Sound Quality
In terms of sound, Hifiman headphones have a distinct house sound: neutral-ish with a spacious soundstage, a slight recession in the middle and upper mids, occasional brightness, and a soft presentation. The Edition XS follows this pattern. It features a neutral and bright sound signature, resembling the Arya but with slightly less brightness when paired with modest amplification.
Starting with the bass, it has decent extension without sub-bass accentuation. There’s a slight lower midrange bleed, making it a bit warm but not excessively so. The midrange is linear with a recession in the middle and upper midrange, creating a sense of distance in vocals and instruments. The treble is slightly elevated and can be hot in certain treble regions, with shimmer above 10 kHz. Despite its brightness, it doesn’t have the same treble coarseness as the Arya V2 when paired with modest amplification.
The soundstage and imaging are quite good, similar to the Arya V2. The Edition XS excels in detail capability for its price, offering a snappy response, especially with fast-paced music. It’s not efficient and benefits from proper amplification.
Efficiency & EQ
Like other Hifiman headphones, the Edition XS responds quite well to EQ. I personally have added a bit of bass shelf and reduced some of the middle treble frequencies to suit my preference. I highly suggest that you EQ it to your liking.
When it comes to amplification, the Edition XS requires a dedicated setup. It performed well with the Monoprice THX887 but sounded even better with the Luxman P1u amplifier. It retained its tonal balance characteristics while gaining better dynamics and a rounded treble. However, the improvements are marginal.
Quick comparisons
Comparing it to other headphones, the Edition XS differs significantly from the Sennheiser HD660S, which has a warmer and smoother sound with a fuller mid-bass. Against the Hifiman Sundara, the Edition XS is similar in tonality but excels in soundstage and imaging but I do like the Sundara’s dynamics better. The Ananda, from what I remember, is brighter and has a coarser timbre compared to the Edition XS.
The Arya V2 which is close to 3 times the price is significantly better when amped and paired correctly. The Arya is harder to drive than the Edition XS and it doesn’t really sound good if you don’t amplify it. When driven properly, it sounds much cleaner in the midrange and treble than the XS while also being more nuanced in its presentation. The Edition XS relative to it is clearly more mid-fi in overall sound quality.
Conclusion
Priced at $500, the Edition XS offers a glimpse into the world of higher-end Hifiman headphones, showcasing its strengths in imaging and soundstage, attributes amplified by its open-back design.
In terms of value, the Sundara remains a formidable contender, delivering about 95% of the Edition XS’s performance while bringing its own unique strengths to the table. However, where the Edition XS truly shines, in my opinion, is for those making the leap from an entry-level Hifiman headphone and seeking their next advancement within Hifiman’s lineup. Compared to the Ananda, I find the Edition XS to offer a better value proposition, making it my preferred choice for the next step up, unless you’re aiming straight for the Arya.
For those exploring headphones beyond the Hifiman lineup, the HD660s stands as an enticing option at the $500 price point. It presents a different sonic signature, neither inherently superior nor inferior to the Edition XS but rather a sidegrade that caters to different preferences.
When considering $500 open-back headphones, the options are somewhat limited based on my experience. In my own collection, the LCD-2 non-fazor, acquired as a used model for a similar price, presents a compelling alternative. Choosing between the Edition XS and the LCD-2 non-fazor is akin to navigating a yin and yang dynamic, as they complement each other with their distinct attributes.