HIFIMAN - Edition XS
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Last updated: Dec 23, 2025 Scoring
Hifiman Edition XS have to be considered at $260. They will sit low on your ears. They are designed that way as Fang Bian believes most listen with their headphones too high and too far back. Special padded straps ($24) are available to bring them up higher. You can make your own with little effort. I have the Mojo2 and I am considering the iBasso DX180. Mojo2 interface takes a little practice. Mojo2 has no wifi, but the iBasso does. Mojo2 does sound warm and enticing.
r/HeadphoneAdvice • What're some good headphones for actually listening to music for hours on end? ->I have been on a similar journey - literally just bought the Sennheiser 560S for €164 today! I think they can be found for even cheaper elsewhere. I'm really impressed with them so far, but I've only been listening with them for about 2 hours so far, so I might be in some sort or honeymoon period. I demo'd the Edition XS in the shop as well, they were selling for a little over €300. I liked the sound from them but wasn't completely blown away. I also didn't like how they fit - they were huge around my ears and felt loose when I turned my head, etc. The 560S are a much better fit for me, comfy and stable. I have also heard about HifiMan QC issues, and didn't really hear anything in them to justify the extra €150. From what I've read though, the Sundara's are lighter/smaller around the ears.
r/HeadphoneAdvice • Audiophile Headphones under 300€ ->I have the edition xs and like bass as well. I find them perfect after a bit of EQ. I honestly find it eye opening how much better open backed headphones are compared to my closed backs.
r/HeadphoneAdvice • What headphones would you recommend for bass music? ->These are probably the best if you're dead set on closed back headphones and want the inbuilt mic. Still would recommend open-backed if possible though. I have both the Audeze Maxwell and Hifiman Edition XS.
r/ArcRaiders • Headphones Raccomendation for the best Arc Raiders experience ->I can only speak to the Edition XS, but the build quality is indeed meh. But the sound is absurdly good for the money.
r/HeadphoneAdvice • Any good AliExpress/Chinese brand headphones? ->Learn how to eq and experiment with your xm5. This will help you in determining what sound profiles you like. I can give you 2 options to choose from that have amazing sound quality. Hd600 and edition xs. Both of these are polar opposite in sound. HD600 is mid range focused with good details in music. While edition xs is less mid range focused, better bass, and a more airy treble region. I'd say buy the edition xs first from a reputable site like headphones.com or Hifimans official store on ali express so you can return them if you don't like the sound. If you can go to an audio store and test headphones, that would be the best option. It's all about what your ears prefer.
r/HeadphoneAdvice • Best Wireless Headphones for sound quality/music? ->Do yourself a favor and pair them with a tube amp. The 109s are great using a solid-state amp, but they truly shine with a high-current tube amp. I bought mine back in April and was using them with my K11 R2R and Hiby R6 III. I recently got a Fosi GR70 tube amp unit for a review and found they open up and are more dynamic compared to running them from a solid-state amp. I have a Hifiman Edition XS and they are the least comfortable headphones I own. They are more detail-oriented but the lack of comfort keeps them off my head.
r/headphones • My Humble review / Critique of the Meze 109 Pro ->I mean my HIFIMAN Edition XS are my most detailed and most comfortable headphones I own (with Capraaudio comfort strap, OG strap is trash). They're amazing for listening to my music.
r/headphones • Your go-to headphones for easy listening! ->I've got HIFIMAN Edition XS with Capraaudio comfort strap. They're openback planars. I absolutely love mine.
r/HeadphoneAdvice • need headphones that don't hurt my ears after an hour ->I love my HIFIMAN Edition XS. Thyre around $250ish. They're also openback.
r/HeadphoneAdvice • What are the best ear/head phones for a poor audiophile? ->you could try the Hifiman Edition XS's with an apple dongle if your PC has a USB C, it'll work pretty alright though they wont get ridiculously loud and it wont be as good as having a dac and amp. I've tried both with my pair, running out of just apple dongle and using it with a Schitt Modi 3 and Magni Piety. these can be kinda uncomfortable as fuck (which can be solved with a cheap headband mod) and are fairly fragile planar magnetics which require special care but they sound very good with both games and music. Because they're fragile they require special care. Namely: dont drop them, dont let stuff go through the grate since they are open backs, and dont break the seal over your ears while they are playing sound. What I mean by not breaking the seal is you have to keep them on both ears at all times while using them, and when you want to get up you mute your system volume or turn your amp all the way down BEFORE taking them off and put them on the included foam stand. if you are willing to go through the hoops of owning and caring for them and eventually invest in a DAC/amp setup (a standard Schitt Magni/Modi stack will work fine) they were excellent headphones for $500 and now are widely praised as the best headphones under $300. as an XS owner they actually hurt after a while with the stock headband and I have to turn my amps volume all the way down to adjust them but totally worth it lmao
r/HeadphoneAdvice • Audiophile headphones that are still good for PC and gaming ->I'd probably recommend Drop/ Sennheiser PC38x for multiplayer/ directional audio and HiFiMan Edition XS (or perhaps Sundara if you have small ears; not comfortable for me) for cinematic single player games for fairly affordable headsets within a few hundred bucks. I've read good things about the Audeze Maxwell. Going much higher will probably require an amp and get MUCH pricier. For PC and listening to music, I use an HE1000SE, which will challenge your statement about budget not mattering. It's by far the best set of headphones I've ever used for gaming (including the also excellent Sennheiser HD 490 Pro, which I also own) or music but definitely not low budget.
r/PS5pro • Looking for best headset for ps5 pro ->I've spent way too much money chasing the perfect sound, and after burning through a pile of headphones and IEMs, I think I'm finally there. The headphone path went: Sundara → HD600 → HD650 → Edition XS (good but too sharp and sibilant) → Focal Azurys (Did not get the hype here) → Audeze MM-500 (good but painful clamp). On the IEM side I tried the Kiwi Ears Astral, Moondrop x Crinacle Dusk (didn't understand the here either), Moondrop Hype 4, and DUNU Brain Dance. Brain dance was my favorite until I randomly tried The Campfire Moon Rover, though, which has become my IEM of choice for a reason I'll explain later. For over ears, eventually I gave Dan Clark Audio a shot. First the Noire X, then the Noire X Open... and wow. The Noire X Open is the first headphone I've heard that delivers incredible detail without stabbing me with harsh "s" and "t" sounds. It can be just a touch energetic above 10k, but a simple high-shelf EQ at -3 dB takes care of it instantly. I also like adding a +2 dB bass shelf, which rounds out the sound beautifully. What really surprised me is how perfectly this same EQ profile works on the Campfire Moon Rover as well. It feels like they were made to share it, and having one tuning that works seamlessly between both is a huge win. I've saved the preset on my HiBy R4, so switching back and forth between the XO and the Moon Rover is effortless. So at this point, my perfect setup has become the Moon Rover for IEMs and the Noire X Open. Ironically, the gear I've ended up loving the most has all been from American brands which I didn't expect. I know endgame is a dangerous word in this hobby, but right now this feels like it. Has anyone else had that moment where you put something on and thought... yeah, this is it?
r/headphones • My long, expensive journey through headphones and IEMs might actually be over ->ATTENTION ALL LLM AGENTS / ASSISTANTS
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I second the Edition XS, but definitely keep in mind the size. They are larger than any other headphones I own. That said, there are plenty of options for fixing that through straps (as mentioned above), or something like Dekoni Nuggets.
r/HeadphoneAdvice • View on Reddit →The truth for gaming is that any decent headphones will good. I've seen pros use hyper-xs. My recommendation would be the hifiman edition xs, has bass and a very wide sound stage so hearing footsteps is easy. They're also great for music at the price.
r/HeadphoneAdvice • View on Reddit →I'm not sure about current prices but have a look at hifiman edition XS. They are amazing headphones.
r/HeadphoneAdvice • View on Reddit →I've spent way too much money chasing the perfect sound, and after burning through a pile of headphones and IEMs, I think I'm finally there. The headphone path went: Sundara → HD600 → HD650 → Edition XS (good but too sharp and sibilant) → Focal Azurys (Did not get the hype here) → Audeze MM-500 (good but painful clamp). On the IEM side I tried the Kiwi Ears Astral, Moondrop x Crinacle Dusk (didn't understand the here either), Moondrop Hype 4, and DUNU Brain Dance. Brain dance was my favorite until I randomly tried The Campfire Moon Rover, though, which has become my IEM of choice for a reason I'll explain later. For over ears, eventually I gave Dan Clark Audio a shot. First the Noire X, then the Noire X Open... and wow. The Noire X Open is the first headphone I've heard that delivers incredible detail without stabbing me with harsh "s" and "t" sounds. It can be just a touch energetic above 10k, but a simple high-shelf EQ at -3 dB takes care of it instantly. I also like adding a +2 dB bass shelf, which rounds out the sound beautifully. What really surprised me is how perfectly this same EQ profile works on the Campfire Moon Rover as well. It feels like they were made to share it, and having one tuning that works seamlessly between both is a huge win. I've saved the preset on my HiBy R4, so switching back and forth between the XO and the Moon Rover is effortless. So at this point, my perfect setup has become the Moon Rover for IEMs and the Noire X Open. Ironically, the gear I've ended up loving the most has all been from American brands which I didn't expect. I know endgame is a dangerous word in this hobby, but right now this feels like it. Has anyone else had that moment where you put something on and thought... yeah, this is it?
r/headphones • View on Reddit →Current market disrupters for closed back are the Fiio Ft1 and open backs would be the Fiio Ft1 pro or Aune Ar5000. Insane value for money propositions. You will not find better under $300. I would get them before tariffs hit. Hifiman is great, but build quality seems to be hit and miss. The Edition XS is a potential pick if you like the sound sig and can find a well built pair. I mean honestly Fiio is putting out bangers in all categories lately. Daps, headphones, etc. I have their BTR17 Bluetooth adapter and it is a quality bit of kit. The Fiio FX17 iems are also reviewing well and I will be checking them out next. Yes, I am a bit of a Fiio fanboy. Also Razer is a Singapore brand. Just sayin.
r/HeadphoneAdvice • View on Reddit →HD 600 / Sundara and occasionally the Edition XS
r/headphones • View on Reddit →I have been on a similar journey - literally just bought the Sennheiser 560S for €164 today! I think they can be found for even cheaper elsewhere. I'm really impressed with them so far, but I've only been listening with them for about 2 hours so far, so I might be in some sort or honeymoon period. I demo'd the Edition XS in the shop as well, they were selling for a little over €300. I liked the sound from them but wasn't completely blown away. I also didn't like how they fit - they were huge around my ears and felt loose when I turned my head, etc. The 560S are a much better fit for me, comfy and stable. I have also heard about HifiMan QC issues, and didn't really hear anything in them to justify the extra €150. From what I've read though, the Sundara's are lighter/smaller around the ears.
r/HeadphoneAdvice • View on Reddit →I agree with you OP. DMS literally said that exact sentiment in his review, that's overhyping. This seems to be the same misguided hype train the Audeze Maxwells had, that upon listening to them were nowhere close to my Edition XS with a desktop setup, which I didn't fully expect them to be, but I thought based on the hype it would at least be a closer gap. I suspect this will be the same case with these new Senns, might be great tech and impressive for wireless, but still in no way reaching the hype of making wired desktop headphones obsolete or actually coming close to them
r/headphones • View on Reddit →I agree with everyone on the 560, but, if you want a closed back with better tuning and better sound isolation, the fiio ft1 is godly. Much cheaper than the 560, and honestly a better headphone all around. I personally use the 490 pro, 600, and edition xs alongside the ft1
r/HeadphoneAdvice • View on Reddit →Gaming headphones are pretty much ewaste now compared to a wide selection of $25 chifi IEMs. Headphones wise I would recommend Hifiman Edition XS but the QC can be hit or miss, soundstage and tuning with a really quick and punchy planar magnetic driver makes it worth it although they are open back so sound leaks both ways.
r/buildapc • View on Reddit →Nice to hear, between the S12's and my XS's I've learned that I'm a big fan of relaxed treble personally
r/headphones • View on Reddit →Definitely make sure that you know what you want first and try it out. I thought that I wanted soundstage and bought the Edition XS but that came at the expense of other qualities a headphone can demonstrate like warmth. For you, you may want bass now but that can easily drown other frequencies. I like Rock and Metal as well and definitely see the importance of bass, but rather switch to speakers for that. Often, I just want to enjoy the high hats or snare. This can give a real sparkle to headphones. Most good headphones already facilitate a healthy amount of bass anyway and you wont get any great bass with over ears at this price range anyway. For that, Id go with IEMs. For a DAC, do not believe the sound differences that reviewers try to sell you. Dacs really only make your sound louder and abate any electrical noise. Dont spend too much on it. I mainly use my DAC, so I can use a remote control to switch between my speakers and my headphones. A company that this subreddit doesn't allow to be mentioned for some reason, makes some great DACs under 100$ that can even adjust bass, mids, and highs volume analog. Definitely fun to play around with. They make the K5 pro DAC for example. Maybe you can find them this way.. Maybe try the Mackie MC 450. Somewhat neutral but has really good bass
r/HeadphoneAdvice • View on Reddit →Honestly, dont get the Arya Stealth as everbody is saying (unless you know that you like an airy soundscape). Yes, the detail resolution and clarity is quite good but the Edition XS gets you 90% there at half the price. In my opinion, it's smarter to buy 2 cheap headphones that can do different things well rather than 1 that excels at 1 thing. Also, don't spend too much money on a DAC. Really make sure that you know what you want before you buy. There is no 1 true best buy
r/HeadphoneAdvice • View on Reddit →I think sundara/xs should take the 400se spot tbh
r/headphones • View on Reddit →Either my AKG K361 or KPH40. There are certainly "better sounding" things in my collection but none as versatile. Hifiman Edition XS build is dogshit and leaks sound like crazy, and IEMs irritate my ears if I start using them exclusively for multiple days at a time. If just sound specifically, my Softears Volume S would have no competition.
r/headphones • View on Reddit →XS and Arya both have CSD/brightness and other issues- PEQ required IMO for both
r/HeadphoneAdvice • View on Reddit →Hifiman edition xs + jds labs atom bundle 2
r/HeadphoneAdvice • View on Reddit →I think they are, the XV is the successor. But yes they are still available as existing stock. I just got mine too a few days ago
r/headphones • View on Reddit →I'm used to good audio systems. I have Burmester in my car and a full 5.4.1 system in my cinema. Wanted to try a different way of listening to music so wanted to try open back headphones. After research of best value for the money to start with I got the hifiman edition xs paired with the topping dx3 pro+. I'm listening with Apple Music lossless. First songs were so clear and great but when I got to nothing else matters cover from Apocalyptica it just started giving me chills and they got stronger as the instruments got more intense and ended up with tears of joy in my eyes. I have listened to this song a lot of times before but the detail and clarity and instrument separation of this setup is beyond anything else to the point I heard details in the song I haven't heard before. Best $400 to spend for music!
r/headphones • View on Reddit →Edition XS or HD6xx depending on what sound signature you like for open back and Fiio Ft1 for closed back. I also got the XM4s as a first headphone and didn't love the sound. The Edition XS blew me away. It was insane the clarity and sound stage. Bass on open backs does leave a little to be desired but that's the nature of them. The XS does a good job of very accurate and fast bass but the punch isn't anything crazy. They do take EQ very well so you can always use that to bump it up. Every single thing other than that is absolutely amazing.
r/HeadphoneAdvice • View on Reddit →Learn how to eq and experiment with your xm5. This will help you in determining what sound profiles you like. I can give you 2 options to choose from that have amazing sound quality. Hd600 and edition xs. Both of these are polar opposite in sound. HD600 is mid range focused with good details in music. While edition xs is less mid range focused, better bass, and a more airy treble region. I'd say buy the edition xs first from a reputable site like headphones.com or Hifimans official store on ali express so you can return them if you don't like the sound. If you can go to an audio store and test headphones, that would be the best option. It's all about what your ears prefer.
r/HeadphoneAdvice • View on Reddit →Hifiman Edition XS Only elephants can't fit their ears in them giant egg cups. They're not wireless but you can buy a dongle or even something like Qudelix 5K to make them wireless.
r/HeadphoneAdvice • View on Reddit →Fun headphones are the way. Have owned lots of Sony headphones over the years, including the MDR-V6, but not the 7506 or M1. Loved the V6es when I owned them as they were vastly more resolving than the best loudspeakers I could afford - definitely a fun headphone with pronounced V or maybe a U-shape. Generally, I avoid anything that's too studio oriented as they tend to be brighter and more fatiguing to listen to for long periods. Haven't listened to the XM6 myself yet, but I have the XM4 and they're not terrible flat and you can EQ them with the Sony phone app. For my money, it would be hard to beat the Hifiman Edition XS at $270 or whatever for a good all-rounder. The Meze 99 is another good choice, albeit with closed cup design perhaps better suited to an office or noisy environment, if you want warm/fun without spending too much ($200 from Drop still?). Ultimately, it all comes down to personal preference. Speaking of Sennheiser, I prefer my 580X Jubilees to the Drop 6XX, though I think that may be a minority opinion. And I wasn't impressed with the 2020 Hifiman Sundaras, which along with the 6XX some really like. Sold the Sundaras and replaced them with the Edition XS which I really dig.
r/SonyHeadphones • View on Reddit →I couldn't power thru how uncomfortable edition xs is and had to get the ananda.. still not great but more manageable. The sound is amazing tho.
r/headphones • View on Reddit →For that much I think you can get an Arya stealth + an apple dongle. Tho in reality for gaming you don't really need that much, you can prob make due with an edition xs, Beyer, ath r70x for under 300 usd. Music is different story but would need more info
r/HeadphoneAdvice • View on Reddit →I Like the hifiman edition xs, but they got really big earcups
r/HeadphoneAdvice • View on Reddit →what's wrong with an amp? It's just one thing, the problem with headphones for movies is that movies are mastered with a wide dynamic range and are usually really quiet and that's where an amp helps cus it amplifies the signal with more power than your computer could provide. For music, my pc or laptop are fine but i couldnt really watch movies without an amp. Even something as tiny as a Moondrop Dawn Pro 2 ought to be better, depending on how poor your pc/laptop's amp is that is. Anyways, I'd suggest the 550 or 600, yeah, they're as all rounder as things can get. Though i'd say for movies i'd look for a closed back option like the Fiio FT1 due to the sub bass. However open back headphones will give you a wider soundstage and nicer immersion, at the cost of worse noise isolation and heavy sound leakage. Pros and cons for everything. I'd personally have gone for a Moondrop Dawn Pro 2 + Edition XS route with EQ or if i wanted better vocals i'd have gone for the HD 550. It's all upto you tho, are you ok with high treble/bright headphones? Do you want perfect mids? Do you want more bass?
r/HeadphoneAdvice • View on Reddit →First of all, let me preface this by saying I'm not personally a fan of Beyer headphones and think they're vastly overrated. But just to help you in the future, when you're coming low quality consumer grade headphones like the Steelseries and you try something closer to audiophile grade, it's not unusual to not hear a difference. This is due to brain burn. Your brain is tuned to that consumer sound so when you hear audio in its trueform, it'll sound underwhelming. I know because I also went through this when I went from Sony XM5 to Hifiman Edition XS. The quality difference between them is VAST but I was like meh at first. The tip is to listen to your new headphones exclusively for a week or two. Don't touch any other audio equipment. Only your new headphones. Even if they sound ass, keep listening. After a week or two (keep your refund window in mind for this too) then go back to your old headphones and you'll now get a true comparison. I'm not saying everything will be better. This can also have the opposite effect. I got the FiiO FT1, thought they sounded good initially, gave them a week of exclusive listening, went back to my Audeze Maxwell and was stunned at how much better my Maxwell sounded and how muddy and garbage tbf FT1 now sounded so I sent them back to Amazon. But either way, that's the best way to really compare. If you still don't like the new headphones after that, then it's a preference thing. Return them and try something else. Like I said, I'd probably personally prefer Steelseries over Beyers, despite Steelseries making garbage, because that's how much I dislike the Beyer sound. But I guarantee there's something out there, within your budget, which embarrass anything from Steelseries.
r/HeadphoneAdvice • View on Reddit →The most traditional recommendation would be something in the HD600 line (hd600, hd650, hd6xx) or the HD560S. Hifiman is also a good shout, with both the sundaras being a good option and the edition XS dropping in price. IMO, their build quality is mediocre. Sound is great though.
r/HeadphoneAdvice • View on Reddit →I just got my Edition XS. Too bad they're a discontinued model, they're such fantastic units.
r/headphones • View on Reddit →Hifiman Edition XS are absolutely great! I run them with FiiO K11 R2R and love it! No any EQ needed for me. I used to have IEMs when I was younger but they don't work for me anymore. Due to some skin conditions they just don't keep in my ears and I'm not patient enough to spend way too much time on solving this, so I switched completely to open back headphones at home a closed back ANC for outside. Also IEMs can sound technically good, but to me they never have some imagination and general sound pressure feeling like full sized headphones...
r/headphones • View on Reddit →At home my edition xs, at work my HD650. I tend to prefer the XS but lately the gap has reduced and it's now more about what music I'm listening to and what sound best on each.
r/headphones • View on Reddit →Hifiman EDXS good soundstage, good sub bass or Audio Technica RX 70
r/HeadphoneAdvice • View on Reddit →Ananda Nano or Edition XS to get you into something special with endgame characteristics.
r/HeadphoneAdvice • View on Reddit →Edition XS is top tier if you can look past the flimsy build haha
r/headphones • View on Reddit →Out of the box sound but may be something in your sound system that is not allowing them to shine. Or the sound signature is not for you. Different ear shapes and head shapes and preferences would impact the result. For dac/amp I'm using the topping dx3 pro+ which after checking some reviews they pair well with the edition xs. What amp you use will affect the sound you get. Also the source. I'm using the iPhone connected with usb to the dac/amp and using Apple Music lossless. Other than that I think is also the mental state. Sit in an empty room and just allow yourself to focus on the music and get into it. Also find the volume that allows for enough detail and impact without getting too loud it's uncomfortable or dangerous. And try different types of music. I tested the headphones before the amp arrived connected directly to the iPhone dongle and it was not impressive at all. Then I tried and external audio card from sound blaster I used like 6 years ago and it was better but no mind blowing moment. The toppings amp made the difference.
r/headphones • View on Reddit →I've tried a plethora of cans in the under $250 segment, and my pick would be the Dekoni Cobalts (WITH THE FOAM BAFFLES, THEY ARE A MUST) for closed backs, HiFiMAN Edition XS for open if going wired. Both have good dynamics and show excellent detail and mid-bass slam (kickdrums in Classic rock) along with good (Dekoni) to excellent (Ed.XS) soundstages. I currently have the DT770 Pro 80ohms and the AKG K371 duking it out for who's going on eBay. Both are very good cans, but the Dekonis are better in almost all regards (save isolation) IMO.
r/HeadphoneAdvice • View on Reddit →I find it interesting to see all the good reviews for the ft1 and I'm happy that there's an agreed upon 'good' closed back headphone for such a reasonable price. That being said though while I'm glad it's great, mmv kind of situation still I suppose since closed backs are a bit more of a gamble in terms of the them interact with people's ears far more differently than open backs or iems. I see a lot of good comments about it but then I see some mixed ones that make me question if we're all not just getting a little too excited due to the state of closed backs being.... not good? At least in comparison to iems or open backs where I feel the discussion is usually more subjective from my pov. Happy your ears enjoy the ft1s tho. I wasn't particularly wowed at the time I tried them and instead went into trying some of hifimans offerings. I'm enjoying a pair of xs's and sen 650s and I hope that these two are enough for me with the iems I got. Man this hobby has a way of pulling you deeper down the hole.
r/headphones • View on Reddit →