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Sundara
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Major IV
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What we think

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

The HifiMan Sundara offers superior overall sound quality, a superior soundstage, and is more comfortable, making it better suited for long listening sessions and critical listening, especially if you're looking for the most immersive experience with music. However, the Sundara is open-back and therefore won't isolate noise well, which isn't ideal for noisy environments or commuting. Additionally, they're not wireless, which may limit convenience and portability. On the other hand, the Marshall Major IV is a more versatile option with good sound quality, a built-in microphone for calls, and excellent battery life with wireless functionality, making them suitable for everyday use, including calls and casual listening. They also offer better portability due to their foldability and are more durable. If the price is a significant factor and you need something for a wider range of activities, including use on the go, the Marshall Major IV will serve you well, but if you prioritize top-tier audio fidelity and are mainly using the headphones in quiet environments, the Sundara is the better choice despite its higher cost. 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 Sundara
  • Excellent for music
  • Good for gaming
  • Very good for TV and video
  • Good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Marshall Major IV
  • Very good for air travel

Key differences

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Music

9.3
Sundara
Major IV
6.6
The HifiMan Sundara is excellent for music, while the Marshall Major IV is only fair.

Gaming

7.2
Sundara
Major IV
5.4
The HifiMan Sundara is good for gaming, while the Marshall Major IV is poor.

Phone Calls

4.9
Sundara
Major IV
5.8
The Marshall Major IV and HifiMan Sundara are both poor for phone calls, though the Marshall Major IV is somewhat better.

Podcasts and Audiobooks

7.8
Sundara
Major IV
6.1
The HifiMan Sundara is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Marshall Major IV is only fair.

TV and Video

8.8
Sundara
Major IV
5.7
The HifiMan Sundara is very good for TV and video, while the Marshall Major IV is poor.

Noise Reduction

2.5
Sundara
Major IV
5.6
The Marshall Major IV and HifiMan Sundara are both poor for noise reduction, though the Marshall Major IV is somewhat better.

Battery

N/A
Sundara
Major IV
80.0 Hours
The HifiMan Sundara does not have a battery. The Marshall Major IV has 80 hours of battery life.

Cost

$279
Sundara
Major IV
$100
Product image
Product image

$50

$100

$150

$200

$250

$300

$350

$400

The HifiMan Sundara has a price of $279 and the Marshall Major IV costs $100.
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Key similarities

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Build Quality

8.2
Sundara
Major IV
8.5
The Marshall Major IV and HifiMan Sundara both have very good build quality.

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How the HifiMan Sundara and the Marshall Major IV compare to other earbuds and headphones

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Spec Comparison

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HifiMan SundaraMarshall Major IV
HifiMan SundaraMarshall Major IV

GENERAL

Price
$279
$100
Brand
HifiManMarshall
Release Date
May 1, 2020October 1, 2021
Form Factor
HeadphonesHeadphones
Connectivity
WiredWired + Wireless

SOUND

Music Score
9.3/106.6/10
Phone Calls Score
5/105.8/10
Gaming Score
7.2/105.5/10
TV and Video Score
8.8/105.8/10
Exercise Score
4.5/106.3/10

PERFORMANCE

Battery life
N/A80 Hours
Wireless charging
N/AYes
Charging time
N/A3 Hours
Bluetooth version
N/A5

FEATURES

Active Noise Cancelling
NoNo
Noise Reduction Score
2.5/105.7/10
Virtual Surround
N/ANo
Android App
N/ANo
iOS App
N/ANo
Mic Quality
N/A9/10

BUILD AND DESIGN

Build Quality
8.2/108.5/10
Comfort score
8.4/107.8/10
Weight (headset or single earbud)
394.6 Grams165 Grams
Microphone style
N/AIntegrated
Waterproof Rating
00

Shopping

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HifiMan Sundara

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Dig into reviews and images

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."

Marshall Major IV

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Dig into reviews and images

Sound Guys

Jasper Lastoria | September 2023
"The Marshall Major IV shares quite a bit in common with its predecessor, but a key upgrade appears to be softer ear cushions. They make upgrading worth it. As a set of basic wired or wireless headphones the Major IV ticks most boxes by remaining easy to use, and fairly comfortable (at least, as on-ear headphones go)."

Get a great deal on the HifiMan Sundara or the Marshall Major IV

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
122,600
Recommendations made
18,390
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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