Disclaimer:
Good morning, readers! Today we are going to review the Hifiman Sundara Closed Back. Thanks to Hifiman for providing this unit to review.
I was particularly anxious to try a closed back with a planar driver, as I always had a slight aftertaste of dissatisfaction with open backs. Not that they sounded bad, but the dispersion in the environment was always high, with the feeling of missing something.
I’m not an audiophile; I’m just a guy that likes to test out different IEMs, headphones, and DACs and spends a lot of time listening to music. I fall into the audio enthusiast category.
So I’m not going to use super-technical words to review it, but I will do my best to describe it.
Tech Specs:
- Driver: Planar Neo Supernano Diaphragm
- Frequency Response: 6 Hz–50 kHz
- Sensitivity: 98db
- Impedance: 20 ohm
- Weight: 432 g
Packaging:
The Hifiman Sundara Closed-Back, like all Hifiman, has the exact same box. Simple cardboard box, black label, and usual accessories.
As accessories, we find:
- The cable
- the 3.5mm to 6.35mm adapter
- Digital manual via QR
Leaving aside the current price at which they are offered, the real lack of these headphones is at least a carrying bag. The cable is the usual stock supplied with all Hifiman products. On this occasion, I also noticed the lack of headphone support, which, for example, was included in the He400Se.
Design/Build Quality:
In my opinion, the Sundara Closed-Back has a perceived quality that is superior to all those I have had in my hands so far. I don’t even think it’s because of the actual superior quality but because of the presence of a material like beech wood. This material on the earcups gives a touch of quality and substance to the product that other models did not have. The choice of materials is important and this beech wood represents an excellent example. If we take the Hifiman HE-R9 for example, the earcups were made of very thin plastic and really bulky. The lightness of a pair of headphones is fundamental, but I think that a correct distribution of weight on the headband and ears could be the solution.
Starting with the metal headband, I find it more comfortable than that of the HE400SE, but in terms of durability, I see it as more delicate. The earcups are soft and of good quality, and under each earcup we find the 3.5mm connector (they look good too). Looking at the product also from the photos, it seems clear to me that even just by looking at them, you can notice more details and finishes with superior quality. If the quality of all of them were raised to similar levels by also using premium materials in more parts of the product, I wouldn’t mind at all.
Fit & Comfort:
With my eyes closed, I think it is impossible to distinguish the comfort on the ears between a Sundara closed-back and a He400Se. The biggest difference is in the headband, which, with a wide band, places the weight on the head more evenly. In terms of feel, it is closer to the Philips X2HR.
No discomfort felt even after 3 hours of listening, the only thing being that all over-ears heat up a lot. Now that we are in the summer, the greatest annoyance has arisen from this.
Initial Sound Impressions + Practical Consideration:
The Hifiman Sundara Closed-Back is, in my opinion, a step up compared to the open-backs seen so far in this price range, but there are pros and cons. Starting from the pros, I would first of all say the isolation from external noises; external sounds do not penetrate the pavilion, making the headphones also suitable for noisier environments (not total isolation), better low frequency response, but a reduction of sparks and airiness. In a certain sense, I feel I prefer this closed variant compared to the open ones precisely because of the reduced dispersion. The sound is warmer and fuller; I don’t notice any nasality.
Equipment used for the testing above:
Device:
- Redmi Note 7
- Poco M4 Pro
- OSX
Software:
- Amazon music UHD 24bit 96kHz
- Spotify
Dac:
- Fiio KA17 (Well on balanced)
- Creative SoundBlaster X5 (slightly more warm presentation)
- Fosi SK02 (brightest and smoothest performance)
The most used Dac/Amp was the Fosi SK02 in balanced mode. I don’t know how, but some balanced cables have an obviously thicker 4.4mm terminal, and I can’t insert them where I want, but only in some dongles.
Final sound impressions:
Right from the start, the Hifiman Sundara Closed-back gave me positive sensations of a particularly successful headphone. The reason for this first impression is certainly due to the fact that it is closed-back and especially the low frequencies have benefited from it. The bass is slightly more natural than a Harman target, and the sub-bass extension has improved. Finally, the low frequencies are not dispersed but can be heard distinctly by the user. I won’t hide from you that the Hifiman HE400SE is excellent, but in terms of bass, they are highly dispersive. I had some improvements via a balanced cable and more power, but I never reached levels similar to the Sundara Closed-Back. On the one hand, we have this improvement, while on the other, we have slightly warmer mids and a little recess (not too much). I believe the high frequencies are of the same quantity as the HE400SE; they are never sibilant or harsh, and thanks to the greater presence of bass, they are well balanced. Perhaps we could have even been more daring by trying to restore some extra details and, above all, more air. Overall, I think it’s the best Hifiman I’ve tried so far.
Treble
For long listening, I think the amount of treble is perfect. Not being annoying or extremely bright, they allow for very long listening sessions. They are quite energetic and smooth, and despite the safe approach, they manage to achieve a good level of detail and micro-details without overdoing it. It is certainly not the brightest Hifiman headphones; the open-back ones fare better, but I must say that despite everything, the amount of treble is suitable for a wide audience.
Mids
The tonality is quite spot on; they are slightly recessed compared to the rest, but they clearly remain the protagonists of the listening. Perhaps there is a slight sensation of veiling on some tracks, but it could be due to the warmth added by the low range. Excellent on pop and R&B tracks. They fare better on female voices and musical instruments that are quite consistent.
Bass
I believe the real protagonists are the Sundara closed-back bass performances, not so much for quantity but for their presence compared to other models. Surprisingly, this model is particularly balanced and suitable for different musical genres; I believe it is one of the best Hifiman heaphones in this price range. It would be extremely curious to know how the choice of wood affects whether another material would have had the same result or not. Finally, the bass is present, quite fast and precise in its region. I don’t notice any bleeding.
Soundstage & Imaging:
In terms of soundstage, the Hifiman open-backs have the upper hand; even the air has a completely different presence, which helps a lot to give the sensation of greater depth to the sounds. The sound is just outside your ears, except for a few details. In terms of image, I think the level is similar, but the perception is different. Open backs sound brighter, while closed backs sound “darker.”. The image and layering are good, and it is easy to identify the musical instruments separately.
Fast Comparison:
The HE400Se remains Hifiman’s best entrylevel buy. But those who directly want something superior or to upgrade could easily consider the Sundara Closed-Back. In terms of sound, they are less neutral, but the added bass makes them more fun. I recommend taking a look at the full review to get an idea.
It is a decided improvement compared to the HE400SE but being Open-back, we have the same problems. Personally, the Sundara Close-Backs are slightly superior, in my opinion.
These Hifiman left me a bit perplexed; the sound is decent only through the Bluemini. The conditions were excellent but the construction is not the best; the earcups are made of thin plastic and their sound is very dull. You are forced to take the Bluemini but the price rises considerably.
Conclusion:
I can’t tell you exactly whether, by going up in price on top models, the open-backs will return to reign supreme, but these Hifiman Sundara closed-backs represent an excellent choice, especially at the price of 149 USD. They are definitely better than my Philips Fidelio X2HR, especially for the fairly modern musical genres that I listen to. The construction quality is undoubtedly better than the Hifiman ones that I have had the opportunity to try and if we add that the sound is also satisfying, it makes this model an excellent purchase. I propose more closed-back headphones in the future, and above all, Hifiman must try to use materials such as aluminum (light alloys) and wood.
If you intend to buy them, you will need a Dongle/Dac at least as powerful as the Fosi SK02 and possibly a balanced cable to get the most out of them. They are not extremely hard to fly but they are not extremely sensitive.
8.7/10
Pros:
- Build quality and materials are slightly better than other models form Hifiman
- Beechwood Earcups (increase the build quality)
- Close-Back Planar + Better isolation
- Bass improved in comparisons to open-back design
- Excellent separation and imaging
- Really wide and immersive soundstage
- Improve based on sources (better amplification)
- 20 ohm, but needs power to shine
Cons:
- Not the most resolving Hifiman
- Sometimes sounds a little bit Veiled
- Needs power to shine
- Better on Balanced Cable
- No travel bag or case