HIFIMAN - Sundara

I also just got the same headphones and didn't realize the the thing in the box could be a stand. Great deal off AliExpress though under 100!

and paypal 20% cash back using their payment plan thingy

Hifiman sundaras. There a tad bright, but have been so close to excellent the whole time I've owned them. My elex as well has my heart, the clamp hurts me a bit due to tmj issues so they stay hung up more and more lately. I think the ayra unveiled is going to be my new always headphones. I use eq sometimes but the less I have to do, or none at all makes me so happy. Idj why, if I have to eq even if its better I just don't love it.

Personally, I wouldn’t jump from the Sonys to a $500 headphone until you know what you like. I’d recommend starting with the Sennheiser x Drop HD 6XX; they’re on sale right now for $180 and they’re a really, really great pair of audiophile grade headphones for you to see if that’s even something you like. Alternatively, the Hifiman Sundara is under $200 right now and it’s a great example of an entry-level planar magnetic headphone. If you’re committed to going all out, I’d recommend the Meze 105 AER at $399 and a JDS Atom Amp+ for $99. Reviews: - 6XX: https://daemonxar.com/2025/01/27/sennheiser-x-drop-6xx-review-seven-years-in-the-making/ - Sundara: https://daemonxar.com/2025/10/26/hifiman-sundara-a-classic-in-open-back-headphone-design/ - 105 AER: https://daemonxar.com/2025/06/05/meze-105-aer-review-another-great-meze-product/

I just got the same headphones and I didn't know there was a stand in the box.

Welcome to the chase, my friend!!! I've never heard the EdXS, but I've had these: OG Sundara, HE4xx, and Arya v2 - while still owning these: HE400i 2020, OG Ananda, Arya Stealth, and HEKSE. The first HFM can that I bought was the OG Sundara - and OMG, they blew every other dynamic can that I'd heard before then out of the water! That was until I bought the OG Ananda and then quickly said: "Effit, I'm taking the plunge" - and bought the Arya v2. Prior to the Aryas I couldn't fathom spending ~$500+, then ~$750+ and THEN ~$1,000+ on a headphone....that is, until I heard the Ananda and wondered "What if"? When I got the Arya and first heard them I was very impressed, but still kinda "Is this it"? Until I read that they took a few days or weeks to burn in before they'd sound their best. I let them marinate over the nights with some pink noise and bass heavy music for a few nights and then listened. HOLY MOLY - they had totally transformed and expanded in every direction (HxWxD + midbass, subbass, texture, and smoothness)!!! Like a "Shaking your head because this is TOO GOOD - my goodness!!!" kind of emotion, LOL. Of course, then I had to buy the requisite source chain to "maximize their SQ" - so I bought a used Gustard H20 Class A BAL amp and later on a Gustard x26pro DAC to stack with it - both working together to mitigate the roughest treble edges from both my Arya Stealth and HEKSE. I'm still in Bliss..... As you can guess, I'm still stuck - but I think I'm holding off right now on even hearing the HEK Unveiled and sticking with my HEKSE. They offer me literally everything there is to offer, IMO - not lacking in any facet of SQ, especially after experimenting with ZMF hybrid and perforated lambskin ear pads for the "cherry on top" effect. Happy listening - and keep us posted....

Ahh my two favourites are definitely grado sr60x and hifiman sundaras. Idk why but that treble in the grados is just so nice for so much of my music, and I really enjoy the super light on-ear feel. Then the sundaras are absolutely my most used headphones, by far. They are always at my desk and these days even next to my bed. If I’m being honest my sundaras don’t do anything that is particularly mind-blowing but I just love the sound so much. The build quality is terrible and the cable they came with got swapped out immediately alongside the pads, but the sound is just right. Honorable mentions go to kph40s which are the single comfiest headphones ever, I usually forget in even wearing them and they sound so ridiculously good for 30$ headphones. Then to hd660s which I keep at my desk as well, and since they are so easy to drive compared to hd600 and to my sundaras, I even used them out of my phone for years.

It’s surprising how bass-ey neutral can be when you are used to hd600/hd650 and grados. I myself was shocked when I realized my sundaras were not technically bass heavy. I have never been much of a fan of truly “neutral” headphones, and to me squigs never tell much in terms of how a headphone will sound to you. They are a fair bit more useful in the case of iems, but it’s still just half of the story.

Gaming headsets have always been a scam, just go for studio / audio focused stuff, they actually care about what matters I've had my hifiman sundaras for 5 years and the only thing I've had to change are the earpads which are easily available on AliExpress and will last me yet another 5 years. and the coolest part is that this headset is known to be mid quality compared to most, yet it will still outlast any other "gaming" headset

I got a used pair of Hifiman Sundaras because I wanted what you described for around $150 and I’ve very happy with them. I’ve spent under $250 on them even with all the mods I’ve done.

So for a good bit now, I've been using a pair of HyperX cloud alpha S's for my PC setup, except after 3 years or so of using them, theyre literally falling apart and being held together by tape. Because of this, and that I've been listening to music a lot more, I knew I was gonna need a new set of headphones soon. Now my older brother uses a pair of DT-990 pro's (250 ohms), hooked to a fiio K5 pro, and recommend me to copy his setup. He did let me try his setup, and listen for a bit, and although they were definitely better than my old pair, they just didn't really feel "right," or comfortable. After some research I ran into the Hifiman Sundaras, and they really stood out to me. I did a good bit of research, and after a while, with them being $180 on Amazon, I finally got them, and have been using them for about a week now, paired currently with a fiio KA11, and a EQ (still planning on getting the fiio k5 pro soon), these sound absolutely AMAZING; I've never heard music this good. Everything feels more clear and open, idk how to explain it. Usually I listened to music either at school with my earbuds, or at my desk, but now I'll much more oftenly just sit or lay down with these on. These are literally game changing for everything.

I am a huge advocate for Sennheiser. The HD650 is my favorite headphone and I usually recommend it to everyone at that price point. But based upon what you listen to/preferences, I’d say for $300, buy open box/refurbished Sundaras from HiFi Man’s official website and a Schiit Magni. With cables, you’ll probably land right around $300. Edit: get the cheap $120 Magni without the DAC. Buy a $9 USB-C to 3.5mm from Apple only. Computer/phone USB-C port > Apple Dongle ($9)> 3.5mm to RCA cable ($10) > Magni ($120)> Sundara ($160)