thank you for putting the songs ur using up on the screen for a minute i appreciate it makes it easier to find the songs you were using if i want to listen to them
I also have this in my home for review from Hifiman. Let it burn in some. 100 hours plus. It really opens up. And it's better played at lower volumes. This is a headphone that doesn't need a lot to play at it's best. And the soundstage is phenomenal.
@@MartinManweiler Linus used a laser to measure the movement of the driver in headphones, and after burn, the movement is exactly the same. so nope dont think its my brain
Curious if the higher end hifiman headphones are really worth it, when the Sundara can be bought for $350. I hope you get your hands on the Ananda soon.
Mad Lust Envy - I echo the questionable build quality (and driver consistency) that others mentioned, but the Edition X (precursor to the Massdrop Ed XX, which is an Ed X mark II if I read the description correctly) has always impressed me.
Hifiman is entering mid-tier stax territory ... quality control and customer service / warranty has to be 1000% ok .. Beautiful design though / Would be nice to compare them to an equivalent Stax setup
Electrostatic headphones don't have removable cables as they are a safety hazard and can induce high voltages into the body if accidentally detached which is especially bad considering the cable rests right next to the head and right above the heart. Trust me, that's just bad all around. Plus, that might damage the amp 8f you do input to yourself, and we don't want that right? XD
There's a tear-down of this headphone posted on head-case. The verdict seems to be: at $500 this would have been a reasonable buy, but not at over $1k. The driver assembly is simplistic at best. The amp is a bit of a cluster, though both the amp and the headphones are far from the worst thing Hifiman ever put out. The reason for not having detachable cables is that bias voltage is fairly high, and having a high voltage cable with detachable connectors where god knows what can get in, and opening up the space to aftermarket manufacturers that may not know what they're doing, doesn't seem like a good idea. However the amount of current is very low, so even if you do get zapped - and you usually have to work pretty hard for it - then you won't come to any harm, though you'll feel it. Looking forward to the Clear review. That's a headphone I liked a lot initially but kinda soured on as time went on. Not worth the price, but a good performer regardless, and very pretty.
Truthfully speaking, no headphones should be priced like a really good pair of speakers! Thousands of dollars for headphones is absurd! As much as I would luv to own a pair of big Focals Stella..at $3000 USD just can't be justified. I already have very light Grado RS2e at $495, PSB M4U8 with built-in amp and noise cancelling at $400 and my prized Audio Techica MSR7 with cables for $250! Not to mention an old pair of Stax!
The biggest problems I see online with Hifiman is durability. It has kept me away from purchasing their headphones generally, and that Sundara on sale was quite tempting. It surprises me that they kept the same headband design on this high end model.
Ive had a sundara for almost a year and wear it every day for hours and have no issues with quality. Even the cable is totally fine which is something people point out a lot
@@deception495 Yup I've had mine since 2020 and they are constantly float around in my room car and bag I don't baby them at all still working like a charm but not gonna lie I should have been more careful with em but great first audiophile headphones.
Relatively new subscriber. Not a big fan of first impressions because I feel that they're a bit unfair to the headphones. I feel that premature opinions about them are put out there vs a full review. Just my opinion in general. Love your full reviews. Looking forward to them every time. Keep it up!
I haven't looked at the price, but he said thousands, so I'm thinking more than 2000?. I agree with what you say about first impressions in general, but this guy has heard a few headphones and I trust that he has realistic expectations when putting on a pair of headphones worth "thousands". At that price they either make it or they don't.
@@FriedEgg101 I'd add, most headphones at a "respectful" price point sound good. The task at hand is how do they fair up to the reference? Currently, that might just be the $3000! Focal Stellia, named derived from their $120,000 speakers!!!.. or their $4000! Utopia headphones named after their $230,000 speakers!!! I thought opioids addiction was a problem?? 🤔
I also tend to max out all the energizers I tried when I tried all current Stax line up and maybe all their current energizers. That's why I stayed away from purchasing any electrostats.
I had the same feeling when I got my Sundaras. The were thin and kinda were not filling the space around me with music if that makes any sense. Broke them in by 300+ hours and viola, the Bass was in, so were the earlier recessed mids. Still not the Mids of my HD650, but pretty great! Imaging is amazing too on the Sundaras. How does the Sundara compare to the Jade II? Maybe they need some break in too?!
For anyone reading this years later... "breaking in" is a myth. The only thing that can be "broken in" are the pads, which get worn out. If worn out pads sound better to you, then just get different material and thickness pads.
Here in 2023 the set is 1700$ or the headphone alone for 800$ and the amp for 1000$. So the headphone in its pricetag is like an HiFiMan Ananda. But is it as good as an Ananda?
GIUSEPPE BORIS RUSTY SHACKLEFORD BABUBHATTMON • SoulSik? That channel seems designed around clickbait imo, they have a lot to prove to me before I’d take their word.
Oof nice. Can't wait to see the jade II system and stax energizer to see how they compare. eh nvm you answered it lol Oh I love how you describe certain songs and go on and tell what they do special in them. Arya are amazing too. Tbh I think that 1-2k dip in the mids do sound a little too aggressive to me in certain songs, at least I think that's where the dip was because it did have a similar sound signature to the ananda from my memory but maybe more v-shaped?
Brand new subscriber here!! awesome channel man!! I have a pair of bose quietcomfort 35s and even though i like them lots, I always wanted to see if theres something else out there that could beat the sound and comfort of the bose. I'm thinking of getting a pair of the meze 99 classic, since it has many good reviews and I really like the way they look (they look amazing in the review you did). What would you recommend for someone coming from the bose to make it worth while upgrading to? I would say my price range is anything under $1000. Thanks again, I would definetely share your channel with some of my friends. Cheers!!
I think you need to review this with the new stax tube setup. Jade could be price to hit the masses. Sub bass is one thing but i'd rather go for sound stage and separation
My impression from your review of these new electrostatic headphones from Hifiman are that they're lifeless and aren't justified the asking price, (which you failed to mention)? On build quality alone they aren't worth whatever price? They look like a bad copy of Mr speakers Aeon!
You should try with the emovtiva a100, I usually get to around 9 o'clock on louder songs and 12-1 on quieter ones on my l300le. Only downside is that you need a pro-bias adapter (I use SRD-7, but the one with the pro adapter is pretty hard to find). I know Zeos reviewed the woo wee a while back, which does the same thing (maybe higher quality)
Is it. Ore is this one of or thee best looking grills ok the market. It looks like that Beatle shell on the insect. Like a purplish, greenish tone, usually found in products that can change colors (ex: cars).
Dude you wanna hear some crazy mastering listen to curb on nicklebacks first ever album actually just listen to that whole album its so weird i feel like he doesnt even sing things in that album its so weird but the mixing and mastering is crazy lol
If he did get one, he had actually walked outside for some reason and there appeared to be some snow. So that didn't make sense, not something you would do.
Josh would you do an HD800/S vs LCD 2/X comparison ?Also, make a list of recommended headphones on some blog/subreddit or something permanently for reference. (Check Crinacle for how he does it)
I have a real hard time with headphones that expensive. I expect a reviewer - in fact, all the reviewers - to be in dire danger of soiling themselves for prices like that. A lukewarm "they're pretty good, but not wowing me" is kind of the end of that.
I bought 'em and returned them, reason being, they weren't built that well, super leaking sound, and I didn't find the fit that good. They sounded ok, I wasn't as impressed as I hoped to be. I ended up also getting Sennheiser 569 closed backs, they sound damned good to my ears. I also have Hifiman 400Is and those are my premier cans right now.
@@AugustoRallo figured. There also arent any claims to back it up by my monoprice 1060s changed a noticeable amount after having them for about 6 months...its been a year now. I dont know why a plecebo would be there if nothing had changed plus people claim to be a break in period.
Sounds like electrostatics in general are an acquired taste. Nobody seems to agree on them. I know Zeos Zreviews loves the STAX, and all that, at least for their detail and soundstage. I don't think any electros are known for their massive bass performance or response. Not what they are designed for, I guess. I don't plan on buying any, I'm happy just owning the Hifiman planars, which are really better-sounding than any headphones or systems I've owned in the past 35 years. Build quality, well, that may vary. The thing is, with Martin Logan ESLs, as far as speakers go, those are hybrid electrostatics, it should be kept in mind if you're comparing ear speaker electrostatics to speakers, it should be kept in mind.
I'd recommend planars or dynamic headphones (like the Hifiman Edition X or Fostex TH-900). I have loved electrostats, but the bass is SO crisp and sharp that they (usually) don't have the rumble that imparts a sense of huge size or richness.
@@evshrug Thanks for the reply. Yeah I have the HE-4XX and, as of last week, the Verum 1, and I love them very much. Techno on the Verum is something else. I've been curious about electrostats for a while because people rave about the presentation, but I also noticed people saying they're bass light. Do you know of any electrostats that can do bass?
FriedEgg • FriedEgg • Well, honestly I’ve heard amazing bass from estats 2 times. 1: Sennheiser HE-1. Very full and rich body, without giving up any of the detail and agility (that’s my word for what some call ”speed, ” because obviously the tempo of songs don't change). For most people, the Orpheus isn't a practical option purely because of price (its even higher than the Jade, but somehow Sennheiser has sold every one they make and has a waitlist, and so far they have gained value over time). 2.) Stax L300 (or maybe it was the older L202) that was hooked up to a Smyth Realiser. The Realiser was the key in that situation. Smyth Research makes sound processors that are calibrated by listening to any headphones worn on your head, and then listening and measuring the sound from a speaker setup, and then using the processor to make the headphones sound like the speakers. The result, with estates as resolving as they are, was a very impressive recreation of the character of the dynamic speaker. With that said, estats take an unusually long time to ”warm up” for their optimal performance. I remember when I first got my used 1970’s Stax (bought it like 3 years ago), the moment I first turned it on I thought it was broken. An hour later there was a BIG difference, and the sound was even more musical after leaving the system set up and turned on overnight. The reviewer here may find it more musical if he gave it more time to warm up.
MathieuFerron i never said good. I said great. Foobar is very 2 d sounding. Its the best program for doing everything but not the best for sound. Too much stuff going on. And the os settings have alot to do with sound too. Be surprised if Josh or other reviewers do anything to the OS to fix the sound. Focusrite has a great site for windows audio tweaks. And wasapi is not the best sounding either. Good. Not great.
@@MadLustEnvy It's not like I'm actually complaining about it. I don't shit money so I wouldn't buy them anyways. Just because you think that things only need to look good for other people doesn't mean I have to.
Mad Lust Envy I mean it’s not nonsensical. I own quite a few headphones, and some of them, like the headphone in this video, look awful on person. So instead of displaying them on my shelf next to my desk on some of the more elegant headphone stands that resemble the shape of someone’s head, I relegate them to the headphone hangers on the side of my desk. It’s all about personal preference, and aesthetic choices. Design does matter, to me, and I don’t want to wear headphones that look ridiculous as much as I would headphones that look beautiful. Just like I’m gonna wear a dad hat but not a fedora, just personal taste about what looks good on my head, to me.
