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Edition XS
Company ProductName Specs




Sundara
Company ProductName Specs




What we think

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The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·

The HifiMan Edition XS provides superior overall sound quality and soundstage, making it ideal for audiophiles seeking an immersive experience, and is better suited for TV and video with a higher score than the Sundara. However, they may not be as comfortable for longer listening sessions as the Sundara, which scores higher in comfort. If you prioritize comfort and a lower price while still receiving high-quality audio and versatility across different content, the Sundara may be the better option for you. Neither model includes active noise cancelling or wireless features, so consider your need for noise isolation and convenience against their open-back design, which offers a more expansive sound but less isolation. Give Feedback

this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the HifiMan Edition XS
  • Best in class for TV and video
Advantages of the HifiMan Sundara
  • Excellent for music

Key differences

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TV and Video

9.5
Edition XS
Sundara
8.8
The HifiMan Edition XS is best in class for TV and video, while the HifiMan Sundara is very good.
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Key similarities

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Music

8.8
Edition XS
Sundara
9.3
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers HifiMan Sundara to be excellent for music, while the HifiMan Edition XS is very good.

Gaming

7.4
Edition XS
Sundara
7.2
The HifiMan Edition XS and HifiMan Sundara are both good for gaming.

Phone Calls

5.0
Edition XS
Sundara
4.9
The HifiMan Edition XS and HifiMan Sundara are both poor for phone calls.

Podcasts and Audiobooks

7.9
Edition XS
Sundara
7.8
The HifiMan Edition XS and HifiMan Sundara are both good for podcasts and audiobooks.

Noise Reduction

2.5
Edition XS
Sundara
2.5
The HifiMan Edition XS and HifiMan Sundara are both poor for noise reduction.

Cost

$269
Edition XS
Sundara
$279
Product imageProduct image

$150

$200

$250

$300

$350

$400

The HifiMan Edition XS has a price of $269 and the HifiMan Sundara costs $279.

Build Quality

8.5
Edition XS
Sundara
8.2
The HifiMan Edition XS and HifiMan Sundara both have very good build quality.

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How the HifiMan Edition XS and the HifiMan Sundara compare to other earbuds and headphones

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Spec Comparison

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HifiMan Edition XSHifiMan Sundara
HifiMan Edition XSHifiMan Sundara

GENERAL

Price
$269
$279
Brand
HifiManHifiMan
Release Date
December 1, 2021May 1, 2020
Form Factor
HeadphonesHeadphones
Connectivity
WiredWired

SOUND

Music Score
8.9/109.3/10
Phone Calls Score
5.1/105/10
Gaming Score
7.5/107.2/10
TV and Video Score
9.5/108.8/10
Exercise Score
4.4/104.5/10

FEATURES

Active Noise Cancelling
NoNo
Noise Reduction Score
2.5/102.5/10
Virtual Surround
NoN/A

BUILD AND DESIGN

Build Quality
8.5/108.2/10
Comfort score
7.6/108.4/10
Weight (headset or single earbud)
421 Grams394.6 Grams
Waterproof Rating
00
Dustproof Rating
00

Shopping

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HifiMan Edition XS

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Dig into reviews and images

Headphonesty

Eric D Hieger | January 2023
"The Edition XS easily compete with headphones in their price range with a very high price-to-performance ratio. The XS are an amazing value and offer performance not far off from headphones more than twice their cost. These will be a mind-blowing revelation for enthusiasts and music lovers who have only heard standard big-brand mainstream headphones."

HifiMan Sundara

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Sound Guys

Christian Thomas | July 2023
"The HiFiMan Sundara is the set of headphones to get if you want high-end audio, but don't want to shell out a king's ransom for it. These planar magnetic headphones are comfortable, straightforward, and excellent performers."

Get a great deal on the HifiMan Edition XS or the HifiMan Sundara

About HifiMan

HiFiMAN is a Chinese, high-end, audio product manufacturer, with 20 years of experience, that specializes in amplifiers, digital audio players and planar magnetic headphones, some of which have become a staple in the audiophile community such as the entry-level Sundara, the midrange Edition X, and the very well-regarded, high-end, Arya.

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Why trust us

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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec earbuds & headphones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest earbuds or headphones information and makes it digestible for you.

By the numbers

108
Earbuds and headphones evaluated
11,340
Earbuds and headphones stats compiled
15
Proprietary Earbuds and headphones ratings developed
122,900
Recommendations made
18,435
Consumer hours saved

About the Earbuds or Headphones team

Joe Golden, Ph.D

CEO and Earbuds and Headphones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.

Jason Lew

Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.

Chandradeep Chowdhury

Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.

Luis Torres

Earbuds and Headphones Expert
Luis is a Mexico-based headphones expert. He’s been making headphone recommendations for five years and has close to 100 pairs in his personal collection.

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