HifiMan Sundara
HifiMan Sundara
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MUSIC: Excellent—9.3/10
CALLS: Poor—4.9/10
GAMING: Good—7.2/10
TV: Very Good—8.8/10
PODCASTS & AUDIOBOOKS: Good—7.8/10
EXERCISE: Poor—4.4/10
AIR TRAVEL: Poor—4.2/10
NOISE REDUCTION: Poor—2.5/10
BUILD QUALITY: Very Good—8.2/10
The HifiMan Sundara headphones are a premium open-back, over-ear option known for very good overall sound quality and excellent soundstage/imaging, making them ideal for an immersive music experience at home. They are not wireless, have a detachable cable, and are praised for their build and comfort. However, they lack features like active noise cancelling, are not optimized for use during exercise or travel due to size and open design, and have poor noise isolation, suggesting they're not suitable for noisy environments. Also, while they offer good sound for gaming and TV, they have no microphone or low latency features, which may be important for interactive use. Despite being marketed as able to pair with a PC or phone, they perform best with a dedicated amplifier, and you can purchase balanced audio cables separately for enhanced performance. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Evaluation
Pros
- Very good overall sound quality
- Best soundstage and imaging
- Excellent comfort
- Detachable cable for convenience
- Planar driver technology
Cons
- Poor microphone quality
- No built-in controls
- Poor noise isolation
- Heavier than average
Ratings by Category
Music:4.8
The HifiMan Sundara headphones provide an excellent sound quality with an open enclosure type, which contributes to a natural and expansive soundstage, making them ideal for a deeply immersive listening experience. They are wired headphones and do not support wireless lossless codecs, but this allows for reliable, high-fidelity audio reproduction that is preferred for critical listening of music.
TV & Video:4.7
This score evaluates the earbuds or headphones when used to watch videos, movies and TV. In the case of wireless products, it takes into account latency - the perceived delay between the action on screen and the sounds playing in your ears. The score also considers soundstage quality, whether they have a virtual surround feature, and overall comfort.
It’s important to note that the device paired with the earbuds heavily influences their performance in regards to latency or delay.
Podcasts & Audiobooks:4.4
This score evaluates the product when used solely to listen to podcasts or audiobooks. It takes into account sound quality and sound signature, to be able to keep voices clear and intelligible. It also considers battery life, when available, and comfort.
Gaming:4.1
The HifiMan Sundara headphones are highly suitable for gaming because they offer an "Excellent" soundstage/imaging score, which is crucial for immersive and directional audio experiences in games. However, their "Poor" mic quality score indicates that they might not be the best choice if clear voice communication is a priority during gameplay.
Full Specs
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
| Price | $279 | ||
Brand | HifiMan | ||
Release Date | May 1, 2020 | ||
Form Factor | Headphones | ||
Connectivity | Wired | ||
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score  | 9.3/10 | ||
Phone Calls Score | 5/10 | ||
Gaming Score | 7.2/10 | ||
TV and Video Score | 8.8/10 | ||
Exercise Score | 4.5/10 | ||
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | No | ||
Noise Reduction Score | 2.5/10 | ||
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | 8.2/10 | ||
Comfort score | 8.4/10 | ||
Weight | 394.6 Grams | ||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | ||
Dustproof Rating | 0 | ||
Shopping
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."
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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.
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