the unique and relatively calm presentation of the reviews bundled with all the informations you would need and the experienced background still makes them one of my favorites available. thank you!
Thank you for an excellent review. I get my Deva pro from Amazon tomorrow. Got them in the prime day sale. Thankfully I haven't heard the original Deva headphones so my new pros will be 'they are what they are'.
Thanks Lachlan! Been hoping for your review of the Deva Pro. Found this to be an interesting set as one can easily switch between wireless and wired. The R2R BT DAC included is also intriguing. Was planning a year ago to get the OG Deva but somehow ended up with an Arya v2 (non-SE). Might consider this one...
A lot of people a sleeping on these headphones. I have swapped the pads of my pair with sheepskin with holes pads and WOW they pulled out wider soundstage than my Hifiman Edition XS. They also can handle EQ pretty well, was pushing the bass quite heavy and they don't distort at all. Probably one of the best bangs for the buck. Wider sounding headphones with really good tonality and resolution for half the price of the Edition XS, if you have the wired version. Out of the box these sound OK, but once you swap the earpads, add a balanced cable and EQ them, these headphones sound amazing!
Sorry about the audio but it didn't affect my enjoyment of the video so good job as always 👍. I'm a huge fan of the Deva line, definitely loved the original and I enjoy the Pro even more. It's certainly unique in my collection as having thar 'wall of sound' effect. That wall is extremely tall and very left and very right as you note. I do use them wired as well, mostly for gaming, and have 0 complaints about how they perform with a wire. I don't get a great sense of depth with them no matter how I power them but that seems offset by the amount of details they present on the two walls. Definitely not a recommendation for folks looking for depth or a '3D' spatial presentation. But the improvement in the top end over the original and the improved dynamics really sold me on the Pro. Dynamics seem best with the BlueMini 2 admittedly but we'll see how it does with the Mojo 2. Great, great value imo. One of the better timbres too in what I've heard from sub 500 HiFiMan. I use Dekoni Nuggets on the L and R indicators to make up for the short comings of the headband. Helps a fair bit imo and it also seems (not saying it actually does) to give a bit more bass with the added separation away from the head. As a bass head, this is really the first can to sell me on midrange especially midrange dynamics. I hear the LCD-5 is quite good in that regard but considering the ~4200 USD price difference I feel okay with my choices 😉. Keep up the good work mate, and here's hoping the gremlins leave your equipment alone for a bit 🤞.
i got the pro with the r2r and i missed my original deva. found a pair on ebay and they are wider, soundstage wise, than the pro, 400se and sundara. there’s something unique about the OG deva and i’m happy i corrected the mistake of getting rid of them in the first place!
It's great to see that Hifiman is committed to this headphone, thank you Lachlan for the review, I wasn't even aware the Pro now exists. I will be getting the Sundara though.
Glad you found the review informative. Sundara is still the better choice for a pure wired headphone. I am actually selling my Sundaras if you're interested. There's a link on my Patreon page (visible to anyone) with all the products I'm selling and the price (including the Sundaras)
Different strokes for different folks. 🤷♂️ They are definitely both absolutely fantastic pairs of cans, and absolute STEALS at their respective price points. That said, while the Sundara is most DEFINITELY the more raw technically accomplished headphone, I find their super hyper-analytical & hyper-resolving sound to begin to really grate after more than about a hour of consistent listening. 🤷♂️ The MUCH warmer & IMO also more physically comfortable Deva Pro's otoh, are basically designed from the ground up for wonderfully comfortable & enjoyable SUUUUUUUPER long listening sessions. As in it they stay perfectly easy on the ears for even up to an entire ≈7-8 hour, full to empty battery drain!
4:09 Wrong, wrong, WRONG!!! You kinda totally whiffed on the balanced cable support for these cans!... 🤷♂️ And this is an absolutely HYUUUUUGE reason why your wired experience has been sub-par!!! (Aka, you're ACTUALLY running unbalanced atm! Run correctly w/ a properly balanced output & they should absolutely CRUSH the HE400se's! [Which I also own.]) Yes, they can indeed use proper balanced cables just fine, BUT THEY HAVE TO BE SINGLE-SIDED 1x 3.5mm stereo TRRS (aka JUST LIKE THE BALANCED BLUEMINI!) to 1-2x male in whatever balanced output format is needed (2.5mm, 4.4mm, etc...) to ACTUALLY run balanced!!! And this is the EXACT same as it was on the OG Deva & it'll stay that way for ANY & ALL other models that support the Bluemini! (Like the HE-R9P & HE-R9D for ex.) Lol let me repeat, ANY DUAL-SIDED CABLE SETUP ON DEVA PRO = IT'S UNBALANCED! (Regardless of whatever such BS HiFiMan likes to claim about their actually totally unbalanced stock cables). Aka you're not actually running balanced when wired atm, 100% guaranteed! Why? It's technically IMPOSSIBLE to make a 1x TRRS + 1x TRS inputs to whatever balanced output(s) cable... Aka it's gotta either have 2x identical TRS jacks to properly use normal 2x TRS balanced cables, OR you must use a single-sided 1x stereo TRRS balanced cable like the Bluemini. And lol no, the original Deva isn't better than the Deva Pro. Not even close in fact! The new model is basically superior ACROSS THE BOARD! Their basically brand new & retuned drivers (new diaphragm, new magnets, & all totally retuned) are a pretty damn major improvement, and the also brand new & now deliciousy analog R2R DAC based ("R2R" = "Resistor-to-Resistor", aka a "resistor ladder DAC") "R2R Bluemini" is an even BIGGER step forward vs the prior gen!!! IMO, as a complete package, the $330 Deva Pro's are THE BEST VALUE in ALL of open-back, over-ear headphones for a first time buyer! (Aka someone that doesn't already have a suitable DAC + amp setup for driving nice cans.) And even for someone NOT a first time buyer, the super unique R2R sound (for this kind of price) of the R2R Bluemini legitimately makes it a sweet new option in your DAC + amp rotation, AND can even be used to make other cans ALSO wireless by just using the right adapter cable (aka, 1x female 3.5mm TRRS to whatever's needed), making it STILL almost as good a value as for a totally new buyer!
I just ordered the Hifiman Dev wired with a good discount. My previous headphones were super budget Sony MDR ZX110 and AKG K52. Hopefully this Dev would be a good upgrade
@@PassionforSound Got Deva today, sounds good. It is comfortable for my big ears. I just have $10 dongle Dacs like Abigail, Avani, Odyssey HD, CX Pro. I can feel the big soundstage compared to my previous Headphone. I need to get a good amp for it. Any warm-neutral sounding desktop amp you can suggest under $200 please?
I wouldn't necessarily recommend a separate amp for the Deva. The included dongle is a great match for it and you can connect a USB cable straight from your phone/computer to the dongle to enjoyed wired sound if you want that. If you do want to explore external sources though, try the Topping L30 or SMSL SH-6
@@PassionforSound I sent Deva back to Amazon. It was a wired only version and I didn't really like its timbre and the lack of bass. Looking for a closed back headphone now with good bass and natural timbre under $120. Also, the weight should not be more than 300 grams. Any suggestions?
I totally understand that. The Deva really only sounds best with the dongle IME. I'd probably check out the Sivga SV021 or Meze 99 Classic or Neo (more bass)
Glad you liked the review! The Edition XS vs Arya won't happen for two reasons. Firstly, I don't own the XS and secondly, it sort of matches the performance of the Ananda (in some ways), but doesn't come close to the Arya stealth 🙂 (Assuming you saw my Edition XS review?)
Yes. It'll absolutely CRUSH the AirPods Max in everything but super, duper basshead style music (where quantity & impact/"slam" matters more than accuracy & control, and where even the nicest open-back planars just kinda freaking suck vs high end dynamic closed-backs). For anything else, and ESPECIALLY anything with lots of space & natural instrumentation (like jazz) the Deva Pro's will absolutely freaking MASSACRE the AirPods Max. In exchange for this you are giving up the sound isolation of a closed-back, ANC support, & a significant amount of battery life (≈7-8 hours vs like ≈18-24 hours) though... 🤷♂️
they're different things. i have both.. Apple wins in conectivity, noise cancelling, being able to use it outdoor (it's closed back). But if you just want pure balanced sound quality. Deva Pro wins by a lot.
I have the same question and now I got the answer. Wow I love the passion here. I think I need a pair of these for music. AirPods Max is so good all around especially with movie n tv shows though, just to add up. Thanks
This can be my first planar Hopefully it has enough sensitivity for mobile, or the BT attachment allows USB-C digital input Update: I got the unit. BT attachment supports LDAC on both Snapdragon and MTK, and it turned out it's my first open back BT headset Sensitivity is NO LESS than HD6XX with mobile devices, and 31993 based USB-C adapter works well with it.
@@PassionforSound Received the unit. I can use regular TRS - TRS 3.5mm cable. Sensitivity is no less than HD6XX, but it works much better with USB-C audio adapters in my inventory (some can get 70mW at 25 ohms). Unfortunately, R2R USB-C only supports 16bit/48kHz and volume is NO better than phone's headphones jack. Sensitivity is 93.5dB/mW and it definitely works with phones headphones jack with slightly less volume than 58X, but sound stage is rather wide (like 5 people from my left end to right end). Since I have bigger skull, it can secure OK (5+5 point on headband) $200 is a decent buy, and don't be afraid to try even you have a smartphone. CX31993 USB-C adapter works well V-Moda Boom Pro also works on TRRS jack with added boom mic
I bought these back when they first came out and they pretty much invalidated most of my old headphone collection. Light planars with giant deep pads and long wearing comfort? I wish I could have bought them 5 years ago.
I always turn them on while off of my head because trying to get to the button to turn them on while on my head to be a pina! I do believe you may want to get a 3.5mm trrs cable and plug it into the left cup only and see if it makes a difference without the dongle. BTW I took your advice and just purchased the Geshelli E2 & E50 combo and await their arrival.
@@PassionforSound I believe I read they are in balanced mode with the single trrs connection with just the left cup connection just like the dongle with its trrs 3.5 connection. I plan to try it out when my gear gets here and see if it makes a difference??
@@PassionforSound The only way to get a true balanced output from the Deva Pro's is to use a 1x male 3.5mm TRRS input (which goes into the same 3.5mm stereo TRRS left driver as the balanced Bluemini's) to 1-2x male outputs in whatever balanced cable format is needed (i.e. 2.5mm, 4.4mm, etc...). (So ALL propely balanced cables that work w/ the Deva Pro are 1x 3.5mm TRRS on the side that plugs into the cans, aka JUST LIKE THE BLUEMINI!!! [Which actually uses a properly balanced output!]) HiFiMan's claim that the stock 2x male 3.5mm TRS to 1x 3.5mm TRS cable is "balanced" is just a bunch of freaking nonsense & probably what threw you off. Unlike the 1x 3.5mm TRRS Bluemini which IS balanced, the double sided cable is just a regular old unbalanced 3.5mm connection. 🤷♂️
@@craigslue This is correct! The ONLY WAY to get a properly balanced output into the Deva Pro's (& the OG Deva's as well) is with a 1x male 3.5mm TRRS to 1-2x whatever balanced output you need!! (I.e. 2.5mm, 4.4mm, etc...) Despite now having 2x 3.5mm inputs, you still CANNOT use double sided properly balanced cables with the Deva Pro's!!! This is because only ONE side has the necessary 3.5mm TRS input! The other basically HAD TO BE 3.5mm stereo TRRS so that the single sided Bluemini will work! (But which breaks support for dual-sided balanced cables. 🤷♂️)
thanks for review, I have had the Deva Pro for around 4 months. if you want to run it balanced wired you have to use just the left cup, it is documented. So you need a trrs 2.5 wired connection into just left cup otherwise it's SE. In balanced mode it sounds very good off even mobile devices such as xduoo xd05 balanced via a correct cable.you can also use the dongle to drive other headphones With the correct cable. 7 have used it on a 6xx and 2020 Sundara so farm the dongle sounds more tube like but for overall detail the xd05 with rolled opp amps is better sounding to me, on my low to midfi stack slightly better again. If someone came to me as I was 15 months ago and said they wou.d like to hear what so called hifi sounds like and didn't have a crock of gold I would ruin (sorry meant enrich) the rest of their lives by recommending this
@@PassionforSound I am it’s great value, ok it’s maybe not end game but if someone said I have a Sony xm4 or Bose 700 etc and I’d like tip-off try something more “hifi” I would recommend it, no dacs, amps etc needed and they will get a good midfi experience
Superb review, thank you! I'm vascillating between one of these, the Sundara or perhaps the new Edition XS and can't decide whether the Deva's wireless ability and overall decent sound quality with the Bluemini modules is worth losing a potential upgrade path (as it's wired sound obviously falls behind that of the others). Can I ask, when you've used the Sundara or the XS with better quality DAC/amps (e.g. Mojo) would you say the sound scales and improves much over the Deva models when used with their modules? Thanks!
I own both the Deva Pro & Edition XS and have significant listening experience with the 2020 Sundara's. As a total package and in terms of raw bang/$ value, the $330 Deva Pro absolutely BLOWS THE OTHER, MORE EXPENSIVE TWO ($350, $500) OUT OF THE FUCKING WATER!!! And I don't think he's giving the Deva Pro's wired sound quality the respect it deserves, likely because he's running with an unbalanced cable w/o realizing it. (Only single-sided 1x TRRS balanced cables work on the Deva Pro). They are just ABSURDLY fucking flexible as a single pair of cans, and the deliciously analog R2R Bluemini is a fucking KICKASS & shockingly powerful DAC + amp worthy of being in someone's rotation in its right!!! AND it can even make other headphones wireless just with the right adapter/cable! (Specifically 1x female 3.5mm stereo TRRS to 2x male in whatever inputs the desired cans to wirelessify take.) As far as the sound goes, in terms of raw technical quality the Edition XS is obviously WELL above the rest (being IMO, the cheapest truly "End-Game Tier" set of cans, having basically Ananda drivers, but w/ Stealth Magnets & more "fun" V-shaped tuning, but for WAY less $$$). While I consider the 2020 Sundara's & Deva Pro's to be roughly similar in terms of driver quality tier (with the Sundara's just evvvvvver so slightly ahead), but with RADICALLY different tuning. The Sundara's are famously hyper-analytical, hyper-resolving, razor sharp, & quite cold whereas the Deva Pro's are warmer, a little bit looser, & a LOT more lush + organic. Very complex, very technical music like complicated metal or EDM for example absolutely sings on the hyper-resolution Sundara's whereas anything with lots of space, & warm, natural instrumentation like jazz just sounds eons & EONS better on the Deva Pro's. That said, all discussions on sound aside, once you play the Deva Pro's trump card of "you can literally use them ANYWHERE!!!" AND without having to find & buy a suitable DAC + amp setup (if a first time buyer), then everything else just becomes meaningless... I can basically GUARANTEE YOU that the Deva Pro's will end up getting used so, SOOOOOOOOOOO much more often than if you got either wired only pair. And what good are super fancy pants planar magnetic headphones if you can't actually use them??? The answer? None at all. TL;DR - Get the Deva Pro's. They are a complete fucking game changer, top to bottom and the PERFECT "all-in-one starter kit" for a first time hifi headphones buyer!!!
I do agree that the Deva Pro is excellent and didn't directly compare it to the Edition XS, but they're also tuned very differently and claiming the Deva Pro is so far ahead is a little extreme I think. A lot of the differences between them come down to the tuning with the XS being very flat across the frequency range with some added treble energy. The Deva Pro rolls off a bit more in the bass. I think if considering both, I'd probably recommend thinking about if you're likely to use the wireless functionality of the Devas. If so, I'd get those and enjoy the versatility, save some $$$ and add another higher end headphone in the future if you want to. If you're not using the wireless capabilities at all, I'd go for the XS, skip the Sundara, and enjoy a great headphone at the price.
@@Cooe. Thank you for your passionate reply - very helpful advice! I auditioned all the headphones you mentioned and went for the Deva Pro, as a package it was perfect - especially as it includes an engaging-sounding DAC/amp that drives them so well. The other headphones had the edge on sound quality but the Deva Pro's sound has a charm of its own and is very enjoyable. Thanks again!
@@PassionforSound Thanks very much for the advice! After auditioning the options I was tempted to combine the Sundaras or XS with a Cayin RU-6 dongle to maintain some portability and get the R2R DAC that I enjoy, but that combination was considerably more expensive! Versatility was a strong consideration so I ended up choosing the Deva Pro, it's a great value package, gets me everything I wanted and sounds very, very enjoyable. Thanks again for the help!
Would you say the deva pro is the best sounding blue tooth over the ear headphone in the 300 dollar range ? they are now selling for around 280.00 new .
I like my Deva on wired, I have also Sundara and He400se and for me He400se is not so good , build quality is under the Deva and to my ears Deava sound better, via wired or bluetooth via ifi go blue. I have found the Deva (original) without the dongle and cost same as He400se in my country so for the price of Deva Pro I have bought Deva and He400se. He400se I almost return them because of a wired sound when moving my head but i have found out that I unscrew a little the screws on the right side that wired sound disapeared. But first impresion matter and to me He400se failed a little bit. Cheers!
Hey Lachlan, deva pro just as a wired headphone for $159; how does it compare with something like Sundara and He400se? If it is better than he400se, how far is it from Sundara in terms of layering, separation, soundstage and bass response and of course overall enjoyability? Note: I prefer very slight warmish tonality (which I suppose you too prefer). Thank you for your good work..
I can't remember if I discussed using it wired in this review. I seem to recall it being a little on the leaner/cooler side without the dongle DAC, but I'd have to go back and listen again. I'll see what I can do...
Right now, I own an HZ Sound Heart Mirror, and I enjoy them. Also, own an M50X but its cable is gone. Now planning to get upgraded headphones/IEM I miss a bit of bass power with my heart mirror, though I am not a basshead. My most significant confusion is whether to go with a planar Open back or IEM. S12 Pro (or) Deva Pro ? I am aware both are entirely different categories. But as far as music and movie experience which one is noticeably more enjoyable?? What's the noticeable difference between both other than the sound leakage of an open back. Please help...
I always prefer headphones where possible for the larger soundstage. It goes IEM, closed back, open back in terms of soundstage size (smallest to largest). Beyond that, you can get more technical performance for less money with IEMs so that's a factor too. In the end, I think you need to decide on the form factor (based on what I said above) and then look at the sound signature you want
Hi and thanks for the video I am actually looking for a new no ANC (my momentum 4 is hurting my ears to the point I have to sell it) that I can connect either with usbc or bluetooth to use with my phone, and I wanted to know if this would be a good option, also if there is others options on the market. Thanks again and keep it up!🎉🎉
This would be a good option if open-back is OK for you. Another great choice is the AIAIAI TMA-2 Move which is closed back, wire or wireless, but not ANC.
Sadly the Deva pro is not sold anymore. Luckily I have both Deva and Deva pro. Lets hope a new Deva is coming, preferably all black 😂 The second blue mini is great. The first one broke on me twice. Easy to replace though 😂 And I also turn them on before putting them on
8:50 Lol you have got to be literally the only person on the freaking PLANET that has so far claimed that the Sundara is a "warmer" sounding headphone than the Deva Pro's...O_o... (or even the OG Deva's for that matter)... Meethinks something is wrong with your particular pair of Deva Pro's (or the R2R Bluemini), because ESPECIALLY when running through the analog as all hell R2R Bluemini, the Deva Pro's should be way, WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY warmer sounding than the sharp, cold, & hyper-analytical/resolving Sundara's. 🤷♂️ And they way you are describing your wired experience (which w/ a suitably powerful DAC + amp setup should be NOTABLY higher quality than wireless, even over hard-locked LDAC 990Kbps) makes me think it's not JUST the fact that you're running unbalanced atm, but that something else is wrong with them...
It depends on how long you mean. I find them more comfortable than average, but I wouldn't want to wear them all day. Probably 60-90 minutes I'd be good with though. They might create a hot spot on top of the head depending on your head shape and size - this is very personal.
Question: I can get the Deva Pros for $289 or the OG Devas for $219 ... which should I go with at those given price points? Are the Pros worth an extra $70?
That's a tough question. As I said in the review, I think both are still excellent with their own different sounds. I slightly prefer the Pro version so I'd lean that way, but it's a very personal choice
It is a bit warmer, yes. It's not a warm headphone overall, but more than the XS I'd say. The XS extends deeper, but the Deva Pro is a little warmer due to the balance of bass and treble
The Deva Pro most DEFINITELY has less bass than the Edition XS and it's also most definitely warmer as well. The Deva Pro is arguably the single warmest set of planars HiFiMan makes (which makes them absolutely FANTASTIC for super extended wireless listening sessions. I.E. like even an entire ≈7-8 hour, full to empty battery drain), w/ only the OG Deva's being in a similar ballpark. 🤷♂️ (The Deva Pro & Edition XS are literally my two most recent can purchases. 🤣 And the Deva Pro is prolly my favorite set of new cans in at LEAST 5+ years. The sheer bang/$ value level for them as a complete package at just $330 is simply NUCKING FUTS!!! O___O)
Do you listen to DMS a lot? I'm on my 3rd attempt to understand what you're trying to say about the sound of these because you have that infuriating DMS style of contradicting yourself every 3 words like "no they're good but they're kinda bad, but not in a negative way though definitely not in a positive way either" etc. etc. that just makes me want to throw the computer out of the window, never mind not helping me at all to decide whether these sound good or not. Maybe plan out beforehand if you want to say something positive or negative?
the unique and relatively calm presentation of the reviews bundled with all the informations you would need and the experienced background still makes them one of my favorites available. thank you!
I'm so glad I can be of help!
Wow, this is a great review and comparison. Thanks so much for taking the time to express the pros/cons and differences.
My pleasure! I'm glad I could help. 🙂🙂
Thanks !
I was waiting your review on this headphone! ;)
Glad I could help!
Thank you for an excellent review. I get my Deva pro from Amazon tomorrow. Got them in the prime day sale. Thankfully I haven't heard the original Deva headphones so my new pros will be 'they are what they are'.
I'm sure you'll love them!
hi, which version did you get and how much were they? thanks
Thanks Lachlan! Been hoping for your review of the Deva Pro. Found this to be an interesting set as one can easily switch between wireless and wired. The R2R BT DAC included is also intriguing. Was planning a year ago to get the OG Deva but somehow ended up with an Arya v2 (non-SE). Might consider this one...
This is a great option, particularly at the price.
A lot of people a sleeping on these headphones. I have swapped the pads of my pair with sheepskin with holes pads and WOW they pulled out wider soundstage than my Hifiman Edition XS. They also can handle EQ pretty well, was pushing the bass quite heavy and they don't distort at all. Probably one of the best bangs for the buck. Wider sounding headphones with really good tonality and resolution for half the price of the Edition XS, if you have the wired version. Out of the box these sound OK, but once you swap the earpads, add a balanced cable and EQ them, these headphones sound amazing!
Thanks for the pad rolling tips. Glad you're loving the headphones!
Sorry about the audio but it didn't affect my enjoyment of the video so good job as always 👍. I'm a huge fan of the Deva line, definitely loved the original and I enjoy the Pro even more. It's certainly unique in my collection as having thar 'wall of sound' effect. That wall is extremely tall and very left and very right as you note. I do use them wired as well, mostly for gaming, and have 0 complaints about how they perform with a wire. I don't get a great sense of depth with them no matter how I power them but that seems offset by the amount of details they present on the two walls. Definitely not a recommendation for folks looking for depth or a '3D' spatial presentation. But the improvement in the top end over the original and the improved dynamics really sold me on the Pro. Dynamics seem best with the BlueMini 2 admittedly but we'll see how it does with the Mojo 2. Great, great value imo. One of the better timbres too in what I've heard from sub 500 HiFiMan. I use Dekoni Nuggets on the L and R indicators to make up for the short comings of the headband. Helps a fair bit imo and it also seems (not saying it actually does) to give a bit more bass with the added separation away from the head. As a bass head, this is really the first can to sell me on midrange especially midrange dynamics. I hear the LCD-5 is quite good in that regard but considering the ~4200 USD price difference I feel okay with my choices 😉. Keep up the good work mate, and here's hoping the gremlins leave your equipment alone for a bit 🤞.
Sorry I missed your comment, Ninja! Well said about the Deva Pro. You've summed it up really well 🙂
Thank you for the review. Finally decided to actually try some open back sound. Hopefully they will do well with my topping NX7. :)
That should be a great combo. Hope you enjoy them!
What did you do?
i got the pro with the r2r and i missed my original deva.
found a pair on ebay and they are wider, soundstage wise, than the pro, 400se and sundara.
there’s something unique about the OG deva and i’m happy i corrected the mistake of getting rid of them in the first place!
I can definitely understand preferring the original. Glad you got it back 🙂
It's great to see that Hifiman is committed to this headphone, thank you Lachlan for the review, I wasn't even aware the Pro now exists. I will be getting the Sundara though.
Glad you found the review informative. Sundara is still the better choice for a pure wired headphone. I am actually selling my Sundaras if you're interested. There's a link on my Patreon page (visible to anyone) with all the products I'm selling and the price (including the Sundaras)
Different strokes for different folks. 🤷♂️ They are definitely both absolutely fantastic pairs of cans, and absolute STEALS at their respective price points.
That said, while the Sundara is most DEFINITELY the more raw technically accomplished headphone, I find their super hyper-analytical & hyper-resolving sound to begin to really grate after more than about a hour of consistent listening. 🤷♂️
The MUCH warmer & IMO also more physically comfortable Deva Pro's otoh, are basically designed from the ground up for wonderfully comfortable & enjoyable SUUUUUUUPER long listening sessions. As in it they stay perfectly easy on the ears for even up to an entire ≈7-8 hour, full to empty battery drain!
4:09 Wrong, wrong, WRONG!!! You kinda totally whiffed on the balanced cable support for these cans!... 🤷♂️ And this is an absolutely HYUUUUUGE reason why your wired experience has been sub-par!!! (Aka, you're ACTUALLY running unbalanced atm! Run correctly w/ a properly balanced output & they should absolutely CRUSH the HE400se's! [Which I also own.])
Yes, they can indeed use proper balanced cables just fine, BUT THEY HAVE TO BE SINGLE-SIDED 1x 3.5mm stereo TRRS (aka JUST LIKE THE BALANCED BLUEMINI!) to 1-2x male in whatever balanced output format is needed (2.5mm, 4.4mm, etc...) to ACTUALLY run balanced!!! And this is the EXACT same as it was on the OG Deva & it'll stay that way for ANY & ALL other models that support the Bluemini! (Like the HE-R9P & HE-R9D for ex.)
Lol let me repeat, ANY DUAL-SIDED CABLE SETUP ON DEVA PRO = IT'S UNBALANCED! (Regardless of whatever such BS HiFiMan likes to claim about their actually totally unbalanced stock cables). Aka you're not actually running balanced when wired atm, 100% guaranteed! Why? It's technically IMPOSSIBLE to make a 1x TRRS + 1x TRS inputs to whatever balanced output(s) cable... Aka it's gotta either have 2x identical TRS jacks to properly use normal 2x TRS balanced cables, OR you must use a single-sided 1x stereo TRRS balanced cable like the Bluemini.
And lol no, the original Deva isn't better than the Deva Pro. Not even close in fact! The new model is basically superior ACROSS THE BOARD! Their basically brand new & retuned drivers (new diaphragm, new magnets, & all totally retuned) are a pretty damn major improvement, and the also brand new & now deliciousy analog R2R DAC based ("R2R" = "Resistor-to-Resistor", aka a "resistor ladder DAC") "R2R Bluemini" is an even BIGGER step forward vs the prior gen!!!
IMO, as a complete package, the $330 Deva Pro's are THE BEST VALUE in ALL of open-back, over-ear headphones for a first time buyer! (Aka someone that doesn't already have a suitable DAC + amp setup for driving nice cans.)
And even for someone NOT a first time buyer, the super unique R2R sound (for this kind of price) of the R2R Bluemini legitimately makes it a sweet new option in your DAC + amp rotation, AND can even be used to make other cans ALSO wireless by just using the right adapter cable (aka, 1x female 3.5mm TRRS to whatever's needed), making it STILL almost as good a value as for a totally new buyer!
I just ordered the Hifiman Dev wired with a good discount. My previous headphones were super budget Sony MDR ZX110 and AKG K52. Hopefully this Dev would be a good upgrade
I can't comment on the other headphones you have, but I hope you enjoy the Devas
@@PassionforSound Got Deva today, sounds good. It is comfortable for my big ears. I just have $10 dongle Dacs like Abigail, Avani, Odyssey HD, CX Pro. I can feel the big soundstage compared to my previous Headphone. I need to get a good amp for it. Any warm-neutral sounding desktop amp you can suggest under $200 please?
I wouldn't necessarily recommend a separate amp for the Deva. The included dongle is a great match for it and you can connect a USB cable straight from your phone/computer to the dongle to enjoyed wired sound if you want that.
If you do want to explore external sources though, try the Topping L30 or SMSL SH-6
@@PassionforSound I sent Deva back to Amazon. It was a wired only version and I didn't really like its timbre and the lack of bass. Looking for a closed back headphone now with good bass and natural timbre under $120. Also, the weight should not be more than 300 grams. Any suggestions?
I totally understand that. The Deva really only sounds best with the dongle IME.
I'd probably check out the Sivga SV021 or Meze 99 Classic or Neo (more bass)
Great review as always, keep it up! Edition XS vs Arya please!
Glad you liked the review! The Edition XS vs Arya won't happen for two reasons. Firstly, I don't own the XS and secondly, it sort of matches the performance of the Ananda (in some ways), but doesn't come close to the Arya stealth 🙂
(Assuming you saw my Edition XS review?)
@@PassionforSound I can't believe I missed that video! Thanks!
No sweat 🙂
For iOS wireless playback situation, do you think Deva Pro outperform AirPods max? Both limited to AAC but the later comes with Atmos
I haven't tried the AirPods Max so I can't say - sorry!
Yes. It'll absolutely CRUSH the AirPods Max in everything but super, duper basshead style music (where quantity & impact/"slam" matters more than accuracy & control, and where even the nicest open-back planars just kinda freaking suck vs high end dynamic closed-backs).
For anything else, and ESPECIALLY anything with lots of space & natural instrumentation (like jazz) the Deva Pro's will absolutely freaking MASSACRE the AirPods Max. In exchange for this you are giving up the sound isolation of a closed-back, ANC support, & a significant amount of battery life (≈7-8 hours vs like ≈18-24 hours) though... 🤷♂️
they're different things. i have both.. Apple wins in conectivity, noise cancelling, being able to use it outdoor (it's closed back). But if you just want pure balanced sound quality. Deva Pro wins by a lot.
I have the same question and now I got the answer. Wow I love the passion here. I think I need a pair of these for music. AirPods Max is so good all around especially with movie n tv shows though, just to add up. Thanks
This can be my first planar
Hopefully it has enough sensitivity for mobile, or the BT attachment allows USB-C digital input
Update:
I got the unit. BT attachment supports LDAC on both Snapdragon and MTK, and it turned out it's my first open back BT headset
Sensitivity is NO LESS than HD6XX with mobile devices, and 31993 based USB-C adapter works well with it.
If you are using the USB-C input, it will work perfectly with any phone.
@@PassionforSound
Received the unit.
I can use regular TRS - TRS 3.5mm cable.
Sensitivity is no less than HD6XX, but it works much better with USB-C audio adapters in my inventory (some can get 70mW at 25 ohms).
Unfortunately, R2R USB-C only supports 16bit/48kHz and volume is NO better than phone's headphones jack.
Sensitivity is 93.5dB/mW and it definitely works with phones headphones jack with slightly less volume than 58X, but sound stage is rather wide (like 5 people from my left end to right end).
Since I have bigger skull, it can secure OK (5+5 point on headband)
$200 is a decent buy, and don't be afraid to try even you have a smartphone.
CX31993 USB-C adapter works well
V-Moda Boom Pro also works on TRRS jack with added boom mic
I bought these back when they first came out and they pretty much invalidated most of my old headphone collection. Light planars with giant deep pads and long wearing comfort? I wish I could have bought them 5 years ago.
It's like that, isn't it? So glad you're enjoying them
hi im curious... what are your other headphones?? and is deva pro better than all of them
Assuming you're asking the OP so I'll let them reply if they see your message
I always turn them on while off of my head because trying to get to the button to turn them on while on my head to be a pina! I do believe you may want to get a 3.5mm trrs cable and plug it into the left cup only and see if it makes a difference without the dongle. BTW I took your advice and just purchased the Geshelli E2 & E50 combo and await their arrival.
Awesome! Hope you love your new stack.
Are you saying the the TRRS connection improves compared to a dual TRS to each cup?
@@PassionforSound I believe I read they are in balanced mode with the single trrs connection with just the left cup connection just like the dongle with its trrs 3.5 connection. I plan to try it out when my gear gets here and see if it makes a difference??
@@PassionforSound The only way to get a true balanced output from the Deva Pro's is to use a 1x male 3.5mm TRRS input (which goes into the same 3.5mm stereo TRRS left driver as the balanced Bluemini's) to 1-2x male outputs in whatever balanced cable format is needed (i.e. 2.5mm, 4.4mm, etc...).
(So ALL propely balanced cables that work w/ the Deva Pro are 1x 3.5mm TRRS on the side that plugs into the cans, aka JUST LIKE THE BLUEMINI!!! [Which actually uses a properly balanced output!])
HiFiMan's claim that the stock 2x male 3.5mm TRS to 1x 3.5mm TRS cable is "balanced" is just a bunch of freaking nonsense & probably what threw you off. Unlike the 1x 3.5mm TRRS Bluemini which IS balanced, the double sided cable is just a regular old unbalanced 3.5mm connection. 🤷♂️
@@craigslue This is correct! The ONLY WAY to get a properly balanced output into the Deva Pro's (& the OG Deva's as well) is with a 1x male 3.5mm TRRS to 1-2x whatever balanced output you need!! (I.e. 2.5mm, 4.4mm, etc...)
Despite now having 2x 3.5mm inputs, you still CANNOT use double sided properly balanced cables with the Deva Pro's!!! This is because only ONE side has the necessary 3.5mm TRS input! The other basically HAD TO BE 3.5mm stereo TRRS so that the single sided Bluemini will work! (But which breaks support for dual-sided balanced cables. 🤷♂️)
thanks for review, I have had the Deva Pro for around 4 months. if you want to run it balanced wired you have to use just the left cup, it is documented. So you need a trrs 2.5 wired connection into just left cup otherwise it's SE. In balanced mode it sounds very good off even mobile devices such as xduoo xd05 balanced via a correct cable.you can also use the dongle to drive other headphones With the correct cable. 7 have used it on a 6xx and 2020 Sundara so farm the dongle sounds more tube like but for overall detail the xd05 with rolled opp amps is better sounding to me, on my low to midfi stack slightly better again. If someone came to me as I was 15 months ago and said they wou.d like to hear what so called hifi sounds like and didn't have a crock of gold I would ruin (sorry meant enrich) the rest of their lives by recommending this
I believe you mean a 3.5 trrs cable.
@@craigslue I do
Glad you're enjoying it, Adrian!
@@PassionforSound I am it’s great value, ok it’s maybe not end game but if someone said I have a Sony xm4 or Bose 700 etc and I’d like tip-off try something more “hifi” I would recommend it, no dacs, amps etc needed and they will get a good midfi experience
Superb review, thank you! I'm vascillating between one of these, the Sundara or perhaps the new Edition XS and can't decide whether the Deva's wireless ability and overall decent sound quality with the Bluemini modules is worth losing a potential upgrade path (as it's wired sound obviously falls behind that of the others). Can I ask, when you've used the Sundara or the XS with better quality DAC/amps (e.g. Mojo) would you say the sound scales and improves much over the Deva models when used with their modules? Thanks!
I own both the Deva Pro & Edition XS and have significant listening experience with the 2020 Sundara's. As a total package and in terms of raw bang/$ value, the $330 Deva Pro absolutely BLOWS THE OTHER, MORE EXPENSIVE TWO ($350, $500) OUT OF THE FUCKING WATER!!! And I don't think he's giving the Deva Pro's wired sound quality the respect it deserves, likely because he's running with an unbalanced cable w/o realizing it. (Only single-sided 1x TRRS balanced cables work on the Deva Pro).
They are just ABSURDLY fucking flexible as a single pair of cans, and the deliciously analog R2R Bluemini is a fucking KICKASS & shockingly powerful DAC + amp worthy of being in someone's rotation in its right!!! AND it can even make other headphones wireless just with the right adapter/cable! (Specifically 1x female 3.5mm stereo TRRS to 2x male in whatever inputs the desired cans to wirelessify take.)
As far as the sound goes, in terms of raw technical quality the Edition XS is obviously WELL above the rest (being IMO, the cheapest truly "End-Game Tier" set of cans, having basically Ananda drivers, but w/ Stealth Magnets & more "fun" V-shaped tuning, but for WAY less $$$).
While I consider the 2020 Sundara's & Deva Pro's to be roughly similar in terms of driver quality tier (with the Sundara's just evvvvvver so slightly ahead), but with RADICALLY different tuning.
The Sundara's are famously hyper-analytical, hyper-resolving, razor sharp, & quite cold whereas the Deva Pro's are warmer, a little bit looser, & a LOT more lush + organic.
Very complex, very technical music like complicated metal or EDM for example absolutely sings on the hyper-resolution Sundara's whereas anything with lots of space, & warm, natural instrumentation like jazz just sounds eons & EONS better on the Deva Pro's.
That said, all discussions on sound aside, once you play the Deva Pro's trump card of "you can literally use them ANYWHERE!!!" AND without having to find & buy a suitable DAC + amp setup (if a first time buyer), then everything else just becomes meaningless... I can basically GUARANTEE YOU that the Deva Pro's will end up getting used so, SOOOOOOOOOOO much more often than if you got either wired only pair. And what good are super fancy pants planar magnetic headphones if you can't actually use them??? The answer? None at all.
TL;DR - Get the Deva Pro's. They are a complete fucking game changer, top to bottom and the PERFECT "all-in-one starter kit" for a first time hifi headphones buyer!!!
I do agree that the Deva Pro is excellent and didn't directly compare it to the Edition XS, but they're also tuned very differently and claiming the Deva Pro is so far ahead is a little extreme I think.
A lot of the differences between them come down to the tuning with the XS being very flat across the frequency range with some added treble energy. The Deva Pro rolls off a bit more in the bass.
I think if considering both, I'd probably recommend thinking about if you're likely to use the wireless functionality of the Devas. If so, I'd get those and enjoy the versatility, save some $$$ and add another higher end headphone in the future if you want to. If you're not using the wireless capabilities at all, I'd go for the XS, skip the Sundara, and enjoy a great headphone at the price.
@@Cooe. Thank you for your passionate reply - very helpful advice! I auditioned all the headphones you mentioned and went for the Deva Pro, as a package it was perfect - especially as it includes an engaging-sounding DAC/amp that drives them so well. The other headphones had the edge on sound quality but the Deva Pro's sound has a charm of its own and is very enjoyable. Thanks again!
@@PassionforSound Thanks very much for the advice! After auditioning the options I was tempted to combine the Sundaras or XS with a Cayin RU-6 dongle to maintain some portability and get the R2R DAC that I enjoy, but that combination was considerably more expensive! Versatility was a strong consideration so I ended up choosing the Deva Pro, it's a great value package, gets me everything I wanted and sounds very, very enjoyable. Thanks again for the help!
Nice choice and the versatility is definitely a huge draw for the Devas
Inexcusable, unacceptable. Your the BEST. Best, D.
Haha. Thanks Darrell 😁
Would you say the deva pro is the best sounding blue tooth over the ear headphone in the 300 dollar range ? they are now selling for around 280.00 new .
I think it's a pretty strong choice if you don't need a closed back.
I like my Deva on wired, I have also Sundara and He400se and for me He400se is not so good , build quality is under the Deva and to my ears Deava sound better, via wired or bluetooth via ifi go blue. I have found the Deva (original) without the dongle and cost same as He400se in my country so for the price of Deva Pro I have bought Deva and He400se. He400se I almost return them because of a wired sound when moving my head but i have found out that I unscrew a little the screws on the right side that wired sound disapeared. But first impresion matter and to me He400se failed a little bit. Cheers!
Glad you're enjoying the Devas and I understand your comments about the HE400SE which are ultimately a very cheap headphone. 🙂
Hey Lachlan, deva pro just as a wired headphone for $159; how does it compare with something like Sundara and He400se? If it is better than he400se, how far is it from Sundara in terms of layering, separation, soundstage and bass response and of course overall enjoyability?
Note: I prefer very slight warmish tonality (which I suppose you too prefer).
Thank you for your good work..
I can't remember if I discussed using it wired in this review. I seem to recall it being a little on the leaner/cooler side without the dongle DAC, but I'd have to go back and listen again. I'll see what I can do...
Yep, it's in the video. Check out 8:05
I've wondered if using bluemini r2r as dac and plug-in amp(like ifi zen can) could improve Deve performance ?
Quite possibly, but it would be a clumsy setup to get the BlueMini attached to the amp I think
How does it compare to Ananda BT? Is it worth the extra $$? Tks
I've not tried the Ananda BT, but I think the Ananda might come out slightly in front based on the performance of the wired Ananda.
Right now, I own an HZ Sound Heart Mirror, and I enjoy them. Also, own an M50X but its cable is gone. Now planning to get upgraded headphones/IEM
I miss a bit of bass power with my heart mirror, though I am not a basshead.
My most significant confusion is whether to go with a planar Open back or IEM.
S12 Pro (or) Deva Pro ?
I am aware both are entirely different categories. But as far as music and movie experience which one is noticeably more enjoyable?? What's the noticeable difference between both other than the sound leakage of an open back. Please help...
I always prefer headphones where possible for the larger soundstage. It goes IEM, closed back, open back in terms of soundstage size (smallest to largest).
Beyond that, you can get more technical performance for less money with IEMs so that's a factor too.
In the end, I think you need to decide on the form factor (based on what I said above) and then look at the sound signature you want
@@PassionforSound Thank you so much for your help. As I already have an IEM I decided to go with HiFiman Deva Pro this time.. Thanks again....
No problems. Enjoy!
Hi and thanks for the video I am actually looking for a new no ANC (my momentum 4 is hurting my ears to the point I have to sell it) that I can connect either with usbc or bluetooth to use with my phone, and I wanted to know if this would be a good option, also if there is others options on the market. Thanks again and keep it up!🎉🎉
This would be a good option if open-back is OK for you. Another great choice is the AIAIAI TMA-2 Move which is closed back, wire or wireless, but not ANC.
@@PassionforSound thanks !
Sadly the Deva pro is not sold anymore. Luckily I have both Deva and Deva pro. Lets hope a new Deva is coming, preferably all black 😂
The second blue mini is great. The first one broke on me twice. Easy to replace though 😂
And I also turn them on before putting them on
That's interesting that the Deva Pro is no longer. I wonder if they do have something coming?
@@PassionforSound I was wondering the same. Wrote to customer support, but they "didn't know" anything. So for now I am going on hope 😊
8:50 Lol you have got to be literally the only person on the freaking PLANET that has so far claimed that the Sundara is a "warmer" sounding headphone than the Deva Pro's...O_o... (or even the OG Deva's for that matter)...
Meethinks something is wrong with your particular pair of Deva Pro's (or the R2R Bluemini), because ESPECIALLY when running through the analog as all hell R2R Bluemini, the Deva Pro's should be way, WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY warmer sounding than the sharp, cold, & hyper-analytical/resolving Sundara's. 🤷♂️
And they way you are describing your wired experience (which w/ a suitably powerful DAC + amp setup should be NOTABLY higher quality than wireless, even over hard-locked LDAC 990Kbps) makes me think it's not JUST the fact that you're running unbalanced atm, but that something else is wrong with them...
wow this might be the perfect open back bluetooth then.. lightweight, reasonably priced, and now actually good.
Yeah, they're very enjoyable cans
@@PassionforSound Are they comfortable for long session usage?
It depends on how long you mean. I find them more comfortable than average, but I wouldn't want to wear them all day. Probably 60-90 minutes I'd be good with though. They might create a hot spot on top of the head depending on your head shape and size - this is very personal.
@@PassionforSound Thank you for your answer. Is there any alternative suggestion for longer sessions?
Are you using it wireless or wired? And do you need open back?
Question: I can get the Deva Pros for $289 or the OG Devas for $219 ... which should I go with at those given price points? Are the Pros worth an extra $70?
That's a tough question. As I said in the review, I think both are still excellent with their own different sounds. I slightly prefer the Pro version so I'd lean that way, but it's a very personal choice
@@PassionforSound Thanks for the reply! Think I'm going to go with the Pros
Good choice whichever way you go. Enjoy!
@@ChrisPagliuca Are you happy with them?
Thanks for a Great review.
Does the deva have more bass and is warmer than Hifiman edition xs ? Thanks
It is a bit warmer, yes. It's not a warm headphone overall, but more than the XS I'd say. The XS extends deeper, but the Deva Pro is a little warmer due to the balance of bass and treble
The Deva Pro most DEFINITELY has less bass than the Edition XS and it's also most definitely warmer as well. The Deva Pro is arguably the single warmest set of planars HiFiMan makes (which makes them absolutely FANTASTIC for super extended wireless listening sessions. I.E. like even an entire ≈7-8 hour, full to empty battery drain), w/ only the OG Deva's being in a similar ballpark. 🤷♂️
(The Deva Pro & Edition XS are literally my two most recent can purchases. 🤣 And the Deva Pro is prolly my favorite set of new cans in at LEAST 5+ years. The sheer bang/$ value level for them as a complete package at just $330 is simply NUCKING FUTS!!! O___O)
Rdr blue mini is limited to 16 bit 48 on the Deva pro!!!
You write that like there's a problem. Am I missing something?
Why do you keep blinking? Is the light to bright? Use some shades man.
Everybody blinks
@@PassionforSound most people don't blink like that. Usually only Russian spies under interrogation under a bright Spotlight.
You're onto me... 😱
@@PassionforSound LOL
Do you listen to DMS a lot? I'm on my 3rd attempt to understand what you're trying to say about the sound of these because you have that infuriating DMS style of contradicting yourself every 3 words like "no they're good but they're kinda bad, but not in a negative way though definitely not in a positive way either" etc. etc. that just makes me want to throw the computer out of the window, never mind not helping me at all to decide whether these sound good or not.
Maybe plan out beforehand if you want to say something positive or negative?