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

Coming from Sennheiser HD560S, which from RTINGS reviews and other similar sites are already excessively good at their price, and which seem to have features that are only beaten by headphones starting at $500, I found these at a discount which at this point seems to have become a permanent price.If you've read other review sites and looking to upgrade from basically anything lower priced and these are in your budget, you may have gotten the idea that these are the direct upgrade path from those.Trebles, which have always been my biggest problem in previous headphones are perfect in these, you can go as high volume as you can endure and you will not get any harsh noises.Bass isn't super booming like it would be on the WH-1000xm or airpods max, but it feels very natural, clean sounding and satisfying to hear.Midrange sounds feel like their only weaker spot, with some vocals sounding slightly "distant", but not to a point where it's a bad thing, they could only use a bit more power and it's nothing some EQ tweaking can't fix.The soundstage is beautiful. Albums that I've known for sounding like they were mixed in mono audio and have no feeling of space (tested on many headphones, even Airpods max with virtual soundstage) feel like they have been dissected and made into 360 audio with these. Other albums that were already amazing in other headphones are even better.On top of all that, with an impedance of 19ohm, you don't need an amp or anything crazy for these. Using them at half or even less volume that I did with the HD560S makes them go very loud, and with no distortion or harsh noise.Some important negatives I would point out are that:1. They are a bit too big for smaller heads, which in my case puts me right at the edge of where they would become uncomfortable.2. The cable that comes with them is quite short and may not work on some setups. Additionally, though it's a small issue, the split cable feels like it never lines up straight.3. They are both heavier and clamp the head a bit more than the HD560S, which makes extended listening lead to discomfort.4. They are not just open back, they are VERY open back, so if you don't want people around you to listen to what you're listening to, these leak A LOT of sound. For those around you even at a distance it will sound like you're wearing small speakers over your head.In general, if you want an almost endgame upgrade over anything below them an don't feel like spending $3000 on the HD800 with an amp for them, these are possibly the best bet right now.I've had them for a week at time of review, so I can't comment on durability. If I haven't edited for durability in the coming months then it's likely that they're durable.

First, they're not perfect out of the box, so if you're looking for headphones that need no setup, or equalization, it would be best to look elsewhere.However, if you're willing to put some time into EQ-ing them, you'll be rewarded with an excellent headphone, with a super wide and detailed soundstage, clear, sparkling highs, solid bass (no, they wouldn't be great if you're a bass-head!), and an accurate, for male and female voices, midrange. They are excellent for rock, blues, pop, jazz and classical, you'll be very happy.They come with the usual nice Hifiman box, including a 4.4mm balanced cable and 1/4" adapter, functional, but you'll want to replace them at some point. It also includes Hifiman's nifty headphone stand that doubles as part of the box. Very nice indeed!The fit is very adjustable and clamping force is ADEQUATE on the large earpieces - not excessive, but not enough if you're planning on moving around with them on your head. Sports and housework are out of the question, but computer work would be no problem. I wear them in my recliner, reclined all the way back, with no problems.For the record, I own Hifiman Sundara and Sundara-C, Fiio FT1 Pros and an aging, but wonderful set of Grado SR325E headphones. I currently run them through a Fiio F7 headphone DAC/AMP, which is also connected to a Garage1217 Project Ember II tube/SS hybrid. The F7 doubles as a fine DAC.Overall, they're a headphone I would heartily recommend to someone willing to put the time into EQ-ing them, and you'll have a fine set of fantastic headphones.

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.