HiFiMAN Sundara Headphones

Product Information

Included in the box was also a HIFIMAN Owner’s Guide for the Sundara specifically. Most people gloss over these as who needs instructions listening to a headphone? I strongly suggest you don’t as this guide contains a complete overview of HIFIMAN ’s methodology, a message from Dr. Fang Bian, a run down of the technology used on the Sundara, and recommended usage and care. Since the unit I’m reviewing is mine, I can successfully evade certain suspicions that I’m being encouraged by a distributor or manufacturer to give a positive review for some kind of monetary gain. Great Product, sounds fantastic (its a bit dark compared to similar planars), I've hear that the Audeze ones are a little warmer. In any case, do keep in mind that this will be a little heavier than your usual headphones and would be restricted to mostly listening sessions at home. There is a bit of treble, but very controlled, in certain cases this would be very enjoyable. That headband, on the other hand, is kind of a different story. I don’t like the little silver accents that clumsily strike a horizontal line across the otherwise vertically-oriented headband. And where it says “Sundara,” I’d rather it not say anything at all – it really does mess up the minimalist design of the earcups. I trust that the new headband easily beats the previous designs in terms of comfort, but in terms of looks, I’m not sold. I think comfort is more attributed to the new pad design which has the same sized 100mm round shape but it seems much softer and moldable.

HiFiMan Sundara review - SoundGuys

Upon unboxing the HiFiMan Sundara, we advise you to look out for the following potential manufacturing issues: This headphone, along with the HD6XX, show that price and sound quality have nearly zero correlation in headphones. I prefer names, to be honest, and it is not the first time Hifiman has done this with the Susvara and the soon-to-be-launched Ananda being the other noteworthy named headphones. What Is The Pitch? Names Not NumbersI don’t have that but you would be better off with a more powerful amp output. The Sundara is not that efficient. As such, the Sundara Headphones areneutral-sounding headphones, but so much more. Their accuracy andtimbral accuracywill have you reaching for different genres to engage with. They are also fun. Whenclear imagingandanintimate soundstage arecoupled with the musicyou love and listen to most, it’s aperfect match.I can recommend these headphones without hesitation. One of the big selling points in my research was they could be enjoyed and experienced without the need for an EQ amp. Even though next on my list, I wanted to start with a straight connection to my integrated amp. My research lasted a couple of months, and I can attest the Sundara headphones are the best fit for the beginner audio enthusiast. Theyare affordable and excellent value. The most notable new feature of the Sundara is its ultra-thin diaphragm – 80% thinner, to hear Hifiman tell it, than the diaphragms of its successors, the HE-400i and HE-400s.

HIFIMAN SUNDARA Full Size Over Ear Planar Magnetic Headphone

These face masks are not intended to be used in health care environments, including but not limited to, hospitals, nursing homes, urgent care centers, doctors’ offices; Despite the healthier infusion of metal in the Sundara design, the weight has not gone up too much, if at all. The Sundara weighs in at 372g compared to 370g for the HE400i and still 3g less than the HE560. The handling though has changed slightly. There’s a visible perforated plate or phase plug in front of the driver diaphragm so it’s not a completely open driver which outputs directly to the ear, it’s closer in appearance to a T50rp driver. It seems to be the only driver within the HIFIMAN lineup that employs some sort of phase plate or that I can recall.These headphones are designed for discerning music lovers. If you are someone who cares about audio quality "deeply," you'll want a pair of headphones like these. Mid-way through, the sounds of angelic entities intrude on the primary act. Impeccable is one word to describe the sweet and delicate sound required to reproduce it. With most headphones, the delicateness is not reproducible or will have latent elements of ghosting in the speed. This can be heard with a slightly lagging reverb accompanied by extra distortion and noise. The Sundaras were effortless and transparent without any added distortion. The grills on the cups have also had an upgrade from the previous thin wire open honeycomb plate design to a stronger lattice designed wire grid which looks a lot stronger than before. Dimensions & Handling Treble accuracy measured well, with no excessive sibilance. It is on the brighter side, sometimes a little too much. When listening to Donizetti’s Lucia Di Lammermoor, with Joan Sutherland, Pavarotti and Bonynge with the Royal Opera House Orchestra (1972Decca CD) or to Strauss’ Elektra with Inge Borkh and Fischer-Dieskau with Bohm and the Staatskapelle Dresden, (1961, Deutsche Grammophon LP) there were some arias the headphones didn’t respond well in the high tessituras. Volume had to be lowered, otherwise, they ‘stung’my ears. This was my only‘disagreement’with the Sundara sound. Nice comparison Marcus! Just a small typo under the image of the 600’s in the performance section. It says HE600. I think you meant to say HD600. I think most will recognize that but just thought I’d gently throw it out there. Keep up the great work.