🔶 Hifiman Edition XS

[popselliott]

Thanks to everyone who replied. I think I’ll just go ahead and pull the trigger on these.

[keppes]

I’ve written a comparison between these two in post 1228.

[Blackscreen]

Same here, post 323.

[CTOXmas]

if only the build was up to par as well they would be fantastic (sundara was actually pretty solid but XS left a lot to be desired)

[Raptor168]

That is the reason I will not bother with them. That nasty headband and shit build quality.

[CTOXmas]

if they have a V2 with the hybrid headband they can have my money back lol

[Rinderkappajoe]

I also think that the overall appearance and the build quality sucks from what you can tell from all the reviews.
Will get it for testing in a few weeks and almost hope i will not like the sound (which i doubt) because the build is so poor.
I have a Beyerdynamic DT900Pro X here and this thing ist solid af and really really well built and it costs less than half the price.
I was thinking about updating the DT900Pro X but it would feel so wrong to trade it with something that “cheap”
Sound is not everything i guess.
Any recommendations on alternatives?

[CTOXmas]

Focal is good build and sound but you pay for it lol

[Rinderkappajoe]

I think i am willing to spend up to 1500€
Did some research in the last hour and so far I have an eye on Denon AH-D9200 and Focal Clear MG, I know they are quite different because one is open and the other one is closed, but at that point know I don´t really know what to get.
I might prefer an open back due to wider stage and less heat but on the other hand i quite enjoy a good amount of bass whicht i will probably get better with a closed one

[Taon]

And just look at that…

HiFiMan Edition XS Review

[CTOXmas]

can’t speak for the Clear MG but I am finding the OG Focal Clear to have more than enough punch
ZMF might be worth looking into as well (if you are willing to wait like 4 weeks)

[CT007]

I love my Timeless! Except it’s a smidge bright up top. I’m thinking of trying an XS instead of FD7.

[Etroze86]

I’ll second for ZMF, build is great and my Aeolus is one of the most chill headphones I own. The warranty on the driver’s is almost enough to justify the cost on its own.

I finally got my XS and I have to say they are very interesting. They have a lot of character for a big planar, I wasn’t expecting that with my experience from the 4XX.
Build is not great but not horrible, nuggets or a pilot pad would go a long ways to make it comfortable.
They do need power, I’m at 2pm, high gain, balanced on my singxer. My other planars are well under noon on the knob.
Edit: I can confirm that dekoni nuggets completely change how these headphones fit and it’s for the better!!!

I’m still breaking them in and then I plan on comparing them to my 2020 LCDX and DCA Aeon Open RT since that would be a great comparison at the price point.

[Nr48]

Placed 3rd on the soundstage ranking list, above the Arya… intresting.
But some places are weird on this list anyway. 8xx far behind, an Astro A40 gaming headset pretty high, K712 lower than SHP9500…

[Etroze86]

It’s definitely big, there is a sense of artificially being big but they are giant drivers.

[Rinderkappajoe]

Thanks guys will wait for ZMF!

[MrAyrit]

Hifiman Edition XS Review - $500 Golden Egg?

[lpStoyanov]

I haven’t been here for a while but I see interesting discussion again and now I have more things to add.

@popselliott

Does the zen can have enough juice for these headphones to get the most out of it or would I need an upgrade?

Yes, it has quite enough juice. With my current set up I am listening on second gain (2 out of 4) with volume never passing 11 o’clock. It is getting too loud after that.

@Jmm

Then again, there’s people who swear by cables making a difference or fuses making a difference. Placebo can still be real, but only because the brain is powerful enough to trick us.

With my latest experience I can say cables do make hell of a lot difference.

I ordered open heart balanced cable but I wasn’t happy with it after testing it for some time. It wasn’t having the perfect fit with my Zen Can and it was really hard to find the right spot. But anyway, not much difference with it compared to the stock cable.
I ordered one high purity silver cable, again from open heart, almost double the price of the first. And when it arrived I was completely shocked. I immediately found quite big difference.

• Both cables connected to the Zen Can. Volume fixed. Only unplugging headphones from one to other cable. Volume of the silver plated balanced cable was much higher.

• Sound was much more clear, I was amazed how muddy the stock cable sounds (also I was really liking the sound)

• Much richer / full bass

Before switching to this cable I was always using Xbass with stock cable and I couldn’t imagine listening without it. However with the new cable I am reaching the same level of bass without the Xbass, and turning it on sounds like too much bass. Yea, I can’t imagine saying that cause I am kind of bass head, but It really feels much better without it (only for this cable).

With the previous balanced cable (copper plated) I haven’t observed higher volume, stronger bass or anything.

My first cable: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001642424244.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.0.0.21ef18021G7cPT

My second cable: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003242862074.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.0.0.21ef18021G7cPT

And I really recommend the second one at least for Zen Can. Current setup is Zen Can with RCA connected to Zen Dac. I am also waiting for another 4.4 to 4.4 balanced cable to connect them both , cause there were some flaws with the one I ordered before.

[Nr48]

@lpStoyanov

My second cable: OPENHEART 4 Core High Purity Silver Cable For Headphones 1 to 2 jack 3.5/2.5/4.4mm Balance Earphones Upgrade Replacement Cable|Earphone Accessories| - AliExpress

Just sold that one again on ebay, way too stiff with the nylon / PVC outside.
Would recommend that one, way more flexible.
https://de.aliexpress.com/item/1005002586758085.html?gatewayAdapt=glo2deu&spm=a2g0o.order_list.0.0.21ef5c5fhvJtiM

@lpStoyanov

With my latest experience I can say cables do make hell of a lot difference.

Have the cheap open heart cable too. Don’t hear any difference.

@lpStoyanov

Volume of the silver plated balanced cable was much higher.

One cable was SE? Otherwise one cable must have been broken to hear a volume difference. If the cheap 8 core was SE and the expensive 4 core was balanced then the improvement you heard was the better output from the zen can.

@lpStoyanov

Yes, it has quite enough juice. With my current set up I am listening on second gain (2 out of 4) with volume never passing 11 o’clock. It is getting too loud after that.

Normally I would think people who experienced different sound with cables would also say " But loud enough doesn’t mean you are driving them properly"

[lpStoyanov]

@Nr48

One cable was SE? Otherwise one cable must have been broken to hear a volume difference. If the cheap 8 core was SE and the expensive 4 core was balanced then the improvement you heard was the better output from the zen can.

Both OpenHeart cables were balanced. The original one is SE. Between original SE and the cheap balanced there is no difference in volume. The more expensive balanced cable seems to have way more volume somehow.

@Nr48

Normally I would think people who experienced different sound with cables would also say " But loud enough doesn’t mean you are driving them properly"

Yea I completely agree. However the sound did change quite a lot, and now I don’t feel they are underpowered at all. I remember Zen Can output was the same for balanced and SE ? Only the Zen Dac has more output in balanced. However connecting Zen Can and Dac via 4.4 balanced cable should double the output of the Zen Can.

In summary, XS + zen Can in SE = underpowered That would be my conclusion. Having nice balanced cable completely changes the equation.