. Now as an user of xs, i can say that it has better soundstage than sundara for sure

[@gamingandmusic9217]

@@edwarddd999 Hey, one more thing is that even my XS has a problem with left driver. There is a clear distortion. Im going to claim the warranty of the product. Hopefully i get a replacement

[@amargnwalkr]

The HE6se V2 is on sale at Adorama for $549. That would be a comparison I"d love to see.

[@patrickkelly8050]

I can’t be the only one who has gone down the headphone research rabbit hole and landed on the ananda? Saving for it now!

[@tonezou3918]

Hey Josh, weren't you posting measurements of the headphones you review? I was curious if this is like a bassier version of Ananda? Actually, how would you compare it to Ananda? I tried Ananda and it had very narrow and claustrophobic sound stage similar to what you described for the XS - is this the case with XS?

[@tbigz69]

I own a pair of Ananda's, my buddy just got the XS last week. We sat down and did a sxs comparison using a modius/magnius stack(balanced). From what I gathered, the XS has less bass, less stage and the vocals are more forward and in your face. Layers of songs weren't as detailed as the Ananda, subtle notes or instruments that appear "far away" from the vocals sounded muddier/drowned out by every other layer. The XS is slightly harder to drive, but it wasn't by much, the head strap is meant for BIG heads, my buddy's fiance couldn't wear them properly. Were as the Ananda's, the suspension strap does a much better job sealing the cups around your head and keeping the weight evenly dispersed. Overall for 600 Cad, fantastic headphone for the money. Definitely agree with Josh saying their the best. But I'd personally spend the extra bit and get Ananda OB like you did. Hope this somewhat makes sense.

[@fernandoelchoro171]

oh man I just bought this yesterday from amazon and feels good to know that someone that I respect his opinion likes them so much. Can't wait to try them!

[@Wulfrig1911]

Would these run on an SSL 2+? I'm running my HD6XX without issues but not sure about planars. I'll use them for music production, thanks!

[@peacelovemetal5197]

That opening has got to be the nerdiest headphone joke I've EVER heard. Good job, and thank you

[@makafuniruni]

Yeah that was a good one🤣

[@geeknproud321]

Im an early adopter and this headphone is my favorite. Stands proud among LCD-X and HE6se

[@kellyoung9684]

Is the four headphone u recommended for planar headphone in your description? Thank you

[@Tman171717]

what are we thinking for these headphones in the gaming aspect?

[@kentbergstrom3020]

This headphone has a sound similar to a $ 1000 headphone, but a build quality like the $ 50 headphone, mine held together for about 10 hours before the height adjustment gave up.

[@joshuasterling2144]

You can easily eq more base into this headphone. It has about 2-4 db overhead easily.

[@jamestorres5582]

Ah . I get it now . Thank you n nice review

[@toolanddie9789]

Which one would you choose for competitive fps shooters to hear the footsteps? Dt 1990 pro or hifiman edition xs? I have a ifi zen dac and amp. Would the schiit stack be a better match also?

[@x_BraveN]

1990 pro is better for directional imaging but I would highly recommend the 900 pro x over both of these if gaming is the main priority, considering it has way better directional imaging while making it still fun and not distracting in the bass region. Only reason to choose between 1990 and edition xs is if you need an all around usage headphone. 900 pro x is still amazing and cheaper than both, you won't be disappointed especially if you primarily play competitively

[@ericlowenbach5151]

There are some songs and music passages that actually give me a little chill - call it a frisson of joy - when listening to these. It doesn't happen with most headphones I use.

[@IM-nt6ql]

Hey Josh. I've been watching your reviews for a while and you are amongst one of the reasons I really want to get a Dt-1990 pro. What does the Hifiman Edition XS do better, that may make me get it instead?

[@badgermcbadger1968]

More pleasing to listen to. The dt1990s are very unforgiving and will reveal every flaw in the recording

[@IM-nt6ql]

@@badgermcbadger1968 Thanks very much for this!

[@seollenda]

@@IM-nt6ql Dunno what you ended up going with but I was in your same boat. Josh mentioned way back about Dekoni pads that make the 1990s sound more 'fun' and I think that will tone down this 'unforgiving' (I don't even think it's THAT bad) sound signature. Ultimately, I also very much prefer the look of the 1990s over this- especially if I'm forking over $500.

[@TimCz83]

This is definitely one of the comparisons I’m looking at (1990 vs XS) to pair with my HD600. QC on the Hifiman def is the main concerning aspect to me.

[@dogmanxxx4218]

I'm moving from iem to headphone very happy with soundstage and seperation.

[@tomaszkobierzycki6762]

In my country there is not much change in price between it and LCD-2c what what is a better choice?

[@hengaaja]

i find the cable that came with XS a bit to short for my area of usage, what would the recommend cable's be that would work fine with XS?

[@mechmove]

Will the Schiit Hel 2e gaming DAC power these, or do they need better amplification?

[@TheDigitalcrack]

This headphone is a game-changer and disrupter. As Josh said ..this thing really does step into the room with High tier hifi headphones. It even beats some of them in key areas. I can see making a lot of peoples Endgame cause there is nothing really out there that is new and challanging and hasn't been for 15 years+. This is the first to come out and be given for this price and yet have so many high tier performance points. I may not trust Hifiman always for QA but there is no doubt that they have the best stair steps from low-mid-high tier options that still progress toward trend setters. Vocals, mids, scale, separation, and imaging with larger soundstages than most mid tier options means this is unique and very speical. And for me ...I guess I have the same head as Josh because this fit is perfect for me. Gives me the perfect amount of clamping and cushion. At the end of the day...this unit is my new favorite headphone and the first to truly step up and maintain cost to performance ratio.

[@edwarddd999]

Great comment, I consider them my end game at this time because upgrading to a $1000 headphones would not really make sense for just a few barely noticeable differences that may be subjetive

[@oliverrevilo7654]

A question for the experts: Is the Ifi Zen Dac V2 powerful enough to power a Hifiman Edition XS? And does it absolutely need an external power pack, or is the power from the USB port sufficient? Thanks :-)

[@donaldwolff]

I got my Focal Elex Headphones for Just $550.00 at Christmas and I know that they are the very best I have ever heard. They blow my Sundara out of the water.

[@tradehut2782]

Any issues so far ?

[@donaldwolff]

@@tradehut2782 No, I have had others say they have had problems but mine have been truly great

[@skerrus]

Any tips to tighten the clamp? I’d like it to have a tighter seal on the ear cups.

[@SpookySkeletonGang]

I want more competition in the open back headphone space so badly and this is a small glimpse at that future. Look at how far IEM's have skyrocketed in the past few years then look back at headphones. The fact that a 20 year old headphone is still one of the best at its price point is just sad (I say that as a 6XX owner lmao).

[@rene837]

The 650 and 600 have changed over the years though. The old HD650s were a lot darker than the newer ones for example.

[@Cxs1a3]

Hi-Fi is an extremely niche category, probably only a few percentage points of TWS earphones, so what do you expect?

[@enzotibirica8458]

You could make the argument of the HE400se over HD6XX it seems mate But unfortunately I think you are wrong, it seems headphones are more expensive to produce and harder to tune generally. IEMS allows some very creative hybrids setups with the combination of DD and BAs which presents very decent technicalities at a low price Chi-fi is going for a neutral with sub-bass boost which is just superb.

[@enzotibirica8458]

The chifi market is just insane, partially due to the crazy amount of IEMs they produce every year, there are just so many brands constantly updating their lineup That's just a recipe for innovation

[@NeilBlanchard]

How is the Edition XS for folks with (very) large heads? Do the yoke extensions get fatigued and bend a bit?

[@Tanji1game]

I got these recently ant it blows my mind how good music quality came out… very very satisfying 😊

[@dx48.]

what was your previous headphones?

[@Tanji1game]

Ipods Max, bowers&wilkins px7 and master&dynamics mw60@@dx48.

[@Tanji1game]

They all close back headpjones and I have never experience open back like xs.

[@Sunyayana]

The Ananda (BTW, that's pronounced AH-nanda, with emphasis on the "ah") Stealth Edition has been released. Is there a chance we'll get a review on that updated headphone soon? Thanks!

[@lazyreuvin]

I love my Sundara's but I'm kinda bummed I bought them one month before the XS sneakily dropped on the market. I so would have ponied up the extra and gotten these instead!!

[@Sh0n0]

You still can!

[@lazyreuvin]

@@Sh0n0 haha if only I was loaded. A pair of Focals will be my next stop,... One day 😉

[@tk-qg5mm]

No worries. I own both Sundara and Edition XS and I find myself often pick Sundara for its comfort (suspension headband) and brighter signature.

[@jiviteshpandab6194]

hello! since you have heard to most premium headphones and know what does resolving treble means and muddy bass or tight bass means, could you please comment back and tell me how do i know if my headphones have tight bass or high resolving top end

[@joshuasterling2144]

I probably have over 300 hours on mine already. I got into them before the tour of reviews over the Sundara.

[@Pabu7]

Bought a Sundara a few days ago, great sound but to me it seems like there's nothing in the background, every sound seem to be on the same plane, and it ruins some songs for me. Saw you saying something like that on your review of the Ananda, saying it had more "depth" to the sounds, is it the same with the XS?

[@tbigz69]

The XS has decent staging, but the ananada triumphs over it in my personal opinion. This may differ for everyone, but I usually kick back and listen to music at night, lights off and eyes closed. (A good indica enhances the listening experience). The "background sounds" your refering to surround your head and it feela like your in a giant bubble of music with sounds from all sides/distances filling the space. Seperation and imaging on both are quite superb, the XS is more vocal forward were the Ananda kinda places the vocals evenly with the main instrumentals. I wasn't a big audio guy before, but my buddy got a pair of Ananda's... I put them on and my mind was blown lol.

[@Spyre_aint_it]

How would you compare the soundstage of this to the akg k712?

[@TenshinSound]

How would you describe how a lot of instruments sound through this headphone? I found your description of its vocal reproduction to be helpful but I want to know how non, vocal mid instruments sound.

[@jasonwrites9186]

I have both the 660S and the Hifiman XS. I might be in the minority, but when running balanced, I prefer the 660S over the Hifiman XS. Hifiman has richer, deeper bass and a wider soundstage. But the 660 I find has a subjectively better tone to my ear. There's just this *slight* artificial aspect to the XS; the 660S has more midrange weight, richness, and texture - at the cost of a more intimate soundstage. Both are great. I would say XS for electronic music (though even then, it depends on the genre of electronic music), movies, games. 660 S for a wider range of music, especially stuff like rock, folk, etc. The XS though does squeak for some reason when I turn my head even a little bit - the pads rub up against my glasses. So if you're walking, or even just kind of the type of person to bob your head to music....just a heads up. EDIT: If anyone is wondering about the XS vs Ananda, since depending on where you live they can be about the same price. Ananda has a slightly bigger stage, both in width and in depth. Ananda also has more detail, but for my head, the XS is *substantially* more comfortable. XS I would say has a more bountiful supply of bass as well. Great video, Josh :)

[@jeffy912]

I own both sets too (though I'm running them single-ended) and am actually with you here. I prefer the tonality, timbre, and more natural midrange of the 660s versus the XS, so much so that I may return the XS. I've tried several HiFiMan planars at this point (400i 2020 edition, Sundara, and now the XS), and of all of them I actually preferred the 400i 2020 edition the most. I've come to the conclusion that I may not be a planar guy. The wider soundstage and clarity are nice, but I think planars sound unnatural and artificial overall. I'm curious to hear an Audeze headphone (which I haven't yet). It may be that I just don't enjoy HiFiMan tuning.

[@Hari-kx2er]

The midrange of the Sennheiser HD 600 series is generally considered to be something special. Someone who is used to that will find most other headphones not as enjoyable including even other dynamic driver headphones such as from Beyer. On the other hand, someone like me prefers the planar speed, detail,clarity and instrument separation more. I also have no issues with the more neutral Hifiman planar midrange that focuses on clarity. Hence I currently use the Hifiman Sundara and looks to upgrade to the Edition XS.

[@Emmbedd]

Amazing info! Did you ever tried the Focal Clear MG? Do you think they can compete with the XS? I have the 660S too and I want a companion headphone for composing music. Any suggestion is welcome :)

[@Emmbedd]

@@Hari-kx2er this is an essential info right there! Thank you - I am one of those that find all the beyer dynamics boring and without mids, I do understand why they sound that way, but is not for me, the 660S are a gold standard to my ear as a composer of music and I would love to find a companion to them for my mixing so have to skip these ones based on your great feedback

[@kurt7937]

Have you tried the 600s? I've heard awful things about the 660s when compared to the 600 or even 650.

[@bigmike716]

What's a good amp that these should use, hopefully around $250ish...

[@keithgregg8105]

As far as Hifiman headphones, I have 4XX, Sundara, and Ananda. How does the Edition XS compare to the Ananda?

[@Jacky1994]

They sound quite alike - the XS does have a lil bit more Bass and less harsher hights and the Ananda does have (in my opinion) a better soundstage, fit and quality.

[@spencerchaisson4741]

how do these compare to the Focal Elex? I use them for gaming and music

[@markgruner9510]

You need to do a review of the Audiotechnica W900 headphones.

[@matsprey-fg9eq]

Would you go for the Sundara for £239 or these for £364? Any input would be greatly appreciated

[@roberthz111]

i bought this headphone twice, they have a rattle issue on the left cup, when the bass hit harder and the air moves more freely, like there is no in the head or does not have a good seal on the head, its very sad, your unit have the same issue?