About this item A Major Upgrade of the Popular Edition X: The new Edition XS expands on its predecessor’s achievements with several essential upgrades. Featuring Stealth Magnet Technology and the company’s NEO supernano Diaphragm, the Edition XS produces a wide, natural soundstage that puts the listener in the best seat in the house. Edition XS from HIFIMAN brings the depth and range of well-recorded music to an affordably priced headphone. Acoustically Invisible Stealth Magnet: Unlike the sound waves created by a conventional magnet, the special shape of Stealth Magnets enables the waves to pass through the magnets without generating interference. HIFIMAN’s advanced magnet design is acoustically transparent, dramatically reducing wave diffraction turbulence that degrades the integrity of the sound waves. The reduced distortion yields pure sonic output that is accurate and full-range. HIFIMAN’s NEO “supernano” Diaphragm (NsD): The new NsD is 75% thinner than previous designs, resulting in fast response and detailed imaging with lush, full range sonics. The Headband: The light weight, ergonomically accurate offers maximum comfort for hours of listening pleasure. The exterior is refined matte black material, and the interior features high-grade memory foam for the most comfortable fit and elasticity. The headphone’s structural design supports overall durability that retains its comfortable fit for years of enjoyment. The Cable: HIFIMAN’s new 3.5mm sockets are similar to those found on most common audio devices. The supplied 3.5mm cable is user changeable and replaceable.
About HIFIMANFounded by Dr. Fang Bian in 2007, HIFIMAN is widely regarded as one of the leading manufacturers of high performance headphones and portable audio products. HIFIMAN is especially known for its critically-acclaimed Planar-Magnetic headphones that feature state-of-the-art driver technology. The company also designs and manufactures world-class dynamic in-ear drivers which have also garnered awards and rave reviews
Edition XS: A Major Upgrade of the Popular Edition X
The new Edition XS expands on its predecessor’s achievements with several essential upgrades. Featuring Stealth Magnet Technology and the company’s NEO supernano Diaphragm, the Edition XS produces awide, natural soundstage that puts the listener in the best seat in the house. The NEO supernano diaphragm is 80% thinner than the original version, resulting in lightning-fast response for detailed sonic output without discernible distortion.
Edition XS from HIFIMAN brings the depth and range of well-recordedmusic to an affordably priced headphone.
Unlike the sound waves created by a conventional magnet, the special shape of Stealth Magnets enables the waves to pass through the magnets without generating interference.
HIFIMAN’s advanced magnet design is acoustically transparent, dramatically reducing wave diffraction turbulence that degrades the integrity of the sound waves. The reduced distortion yields pure sonic output that is accurate and full-range.
The new NsD is 80% thinner than previous designs, resulting in fastresponse and detailed image withlush, full range sonics.
The light weight, ergonomically accurate offers maximum comfortfor hours of listening pleasure. The exterior is refined matte black material, and the interior features high-grade memory foam for the most comfortable fit and elasticity. The headphone’s structural design supports overall durability that retains its comfortable fit for years of enjoyment.
HIFIMAN’s new 3.5mm sockets are similar to those found on most common audio devices. The supplied 3.5mm cable is user changeable and replaceable.
Package Dimensions 12.4 x 9.88 x 7.17 inches Item Weight 14.3 ounces ASIN B09PH1N67T Item model number Edition XS Customer Reviews
4.2 out of 5 stars Best Sellers Rank #20,031 in Electronics ()
#826 in
Date First Available December 31, 2021 Manufacturer HIFIMAN Electronics Item Weight 14.28 Ounces Units 1 Count Number Of Items 1
Product Warranty: For warranty information about this product, please
Would you like to
HIFIMAN Edition XS Full-Size Over-Ear Open-Back Planar Magnetic Hi-Fi Headphones with Stealth Magnets Design, Adjustable Headband, Detachable Cable for Audiophiles, Home, Studio-Black
Share:
Found a lower price? Let us know. Although we can’t match every price reported, we’ll use your feedback to ensure that our prices remain competitive.
URL:
Price: ($)
Shipping cost: ($)
Date of the price:
01
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
09
10
11
12
/
01
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
09
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
/
Store name:
City:
State:
Please select province
Please select province
Price: ($)
Date of the price:
01
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
09
10
11
12
/
01
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
09
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
/
Please to provide feedback.
Submit Feedback
Package Dimensions 12.4 x 9.88 x 7.17 inches
Item Weight 14.3 ounces
ASIN B09PH1N67T
Item model number Edition XS
Customer Reviews /* * Fix for UDP-1061. Average customer reviews has a small extra line on hover * https://omni-grok.amazon.com/xref/src/appgroup/websiteTemplates/retail/SoftlinesDetailPageAssets/udp-intl-lock/src/legacy.css?indexName=WebsiteTemplates#40 */ .noUnderline a:hover { text-decoration: none; } .cm-cr-review-stars-spacing-big { margin-top: 1px; } 4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 335 ratings var dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction; P.when(‘A’, ‘ready’).execute(function(A) { if (dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction !== true) { dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction = true; A.declarative( ‘acrLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault”: true }, function (event) { if (window.ue) { ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } } ); } }); P.when(‘A’, ‘cf’).execute(function(A) { A.declarative(‘acrStarsLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault” : true }, function(event){ if(window.ue) { ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } }); }); 4.2 out of 5 stars
Best Sellers Rank #20,031 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics) #826 in Over-Ear Headphones
Date First Available December 31, 2021
Manufacturer HIFIMAN Electronics
Item Weight 14.28 Ounces
Units 1 Count
Number Of Items 1
About this item A Major Upgrade of the Popular Edition X: The new Edition XS expands on its predecessor’s achievements with several essential upgrades. Featuring Stealth Magnet Technology and the company’s NEO supernano Diaphragm, the Edition XS produces a wide, natural soundstage that puts the listener in the best seat in the house. Edition XS from HIFIMAN brings the depth and range of well-recorded music to an affordably priced headphone. Acoustically Invisible Stealth Magnet: Unlike the sound waves created by a conventional magnet, the special shape of Stealth Magnets enables the waves to pass through the magnets without generating interference. HIFIMAN’s advanced magnet design is acoustically transparent, dramatically reducing wave diffraction turbulence that degrades the integrity of the sound waves. The reduced distortion yields pure sonic output that is accurate and full-range. HIFIMAN’s NEO “supernano” Diaphragm (NsD): The new NsD is 75% thinner than previous designs, resulting in fast response and detailed imaging with lush, full range sonics. The Headband: The light weight, ergonomically accurate offers maximum comfort for hours of listening pleasure. The exterior is refined matte black material, and the interior features high-grade memory foam for the most comfortable fit and elasticity. The headphone’s structural design supports overall durability that retains its comfortable fit for years of enjoyment. The Cable: HIFIMAN’s new 3.5mm sockets are similar to those found on most common audio devices. The supplied 3.5mm cable is user changeable and replaceable.
/>
/>
/>
/>
/>
| Package Dimensions | 12.4 x 9.88 x 7.17 inches |
|---|---|
| Item Weight | 14.28 Ounces |
| ASIN | B09PH1N67T |
| Item model number | Edition XS |
| Customer Reviews | /* .cm-cr-review-stars-spacing-big { 4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 335 ratings var dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction; P.when('A', 'cf').execute(function(A) { 4.2 out of 5 stars |
| Best Sellers Rank | #20,031 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics) #826 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Date First Available | December 31, 2021 |
| Manufacturer | HIFIMAN Electronics |
| Units | 1 Count |
| Number Of Items | 1 |
Jehred Comadoll –
5.0 out of 5 stars
A 4.5 Star Headphone
The sound quality is absolutely stunning on these cans.For music, I feel as if I’m in the recording studio when tracks were being created.Gaming (primarily Warzone, Halo Infinite, and RDR2), are excellent for hearing those footsteps. Imaging and soundstage are at peak performance, and was able to detect the area where the enemies were. For RDR2, it’s as if I have a eargasm ever time lol. The amount of detail makes me feel as if I am actually in the year 1899.I run these on the Fulla Schiit E and have no trouble driving these cans with this dac/amp combo. Yes, I know there are WAY better amps and dacs out there, but for the time being, gonna do what I gotta do lol.In conclusion, if you have the money, get them!! Highly recommend these!! The bass, mids, and treble response if so tasteful, crisp, and clear. It’s like having 4k for your ears lol. Hope this review helps! Have a good one!
2 people found this helpful
DanDan –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Insanely accurate sound!
The sounds so clean, balanced and spacious. Music just pops and surrounds you. These are large so they might be a troublesome fit for those with smaller heads. For me, they are comfortable and I can wear these for hours. They are easy to drive and play loudly plugged right into my M1 MacBook Pro. Highly recommended!
2 people found this helpful
Anonymous –
3.0 out of 5 stars
Very high value headphones, extremely fragile Quality Control
If you are ready to treat these as fragile pieces of glass that will break with any sort of pressure; you’ll love these.I cannot deny that the sound quality is truly excellent for the price; but I highly recommend that you get a headphone stand and pretend that these will break at any sudden physical shock because the build quality is atrocious. 4 months in after daily use the right driver had began to buzz and I tried everything from swapping the cables to the amps and switching between the channels. There is no use, the headphones are pretty much ruined for me and im out $500 because it’s out of the warranty. If you do get this I would recommend getting the extended warranty in case this happens to you.If you’re the kind to be careful and paranoid about your equipment, I genuinely recommend this. But if you’re paranoid but also forgetful, prepare for a nightmare because you have absolutely no insurance that a small mistake will permanently set you back.
5 people found this helpful
Amazon Customer –
5.0 out of 5 stars
My favorite
They are light and comfortable. I especially like how big the opening is for the ears. They cover the ears completely so you don’t feel clamped on. It’s like a couple of extra large doughnuts encircling your ears. They have an open sound to them almost like you don’t have headphones on, like the sound is in the room. The bass is very nice. They sound great.
3 people found this helpful
V –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Best headphones I’ve ever heard! Which makes me sad I might have to return.
Because they are so uncomfortable! If only there were headphones made with the comfort of the Phillips SHP9500 with the sound of these.
Chris –
5.0 out of 5 stars
My favorite pair of headphones
I recently got into trying out planar headphones instead of dynamics. I liked what I heard so I upgrades to the Edition XS. These sound fantastic. Nicely balanced and mostly neutral. Very detailed and spacious. Vocals are a tiny bit forward which is something I tend to enjoy. They were fairly easy to drive. I wouldnt expect them to be perfect straight from a phone audio jack or something like that. They would be best paired with any sort of amp.I truly believe these could be end game headphones for most people. My only slight complaint is I did not like the headband. They were slightly loose for me. I had to adjust the metal gimbals in order to bring them tighter and closer in. That seemed to solve most of my issue. I highly recommend these. They sound fantastic. One of the best I have heard!
3 people found this helpful
Matthew –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Could be your endgame
I bought these and compared to the Ananda and Arya. I was rather surprised at how well the edition XS held up against its more expensive siblings. I preferred the XS over the Ananda. The Arya sounded better on some music, but surprisingly there were certain tracks that were more enjoyable on the Edition XS. This is truly an incredible value at 500.00. There just isn’t a thousand dollar difference in sound quality between the XS and Ayra. The XS gives you the same large soundstage and instruments floating around in that space. It’s an experience!! I noticed after several days the sound opens or my brain understands what it’s being fed. If the Arya is out of your budget, buy this and don’t look back!
3 people found this helpful
Paul Longoria –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great sound but too large in size
Overall, I’m happy with the headphones I like the way they sound. They just seem awful big for most people.
One person found this helpful
Albertodh –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Nivel Premium en todo.
Los tengo hace un mes pero por lo que pude ver y escuchar son unos auriculares que están más allá del resto. Tal vez sean un poco pesados y la vincha no es la ideal, pero son cosas que uno se puede acostumbrar. El sonido es clarísimo, buenos bajos y agudos, si tuviera que resaltar algo es cuando escucho un cantante, da la impresión de que está sentado en el centro de la escena sin mezclarse con el resto de los instrumentos.
One person found this helpful
dflash –
3.0 out of 5 stars
Way to big!! They look ridiculous!! Requires headphone amp
I watched multiple reviews about these headphones, and decided to bite the bullet and spend $500 on them. Nicely packaged. Feels a little plastic-e and cheap. Very light. Plugged them to my receiver and sounded very bad. Used a small fiio usb headphone amp and it got better. But that tells me, now I have to buy a headphone amp for my pre-amp, and a longer cable to be able to listen from the couch. That brings my total to about $800. The definite deal breaker was when I looked at myself in the mirror while wearing them and they looked ridiculous. They are huge. Almost comical. Made me look like a dork. Almost reached my jaw and the plug touches my shoulders. They are going back. You either have to have a huge head and want to throw another 200-250 for a descent headphone amp and better longer cable.
One person found this helpful
A.R.MA.R.M –
5.0 out of 5 stars
ABSOLUTE UNIT of planar drivers! Amazing sound! OK build quality
Even a brief look around the internet will tell you this is an amazing set of cans. And my own experience bears this out. This is a fantastic sounding set of headphones.The sound stage is plenty wide. The bass has a controlled authority and does not bleed in to the higher frequencies. On loud volumes the bass feels like you are getting a jaw massage and a back massage for your eye balls.These are really open headphones. You would be forgiven for thinking these are some kind of sunglasses because you can literally see through the drivers. You can feel the difference in pressure in your ears if you hold your palm an inch or so away from your ear while wearing the headphones which demonstrates how open these are. As a result they leak some sound and let practically all the ambient noise in. The clarity and resolution are quite detailed.The large planar drivers are everything here. The following analogy explains my feeling. There is a meme about the fighter plane A-10 Warthog being an airframe designed around the main Gatling gun that it has. That is, it is a gun with wings rather than a plane with a gun. These headphones give a similar vibe with respect to its drivers. Practically all the money you spend has gone towards the gigantic planar drivers. It is a headphone built around the drivers. You will want to have your ears higher up in relation to the cups as the drivers are positioned slightly higher in the cups. The large drivers immerse you in the sound and with certain music the instruments can seem like they are located above or below you.As a result of the focus on the drivers the rest of the build quality can feel a little cheap. The cable is definitely good. It feels premium. The plastic used in various parts seems brittle. The headband is cushioned but you can feel the internal frame underneath the foam as you run your fingers over the band. This is especially noticeable if you have owned any Beyerdynamic or Sennheiser headphones which have high quality dense plastic. It does not hold a candle to their build quality. If you keep this expectation in mind you will save yourself some remorse. The pads are also very cheap feeling and lack attention to detail in their construction. The stitching looks uneven etc. If you wear glasses the fabric on the pads can be really squeaky and get on your nerves. I immediately replaced it with a velour replacement pads. These are admittedly minor issues but some may expect more at this price point. In my opinion it is worth it regardless.The sheer size of these headphones could be problematic for smaller heads. The fit is a bit on the looser side and it might move around as you move your head to look down for example. The yokes can swivel a little which provides a nice fit to a variety of head shapes I imagine.For driving gear, they ran fine off of a Fiio K3. In the picture I have them on a Fiio K7. An amplifier is not strictly necessary to get these loud but a budget/starter amp might improve the sound if you are not happy with the sound directly off of your phone or laptop. Remember that money is better spent on headphones rather than source/driving gear.Finally I want to clarify some marketing verbiage used in the description. The magnets used are called “stealth” magnets that apparently allow sound to pass through more easily in comparison to the non-stealth version. The real difference is a change in cross section shape of the magnets that allows sound to come through more easily or cleanly or something.TLDR: Incredible sound and incredible value for money
38 people found this helpful
Gary Woodsmith –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent Sound, Good Comfort, Short Cable
The Hifiman Edition XS are as good as you have been reading about online, though there are a some things to be aware of before you drop some serious cash.The first time I ordered this headphone from amazon, it was listed as new and I received them in a previously returned box that was already open and used, though in like new condition, even smelled like new. The box still had the return label on it and partially ripped. That was the first thing.The second thing was the right driver on the headphones was defective. It was rattling at lower frequencies and buzzing at higher frequencies. So I received an item that was listed as new, but was open box/returned and then defective on top of that. I was beyond highly irritated. I returned them within hours of listening to them after running headphones tests and frequency sweeps.The point I’m trying to make is please make sure the item you receive is in complete working form because there have been numerous complaints about rattling and buzzing coming from some pairs.Moving on.Now that I have ordered them a second time, I was willing to give Hifiman a second chance even though I was thoroughly frustrated the very first introduction I had with them.I am pleased to say I will most likely become a long term customer of their brand and that this new pair passes the headphone tests and frequency sweeps with flying colors. They are highly pleasant to listen to.I am definitely likely to buy more headphones from their line up, specifically the HE1000 (unsure which variant), maybe the Ananda SE (though I’ve been hearing they are very similar to the Edition XS) and very likely the Arya SE. I am not sure if I will go higher than the HE1000’s, mostly because of diminishing returns. We shall see.They have complete bass reproduction going all the way down to the sub bass region and minimal roll off, well controlled.The mids and highs are enjoyable as well, vocals in music come out very well and the highs are not too harsh or bright. Comparing them to my Sennheiser HD600’s, they are well balanced and neutral type headphones.I have heard that some use them with EQ, which make them an even more outstanding headphone than it was before. In fact, I even further more recommend them with EQ. When using peace EQ interface and oratory1990’s settings, these headphones become near perfect. They react very well with EQ.The cable is too short for my liking. 1.5m or around 5ft, I would highly prefer a much longer cable, closer to 10ft since it gives me more options. If I need to shorten it, I can tie it up, but I cannot lengthen it and now I need to shop around for another cable. The clamp force of the earcups is pretty low, you lean your head back and they start sliding. You lean your head forward and interestingly, they do not fall off though, so I guess it’s ok, no big problems with either the clamp force or cable, though I would still change them.A lot of people like to talk about sound stage, but honestly, soundstage in any headphone can never compare to speakers properly setup in a room. Crinacle likes to say that even the best headphones can only reproduce about 15% max of the sound stage presentation of a speaker system placed in a room.With that aside, I would say that the sound stage presentation is good enough, I do not feel claustrophobic at all and I would say they are wider than the HD600’s.Overall,I definitely recommend the Edition XS. The cable quality is fine, though I would make it much longer, twice as long. The build quality is ok, though as I mentioned before, you should do a frequency sweep to check for any defects as it is not uncommon to happen with these.I have been using these with a Modi/Magni 2 DAC/Amp stack, which they work very well with. Switching back and forth comparing them to my HD600’s, I would go so far as saying the Edition XS will probably be used as much or more than the HD600’s. I consider them a worthy contender.Highly recommendedThe highest recommendation when used with EQ settings from oratory1990
2 people found this helpful
John doe –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Incredible sound, some rattling
These headphones sound incredible. I bought these after my HE-400i’s broke (roomba ate it, long story) and, even upgrading from those, these are night and day. Exceptionally clear and balanced, easy to drive, and some of the most comfortable headphones I’ve tried.My only complaint is that the right phone has some rattle when you move your head. It’s not consistent, but happens regardless of any input. I believe it’s a small piece of solder (or something) floating around inside the phone, which occasionally gets dislodged. Since I use these for work, moving my head from one screen to another can make it rattle. I only hear the rattle when moving my head, not when playing music, which is why I think it’s a dislodged piece of material and not an issue with the drivers themselves.Also, the included stand is kind of a funny joke – it’s just the piece of molded foam that it ships in, with an acrylic piece glued to the bottom. I didn’t even realize that was a selling point, and hey – it works. It’s also ugly as sin.Overall, fantastic headphones. HiFiMan always seems to punch above their class, and make incredible planar magnetic phones for the price. There’s a reason I came back after my HE-400s broke.
4 people found this helpful
John McCurdyJohn McCurdy –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Naysayers gave up too quickly
So I purchased these cans (just learned that term, my wife rolls her eyes at me now when I mention them as “the cans”) a week ago after my old HD1 Sennheiser (sp?) gave out on me. I decided to give more premium headphones a try for once in my life. After a lot of searching, I landed on these. I’m certain you’ve heard the pros and cons already (great clean yet warm audio quality / overly large ear cups / lot of silibance (sp?) metallic sound in the higher frequencies / etc.). And I’m here to tell you that they are ALL true . . . if you give up too quickly.Okay, yes, they’re large. But you kind of get used to it and appreciate it. Smaller ear cups would press into my actual ears, and would hurt after a while. With these, no more hurting ears. Nice.Yes, the top headband is heavy feeling because there is very little pressure on the sides. All of the weight is on top. While it helps greatly keeping strain away from your ears, it got to be a bit much on top. I decided that maybe wearing a hat to distribute the weight might help, et voila, my head feels MUCH better. (I know, kind of lame that you’d need to do something like that just to make it work, but I don’t particularly mind).Silibance . . . sibilance (looks up Google). Ah, yes. Sibilance. I never heard of this word until I was watching review after review on YouTube and this word got thrown around a lot. It seemed like 1/4 of the people complained of piercing/metallic sound from the high frequencies (cymbals, high trumpet notes, etc.). And while waiting for the headphones to arrive, I was a bit concerned. I also read around here on these reviews on Amazon, and also on Reddit, that a couple of folks recommended to use an amp (without a DAC. Not needed). Specifically the SMSL SH-6. I don’t know anything about these things, so I figured I’ll be listening from my computer and it should be golden without using an amp. Man, I was so wrong. These headphones sounded like they were obviously under powered and were not firing on all cylinders. Wispy, is how I’d define the audio quality. Okay, so I obviously needed an amp. I remembered reading about the SH-6, and I ordered it.WHAM! The headphones came alive, but . . . ow. Some songs, after a while, those high-pitch sounds were most definitely coming in harsh/metallic/sibilant/sparkly/just too much pixie dust. And while I was impressed with details that I had never noticed before, it somehow still sounded like the entire headphones maybe weren’t being utilized 100%. Like something was missing and that’s why I was getting too much in the high frequencies a bit.Some further research and turns out that some headphones just need a little more oomph to be utilized fully. Okay, fine. I then landed on the Topping L30ii amp. A bit more voltage for the headphones compared to the older SH-6. I bit the bullet and ordered that amp. Day later, it arrived (and pictured in here) . . . and I’ll be a monkey’s uncle. All that sibilance was gone. That deliciously clear and warm sound described by those reviewers that I’d seen finally made sense. And what a joy these cans have been since.;TLDRThese headphones are heavy on the head. I “fixed it” by wearing a hat. Better distributes the weight.The Edition XS need voltage to power the planar magnets. If you don’t, it’ll either sound very light and wispy, or if you have an amp that doesn’t do the job fully, you’ll get too much highs, will sound metallic and will actually be uncomfortable to listen to after a while. I landed on decently priced Topping L30ii amp and has worked like a charm. (high gain setting worked best for me)Get yourself a 3.5mm to 2-Male RCA Adapter Audio Stereo Cable. The amps seems to always come with Red and White audio input/output connections. You’ll need the adapter if your output from your desktop or whatever only has the typical 3.5mm audio output jack.Hopefully my story here will help someone like me and avoid the pitfalls that I endured. I spent a crapton of time researching and trying to figure out how to get these to sound as awesome as they’re supposed to. I got these headphones on sale $380 vs $499, and they are SO worth it now that I’ve got it all set up correctly.
17 people found this helpful
Shlean –
3.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing headphones with terrible headband. Good for large ears.
UPDATE: The headband is bad enough that I’m returning them. After an hour or so, my head starts to hurt when wearing these and it gets worse if you wear them daily. I really want to like these, but I can’t. Sound quality is still great but it doesn’t matter how great it sounds if they’re painful to wear.I have these plugged into a Schiit Magni Unity and they sound amazing. I tried them through both my Yamaha receiver and straight through the PC as well. They played but you need a dac/amp or you may as well get a cheap set of cans because these need the power. I tried the Dan Clark drop which are similarly priced and these sound much better. I have large ears and have to buy after market pads for most of my headsets, but these are large and comfy without replacing.The only downside is the headband. I’m not sure why they went with the single band instead of the floating band, but I don’t like it. It does cause discomfort after an hour or two and I have to readjust the headphones. It sits on my head somewhat awkwardly. The ear cups swivel slightly whereas the Anada, which are similar priced and have the regular headband, don’t swivel at all. I think the ability to swivel a little so they cup your head well is more important, but I wish I could have tried them both on for an extended period before buying. This is the second pair of hifiman that I have owned and I’m satisfied with both.
2 people found this helpful
Alexander Mick –
5.0 out of 5 stars
HIFIMAN Edition XS Review
Been running with the Sennheiser HD660s for years, and these are a great addition and in my opinion a more well rounded sound. Only issue I’ve had with sound is some of the high end, like hi-hats can be a little sharp for me, but with a cheap equalizer that can be fixed. Realistically it’s not needed though. I’ve had a chance to listen to some pretty nice headphones, and for the price these are overall the best in my opinion. Great sound, very comfortable (do not touch my ears at all). The only other issue I would say is the cable they come with is okay, and not too long, but it works fine. Otherwise I cannot recommend these enough. Best headphones I’ve had or tried, and realistically I think this is the point of diminishing returns for me.I’m using the schiit magni+, loki mini+ and modi+ stack, and if I pump the bass up my eyeballs shake in my head. I think it’s the closest I’ve come to a speaker sound from headphones. No buyers remorse at all.
Amazon Customer –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Worthwhile upgrade from HE400se
My previous set of headphones was the HE400se with which I was extremely pleased. Fell in love with planar which as a layman and overall novice in the headphone world I can only describe as “natural”. With the open-back planar it doesn’t feel like sound is being forcefully directed at me but instead subtly and gently placed around me. I have a somewhat unorthodox setup in that I run these from a schiit stack (with a Loki which is a must IMO) with my TV as the source. Movies, games and music all run through that setup. So generally they’re getting hours of use each day and I experience absolutely no fatigue.Once the Edition XS came out and reviews basically described it as the best value headphone at $500 and a near direct upgrade to the 400se, I pretty much knew this would be my next upgrade.Fast forward to a few months ago and this gets a price drop to $379. That was all I needed to finally pull the trigger and holy cow.As expected everything I liked about the 400se this does better. Notably the bass is impressive for an open-back and with some beefed up EQ it is an absolute monster for blu-rays. Headphones don’t seem to get a lot of attention in the home theater world but man these deliver IMO.Overall build quality is generally not very high end but if thats the factor that keeps this quality audio at budget prices that’s fine with me.One major caveat however for glasses wearers. It is basically a requirement to pad swap these which is not a problem I had with the 400se. Stock pads on Edition XS cause a “squeak” anytime you even incrementally move your head. Swapped for velour Dekoni pads and the issue is gone. You do then get the benefit of their memory foam though which is nice and gives these a more premium feel.Overall I’m glad to have finally upgraded and am pleased as punch to keep these as my “endgame” for now. If you are someone who cares about having price/performance value I don’t think you can go wrong with these.
3 people found this helpful
Alex Weyer –
1.0 out of 5 stars
Great Sound, Broke within a Week!
I’m so sad that I had to return these as they simply sound so good. My pair sounded great out of the box, but the left connector began making crackling noises in the driver due to poor construction. Based on the other horror stories I’ve heard about Hifiman QC, I will stay far away from this company until they pull it together. It is ridiculous that one can pay so much for headphones just for them to crap out within a week. Just remember: no one expects these failures to happen to them, and I had the same mindset, but here we are.
One person found this helpful
Dewey Cheatham Howe –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great except big fit
The sound is great on these, good tight plenteous bass with a higher end present, but not too hot. Nice detail, and though EQ is not necessary, it’s close enough to customize perfectly for me. I like to tone down the lower treble and (lesser so) the upper mids. I also can nudge up the bass a little at times. I’m happy to be free of the bass-heaviness of Fidelio X2. I still like the X2, but tight bass detail is a nice change, even if you have to give up the enveloping stage of the X2. I’m glad I have EQ options now, instead of always searching for the sound.You’ll need more than an Apple dongle and iPhone to drive these, but not much.I was going to return these for the Arya but missed the window. That’s because those must be even better, and these are “big head” approved and not adjustable. A sock underneath the headrest solves this, so I plan to get an inexpensive pad to stick underneath the headrest (lots of options here on Amazon).
Computer Guy –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful sound
The Edition XS headphones have proven to be a significant upgrade from my Sennheiser HD 6XX headphones. They are better in everyway except comfort. They are very comfortable but after about 3 hours I start to feel the clamping pressure on the sides of my large head. That may change as they break in. For everyday use I’ll still put on the HD 6xx but when I really want to listen to and enjoy some music the Edition XS take listening to a much higher level. Hard to believe this level of headphone can be had for the current sub four hundred price.
Charles PatsanzaCharles Patsanza –
5.0 out of 5 stars
I believe in HiFiMan edition XS
These headphones are awesome coming from philips fidelio x2hr as someone of a bass head.I just paired them with my music gear, Zen DAC v2 and zen can combo and now everything seems so real🤭.I love bass and soundstage and the Edition xs responds well to extra bass button and space button on the can. Bass heads like me have to EQ for extra bass.. But wow sound signature out of the box is awesome.Never thought planar drivers are this good and controlled.They fit nicely on my head without adjusting the Yorks and can listen for hours with them resting on my head nicely and the cups covering all my ears. And they look so nice too… Hope they last!Thank you HiFiMan for Edition XS
4 people found this helpful
Mohammed Aldhahbi –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Sound is amazing
Great headphones with outstanding soundstage.And it fits good even when I don’t have a big head.
One person found this helpful
XxAztecxX –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing Headphones
To start, I have several sets of headphones including the Sennheiser 660S, Sennheiser 560S, and Hifiman Sundara. Personally, the Hifiman Edition XS is my favorite so far. I have them connected to a Schiit Magnius/Modius Combo with a Balanced XLR cable and I have to say these sound amazing. They have a wider soundstage than all the other headphones I mentioned, except the Sundara’s are fairly close. What I love about these more than the Sundara’s is they have better bass and less painful high frequencies. I don’t feel I need to EQ the XS at all to enjoy them. As for imaging, I am playing some MW2 and seem to be able to hear directional queue’s and footsteps perfectly. Out of the box these are the most detailed, clean, and satisfyingly fun headphones I own. The only thing I would mention to watch out for is these headphones are massive. I have a big head so it fits me well but I believe you might struggle for comfort if you have a small head. I do like that the earcups do not touch my ears whatsoever and there isn’t much pressure on the top of my head or bad clamping force. Seems like a balanced fit on my head. For technical performance I would say these headphones are top notch.
11 people found this helpful
WB –
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good sound but impractical
The sound quality is great, definitely an upgrade from HD6XX, but I ended up returning these due to many other issues. They are physically huge. The cups are massive which makes them both comfortable and uncomfortable. The upside is they don’t touch my ears at all and there’s plenty of space inside. The downside is they’re so big that even with the headband fully retracted, the cups extend down to my jaw bone putting pressure on it and making it uncomfortable. They are also so loose that they fall off my head if I bend over or shake my head side to side. For reference, I wear a size XL hat. The headband was uncomfortable, put a lot of pressure on my head, and kept pinching and pulling my hair. The other downside is they leak more sound than any other open headphone I’ve tried. It seems like 50% of the sound goes towards the ear and 50% goes out the other side. Also, bad things happen to the sound if anything gets near the cups on the outside. Like if you put your hands 6 inches away from the cups, it reflects some of the sound back to the drivers and it sounds terrible – never experienced this with any other headphone. Low sensitivity, needs an amplifier. Build quality feels relatively cheap. I could not justify the $500 price tag for better sound when they are inferior in every other area.
9 people found this helpful
MattMatt –
3.0 out of 5 stars
Might be a refurbished or used unit
Headphones sounded good out of the box. However, packaging looks exactly like the refurbished ones you get from ebay.
One person found this helpful
Aaron Matchett –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great sound not great clamp and build
The sound of these are great. If you purchase more for that alone then these will be fine.I tend to prefer a clampy headphone for comfort. I like the clamp force of headphones like the Sivga Phoenix, Hifiman 4xx, and Beyerdynamic 177x Go. These are a little loose on my head without a hat on. With a hat the clamp force is closer to my preference but not quite there. From a build quality perspective this is usually Hifiman’s weakspot and this headphone isn’t too different. I have better built headphones that cost less. That isn’t to say that the Edition XS feel like they will fall apart on you. More that they feel cheap to hold. Meanwhile the $250 Sivga Phoenix feel way more solid and premium when held and same goes for the 4xx. The similarly priced Beyerdynamic 177x Go is built way better than the Edition XS. Hifiman still has a long way to go when It comes to providing good build quality at lower prices.
2 people found this helpful
Shadymouse –
3.0 out of 5 stars
Just will speak on quality
Sound: Sound quality is excellent. There are ton of reviews for this, so I will be brief. The XS are seriously great headphones. They are a step up for headphones below $500 and they sound just as good as most above its priceComfort. If you have the ears and face to wear to these without the headphone sitting on the bottom of your jaw, then these are for you. I developed a hotspot because of the lack of a clamp, so the terrible headband kind of just sits on the top my head. I had to use Dekoni nuggets to alleviate the pain.Build QC/Material: Hifiman needs to step up their materials. Period. The faux leather everywhere and loose ear cups really degrade the overall presentation. The headband is terrible. If these were $200, then okay. At $500+, I expect a lot better materials.Purely sound. A must buy. Everything else, I would probably spend my money on something that feels like $500+ as well as sound like $500+.
3 people found this helpful
Amazon Customer –
3.0 out of 5 stars
excellent sound, horrible comfort
I am using this product with a Fiio K9 dac/amp. The sound from the cans is excellent. However, the comfort from the headset is horrible! The padding on the headband is as hard as wood. In addition, the adjustment for the headband is not adequate to position the cans comfortable on my head. They need to rest about 1 inch higher on my head but this is not possible due to the design of the headband. Its very hard for me to wear the headset for longer the 1,5 hours.
One person found this helpful
avk –
3.0 out of 5 stars
Clamping force is too weak and makes the headphone feel unstable on your head.
Overall sound quality is very good, with good bass extension, decent midrange, and clear distortion free highs. They do have a slight artificial “sheen” to them tough on certain materials, perhaps from a slight drop in midrange levels relative to the treble, but overall it is quite a natural sounding headphone (no headphone sounds completely neutral to me, but these come close).The headband is the biggest letdown of this headphone . Most reviewers caution that the headband won’t fit on smaller heads. Mine is bigger than average and I was able to find the right adjustment for a proper fit. But the clamping force is too weak, and while the headphone doesn’t slide off, it shifts around with head movement, especially when looking down at my desk. It’s a weird feeling that eventually exasperated me, so I returned them. HIFIMAN’s suspension head strap, such as on the Ananda, feels much more secure.
One person found this helpful
Ben Golko –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great sound, underwhelming build
They sound very spacious and have great resolution. Very deep and clean bass and good mids. Airy treble while remaining detailed.Build, lots of pleather which isn’t terrible, you just know that it’s going to be in shambles eventually.Creaky plastic in the headband is one of the biggest issues as you hear it inside the cups.Didn’t come with a carrying case which is disappointing for this price and the build certainly doesn’t feel like it’s 500$.It slips off your head pretty easily as it has very light clamping force and the headband is very smooth with not much surface contact with your head.TL;DR: if you are only prioritizing sound, these are definitely worth considering and I love the way they sound, but keep in mind the build is underwhelming.
14 people found this helpful
Paulk –
3.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing sound, horrendous comfort
Buying these headphones, I noticed many reviews noted that the sound was amazing but the comfort was a bit lacking. After trying it out for a while, can confirm the sound is amazingly clean with my Kii7, but the comfort was horrible. I have a larger head which mean they fit well, but the padding around the ears and the head-strap was digging into me within 3 minutes of putting them on. Materials had a bit to be desired as well.
5 people found this helpful
Taylor J.Taylor J. –
5.0 out of 5 stars
(update, fixed) I love these things. Turns out the issue was user error.
The media could not be loaded.
(update): turns out it was user error. The three headphones did react differently to tone tests and songs. But all three worked perfectly once I fixed my amps settings. I was using the iha-6 and had high current AND high gain buttons ON. Turned high gain off, and boom, no more rattle at any volume level.(Old:) So this thing has some serious quality control issues. The first unit I got is the one in the video. It sounds like starting up a lawnmower up until about 85 hz, and then it stops rattling, and then starts back up again at 145 hz until about 190hz. On and off until 600hz where I heard no rattling after that.The left driver is fine, but the right driver is busted. So I ordered an exchange. Amazon sent me a new one, and both drivers were busted. Amazon wouldn’t let me exchange again, so I ordered a 3rd pair. The right driver is busted on this one too.The ear pads, once you take them off, really tell you the quality of this product. They are cheap, bubbled and damaged plastic with glue leaking everywhere and strings dangling off the seams. I tried swapping ear pads between the 3 units, no change. There is a design issue with these Edition XS drivers. There was really no reason for Hifiman to offer these in this price range, and from where I’m standing it looks like a cash grab that was rushed out of China.Don’t get these. Literally don’t. I don’t even have an alternate recommendation, as these were my first foray into Audiophile world. And as it stands, I’m not sure I want to continue playing the Electronic Lottery to get a working pair of headphones.Connected to an IHA-6 Amp and a Zen Dac Signature v2 with custom made high quality cables. To note, these are busted with stock or third party cables. I can’t make heads or tails of what the problem is. Just don’t get em.
5 people found this helpful
Brian Aris –
5.0 out of 5 stars
In a word: BIG
The Edition XS: Big drivers, big sound, big head required for maximum comfort. I have a medium sized head, and the most comfortable setting for me is with the earcups fully retracted into the headband. It’s fairly good this way, but I wish I could move them in one notch further. Those with smaller noggins will struggle with these. The fit on me is of average tightness, not too tight or too loose. It’s mostly made of plastic, and there can be some occasional clicks or creaks if you move around a lot with them on.The sound that comes from these huge drivers though, just wow. I am not an audiophile, but even I can appreciate the breadth of the soundstage. These are not only the widest-sounding open backs I’ve ever used, but they do it without sacrificing any bass. They have a very natural and powerful bass response with no loss of clarity in the mids or treble.Overall, I’d say this is a headset well suited to any genre, from metal to EDM to classical. I’m aware that there are high-end audiophile headphones that will beat these, but these present a big, enveloping sound that is both powerful and clear. What more could you ask for for $500?
7 people found this helpful
Mitch Weller –
2.0 out of 5 stars
Not worth the price
First review I’ve ever done just to tell everyone the downsides of these headphones, mainly in part due to a certain website listing these as the best “upper mid-range headphones” since I very much regret this purchase after a month of usePros:The sound quality is very solidCons:For $300 (at time of purchase) headphones, the fact that if you’re moving your head at all, there’s this high pitched plastic squeaking sound isn’t acceptable. Listening to music and turning your head and hearing this loud plastic squeak shouldn’t be something that comes out of headphones this expensiveAlso as others have mentioned, the size of these headphones is huge. I have a large head and they fit me decently, but I can see how others are unable to wear themLastly is the weight. I’ve never owned a pair of headphones that make my neck strain this much after wearing them all day for work. I’m not sure of the exact weight and maybe it’s just a function of how large they areWouldn’t recommend unless you’re keeping your head still while wearing them
2 people found this helpful
Zach –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good headphones (if you like EDM), but poor Quality Control.
Returned the headphones, unfortunately.(Right ear made a clunky metallic noise when touched).Sound is amazingly clear – soundstage is great, lows sound clean, transient response is fast, very clear revealing.Hip hop/EDM/electronic music sounds phenomenal.However, the mids are a bit weak – which makes modern rock/metal sound bad. A 2 kHz dip in the frequency response does not flatter ‘rock’ music (sounds flat/dull).I listen to/work with rock music a lot, so that was also a no-go for me.But – super recommend for everything else!
3 people found this helpful
Shelly C –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Believe the hype
TL;DR: Nothing I have listened to since the Grado SR40s that originally made me go “WOW I didn’t know headphones could sound like this!” has hit me like the Edition XS. If these look like an upgrade to you and the price doesn’t cause you heartburn, smash the Buy Now button with no apprehension.I am not a jaded audiophile with a ton of experience listening to high end headphones. My complete set of owned cans is relatively limited: Grado SR40, Beyer DT 250, Beyer DT 770/80 Pro, Sennheiser HD600, Ultrasone 900 Pro, V-Moda M-200, Hifiman Sundara, Audeze LCD-X, and lastly, the Hifiman Edition XS. (I’m excluding ANC headphones bought for travel regardless of sound quality from the list).There are two headphones on that list that shook up my perception of what was possible with headphones vs speakers: Grado SR40s and Hifiman Edition XS. These just blew my mind that you can get something at this pricepoint that sounds this effing good.Somehow unnoticed in my life through the above headphone purchases over the years is the apparent fact that I have a small head, as out of the box these are terribly, ridiculously uncomfortable. They hang past my jawline like a bad bob and fold the tops of my ears over on the smallest band setting. I was seriously despairing of what to do about this because they sounded SO GOOD until I had the obvious big brain take of wearing a trucker cap to virtually en-tall my noggin’ whenever I sit down for a session. With that small adaptation, these are essentially perfect at this price point.
16 people found this helpful
Adam Matthew CrabbAdam Matthew Crabb –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great tonality (but I prefer more bass). Not for smaller heads.
I like them better than my 6xx; the mids are not as good, but the treble is where I like it without any EQ. With the 6xx I have to boost both the bass and the treble to get them where I want them. The tonality of the Edition XS is great to me. It doesn’t track Harman perfectly, but it’s pretty enjoyable. I just add a low shelf at 83Hz anywhere between 6 and 12dB and then I am good to go with effortless listening.I have a medium sized head and big ears. I really appreciate the larger cups, but the headband is not adequate unless you have a larger head. With a medium head it is a loose fit and doable (barely). I ended up adding a suspension strap to it which thankfully solved that problem for me. It is a passive, non-destructive mod which allows me to comfortably enjoy the great sound from these headphones longer than I do than any of my other headphones. Your personal anatomy is a serious factor to consider before purchasing these headphones.These are easily my best open back headphones. My best closed backs are my DCA Aeon RT (which you can get for less than these). Those are also great. They have an equally detailed sound and similar tonality to the Edition XS but with a dampened compressed flavor. I don’t need to boost the bass as much with the Aeon Closed and I can listen at lower volumes and hear more detail.Right now, between the 6xx, Edition XS, and the Aeon Closed, I think I like the Edition XS the best. But you could give me any of those three and I would be happy. That’s when you have to consider more personal and situational factors. I can’t used open back headphones in many situations.
8 people found this helpful
sonicd0012 –
4.0 out of 5 stars
They are great comfort wise but they feel and look super cheap
Comfort wise, I cant even tell I am wearing them, they are so comfortable its amazing. Sound wise, I can’t complain by any means for gaming. I have the Fidelio X2HR right next to these but for the money I cant recommend to justify the spend over the Fidelios. It both were priced the same I’d reluctantly pick these over the X2s because the build quality is pretty cheap looking and the sound is not worse or better. These look like they should cost no more than $150.00 but for $500 I’d say no thank you. Of course the Fidelios are better bang for your money by far.
3 people found this helpful
Kaustubh jawanjal –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Almost perfect
Almost perfect for the price. One of the best sounding planars. It’s just the headband feels kinda cheap. Please give it Arya’s headband.
2 people found this helpful
Kevin Talbot –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Simply stunning
OK full disclosure, these are the most expensive headphones I have purchased. They are also the first planer set I have purchased. I have heard a lot of headphones in my day including expensive ones that I didn’t purchase (Senn HD800, Beyerdynamics) so I have a good idea what sounds good. My previous set were Grado SR325’s which are pretty good or so I thought. These blow those away. Now I was expecting very good imaging since these are planers and planers are typically very good at that. I was also expecting them to be detailed, again because they are planers. What I was not expecting is all of that plus bass that is seemingly flat to at least 40 Hz and also has punch! The bottom register of these cans is really impressive! Add that to the detailed airy sound and it’s hard to beat for the money. The high end is very smooth also, not too bright. I can wear these for hours and never get fatigued or have to take them off because they have become uncomfortable to wear. They are great headphones. I would definitely buy them again. There are several versions of this can that are even pricier but it’s hard to imagine I would spend more given how good these are. I am curious though…
One person found this helpful
Will Grafton –
3.0 out of 5 stars
Just not for me
I took a chance on these well-reviewed headphones, but they’re just not for me.These are big, heavy headphones. Even at the smallest setting, they were a touch too big and I ended up adding an additional headphone pad to the headband in order to get a fit. The pads have a moderate clamp, but the size of them puts the pressure on my upper jawline, producing blinding headaches. I had to return them once I realized I thought about taking an aspirin _before_ putting them on.Sound-wise, they were very good. Compared to HD600, the bass is better, mids a little more recessed, and treble a little brighter. Vocals were not as good as the HD600. I use an a amp and APO EQ, but never did end up dialing in the exact sound I wanted. If I had more time with them, I’m confident I could have found the best sound for me.It’s a shame. I would have liked to spend more time with these, but the headaches were too much.
One person found this helpful
Jesse S. –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Warranty registration is a joke.
I have to say that I love the headphones themselves. Sound stage is excellent, bass can be lacking but is sufficient. Driven with a Asus Xonar STX sound card, power isn’t the problem.Other than restating the things others have said here I’ll tell you that the warranty registration has to be designed to fail. I honestly don’t think they want people to successfully complete it.Even when checking that all my information was right, captcha correct, receipt uploaded it would still say that I’m missing the upload picture or got it wrong.
One person found this helpful
AndresAndres –
3.0 out of 5 stars
Phenomenal sound, but issues
The headphones have great sound. Open back, nice wide sound stage, balanced, everything. But looking online, many seemed to have the same issue as mine. The left driver has some problems. Anywhere near 400hz, there would be some rattle and buzzing and it’s entirely distracting for studio work and casual listening alike. Great product, horrible quality control. Going to to get a refund. Should you get one without the issue, great choice. Should you get unlucky like me, yeah, refund it. Tried to use it for almost a month and see if it would go away. Didn’t. Again, great product, terrible quality control
Graham –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Huge
They’re much bigger than most headphones, so getting a good seal could be tough.
Bobby Digital –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Incredible sound at an incredible value.
You’re probably here because you saw lots of videos or read lots of reviews about how good this headphone was, so there’s not much more that I can say other than they are correct. At the current price of $379 it’s even harder to pass up. The detail is incredible, the scale is massive, and honestly they’re very comfortable. I would recommend getting an add-on headband pad to give the headphone a little more height and grip. Once I did that they were secure and I could position the drivers on my head to where they should be.I own the Sennheiser HD600, Hifiman Sundara, Focal Elegia, HarmonicDyne Zeus and Athena, and the Edition XS is the all around best performer for everything. Music, games, movies, you name it. It’s my go-to headphone right now and probably for the foreseeable future.
3 people found this helpful
robi1138 –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic sound for all musical genres
The Edition XS has become my go-to set of cans, the sound is really that fantastic. The bass is present and full sounding with the planar magnetic drivers. The mid-range is beautifully neutral but never boring sounding and the highs are articulated nicely without any sibilance.These are my first set of headphones with planar magnetic drivers and they blow away the other three pairs I own (all dynamic driver headphones), Shure 1440, Sennheiser 598, and the Philips Fidelio X2. All of these headphones are nice but none ever completely satisfied me. They each have strengths and weaknesses but there is not a single weakness I can think of with the Edition XS.The soundstage is beautifully open, but not overly wide. They also come closest to emulating the tonality and overall sound of my tower speakers, which have been described as “neutral with a hint of warmth”… I would describe these headphones the same way.These headphones do need a bit of power. I am using these with a FiiO K7 DAC/Balanced Amp and balanced cables. I think the balanced cables do make a difference but you’ll still get great sound without them…it’s just even better with them.The Edition XS is a clear step up from the other headphones that I own but It was worth the money. And I didn’t come across any reviews for other headphones anywhere near the cost of these that compare sonically. If you have the money and you want a good set of headphones, I don’t think these will disappoint. I’ve tried them with every type of music and they sound great. They sound accurate without over or underemphasizing any frequency range.The last thing I’ll comment on is the headband which I am not a fan of as it seemed to simply rest on the crown of my head which didn’t feel very good. So I bought those Dekonii nuggets and they solved the problem. Other than that, they are comfortable on the ears (even though they look like they were made for a giant) and seem durable to me. I have heard people have had some issues with planar magnetic drivers but I did not with this pair at all. And even if I did, I purchased it from the manufacturer so I could just return them for a new pair. It seems like most are fine but there’s occasionally a bad sample in the bunch.
13 people found this helpful
Bandit –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Exactly what I’ve been looking for
MADE FOR BIG HEADS!! I have been doing research for a long time to find decent studio headphones for someone with big ears and or big head. These are a perfect match, definitely not made for small heads. There is historically low clamping force so most of the weight sits on top of the head, maybe buy some Dekoni nuggets if you are sensitive on top of head.
jayinthebay –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Niche comfort and value; not really worth the upgrade
I came to the Edition XS from the Sundara. I wanted something with similar sound quality, but with a greater sense of comfort (I have big ears, and the Sundaras were unfortunately too painful to wear for extended sessions)The Edition XS has earcups that are extremely comfortable, and have no problem covering even my larger ears. However, I highly doubt that these (and perhaps the Arya and Ananda) fit people with smaller ears/heads very well – if at all. Even on the smallest setting, I find that the base of the cups reach my jawline. If you have a smaller head, I would probably opt for the Sundaras or other cans.Furthermore, like other reviews have mentioned, the headband is indeed a point of concern, partly due to the sheer size of the cups. It is difficult to strike a proper balance with the Edition XS, which can lead to a great deal of tension on the top of one’s head. I am inclined to agree that this headband design is not meant to pair very well with the cups.This brings up other concerns related to the construction of the Edition XS. For one, the plastic feels very cheap. The Sundaras felt far more premium. Additionally, if you move around excessively, the headset and the cables tend to make sounds that are disruptive and worrying. It makes little sense to pay the premium for something that feels like a downgrade.Of course, when it comes to sound, the Edition XS do sound great. The bass is incredibly fun, and there is a lot of fidelity at both the high and low ranges. However, the mids are a little muddied, and I actually think that the Sundaras win here. I really don’t think that the Edition XS is all that superior to the supposedly “lesser” Sundara in the sound department; in fact, in some ways, it arguably sounds worse.I will most likely stick with the Edition XS because of the personal comfort that I am able to gain over the Sundara, but I would likely not recommend that others do the same, unless they also suffer from similar woes, or are explicitly looking for better bass in their open-back cans.
27 people found this helpful
Joe Blow –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Solid
Source/DAC: Tidal, Modi 3+Amp: Asgard 3Review warning: I own many headphones but don’t really consider myself an audiophile, though my friends and family may!Lows: Has some mid-bass bloom but due to the overall frequency response the mids and highs still come out. Good sub-bass and bass, great for hip hop, EDM, fast metal.Mids: Not recessed and not forward, perfect. For comparison I also find the Drop Sennheiser 6XX (650) to have perfect mids and the Focal Clear to have forward mids (though enjoyable). Sound tonally correct, especially male and female voices. I disagree with people calling this headphone V-shaped, it is not – to my ears.Highs: I can’t hear over 14KHz so I can’t comment there but the treble is there and present but not over powering (like a Sony MDR-V6). No treble fatigue here.This is a value powerhouse and sounds like much more expensive headphones. This headphone would have been $1,500-2,000 just 3 or 4 years ago. I have heard a few in this range, including the Arya (didn’t like, too technical for me), Focal Clear (like), 800S (like with EQ). I haven’t heard anything else for $500 recently that sounds this good. In comparison to the old HE-500, this is a much more capable headphone, that headphone is warm and relaxed but this one is quick and warm-neutral. This is a better headphone in all aspects than it, in my opinion. Be sure to use a decent amp/dac.Fit is good but I have a somewhat large head, very comfortable. Much more comfortable than the headband found on the old HE-400 and HE-500. Very light. I haven’t had a HFM with this style headband before, looks similar to the Deva, probably is.Quality control seems fine on my set, I have no issues and see no issues. Hope it holds up. I have replaced headbands on HFM products in the past so we shall see.This is a very technical headphone without making your ears bleed with fatigue. It actually feels like a extremely solid deal at $500 in 2022, no regrets.Edit: Unfortunately my right side failed after a month but HFM replaced it no questions, already received the new one and all is good. Amazing customer service, still a 5/5 from me. Quality issues can happen anywhere, thanks Hifiman!Update: Still no issues with replacement set after more than a year. GG Hifiman. Probably still the best value out there.
27 people found this helpful
Neil S. Cohen –
3.0 out of 5 stars
Sound great but build quality is not equal to the sound quality
This is a tough one, so I’ll keep it short. I have been seriously into high end audio for more than 45 years, and lately have turned my attention to headphones. I have tried virtually everything under around $1500 and, along with the 300 ohm Sennheisers (NOT. the 660S), these Edition XS are probably the most satisfying listen out there for under $1,000. Like the Sennheisers, they are power hungry, so they won’t give their best without a good amp. But feed them right and they are capable of fantastic sounds that will help you enjoy your music all day. Ignore the reviewer exc that say they are boxy or bloody – that’s their amps inability to put sufficient power into an 18 ohm load that’s only 92db sensitive – a demanding task requiring a powerful amp with a stiff power supply. These are far superior to their more expensive siblings, the Anandas, which are too bass shy to be acceptable at any price; they are downright boring. Even the cheaper Sundaras are better than the Anandas, but the XS, though harder to drive, easily outperforms both with the right amp. That being said, the headband/adjustment system is utter garbage, and should be discontinued immediately. It is not only cheaper feeling but it is less comfortable than either of the previous sling-type headbands, and should be dispensed with by Hifiman immediately. Mine has no detente on one side, and the other is, at best uneven. Check a sennheiser hd600 for how an adjustable headband should feel. These seem like they were slapped together with no thought yo quality whatsoever, and have no place on a $500 headphone. Secondly, Hifiman provides only a very short, very cheap looking cable, with a molded plastic 90degree 3.5mm termination, thus implying, falsely, that these headphones are intended for portable use. They are not even suited for portable use again, there is no excuse for failing to include a proper length cable with a proper 1/4” connector, as they have virtually always done in the past for anything but their entry level headphones. I do not relish the idea that I still need to buy a decent aftermarket cable to use with my new $500 headphones. So, 5 stars for sound quality, 2 stars each for fit n’ finish and amenities = 3 stars total. It’s a shame, because they really do sound good, but I may have to return them because, notwithstanding the good sound, I do not feel they are worth the asking price. I have to believe they can do better for $500.
27 people found this helpful
esctrlol –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Get the nuggets
IDK what they were thinking with this headband. Dekoni nuggets fixed it for me, seriously just get the nuggets. Honestly has the same planar sound as my 400is with more bass. The ear shaped cans are nice and superior to the circles. At 500 bux I’m happy. End game for now, until I drop a couple thousand dollars.
5 people found this helpful
Jim Downard –
5.0 out of 5 stars
hifiman gem
Outstanding clarity and soundstage is what jumps out at me. Detail is great as well and very good bass quantity and quality as well as extension. Sometimes got the sense that the middle was a little lean but as I paid attention to it I realized it’s the separation between all the sounds that isn’t lean just separated. I have a lot of great cans but this is my favorite and keeps getting better as it breaks in. They are open backs so isolation isn’t really a thing but I have heard worse. The only down side I can think of is because of all the great things going on and the clarity I listen a bit louder but it sounds great at low volume as well. Enjoy!!!
8 people found this helpful
Alexander Esenwein –
2.0 out of 5 stars
Unbelievable sound quality
EDIT: The left driver is gone. Lower frequencies sound like crap now and ive only used them for a few weeks. These are amazing but something is definitely off with them nowI nearly cried listening to Time by Pink Floyd. These headphones sound phenomenal and blow the socks off my DT 770 Pros. Simply excellent. I am using an Asgard 3 with a 9028 DAC with a EQ preset by Oratory.Build quality is OK, and they are comfortable but not “so good I forget they are there”.Anyone reading this should know that you absolutely need an amp, and a DAC is preferable as well.
4 people found this helpful
Blakglas –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Edition XS
My first planar and wow! Such a dynamic and large presence from the music. Bass goes deep and punches with authority. Soundstage is wide, but not artificial. Instrument separation is effortless. I’m using the XS balanced into Lotoo Paw S2, iPad Pro, Deezer HiFi. As far as build quality goes, it’s solid and minimalistic. There was some creaking noises the first few days of use, but they have worn in nicely and creaks are non evident. This headphone is large and I can definitely see it fitting loose on smaller heads. If fit is too loose, you can easily bend the metal at end of padded headband for a more secure tight fit.
3 people found this helpful
Richard Rocha –
5.0 out of 5 stars
The best headphone under 1k easily
This is easily the best headphone under 1k. It’s better than ananda, better than r70x, and better than 660s. It has no competition right now. If you are thinking about it then go for it. This headphone sound great on cheap amps like zen can and scales way way up. On a proper amp like iha6 or hpa4 this thing sings. The only complaints I have with this headphones is the whole headband situation but honestly with sound this good I don’t care. 10/10 best headphones under $1,000
14 people found this helpful
Janet –
2.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing for 2 days
Audio quality like I’ve never heard before, then It started to cut out, give my ear static shocks, and the audio quality was reduced to that of regular headphones.
2 people found this helpful
Chivalrous Tomato –
4.0 out of 5 stars
To loose
Loved the audio quality but the build leaves a lot to be desired, I have a head big enough that I can’t wear most hats but with these headphones on the smallest setting would slide off my head when yawning or looking down and with how fragile they feel with all that plastic that’s a hard no for me.
2 people found this helpful
Mike –
5.0 out of 5 stars
I’m having a moment
Oh my God! These have exceeded my expectations. Listening to Kid A by Radiohead is almost like hearing it for the first time again. I’m only running these off of a btr7 by the way.
3 people found this helpful
James –
3.0 out of 5 stars
Overrated and cheaply made.
They squeak – Like a lot for a headphone that costs $500. Just picking them up causes creaks and squeaking noises. Also was expecting a big sound upgrade compared to other cheaper headphones I own. Sound is extremely subjective but to my ears they don’t sound much better than a lot of the Sennheiser 6xx series headphones, many of which go on sale for less than $300.Also, I think the dan clark AEON x headphones are better than these in every way.My first hifiman headphone and probably won’t be trying any others.
3 people found this helpful
Brian Fensch –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Competes against Ananda for less
The XS are a step up from the Sundara and a close cousin to the Ananda. While the Ananda has a bit more soundstage and more whimsical imaging, the XS loses out on some technical ability and produces a more fun and bassy experience with more forward vocals. With the right chain you can open up the Soundstage and add a bit detail on top to find them performing very much like the Ananda for $200 less. As for the Sundara they’re an obvious upgrade. So the question is do you want analytical and detail orientated (Ananda) or a slightly more fun and bassy version (XS)
23 people found this helpful