This is a product review of the HIFIMAN Sundara, which is available for sale now on Apos.. Please note that you should write in English, and comments in other languages will be deleted. The previous version had significantly more clamp force on my jaw, due to the thicker front part of the pad, and I have no problems at all with this new one - wearing it for most of the day without issue. Changes to the pads not only make it more comfortable, it also sounds considerably better than the previous unit I evaluated, which I had already considered to be an excellent sounding headphone. The Sundaras are heavier, but the top leather piece does a nice job distributing the weight. But the improvements to comfort, different feel, and changes to frequency response make me suspect that this pad was specifically revised in order to better suit the Sundara, and it's one way of getting around the lack of swivel problem for this headphone. Find out why in … I had originally called the Sundara a performance benchmark as far as its technical ability for detail retrieval, speed, and dynamics are concerned. Both are open-back, but the Sennheiser has oval ear cups, while the Hifiman’s are round.In terms of fit, I like the Sundara a lot more. The HiFiMAN Sundara retails for $349. Boasting the NEO Supernano Diaphragm, HIFIMAN SUNDARA is the best Hi-Fi planar magnetic headphone at its price with enhanced durability. It’s a bit faster and more detailed, but it has less physical impact. Here are some comparisons with other headphones: The HiFiMAN Sundara don’t redefine their price bracket, but they offer more than their predecessors, the HE-400 (in their numerous variations). The Sundara seem to be quite good, though: the unit I got had apparently been used by lots of people and was a bit worn out due to this, but it still was in good overall shape and I had no doubt as to their build quality. The Sundara's instrument separation is also fantastic, far better than anything else at its price range, and I do correlate this quality somewhat with detail and image clarity. It becomes difficult to stand out unless you do something recognizable or iconic (like an 'alternative' tuning). HiFiMAN’s latest models are all named after some Sanskrit word, but this one appears to be spot on. Unfortunately technical performance simply isn't on the same level as the Sundara's, particularly when it comes to instrument separation, stage, and slam qualities. HiFiMAN manages to create very comfortable headphones thanks to a suspended headband design that uses a soft headband with some padding. In some ways, however, it's also understandable that alternative tunings exist, when something like the Sundara - a mid-level headphone, does such an incredible job. Treble is much less emphasised, so it is much less fatiguing than the Sundara’s while also being a bit more airy. 365-Day Returns on all new orders. Midrange is the real star of the Sundara and it is presented with a slight accent on the upper region which gives it added clarity and sparkle. Review: Hifiman Sundara – Trickled! And it's just a click away! Also, I forgot to take pictures of the box, so my description will have to suffice. The primary (and potentially only) revision has to do with the pads. The HiFiMAN Sundara are relatively efficient headphones, at least as far as planar designs go. It's still appropriate, and doesn't feel like an "in your head" experience, but it's also not as spacious or speaker-like as something like the Beyerdynamic DT-1990 Pro (or the original DT-880 if memory serves correctly). While the Sundara doesn't perform on the same level as flagship 'kilo-buck' headphones when it comes to structural definition for images or textural nuances, it's categorically superior for image clarity and distinction that anything else within its price range. I strongly recommend the HiFiMAN Sundara. The build quality remains mostly the same, however the side pieces for where you adjust the headband feels quite a bit more sturdy. I have an average/smaller size head and I find both to fit quite well. Von Schweikert VR4 jr / AKG K-1000 / Grado HP-2 / Hifiman Sundara FiiO M9 - - ADI-2 DAC - Ifi Audio iDSD BL- AKG KSE1200 /JHA Roxanne / Etymotic ER4S Share This Post Greg Belemjian. The reason why the HE-560 are more comfortable is that they have a bit more padding and a larger headband, so the weight is better distributed. Remember that this measurement rig has a coupler artifact at around 4.5khz, and this explains the slight bump there on both graphs. Read honest and unbiased product reviews from our users. But with the Reveal+ EQ plugin, the LCD-1 is able to compete. I had the opportunity to evaluate the HiFiMAN Ananda and Arya last year, but there are two reasons why I'm revisiting the HiFiMAN lineup in 2020. I was very excited to try the Hifiman Sundara next as it is widely considered the best headphone under $500 and like my first audiophile headphones uses planar magnetic drivers. FIT and AESTHETIC DESIGN – Sennheiser HD 660 S vs Hifiman Sundara Comparison Review The HD 660 S and Sundara are very different in physical design. I listened to the HiFiMAN Sundara using a variety of gear. When you chance upon a ring light, you know what you must do. This review is posted here in partnership with The Headphone List.It was originally written and published by Ryan Soo of The Headphone List on May 1, 2019. In many cases, these revisions occur due to changes in the manufacturing process - maybe there's a way to produce the headphone more cost effectively, or maybe to improve reliability long-term. Coming in at a similar price, the Verum 1 has a more spacious and distant presentation, performing quite well throughout most of its frequency response. There's a newsletter just for you with all the latest news and It has all the hallmark qualities of what reviewers mean when they talk about 'planar speed', and this is a good sign for what I assume is a single-sided magnetic array. I have to agree, I think the Sundara is a lovely headphone aesthetically, but then again, I am a sucker for minimalism. So as we can see, whatever was changed for the 'stealth revision', it has yielded positive results for the tonality. The HiFiMAN Sundara is the name of the wildly successful HE-400i which set the bar in terms of sound quality for entry-level planar magnetic headphones. While it's quite a bit larger than the Sundara, I do find the Verum 1 to be a bit more comfortable. There also is the necessary plastic to prevent the headphone, band and cups from getting damaged during transport. Last year, HiFiMAN ended up sending me two units for evaluation and this piece was a bit loose on both of them, but for this new unit I'm pleased that it doesn't feel as rickety. Fit/Comfort: Both headphones are surprisingly comfortable. However, like most open-back headphones, they're not designed for other use cases but critical listening. And this might not sound like a good thing, given that they feel less sturdy in the front, but I promise that it is.   Join the discussion about the HiFiMAN Sundara on "The HEADPHONE Community" forum. The HiFiMAN Sundara comes in a simple box which looks unassuming on the outside, but is rather rich on the inside. The HiFiMAN Sundara are made of metal (aluminium, it seems) with just the two ends of the headband being made of plastic. They offer a comfortable listening experience in terms of comfort, but also in terms of sound; their tuning is safe, though it may be a bit brighter than what many would desire. It doesn’t extend to the lowest depths with the same weight of mid-bass, but it does reach ~40 Hz with good presence and then rolls off going further down. Nor is the fact that this mechanism is stiff because the metal parts press hard against each other, causing scuff marks to appear over time as one adjusts the headphones multiple times. The Sanskrit word “sundara” means “beautiful”. The main pain points of previous models, such as the gimbals cracking, were eliminated by the new design and the new materials. When I first reviewed the HiFiMAN Sundara mid 2019, I was thoroughly impressed with its performance for the price, and in fact its higher priced siblings the Ananda and Arya were also quite impressive. The cable has 3.5 mm jacks at both ends: a single right-angled jack on the end which goes in the amplifier and two jacks that go inside the earcups. The Verum 1 is also a bit more withdrawn in the upper treble, bordering on a touch of roll-off depending on the pads that get used. The HiFiMAN Sundara are in fact beautiful headphones, though more importantly they sound good. Comfortable even in longer listening sessions, Treble might be more abundant than some would like. These measurements were taken with the MiniDSP EARS rig, using both the HEQ and HPN compensations. I have had a pair of HE-560 for quite a while now and I’ve always felt like it was one of the most comfortable headphones I’ve ever tried. Not only is the design lighter and more appealing, but it’s also as functional and comfortable as before. Review written by Andrew Park (@Resolve) Review unit provided on loan for evaluation by headphones.com. HiFiMAN Sundara vs HiFiMAN HE-560: the HE-560 are a more balanced version of the Sundara. I personally think the Hifiman Sundara looks pretty cool with the huge sexy grill on those ear cups. Once again, at this price, I haven't heard anything that's been able to deliver tonal balance as appropriately as the HiFiMAN Sundara - and in fact the Sundara does better than many headphones that cost thousands of dollars. The Sanskrit word “sundara” means “beautiful”. The Sundara is also one of the tightest, most well-controlled headphones available under that same $700 mark. Neither the drivers nor the cups have had any changes or silent revisions to them in the past calendar year. So, the Sundara are pretty comfortable, so much so that even with my scalp being hyper-irritated (a situation which alas happens more often than I’d like) they do not cause any discomfort for more than half an hour, which is quite remarkable. HiFiMAN’s latest models are all named after some Sanskrit word, but this one appears to be spot on. Priced at $499. The headphones rest in a pre-cut place which holds them tightly and securely. HiFiMAN also went from metal, plastic and wood builds to almost entirely metal builds, with just details being made of plastic. My HiFiMan Sundara review is based on my own audio preferences, still I find it a great device for any music genres. Disclaimer: The Hifiman Sundara sent to us for the purposes of this review is a sample and does not have to be returned. They are in fact halfway between the HE-400 and the HE-560, offering arguably better build quality than both. The following statement should help clarify this. HifiMAN Deva is a new Bluetooth enabled planar magnetic headphone from HifiMAN. We think of it as the sweet spot in the Hifiman catalogue and a classic planar magnetic headphone that … While the Sundara doesn't perform on the same level as flagship 'kilo-buck' headphones when it comes to structural definition for images or textural nuances, it's categorically superior for image clarity and distinction that anything else within its price range. The HiFiMAN Sundara are among those headphones one can never grow tired of: their tuning and their technical ability are such that they could be used daily and still surprise the listener. The new design language HiFiMAN chose signals that the sound has changed, too: the Sundara are not as good as the HE-560, but they’re not too far off either. It’s … All comments are moderated before being published. The aforementioned extension makes treble airy and sparkly enough. Taken as a whole, I think the Sundara is a good choice to consider for anyone looking at … Frequency Response : 6Hz-75kHz Impedance : 37Ω Sensitivity : 94dB Weight : 372g They’re a keeper. You’ll immediately notice that there’s no carrying case or anything that comes with your Sundara. Hifiman Sundara is one of the best headphones for critical listening no matter the price and the king of neutrality while still sounding engaging and enveloping. Hifiman Susvara Review The Hifiman Susvara is the company’s top of the line open-back planar magnetic headphone priced at $6000. Reach out to us through our handy live chat or by e-mail. For detail retrieval, at the $350 mark, I struggle to think of any headphone that outperforms the Sundara. Over the past several weeks, however, I've heard rumors of the HiFiMAN lineup introducing a number of 'stealth revisions'. I have reported on technology for major Italian publications since 2011. 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