Excellent review, I love the briefcase style carry case with these. Also good to see a 50mm dynamic driver headphone to compete with the HD6xx/HD650, I mean they might be difficult to beat though
I want this headphone so badly. My main use for headphones is gaming and this seems like it would be a perfect fit for that while still being pleasant for music listening.
*EARPAD ROLLING* Dekoni Just had a B-stock sale for Beyerdynamic DT pads, which fit the Zeus, so I purchased three pairs, so that I could experiment with pad rolling them. I got the CHOICE LEATHER (Boomy/bloated bass that overwhelms the mids and highs [EWW]), ELITE HYBRID (nice tight, boosted bass with improved clarity over stock pads [Bass Head]), and the ELITE FENESTRATED (reduced mid and upper bass, but tighter, with airier treble and wider soundstage [Neutral/Balanced]). All three Dekoni pads removed the mids veil, pulling the singer closer to you, but reveling details that were previously hidden, with the stock pads. This same tuning effect can also be achieved with the stock pads, using Resolves' EQ settings that he provides. The stock pads are more comfortable than the Dekoni pads, but that isn't to say that the Dekoni pads are uncomfortable, it's just that the stock pads are that comfortable. DISCLAIMER: inToit Reviews just verified in his review, that my source, an ifi zen dac, boxes in the soundstage of this headphone. So this could very well be skewing my findings.
WOW!!! What a great review. I left you a message on your recent Drop+THX Panda review (I left a question for you on there along with my email address), about them and these. I am getting ready to buy another pair of headphones and am seriously looking at these (HarmonicDyne Zeus), the HD6xx with a DAC/Amp Combo or the Hifiman Sundara’s. Believe me, no easy decision but your review on these has really helped me a great deal. Thanks for another awesome fairly easy to understand Headphone tech review video and I’m sure I’ll see you in the next one. Until then, stay safe and happy listening. . . . Kevin 🎧
@@JimBobe I've tried out at least 30 headphones ranging from $200 to $3000. I'd disagree. What blows you away at $350? Sundara sounds boring af compared to these.
@@jcap8391 I tried Sundaras, returned due to awful vocals. Trying 660s at moment and still deciding, what are vocals like on these ??? I like forward strong but not shouty vocals !!!
@@TheSteve57 I don't know about 660s but I heard they are good. The vocals aren't these headphones specialty they are ok at best but they do have good imagining and soundstage. Vocals seem to lack fullness is the best way I would describe them 👍
Tyvm for the review. I almost feel that the push towards the Sundara neglects the build quality issues w/ it over the Zeus, as imo the Zeus appears to have far better build quality for comfort and reliability. I really want to try a HiFiMan HP but their build quality is just trash to the point that if I buy a Planar HP its probably going to be a LCD.
You praise the Sundara’s so much. I’m just getting into this hobby and am saving up for Focal Clears. Should I just get Zeus or Sundaras and wait before getting into the higher price range?
I wouldnt recommend you getting one of these without listening, they are 3 very different headphones. After you try, just pick the one you like in your budget, that you can live with. It may sound as a very naive advice, but its the best one actually)) It may occur, that you like Zeus, for example, more than Clear, than it will be no-brainer. However, if you like the more expensive one, dont waste money on some compromise step.
@@albertweedsteinthethuggeni7797 Thank you. I’m actually planning to order the 9600’s and a Sony Walkman nw-a55. I have the Drop Panda THX and I think it’s pretty good despite Resolve burying them. If it’s really the case then I’ve yet to really hear how some stellar headphones can be.
Great review as always! Thanks for comparing with the Sundara, especially given it's my current heasphone and I was wondering exactly if this could be an improvement or not. Just a note on the Sundara requiring an amplifier, because I've been pushing it directly on my Mac and a mid-level Samsung phone and it's been doing fine volume wise. By the way, and completely agree the wood on the sides look really bad, which is such a bummer because the grid design looks amazing and unique.
Anyone know how well the Zeus sound leakage compare to Sundara? Sundara was brutal and I had to return them due to the apartment im in being small. Hoping Zeus is much quieter.
Thanks for the Sundara comparison. I think I'll stick with those & perhaps revisit this as a "fun" option. I'm interested in the Argon MK III's as a "fun" option but I have a an Atom amp that I don't think will do it justice.
Nighthawk is kinda fucked up tho. Nothing especially bad about it but it doesn't really sound like many other things at all. You run no risk of redundancy if you own a nighthawk
I own both. Yes, redundant. They’re not exactly alike, but close enough in signature. Both tending towards warm, bassier sound. Sub-60hz bass roll off is more pronounced in the Zeus and the NH bass is overall more balanced and linear throughout. Mids and treble are similar, but Zeus sounds a tad more muffled to me. Zeus has wider soundstage and I can’t tell really whether either one has the edge on detail/transparency, seems to depend on the track. I reach for the Zeus more often but it’s probably more recency bias. If you have $350 to blow for kicks sure pick one up, but if you have the NH, you’re not missing much by passing on the Zeus. I suspect the same goes for the newly released Poseidon.
I ordered a pair and it looks like linsoul has now changed the cable for something shorter and more light weight. Does anyone know if this is common for this company. I'm also enjoying these headphones.
Andrew, what is the most enjoyable headphone you have listen to? Disregarding, measurements & all technicalities. I'm curious. Seems like these days with this hobby, one can easily get lost in all technical performances of a headphones & often disregard the overall enjoyability of it. So I would love to know what is the one headphone that you have evaluated & got lost in the music without being analytical of it.
How would these compare with the Sundara for gaming? More specifically soundstage and imaging for footsteps etc. Thanks. I currently have the HE4XX EQ'd with Harmon Target and just received the PC38x. I'm looking for bass of planar, and footstep accuracy of the PC38x.
@@paulu_ thanks! I'm new in the hifi world and just found out that planar hedaphones usually requires more power to work, so I was concerned about having problems with little amplifiers.
@@mattsch21 Hahaha. What a load of bullshit. To get to 110db Sundara needs 40 milliwatts at 37 ohms and 1.22 volts RMS. HE-400i, on the other hand, needs 51 milliwatts at 35 ohms and 1.34 volts RMS. If you wanted to utilize of whole watt of power, you’d have to listen to them at 122 decibels.
@@paulu_ The power on tap from an amplifier is not only used to attain a higher maximum volume... but to achieve tighter, more-extended bass, smoother mids, clearer treble, better dynamics, larger soundstage, etc.
Can you compare it to the Emotiva GR-1? Zreviews has reviewed both and as far as I can tell they have a similar sound (impressive dynamics, warm overall tonality) and are in a similar price range, so would seem a good comparison...
I’m on the market for something to complement/contrast my HD 6XX. One of my goals is to teach myself to be a better listener starting with two widely differently sounding headphones. I’ve been considering Sundara, Argon MKIII and these Zeus. Which one would be the better option for a beginner listener like myself?
I enjoy the zeus much more than the 6xx, I also own hifiman ananda which is like sundara on steroids kind of. They all have their place, the ananda definitely come out on top in terms of detail, the 6xx has been collecting dust as i can't find a place for it in my setup. Of all the headphones i think the zeus sounds the most fun and listenable. However for serious listening I default to the Ananda. Always end up going back to the zeus though
@@ResolveReviews What do you think about using the Sundara with a tube amp? I haven't really seen anyone talk about planars with tube amps but from what I've gathered tube amps can generally sound wider and warmer which might work well with a lot of planars.
First you will have to excuse my poor English, but I’ll do my best to make me understand. I follow all your review and recently i bought an HiFiman Sundara headphone following your recommandation. I have a FiiO M11 to go with my Sundara. I’d like to know if i would need an amplifier to have better results. My FiiO Portable Music Player has amplification and DAC inside. If you recommand me an amplifier, could you give me suggestions to suggestions for that type of equipment? I am new in the fascinating world of audiophile and i appreciate your helping hand.
Hey Andrew! Could this headphone complement an hd600 well? I don't have much as far as gear goes, just a khadas tone board and my JDS atom, could I benefit from the Zeus better in this specific case?
Very interesting! I'm currently using a Sundara off of a Schiit Modi 3 , Magni 3+ stack. This sounds like a nice addition. The one downside for me with the Sundara is the soundstage, it's a little too small sounding for me. The staging just blew me away when listening to the Arya, but that's just too expensive for me. Is the difference in scale between the Sundara and Zeus significant? Or are there other sub-500 dollar/euro headphones that would make a great addition to the Sundara with a good increase in scale and staging?
I've deduced that the Sundara's small soundstage is caused by the earpad's small ear openings. HIFIMAN purposely made them this way to coax customers into buying their more expensive models, like the Arya, which have huge ear-sized pads. With the Sundara, I've gotten impressive results with pad-swapping (off-brand, stiff-foam, perforated leather and Brainwavz XL Micro Suede). But I think the right pads for the Sundara are the *ZMF Vérité Pads with the BE² Hybrid Covering* (suede/lamb, perforated). I'll be getting these soon. To install after-market pads on the Sundara, you will need to acquire the circular, removeable, attachment rings which come on some HIFIMAN-specific earpads. The amplifier in use also makes a big difference in the overall sound, especially the one I have discovered that pairs perfectly with the Sundara: the *ifi ZEN CAN Signature 6XX amplifier* with both of its analog sound-changing circuits engaged, one of which bumps up the lower treble and sub-bass, and the other which makes the presentation more engaging and seamless. A truly special combo with the Sundara!
@@mattrismatt Thanks for that response! I hadn’t considered pad swapping yet. I’m not sure how to easy it is for me to get my hands on ZMF pads here in the Netherlands, but I can imagine that larger pads with more depth should add to the stage. How did you like the Brainwavz XL suede pads?
@@DaftBunny Ok, I switched over to my most neutral and honest amp: the Geshelli Labs Erish, with my modest DAC running in Direct Mode. On the Sundara, the Brainwavz XL Suede pads resulted in a tight, clear sound... but sort of lifeless, lacking in soundstage and imaging. I then put on the Brainwavz XL Hybrid pads, which were significantly more spacious, smooth, and natural sounding, although perhaps not as 'clean' sounding as the Suede pads. (I think the ideal pads would be perforated suede... but small holes and not too many. Otherwise you loose bass and the overall 'solidity' of the sound.) And yes, increased pad depth does add to the stage. It also decreases the mid frequencies. That's why I think those shallow ZMF pads will be ideal for the Sundara.
@@mattrismatt Thanks! That should give me plenty to work with :) I happen to have a set of Brainwavz hybrid pads laying around. I’ll try to get my hands on an adapter. Seems like Hifiman sells them separately:)
Is it so hard for manufacturers to make a cable like HD6 series ? Light , Copper, Rubber, No micro phonics , No tangle , Plastic round jack that is light and doesnt hit scratch the table , Plastic connections that are also light on the L+R drivers , And all that last in in time over 10 years like Sennheiser cables ?
@@martinfox2244 It’s definitely concerning, but I’ve decided to just go ahead and buy them. If I end up needing to return them, I’ll do that. Not sure if I’d roll the dice a second time.
@@martinfox2244 Yes initially I did...prior to buying Sundaras I bought the M1060C but that driver failed within 3 weeks lol. So I returned it and said screw it and took a chance. They supposedly improved their QC over the past year or so. We will see.
@@deshan79 I’d rather have good headphones even if there are QC concerns. May take multiple attempts but if it does, so be it; it’s not like there’s a set of headphones I’d rather have at the price.
I HAVE BOUGHT IT RIGHT NOW! I had 3 month of HARD looking TH-cam and forums for the BEST headphones FOR ME! Andrew! Big thanks to you personally! You cool :D Also Thanks to DMS, Joshua Valour, Zeos Pantera, and other guys in the internet! It was some kind of EPIC journey in HIFI THANK YOU GUYS ALOT!
And 2 days after Poseidon comes out :D But Zeus maybe sounds better on Solid State Amp Poseidon sounds the same on solid as on tubes amp I THINK Zeus is better
Maybe this is a stupid question, but what exactly does "requires an amp" actually mean? I'm using the Sundara straight through my MacBook and to me it sounds exactly the same as my audio interface (to be fair, a cheap Focusrite) and the headphone amp on my huge living room AVR. I actually have to turn the AVR up quite a lot more than the MacBook to get a loud enough sound out of it (the AVR sits at about 3/4 while i rarely go over 1/4 on the MacBook). Same goes for other headphones (various Beyerdynamic, Sennheiser, AKG) i've tried.
Might want to try different amp. I noticed a dramatic difference in sound when listening from on board motherboard sound vs atom amp. In fact without the amp, the sundara to me sounded like a $50 headphone.
@@Rasyad95 msi b450 gaming pro carbon ac. It has Realtek ALC1220 Codec. What amp are you using? Without amp for me everything sounded muddy as hell. Big improvements in clarity, sound stage, imaging, resolution, and slam when I went through my atom amp.
@@ooooswain it is an apple dongle. With my MSI the volume is not even half (I dont know why you need an amp at this point), and with an IEM I never set the volume more than 20. With the dongle I usually listen around 10, and it is really difficult when you can't set the volume to odd number. It is either too loud or a little bit too quiet. I prefer my on-board ESS chip.
Sounds like a good HP for a decent price. Sundara is great if you dont have a QC issue. Had issues with mine out of the box. Will never buy another Hifiman. Too many other great choices now out there.
If youre asking for the next headphone that could be considered an upgrade to the Sundara, IMO its the focal Elegia, which pricewise wavers around 400-600 dollars. In terms of pure detail retrieval (and imaging), the Elegia is noticeably better, and the Elegia also has better bass extension. Elegia does mids absolutely phenomenally, and everything else very well; IMO the mids are the main draw of the headphone. HOWEVER, there are several things that the Sundara still does better: its bass is slightly faster, it is open back so it sounds more spacious and airy, it has better soundstage, and its treble is utterly incredible. Also, the sundara is a planar, so if you prefer planars, the sundara is still the way to go. The first true upgrade to the Sundara is probably the Ananda, as it does pretty much everything the Sundara does, but better (although the Ananda is somewhat colder than the Sundara, yet surprisingly also a bit less energetic in the treble). That being said, its double the price of the Sundara, and IMO the price isnt justified by the improvement.
@@nortonfamily6711 Thank you for the Elegia suggestion. I did not have that on my radar. It sounds like the Elegia might have some of the qualities of the HD6-- line. Do you suggest it over the HD6-- line? What I like about the Sundara over the Tygr 300r is the clarity and the ability to hear things on the Sundara that I didn't know were in the music. Hearing the instrument separation and the details that have been previously muddied in the lower end headphones has been the reason I can't put the Sundara down. My only complaint is the lower vocal retrieval that the Sundara and the Tygr have. That is why the Elegia and the HD6-- line are real contenders. I have looked at the Ananda and came to the same conclusions as you confirmed. It is a bit better than the Sundara in many ways but not really worth buying since I have the Sundara. I would have to go to the Ayra to make a big enough jump to make it worthwhile and that is a lot of money for me.
@@michaelreed649 Indeed, having heard both the HD6XX and the Elegia, your observation rings true; personally, I actually consider the Elegia to be the natural upgrade path beyond the HD6-- line. They both do mids beautifully, but the Elegia seriously picks up the slack where the HD6-- line falls short; namely, detail retrieval, instrument separation, bass speed, bass extension, energy in the treble, and imaging. If you're chasing after more present, intimate vocals, I would highly suggest looking further into the Elegia. I personally cannot think of another midrange focused headphone under 1k that I prefer over it.
i bought these but they are too harsh in the treble for me. Am surprised because not one reviewer mentioned this so either they are all starting to go deaf or am hearing something they don't. Either way: If you're treble sensitive i'd not purchase these. They are fatiguing and make my ears ring at night if i listen to them for a full day.
The speed at which the speaker can rise and decay. Send a sound then return back to baseline in order to send another accurately. Fast allows for more detail
Sundara requires an amp, Zeus does not. Also, they're around the same price. Also, some people prefer the DD sound over planar. Now, I would take Sundara over it still personally.
Cause it's not better. Sound is very subjective. Just because a lot of you tubers praise the sundara doesn't mean you're gonna like it. I returned my sundaras. Although they did have nice sound in a lot of areas I found the soundstage odd; more of an intimate stage rather than big spacious, and treble could be piercingly sharp. I couldn't wear them for more than an hour. Uncomfortable due to tight clamp force and poor quality ear pads. So for someone like me the zeus seems like a much better option. Far better ear pads, bigger sound stage and warmer tonality.
@@ooooswain true: we have free choice ;-) It took me 2-3 weeks to get friendly with Sundara's clamping forces - I had to work on them a bit. As for the sound: as the host said: even amp from iFi ZEN DAC is mediocre - only when I connected them to iFi ZEN CAN and balanced output (meaning more power, more POTENTIAL power) I realised they are super ok. And Xbass (or whatever the name on CAN is) made them even better (however I use Xbass only on selected tracks)
I was just thinking when is the GOAT headphone reviewer gonna review this and then it pops up in my feed
Goat??🤔
@@goodforwatch GoaT = Greatest of all Time.
So, is the Zeus a Sundara with warmer mids, more bass and slightly less treble sharpness? I think that would be my optimal sound.
Excellent review, I love the briefcase style carry case with these. Also good to see a 50mm dynamic driver headphone to compete with the HD6xx/HD650, I mean they might be difficult to beat though
I want this headphone so badly. My main use for headphones is gaming and this seems like it would be a perfect fit for that while still being pleasant for music listening.
Was waiting on this one :) so glad you got a pair to review.
*EARPAD ROLLING*
Dekoni Just had a B-stock sale for Beyerdynamic DT pads, which fit the Zeus, so I purchased three pairs, so that I could experiment with pad rolling them. I got the CHOICE LEATHER (Boomy/bloated bass that overwhelms the mids and highs [EWW]), ELITE HYBRID (nice tight, boosted bass with improved clarity over stock pads [Bass Head]), and the ELITE FENESTRATED (reduced mid and upper bass, but tighter, with airier treble and wider soundstage [Neutral/Balanced]). All three Dekoni pads removed the mids veil, pulling the singer closer to you, but reveling details that were previously hidden, with the stock pads. This same tuning effect can also be achieved with the stock pads, using Resolves' EQ settings that he provides. The stock pads are more comfortable than the Dekoni pads, but that isn't to say that the Dekoni pads are uncomfortable, it's just that the stock pads are that comfortable.
DISCLAIMER:
inToit Reviews just verified in his review, that my source, an ifi zen dac, boxes in the soundstage of this headphone. So this could very well be skewing my findings.
Are you thinking of checking out the Sivga Phoenix?
Mine is on order and I've been waiting to try it out!
What do u think? Have u compared it to the Sundara?
I would have preferred if linsoul didn't include a case and that it had a better build
WOW!!! What a great review. I left you a message on your recent Drop+THX Panda review (I left a question for you on there along with my email address), about them and these. I am getting ready to buy another pair of headphones and am seriously looking at these (HarmonicDyne Zeus), the HD6xx with a DAC/Amp Combo or the Hifiman Sundara’s. Believe me, no easy decision but your review on these has really helped me a great deal. Thanks for another awesome fairly easy to understand Headphone tech review video and I’m sure I’ll see you in the next one. Until then, stay safe and happy listening. . . .
Kevin 🎧
Tried them out. They’re good. Nothing that’ll blow you away, however.
Did you try sundara? If so wich do you prefer?
@@eman122688 no didnt try
@@JimBobe I've tried out at least 30 headphones ranging from $200 to $3000. I'd disagree. What blows you away at $350? Sundara sounds boring af compared to these.
@@jcap8391 I tried Sundaras, returned due to awful vocals. Trying 660s at moment and still deciding, what are vocals like on these ??? I like forward strong but not shouty vocals !!!
@@TheSteve57 I don't know about 660s but I heard they are good. The vocals aren't these headphones specialty they are ok at best but they do have good imagining and soundstage. Vocals seem to lack fullness is the best way I would describe them 👍
Do you plan on reviewing the Sivga Phoenix? That's another pair which don't require amp and is quite fun.
I had hoped they would compare these with the Phoenix. I had heard these sound comparable to the Phoenix and was hoping for more opinions about that.
Tyvm for the review. I almost feel that the push towards the Sundara neglects the build quality issues w/ it over the Zeus, as imo the Zeus appears to have far better build quality for comfort and reliability. I really want to try a HiFiMan HP but their build quality is just trash to the point that if I buy a Planar HP its probably going to be a LCD.
Do you have any experience with Hifiman? Imo they’ve upped their quality over the years
Can’t wait to review them💪👌👍
WHERES THE GOLD PLANAR DOUBLE MAG GL2000 review? Literally everyone is waiting for anyone else to review it.
Second that!
You praise the Sundara’s so much. I’m just getting into this hobby and am saving up for Focal Clears. Should I just get Zeus or Sundaras and wait before getting into the higher price range?
I wouldnt recommend you getting one of these without listening, they are 3 very different headphones. After you try, just pick the one you like in your budget, that you can live with. It may sound as a very naive advice, but its the best one actually)) It may occur, that you like Zeus, for example, more than Clear, than it will be no-brainer. However, if you like the more expensive one, dont waste money on some compromise step.
@@bogdanmaidanik Thank you. I found an audio store that will let me test out what they have so I’ll wait until I’m ready to buy and test a few
@@dwuane7935 start with shp9500 to see if you like treble or warmth
@@albertweedsteinthethuggeni7797 Thank you. I’m actually planning to order the 9600’s and a Sony Walkman nw-a55. I have the Drop Panda THX and I think it’s pretty good despite Resolve burying them. If it’s really the case then I’ve yet to really hear how some stellar headphones can be.
Great review as always! Thanks for comparing with the Sundara, especially given it's my current heasphone and I was wondering exactly if this could be an improvement or not.
Just a note on the Sundara requiring an amplifier, because I've been pushing it directly on my Mac and a mid-level Samsung phone and it's been doing fine volume wise.
By the way, and completely agree the wood on the sides look really bad, which is such a bummer because the grid design looks amazing and unique.
Anyone know how well the Zeus sound leakage compare to Sundara? Sundara was brutal and I had to return them due to the apartment im in being small.
Hoping Zeus is much quieter.
Thanks for the Sundara comparison. I think I'll stick with those & perhaps revisit this as a "fun" option. I'm interested in the Argon MK III's as a "fun" option but I have a an Atom amp that I don't think will do it justice.
Resolve are you planning to review the 400i 2020 version?
If they have one available to send me
I own the nighthawk already and am concerned these might feel redundant but I am very interested to try them for gaming.
Nighthawk is kinda fucked up tho. Nothing especially bad about it but it doesn't really sound like many other things at all. You run no risk of redundancy if you own a nighthawk
I own both. Yes, redundant. They’re not exactly alike, but close enough in signature. Both tending towards warm, bassier sound. Sub-60hz bass roll off is more pronounced in the Zeus and the NH bass is overall more balanced and linear throughout. Mids and treble are similar, but Zeus sounds a tad more muffled to me. Zeus has wider soundstage and I can’t tell really whether either one has the edge on detail/transparency, seems to depend on the track. I reach for the Zeus more often but it’s probably more recency bias. If you have $350 to blow for kicks sure pick one up, but if you have the NH, you’re not missing much by passing on the Zeus. I suspect the same goes for the newly released Poseidon.
I ordered a pair and it looks like linsoul has now changed the cable for something shorter and more light weight. Does anyone know if this is common for this company. I'm also enjoying these headphones.
brought one ..its a very fun pair headphone ..good sounding wth music and games ..they sound good wth tube amp as well
When will you review the Abyss 1266 Phi TC?
Andrew, what is the most enjoyable headphone you have listen to? Disregarding, measurements & all technicalities. I'm curious. Seems like these days with this hobby, one can easily get lost in all technical performances of a headphones & often disregard the overall enjoyability of it. So I would love to know what is the one headphone that you have evaluated & got lost in the music without being analytical of it.
Maybe Focal utopia, or my EQ'd Audeze LCD-XC. Also, these days I'm loving the Verite with the Ampsandsound Kenzie.
guess it’s a real beast, any chance you got the gold planar gl2000 for review
How would these compare with the Sundara for gaming? More specifically soundstage and imaging for footsteps etc. Thanks.
I currently have the HE4XX EQ'd with Harmon Target and just received the PC38x. I'm looking for bass of planar, and footstep accuracy of the PC38x.
why do you buy Sundara for gaming? you can buy HyperX, Razer, Corsair, etc
Get an Audeze Penrose for gaming.
@@AstaginaProject outside of the hyper X those are all horrible.
Gaming headsets typically suck. The hyper X are rebranded headphones.
Awesome review, as always. A little question about the Sundara: do you think a topping dx3 pro can pair well with it?
Sundara pairs well with most amps
@@paulu_ thanks! I'm new in the hifi world and just found out that planar hedaphones usually requires more power to work, so I was concerned about having problems with little amplifiers.
@@cosmiuz2246 Sundara has a very thin diaphragm, so it’s quite easy to drive compared to other planars like he-400i.
@@mattsch21 Hahaha. What a load of bullshit.
To get to 110db Sundara needs 40 milliwatts at 37 ohms and 1.22 volts RMS.
HE-400i, on the other hand, needs 51 milliwatts at 35 ohms and 1.34 volts RMS.
If you wanted to utilize of whole watt of power, you’d have to listen to them at 122 decibels.
@@paulu_ The power on tap from an amplifier is not only used to attain a higher maximum volume... but to achieve tighter, more-extended bass, smoother mids, clearer treble, better dynamics, larger soundstage, etc.
Hi, Would my gaming laptop be good enough to drive this? Or should get a dac/amp?
Can you compare it to the Emotiva GR-1? Zreviews has reviewed both and as far as I can tell they have a similar sound (impressive dynamics, warm overall tonality) and are in a similar price range, so would seem a good comparison...
How is the base and soundstage compared to DT 1990 and X2HR?
Reviewers often talk about doing EQ on headphones but how do you do it ??? Once done do the settings stay
Most people use a program called Peace APO. You can make your own EQ preset and save it.
@@rainydaygirlz thank you, I'll look that up 👍
Looks like they took a page out of Zach's book with the grille pattern. Love it.
I’m on the market for something to complement/contrast my HD 6XX. One of my goals is to teach myself to be a better listener starting with two widely differently sounding headphones. I’ve been considering Sundara, Argon MKIII and these Zeus. Which one would be the better option for a beginner listener like myself?
Sundara with an amplifier.
I enjoy the zeus much more than the 6xx, I also own hifiman ananda which is like sundara on steroids kind of. They all have their place, the ananda definitely come out on top in terms of detail, the 6xx has been collecting dust as i can't find a place for it in my setup. Of all the headphones i think the zeus sounds the most fun and listenable. However for serious listening I default to the Ananda. Always end up going back to the zeus though
@@ResolveReviews What do you think about using the Sundara with a tube amp?
I haven't really seen anyone talk about planars with tube amps but from what I've gathered tube amps can generally sound wider and warmer which might work well with a lot of planars.
@@noelshaffer9609 yeah it can work. Depends on the headphone and the tube amp haha. Some pair better than others.
First you will have to excuse my poor English, but I’ll do my best to make me understand. I follow all your review and recently i bought an HiFiman Sundara headphone following your recommandation. I have a FiiO M11 to go with my Sundara. I’d like to know if i would need an amplifier to have better results. My FiiO Portable Music Player has amplification and DAC inside. If you recommand me an amplifier, could you give me suggestions to suggestions for that type of equipment? I am new in the fascinating world of audiophile and i appreciate your helping hand.
Fiio BTR5 would be fine I guess.
Fiio Q3 or Q5s amplifier
Hey Andrew! Could this headphone complement an hd600 well?
I don't have much as far as gear goes, just a khadas tone board and my JDS atom, could I benefit from the Zeus better in this specific case?
Interesting....looks very comfy on the head. And Be coating, that’s a plus.
This looks like a solid product im going to buy!
I just hope linsoul sends p1 and p2 soon. 😁
Was waiting for this. 😁
Very interesting! I'm currently using a Sundara off of a Schiit Modi 3 , Magni 3+ stack. This sounds like a nice addition. The one downside for me with the Sundara is the soundstage, it's a little too small sounding for me. The staging just blew me away when listening to the Arya, but that's just too expensive for me. Is the difference in scale between the Sundara and Zeus significant? Or are there other sub-500 dollar/euro headphones that would make a great addition to the Sundara with a good increase in scale and staging?
I've deduced that the Sundara's small soundstage is caused by the earpad's small ear openings. HIFIMAN purposely made them this way to coax customers into buying their more expensive models, like the Arya, which have huge ear-sized pads. With the Sundara, I've gotten impressive results with pad-swapping (off-brand, stiff-foam, perforated leather and Brainwavz XL Micro Suede). But I think the right pads for the Sundara are the *ZMF Vérité Pads
with the BE² Hybrid Covering* (suede/lamb, perforated). I'll be getting these soon.
To install after-market pads on the Sundara, you will need to acquire the circular, removeable, attachment rings which come on some HIFIMAN-specific earpads.
The amplifier in use also makes a big difference in the overall sound, especially the one I have discovered that pairs perfectly with the Sundara: the *ifi ZEN CAN Signature 6XX amplifier* with both of its analog sound-changing circuits engaged, one of which bumps up the lower treble and sub-bass, and the other which makes the presentation more engaging and seamless. A truly special combo with the Sundara!
@@mattrismatt Thanks for that response! I hadn’t considered pad swapping yet. I’m not sure how to easy it is for me to get my hands on ZMF pads here in the Netherlands, but I can imagine that larger pads with more depth should add to the stage. How did you like the Brainwavz XL suede pads?
@@DaftBunny Ok, I switched over to my most neutral and honest amp: the Geshelli Labs Erish, with my modest DAC running in Direct Mode. On the Sundara, the Brainwavz XL Suede pads resulted in a tight, clear sound... but sort of lifeless, lacking in soundstage and imaging.
I then put on the Brainwavz XL Hybrid pads, which were significantly more spacious, smooth, and natural sounding, although perhaps not as 'clean' sounding as the Suede pads. (I think the ideal pads would be perforated suede... but small holes and not too many. Otherwise you loose bass and the overall 'solidity' of the sound.)
And yes, increased pad depth does add to the stage. It also decreases the mid frequencies. That's why I think those shallow ZMF pads will be ideal for the Sundara.
@@mattrismatt Thanks! That should give me plenty to work with :) I happen to have a set of Brainwavz hybrid pads laying around. I’ll try to get my hands on an adapter. Seems like Hifiman sells them separately:)
@@mattrismatt Have you ever tried the Sundara with any tube amps?
They are only USD 125,- on Linsoul now..i guess that must be a truly great price-performance-ratio..
"Fundaras". I'm interested.
Omg, that's what this should be called! Although not a planar.
@@TheHEADPHONEShow True
What do you use to EQ and how do you do it, how do you connect it up ????
this headphone is high potential， i try this with chord dave still have a better improvement
can you have full comparison with sundara?
Do you will review zen can?
any recommendation for best cable pair ?
Is it so hard for manufacturers to make a cable like HD6 series ? Light , Copper, Rubber, No micro phonics , No tangle , Plastic round jack that is light and doesnt hit scratch the table , Plastic connections that are also light on the L+R drivers , And all that last in in time over 10 years like Sennheiser cables ?
I think we need to make a petition for Andrew to make an hour long of video of 2:05
Nice and thank you
Would You upgrade from the 6XX?
Personally? No
How did you do the EQ tuning? Via an APP? Or are you EQ'ing the source?
Equalizer APO with Peace interface
@@djsoulfilter So you EQ the source. I didn't think the Zeus had the capability. Thank you for the heads up.
@@martinfox2244 watch this video tutorial for complete instructions :)
th-cam.com/video/gFCXWMV5YfQ/w-d-xo.html
@@djsoulfilter Thank you! Happy New Year too.
@@martinfox2244 very welcome. Happy New Year!
Great review. By the way, I’m planning to purchase a HiFiMan Sundara based on your review of that one.
I love my Sundaras, retired my 58x since getting them.
Do you have any reservations about the (admittedly low percentage of) dead driver comments on Amazon for the Sundara?
@@martinfox2244 It’s definitely concerning, but I’ve decided to just go ahead and buy them. If I end up needing to return them, I’ll do that. Not sure if I’d roll the dice a second time.
@@martinfox2244 Yes initially I did...prior to buying Sundaras I bought the M1060C but that driver failed within 3 weeks lol. So I returned it and said screw it and took a chance. They supposedly improved their QC over the past year or so. We will see.
@@deshan79 I’d rather have good headphones even if there are QC concerns. May take multiple attempts but if it does, so be it; it’s not like there’s a set of headphones I’d rather have at the price.
Can you power them with only the ps5 controller?
Would my Zen Dac/Can be too warm for these headphones ???
Only if you use the bass boost function. But it's also all up to your preference.
I HAVE BOUGHT IT RIGHT NOW!
I had 3 month of HARD looking TH-cam and forums for the BEST headphones FOR ME!
Andrew! Big thanks to you personally! You cool :D
Also Thanks to DMS, Joshua Valour, Zeos Pantera, and other guys in the internet!
It was some kind of EPIC journey in HIFI
THANK YOU GUYS ALOT!
And 2 days after Poseidon comes out :D
But Zeus maybe sounds better on Solid State Amp
Poseidon sounds the same on solid as on tubes amp
I THINK Zeus is better
Now is the first day with Zeus! It is as described! COOL!
@@thankyou991 How are you feeling about it now?
@@ReidoFutebol98 the treble killed him
Is the sound stage bigger on these or the Sundara?
These , by not a big margin but it's definitely noticeable
This is the cascades?
Where are these EQ settings you listed located?
Disregard. I found them 👌
I spy some tubes in thumbnail pic, in a Kenzie perhaps? That’s an amp I am very interested in.
How does the sundara's soundstage compare to the zeus?
Sundara has a medium sound stage imo. Zues has a large sound stage. It seems to be just under the hd800s.
Well I can buy this instead of Ananda. I'm low on cash.. 😂
And I love warmth! ❤️
What are vocals like on this, I thought vocals on Sundara were awful, resest and harsh !!!!
1:30
Look at how massive and thick and heavy this thing is 👀
The cable mine came in was a very nice braided copper cable. I don’t know if I got lucky or if they changed which cables these come with.
@@ItsXev where did you buy it from?
Maybe this is a stupid question, but what exactly does "requires an amp" actually mean? I'm using the Sundara straight through my MacBook and to me it sounds exactly the same as my audio interface (to be fair, a cheap Focusrite) and the headphone amp on my huge living room AVR. I actually have to turn the AVR up quite a lot more than the MacBook to get a loud enough sound out of it (the AVR sits at about 3/4 while i rarely go over 1/4 on the MacBook). Same goes for other headphones (various Beyerdynamic, Sennheiser, AKG) i've tried.
Me too, dude. I found no difference between amps except the volume level.
Might want to try different amp. I noticed a dramatic difference in sound when listening from on board motherboard sound vs atom amp. In fact without the amp, the sundara to me sounded like a $50 headphone.
@@ooooswain what's your motherboard? Mine is from MSI GS65 and it contains ESS chip (9038? Didnt remember) and it sounds the same with a dac/amp.
@@Rasyad95 msi b450 gaming pro carbon ac. It has Realtek ALC1220 Codec. What amp are you using? Without amp for me everything sounded muddy as hell. Big improvements in clarity, sound stage, imaging, resolution, and slam when I went through my atom amp.
@@ooooswain it is an apple dongle. With my MSI the volume is not even half (I dont know why you need an amp at this point), and with an IEM I never set the volume more than 20. With the dongle I usually listen around 10, and it is really difficult when you can't set the volume to odd number. It is either too loud or a little bit too quiet. I prefer my on-board ESS chip.
Looks way more expensive
Sounds like a good HP for a decent price. Sundara is great if you dont have a QC issue. Had issues with mine out of the box. Will never buy another Hifiman. Too many other great choices now out there.
Hifiman Sundara is still best in class.
What is the next level headphones?
I've been wondering this myself!
If youre asking for the next headphone that could be considered an upgrade to the Sundara, IMO its the focal Elegia, which pricewise wavers around 400-600 dollars. In terms of pure detail retrieval (and imaging), the Elegia is noticeably better, and the Elegia also has better bass extension. Elegia does mids absolutely phenomenally, and everything else very well; IMO the mids are the main draw of the headphone.
HOWEVER, there are several things that the Sundara still does better: its bass is slightly faster, it is open back so it sounds more spacious and airy, it has better soundstage, and its treble is utterly incredible. Also, the sundara is a planar, so if you prefer planars, the sundara is still the way to go.
The first true upgrade to the Sundara is probably the Ananda, as it does pretty much everything the Sundara does, but better (although the Ananda is somewhat colder than the Sundara, yet surprisingly also a bit less energetic in the treble). That being said, its double the price of the Sundara, and IMO the price isnt justified by the improvement.
@@nortonfamily6711 Thank you for the Elegia suggestion. I did not have that on my radar. It sounds like the Elegia might have some of the qualities of the HD6-- line. Do you suggest it over the HD6-- line?
What I like about the Sundara over the Tygr 300r is the clarity and the ability to hear things on the Sundara that I didn't know were in the music. Hearing the instrument separation and the details that have been previously muddied in the lower end headphones has been the reason I can't put the Sundara down. My only complaint is the lower vocal retrieval that the Sundara and the Tygr have. That is why the Elegia and the HD6-- line are real contenders.
I have looked at the Ananda and came to the same conclusions as you confirmed. It is a bit better than the Sundara in many ways but not really worth buying since I have the Sundara. I would have to go to the Ayra to make a big enough jump to make it worthwhile and that is a lot of money for me.
@@michaelreed649 Indeed, having heard both the HD6XX and the Elegia, your observation rings true; personally, I actually consider the Elegia to be the natural upgrade path beyond the HD6-- line. They both do mids beautifully, but the Elegia seriously picks up the slack where the HD6-- line falls short; namely, detail retrieval, instrument separation, bass speed, bass extension, energy in the treble, and imaging.
If you're chasing after more present, intimate vocals, I would highly suggest looking further into the Elegia. I personally cannot think of another midrange focused headphone under 1k that I prefer over it.
@@nortonfamily6711 thank you for the information. I will keep an eye out for sales. They are currently at $890.
i bought these but they are too harsh in the treble for me.
Am surprised because not one reviewer mentioned this so either they are all starting to go deaf or am hearing something they don't.
Either way: If you're treble sensitive i'd not purchase these. They are fatiguing and make my ears ring at night if i listen to them for a full day.
The reviewer DMS also mentions a sharpness in some frequencies.
@BUR1X I also find the treble fatiguing. what headphone would u recommend instead ?
Second!
How does a headphone sound fast? 😒
The speed at which the speaker can rise and decay. Send a sound then return back to baseline in order to send another accurately. Fast allows for more detail
It looks like a typical plastic membrane with some kind of coating.
if Sundara is better and currently cheaper than Zeus: why would anybody buy Zeus?
Sundara requires an amp, Zeus does not. Also, they're around the same price. Also, some people prefer the DD sound over planar. Now, I would take Sundara over it still personally.
Cause it's not better. Sound is very subjective. Just because a lot of you tubers praise the sundara doesn't mean you're gonna like it. I returned my sundaras. Although they did have nice sound in a lot of areas I found the soundstage odd; more of an intimate stage rather than big spacious, and treble could be piercingly sharp. I couldn't wear them for more than an hour. Uncomfortable due to tight clamp force and poor quality ear pads.
So for someone like me the zeus seems like a much better option. Far better ear pads, bigger sound stage and warmer tonality.
@@ooooswain true: we have free choice ;-) It took me 2-3 weeks to get friendly with Sundara's clamping forces - I had to work on them a bit.
As for the sound: as the host said: even amp from iFi ZEN DAC is mediocre - only when I connected them to iFi ZEN CAN and balanced output (meaning more power, more POTENTIAL power) I realised they are super ok. And Xbass (or whatever the name on CAN is) made them even better (however I use Xbass only on selected tracks)
@@TheHEADPHONEShow Which do you think would be more impressive for gaming and movies?