Disclaimer:
Hifiman provided me with a review sample of the Hifiman Svanar Wireless, for which I am grateful!
I’m going to be as objective as possible, and being a common audio enthusiast, I will use simple words in this review.
I will highlight what I liked and what I didn’t without any fear.
This is an extremely expensive TWS, and for anyone interested in purchasing it, I hope my review will help them with their choice.
So I’m not going to use super technical words to review it, but I will do my best to describe it.
My review won’t be the most technical you will find online, but I hope you like it.
Hifiman Svanar Wireless Tech Specs:
- Driver: Topology diaphragm
- Case Battery: 800 mah
- TWS Battery: 85 mAh
- Frequency Response: 10 Hz–35 kHz
- Bluetooth Version: Bluetooth 5.2
- ANC Spec: up to 35dB
- HIFI Mode: up to 4 hours
- ANC Mode: up to 6 hours
- Transparency Mode: up to 7 hours
- Waterproof: IPX5
- Charging Case Weight: 83.7g
- Single Head Weight: 8g
- Transmission Distance: up to 15m (barrier-free transmission)
Hifiman Svanar Wireless Packaging & Accessories:
I will be very honest! For a similar product, I would have expected a more luxurious (and useless) box. We find the charging case and the Hifiman Svanar Wireless, under, the tips and the charging cable. I have to admit that the cable is not premium but standard, and the tips, unfortunately, apart from the size already installed, are all too small.
Included:
- 8 pairs of tips
- Charging cable
- Manual + warranty online
As mentioned before, the tips are very small for my ears. Only the bigger ones fit me (later, we’ll see why).
As you can see from the photos, only the stock silicone tips are present in sizes S, M, and L. The double flange and the foam ones are the same size. The Whizzer Easytips HSD 30 are in size M and are slightly larger than all the other tips included.
Hifiman Svanar Wireless Design/Build Quality:
The design style is absurd! It is superficial to refer to them as TWS because they are essentially wireless IEMs designed and built for audiophiles.
The materials are top-notch; the case looks like a futuristic clamshell, is sturdy, and has a rough texture (it does not scratch easily), and the iems, with their satin metal and carbon fiber design, look like an alien object. Two little spacecraft?
The case is heavier and a little bigger than usual. The battery capacity is good, and it also has wireless charging (untested).
I have noticed that the charging case is difficult to open with one hand. The case opens like a ring box and for someone it may be uncomfortable.
Hifiman Svanar Wireless Built-in Technology
Two unique R2R Himalaya DACs have been fitted inside them by Hifiman! An audiophile-grade chip and amplifier for each side! Maybe it’s crazy, but you can feel the result! Also, there is the driver with a Topology diagram, which is probably the real star! Through a multi-layer coating and shape, the driver is capable of better sound response. I can hardly believe it’s just a single driver!
Hifiman Svanar Wireless Fit & Comfort
Here, the situation is extremely personal and subjective. When discussing the value of tip rolling, the subject is avoided, according to internet reviews of Svanar Wireless. The design is great; however, the nozzle is rather short, and the supplied tips aren’t very helpful.
You can notice how much less apparent the nozzle is on them compared to the wired Hifiman Svanar. More millimeters, in my opinion, would have been beneficial. I’ve tested a variety of tips, particularly those that manage to lengthen the nozzle by a few millimeters, but regrettably, some of them, particularly in size L, are too long and prevent you from storing the Svanar Wireless in the case for charging. Because the nozzle is thinner, not all the tips stay in place.
Tips Rolling
As shown by the previous pictures, the tips offered are really tiny. When in doubt, I tried them all in an effort to find the best spot for a good seal. Unfortunately, the double flange tips are too small; the foam ones are XS, and only the ones that were already installed, which are M sizes, fit me. I did, however, have to reposition the headset to get the perfect position.
So I started experimenting with all of the tips I had at home, eventually finding the ones that slightly raised the nozzle without preventing it from entering the charging case. The tips are M from Whizzer HSD 30, and they appear slightly round. I can confirm that their sound strongly depends on the tips used.
Functionality & Features:
From the Hifiman Svanar Wireless I would have expected an app for the smartphone, but unfortunately, it is not present. Many products, even those that are much cheaper, have it, so it could be defined as a disadvantage.
On both, we have touch controls that allow you to do everything except increase or decrease the volume. For that, you need to put your hand on your smartphone.
Gestures for Calls & Music
- Answer call: Double-click either earbud twice
- End call: While in a call, double click either earbud twice
- Reject call: Press and hold either earbud for 3 seconds
- Voice assistant: Long press the right earbud (R) for 3 seconds (Works with Alexa)
- To Play/Pause: Touch the right/left earbud to pause the track, and touch it again to continue playing.
- Playing is paused when the earbud leaves the ear, and resumes when the earbud is put back on.
- To rewind to the previous track With earbuds in operation, double-click the right earbud/left earbud.
- To Skip to the Next Track With earbuds in operation, triple-click the right earbud/left earbud.
The Hifiman Svanar Wireless also has a proximity sensor on each side that pauses them when removed and puts them back into play when worn again.
Audio Codecs:
The Svanar Wireless is equipped with Bluetooth 5.2, but they do not have many codecs available; in fact, we have LDAC, AAC, and SBC available. Unfortunately, there is no APTX support. The range is remarkable; if there are no obstacles, you can reach 5 meters in LDAC without experiencing drops in quality; however, it all also depends on the phone used and the codec. In AAC, there is less data throughput, and it is harder to notice drops in quality.
Mode features:
In the Hifiman Svanar Wireless, there are 3 modes:
- Hi-Fi
- ANC
- Transparency
To change the mode, press the left earphone for 3 seconds. The default mode is HI-FI.
Practical Consideration:
In LDAC mode, I have sometimes touched the headset to fit it in my ear and momentarily had audio quality issues.
Stability in this mode is frequently unstable. For example, I can walk around the room at home, but if I go for a walk with my smartphone in my pocket, the transmission is inaccurate.
It’s probably because of my low-cost smartphone; anybody who buys these TWS should also have a TOTL smartphone. While for the ANC and Transparency modes, I’ve discovered that the wind causes a significant crisis. Turbulence is easily generated by microphones.
Connection stability may depend on the capabilities of my POCO M4 Pro, but I still feel compelled to point it out.
If you don’t have a top-of-the-line smartphone and have connection problems, you are forced to switch to AAC.
Equipment used for testing:
Device:
- Redmi Note 7
- Poco M4 Pro
Software:
- Amazon music UHD 24bit 96khz
- Hiby Player
- Xiaomi Player
I’m not listing all the tracks because there are too many, but the Svanar Wireless is pretty versatile in all genres.
- Raven – Kelela
- Happier Than Ever – Billie Eilish (and more)
- Energie – Schrotthagen
- Ultimate Headphone Demonstration disc – Dr. Chesky’s
- Miramundo – MiraMundo
Stock tips were too small for me, so I instantly swapped them with some Whizzer HSD 30 M size tips.
Hifiman Svanar Wireless Sound impressions:
First of all, I start by saying that they are W-shaped, energetic, natural, and very musical. The low frequencies have a very good extension without being intrusive. The mids and highs are even more amazing. Nothing feels recessed at all!
Let’s start in HIFI mode. In this mode, you have the best of the best! The quality is so high that you can tell absolutely no difference from the wired IEMs. In this mode, the volume is higher. It’s hard to believe that a single driver could sound so good.
In other modes, the volume is lower. In ANC mode, the sound seems very compressed and loses many sonic properties, but in traffic and city noise, it does its job! I’ve tested them while walking around the city and on busy streets, and they manage to greatly reduce the noise around you. Some cars become totally silent.
In Transparency mode instead, the audio is slightly better; you get the feeling that the soundstage is bigger and more airy (I feel like I’m wearing my Fidelio X2HR), but of course you still lose some overall quality. External sounds are recorded via the microphones and reproduced in the headphones very accurately. I find it a very useful function; indeed, I prefer it because I prefer to hear what is happening around me.
Treble
The treble area is definitely controlled! Currently, I think it’s just the right amount of high frequencies to not strain the listening. The definition remains excellent. If you didn’t know it’s just one driver, I’d say there’s a dedicated one for the treble as well.
Mids
The mids are slightly recessed, but to tell the truth, they remain well audible and detailed. The voices have a slightly warm but always natural and pleasant tone. Corded instruments like the violin, guitar, and piano sound really natural.
Bass
The Bass response is powerful, full-bodied, and well-textured. Combine this with the ability to present each bass note clearly and quickly. They have a funny tone but aren’t overbearing. I’ll say the right quality and quantity to fit even EDM, Dance or Pop music.
Soundstage & image
Hifiman Svanar Wireless soundstage is very wide! It’s not unnatural, but it’s truly remarkable! While the image is very defined, everything is in its place, probably due to the driver and R2R DACs. I have to say that personally, I really like them, especially for the kind of music I listen to most often, like EDM, Chill, House, and R&B.
II can’t believe I’m listening on wireless headphones! The sound is absolutely amazing. I had to change my mind about the limits of a wireless connection, here you only have comfort and quality! Other products I’ve tried sounded quite flat, such as the HIBY Saber W3.
Fast Comparison
I do not have many TWS, and the ones I do have are not up to par with these, so comparing them to the Hifiman Svanar Wireless is pointless.
VS 1More Triple Driver BT E1001BT
I will not compare their designs because they are completely different. Above all, for a 2018 product, the packaging is outstanding; the box is super premium and packed with quality tips and accessories. Excellent product representation. If I think I only paid 20 USD during the sales (Retail price over 100 USD), They are two different technical solutions, but both reproduce in LDAC. Autonomy on a single charge is similar, but obviously Hifiman wins with the charging case. 1More has a decidedly warmer sound, full of deep bass, fairly natural mids but more recesses, and decidedly soft highs, different throughout but still extremely pleasant. Despite the triple driver (1DD + 2BA), we are not at the Hifiman levels of definition, image, and soundstage. We don’t have different modes and no touch controls; we have all physical keys.
Conclusion:
I will start by saying that I have never been a huge fan of wireless earphones or headphones. This is partly because the audio quality is not as good, but it is also because I typically do not listen to music in traffic because it prevents me from feeling what is going on around me. Although I have always preferred wired IEMs, I have to admit that I have definitely changed my mind after using these. You can listen to music without risk when using the transparency mode.
We are beyond imagination in terms of sound quality. They are true high-fidelity wireless IEMs designed for an audiophile audience. The technological solutions used, as well as the final result, demonstrate this. However, I have to admit, given the price of the product, that I would have preferred more accurate packaging and found many more tips included. Its shape, although very ergonomic, in my case gave some fit problems due to the very short nozzle, which, since it is also very small, requires a fair search for suitable tips. Luckily, I found the ones that are perfect for my ear and fit perfectly on the headphones and in the case. As mentioned before, in terms of build quality, sound, and materials (carbon fiber), I highly doubt there are rivals, as well as in price.
Personal consideration:
Although the sound is perfect, I must also consider the personal issues I have faced. In addition to having to conduct an extensive search for the ideal tip that I was hoping to find in the package, I also had to take into consideration for the connection’s tendency to become a little unstable. Finally, the microphones produce a lot of turbulence in the Transparency and ANC modes when there is wind.
7.5/10
Pros:
- Build quality and materials are exceptional
- Premium charging case
- 8 sets of tips
- W – Shape
- Built in DAC R2R Himalaya
- Excellent separation and imaging
- Natural timbre
- Nice bass and sub-bass
- Wireless Charging
- Really good soundstage
- 3 different modes: Hifi/ANC/Transparency
- LDAC, AAC, SBC
Cons:
- Really small tips included
- Non-original tips are fine up to size M and must be for small nozzles
- Fit can be tricky ( nozzle is really short)
- No App
- No Aptx support
- The quality of the connection varies according to the device to which they are connected
- No volume adjustment
- No travel bag for the charging case
Where to buy & More information:
