For those invested in the audio industry, HIFIMAN is a name that resonates with high-quality sound and advanced audio technology. Known for their premium headphones, amplifiers, and cables, HIFIMAN has set a high standard in the market. The latest addition to their SUSVARA line, the HIFIMAN SUSVARA UNVEILED, promises to elevate the audio experience with its innovative features.
The SUSVARA UNVEILED incorporates HIFIMAN’s advanced Stealth Magnet technology, utilizing an asymmetrical, double-sided magnetic circuit. This design meticulously adjusts the magnet’s gap and cross-sectional shape on both sides of the diaphragm. The result is a refined balance point that maximizes sound transmittance and diaphragm control, effectively reducing distortion to a bare minimum. This innovative approach delivers a naturally warmer sound with exceptional imaging and transparency.
What Made the Susvara Unveiled Unique?
Apart from the ludicrous price, the Susvara Unveiled has a handful of unique design choices that are not present in any of their headphones. All of these are meant to give it a superior sound not just compared to their other headphone but also to other manufacturers’ flagship offerings.
No Metal Grill Design
HIFIMAN has opted to remove the traditional metal grill that usually protects headphone drivers. While grills are essential for safeguarding the drivers, they can interfere with sound quality by causing sound waves to bounce off and refract. The SUSVARA UNVEILED addresses this by using a window shade design paired with a nanometer-thick diaphragm. This open design significantly reduces reflected and refracted sound waves, resulting in a clearer and more precise audio experience.
Magnetic Veils for Protection
Given the open design of these headphones, protection against foreign objects is crucial. The SUSVARA UNVEILED includes magnetic veils, which are magnetic covers that attach to the headphones to shield the audio drivers. This feature is particularly important since the drivers are magnetic and could attract small metallic objects that might cause damage.
Silver Conductive Layer
The diaphragm of the SUSVARA UNVEILED is coated with silver, a metal known for its high conductivity. Previous models in the SUSVARA line used gold-coated diaphragms, which are also highly conductive, but silver offers approximately 39% higher conductivity. This improvement allows the diaphragm to move more efficiently, producing a more detailed and dynamic sound. The result is a better sense of “air” in the audio, providing listeners with an immersive experience.
Hifiman Founder and CEo Dr. Fang Bian has this to say about their newest flagship
“We named the new model SUSVARA UNVEILED because every detail of well-recorded music is unveiled by the headphone’s design and components. As the follow-up to our successful SUSVARA reference headphone, SUSVARA UNVEILED is the manifestation of our ongoing commitment to continually improving upon even the most successful and highest performing products in our line.”
I have heard the Susvara multiple times and can agree it is truly one of a kind. I haven’t been lucky enough though to secure a loaner or buy my own pair and evaluate it thoroughly for review purposes. With that being said, I am quite curious how much ‘better’ the Susvara Unveiled is to the original one all while being fully aware of the law of diminishing returns.
If you are fortunate and can afford to drop 8 grand on a pair of audiophile headphones, go check out the Susvara Unveiled product page. For the rest of us, we’ll wait for a store demo and experience it from there.