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

I don't write many reviews, but I can give you the important details. Sound Quality: What most of you are wondering. These are incredible. If you have critical listening ears, you will love these. Good soundstage and great open back planar magnetics. You can run these balanced or not. I ran these through my Fiio BTR5 and they sounded great! These are a bit bright, which I like, and the Fiio is a warm DAC/AMP which pairs great with these. You should get a DAC or AMP. You can still run these through a laptop or phone, but a DAC/AMP would be better. Remember these let noise in, but that's every open back. Great sound profile and amazing instrument separation. Rich bass and detail. What can I say? You gotta listen for yourself. Build Quality: Solid. I paid $209 not $500. Hifiman delivered here. Good quality cable, and material. No complaints. Yes there is some plastic, but it doesn't compromise. Will be a bit squeaky with glasses, keep that in mind. So it squeaks with glasses which is unfortunate, but not a deal breaker. I can wear them for hours. Comfort: So these are big. I didn't even need to extend them at all. Doesn't clamp too much on my head which is great. I have a normal sized head, and these fit my just right where I can live with them. Just know the earcups have to create a good seal. I don't mind the headband design, its fine. Not many complaints, just know these are bigger than the Sundaras and HE400SE. The Sundaras or HE400SE will be better if you are worried about these being too big. You can also try these out and see if you like them, which is what I did, and thank God these fit just right. Conclusion: If you are looking for some high end headphones, for $200, these are the best in the market. $500??? Still these. Simply amazing. Hifiman outdid themselves here and provided value for the consumer. I tested these and the HE400SE together, and these are so worth the extra $100 if you can afford it. Better than the Sundaras from what I have heard. These are awesome!

UPDATE 10/8/2025 went from 4* to 5* These have grown on me in the past year or two since I bought them. I have changed my opinion and I appologize to anyone who bought the HD 600 over these because of my earlier review. Now the HD600 sound cheap by comparison (but they are more expensive - mine are aging so maybe the new ones are better IDK I bought mine used and never had an issue listening to them but my friend recommended the XS and when they went on sale, I bought a pair and now I am glad). The HD 600's comfort are lighter and don't slip on my head (they cling to the head better without hurting my head or ears) but in terms of sound quality, having used these instead of the Sennheiser HD 600 for over a year, going back to those, I prefer the sound of these quite more. The bass is punchier, the mids are cleaner and the highs are more pronounced. By contrast, the HD 600 sound a little shouty, reserved and like a bit is missing - not just details but headspace and imaging. I assume this would be because the HFM have larger planar (lightweight) drivers, they can spread music out wider, deeper and I can literally hear kickdrums coming from the bottom at times. The 600 are good but these are 50% better and cheaper. HFM has made me a fan. I honestly can't go back to Sennheiser without feeling it is much less of a positive experience - although the 600 are good and easier to wear. To address what I have read about the XS "lacking bass": I am not a basshead but I do like bass and I understand that pleasure - of slightly immoderate bass-heaviness (I do not like insane bass levels). I prefer well-controlled and articulated bass and the XS has it. For my taste (mostly hard rock), there is plenty of bass to these for anyone who wants to feel like they are clearly hearing the music and not looking for bass to over-power clarity. I have JBL studio 580 speakers and SkullCandy Smokin' Buds earbuds that lean towardss bass-richness and those are fun but less detailed. These are much clearer. Still, I have no problem recommending those for cheap, heavier bass options, so long as clarity isn't the main goal. The SkullCandy Smokin' Buds are a best value IMO and plenty good enough for working and I would heavily endorse them for $15-$20 buds. Anyway..back to the XS. The biggest issue I have with the XS is the weight on the head, the slippage (can't bend over very much with these on, and can't work easily wearing these if work has much bending) and on some songs you can hear reflections on the earcups, or that's how it sounds to me. This is mostly noticable on tracks that are lower quality where the bass is more pronounced and highs and upper-mids are less pronounced (more of a recording issue than headphone issue) then I hear some reflections on the earcups (I think). Now I notice a forwardness to the HD 600's mid-range (I thought those were perfect mids before) that the HIFiMan does not have. I find the 600 slightly bothersome now. I think for most, even those with critical listening ears like audiophiles (I am), the XS is the way to go. It would be hard to say you need anything more. I listen to the XS plugged straight to my phone. I am curious what higher end HFM offer but I can't say it would be necessary and I am pleased 100% with these. Recommended 10/10. ORIGINAL THOUGHTS: I own Sennheiser HD600. Without EQ I prefer the Sennheiser. With the treble turned down, I prefer the HFM ed XS. There is too much treble. If I had it to do over, I would probably wait and try the more expensive Ananda Nano for $499. I have not went back to my Sennheiser HD600 since I have owned the XS. But, they aren't the cleanest sounding headphones. They are good but still at $269, I think it is priced all it is worth. The cable is nice and I like the 3.5mm ( jacks that release at the headphones. My favorite thing is the comfort. My mom said they are too large for her head and she had difficulty keeping them on her head. The HD600 are comfortable but I think these are more so. Also, keeps my ears cooler than the Sennheiser's. The best part of these over the HD600 is the bass. The mids are cleaner on the Sennheiser, IMO. The highs are overbearing and make the phones sound thin if left unequalized. The HD600 never required equalization IMO. It's a good headphone and I have thoroughly enjoyed them but they have clarity issues and are not the best balanced with a rather harsh and sibilant treble. If you are looking to upgrade headphones in this price range like the Sennheiser HD600 (probably the most popular rival of these) you can probably get better comfort, a nice cable and 3.5mm jacks instead of the proprietary Sennheiser junk (at the headphones). Also, the sound has more bass but at the expense of mid clarity and maybe instrument separation. It is very close but 5% better IMO. Not as much better as I hoped but I did keep them and haven' gone back but I am not blown away so to speak.

The Hifiman Edition XS: Soundstage Wizardry Let's be honest, we've all chased that "high-end" sound, often with wallets weeping. But then, HIFIMAN dropped the Edition XS, and suddenly, the goalposts moved. This isn't just a good headphone; it's a game-changer that proves you don't have to sell a kidney for true planar magnetic magic. The Experience: Where Does the Music Go? Slap these big, beautiful, egg-shaped cans on, hit play, and immediately, you forget you're wearing headphones. The first thing that grabs you is the sheer space. HIFIMAN is the undisputed king of soundstage, but the XS takes that crown and runs with it. It doesn't just sound wide; it sounds holographic. Close your eyes, and the band isn't just in front of you; they're ten feet away, in their own perfectly mapped-out room. That drummer in your favorite classic rock track? They're not a blob of sound anymore—they're positioned five steps behind the lead guitarist, and you can hear the reverb decay off the back wall. It genuinely gives you that thrilling, "out-of-body" feeling where the music truly leaves your skull. It breathes new life into tracks you thought you knew inside and out. It's an event, not just listening. The Sound: The Planar Punch This is the sound of speed and control. Planar drivers are inherently snappy, and the XS capitalizes on that. The Bass: It’s a physicist's bass: tight, controlled, and perfectly linear. No artificial boom or woolliness here. But when that sub-bass note hits in a cinematic score or a heavy track, the driver moves with such effortless velocity that it hits you fast and retreats just as quickly. You get texture, definition, and depth—the kind of bass that lets you feel the vibrating strings, not just the low frequency. The Detail: Thanks to those "Stealth Magnets", which trust me are more than just marketing—the sound is unbelievably clean. The noise floor just vanishes. You start hearing the tiny things: the singer taking a breath, the subtle brushwork on the snare, the faint studio effects you never knew were there. It’s ruthlessly revealing but manages to do it without being aggressive or tiring. You can happily disappear for hours. The Trade-Off: Where They Saved a Buck Look, if a headphone sounds this good for the money, they had to cut a corner somewhere. And with the Edition XS, it’s the fit and the finish. The Fit: They are huge, and the headband is the definition of functional, not fancy. If you don't have a large head, getting them to sit securely can be a struggle. They also have a light clamp, which is great for comfort but means you should treat them like delicate desktop statues. Do not plan on walking around in these. The Feel: The sound drivers are flagship-grade, but the rest of the chassis is just... okay. It feels like HIFIMAN had $100 for the frame and $400 for the tech, and they allocated their budget wisely. The hinges and plastic parts are sturdy enough, but they don't have that reassuring thunk of premium metal. And honestly? I don't care. I'd take this sound in a cardboard box. The Final Word The Hifiman Edition XS is a technical titan. It’s the headphone that allows enthusiasts to punch way above their weight class. If you value a mind-blowing soundstage and sonic clarity above all else, and you have a quiet listening space, this is a must-own. It's the sound of the high-end, made accessible.

Tengo 1 año con ellos y son mis audífonos favoritos he tenido Sennheiser HD 599, Beyerdynamic DT 990 600ohms, hifiman he400se y estos son mis favoritos, me gusta su sonido (no soy audiofilo así que no se expresar la firma de sonido y todo eso) el único detalle es que si necesita un buen amplificadorde audífonos (aprox. De 4 watts a 32 ohms) para que les saques el jugo a estos audifonos; si ya cuentas con este amplificador adelante te llevarás una buena experiencia

The sound is really good. The only thing I find annoying is that it's rather large on the ears and the head area can be uncomfortable sometimes. It's better if they use some form of headbands like some of their other models. They should be more consistent in their design.

I will cut to the chase. Fantastic detail, soundstage and resolution for the price. Maybe the best. However there are a few concerns that need to be addressed. I run these with eq, but stock tuning is well done. Firstly, these headphones are huge. I require an aftermarket headphone headband to position my ears in the centre of the cup. This also helps comfort issues as well. Secondly, these require amplification. Testing desktop and mobile setups, I have concluded 4Vs and around 220mw is the sweet spot. They do get loud enough off 2vs but I do feel for headroom especially if you run preamp to avoid clipping 4Vs is worth it. Quedlix 5k (in balanced) can drive the edition xs easily. Tube amps do not sound good on this headphone. Build quality is an achilles heel for hifiman. No complaints so far but will update if they do fail and the subsequent warranty claims. All in all, at this price ($449 AUD) it is a no brainer buy. End game for most users.

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