Hifiman Edition XS

"Featuring Stealth Magnet Technology and the company's NEO supernano Diaphragm, the Edition XS produces a wide, natural soundstage that puts the listener in the best seat in the house." 

The soundstage is indeed wide and natural. From the headphone I have tested only the Sennheiser HD 800S beats it.

"Edition XS from HIFIMAN brings the depth and range of well-recorded music to an affordably priced headphone."

Completely agree—when these are on sale (and they almost always are), the value is nigh impossible to beat for the sound quality you’re getting.

"The light weight, ergonomically accurate offers maximum comfort for hours of listening pleasure. The exterior is refined matte black material, and the interior features high-grade memory foam for the most comfortable fit and elasticity. The headphone's structural design supports overall durability that retains its comfortable fit for years of enjoyment."

The comfort is great, specifically if you have a larger head like me, but the build quality and quality control does not match the sales pitch. These are very aggressively priced and corners were cut to achieve that.

"HIFIMAN's new 3.5mm sockets are similar to those found on most common audio devices. The supplied 3.5mm cable is user changeable and replaceable."

It’s a nice way of saying our cable works. The stock cable is fine at a desktop setup, about 4 feet long, but is very cheap feeling. 

My initial experience with the Edition XS was a bit of a mixed bag. On one hand, they’re quite comfortable. The lightweight design is nice for long sessions and the massive size of the earcups has been a plus for me. They're one of the few headphones I have worn with ear cups that fully encapsulate—without touching—my rather large ears just like the AKG K7-series and HD 800 S can. On the other hand, the build quality doesn’t inspire much confidence. My unit already had pilling on the pads while still fresh out of the box, and the yoke rotation feels janky when twisting the earcups side to side, making unsettling noises if you even lightly twist too far. To avoid that noise I have to expend a lot more care than I normally would when donning headphones. Then there's the cable. It gets the job done but its one of the cheaper cables I have seen boxed with an audiophile headphone. Even with the spotty quality control, questionable build quality, and awful track record when it comes to warranties... At their regular sale price (and they are always on sale somewhere) I can forgive every single one of those issues except their awful warranty coverage.

When it comes to sound, though, these headphones deliver. Big. The bass is impactful, clear, and fast. There's excellent sub-bass extension to give deep rumble to any explosions on screen. The bass provides a solid foundation without overpowering the mids and highs. Speaking of mids, they’re smooth, clear, and natural—vocals and instruments sound lifelike and balanced. The treble leans quite bright, and does occasionally cross the line with harsh, sibilant sounds. In Hotel California, the right guitar felt piercing, and in This Is Love, the atmospheric sparkles that orbit the singer were so annoying. I honestly think my pair may have had a driver flaw as those frequencies were just terrible. That said, these moments were the exception rather than the rule, and overall, the treble adds a nice sense of air and detail to the sound.

The soundstage on the Edition XS is impressively wide, falling between the AKG K7XX and the HD 800 S in terms of breadth, though it doesn’t have much vertical extension. Imaging is precise, making it easy to pinpoint sounds in games and immerse yourself in the action. Gunfire and explosions are rendered with incredible clarity and impact, adding a cinematic quality to gaming sessions. Whether you’re battling through single-player campaigns or exploring rich soundscapes, the Edition XS offers an engaging and detailed experience.

One of the interesting quirks of the Edition XS is its power requirements. While their low impedance (18Ω) means they’ll be frine plugged into most devices, their low sensitivity (92 dB/mW) and planar magnetic design really benefit from a bit of extra juice. Without proper amplification, they can sound a bit flat and lack the dynamic punch they’re capable of. Pairing these with a decent DAC/amp lets them shine, bringing out more clarity, control, and extension in both the bass and treble.

Overall, the Edition XS is unmatched in its ever-discounted price range. If you’re after smooth, fast, and natural sound with a bright tilt, these are a fantastic value—just handle them gently.

Strong recommendation. Just make sure you have a warranty.

The Hifiman Edition XS offers incredible sound quality for its price, with smooth mids, impactful bass, and a wide soundstage that shines with proper amplification. While the build quality isn’t perfect, the audio performance makes it a great value.