Hey guys! Liking the cleaner drop down description? What about the new format? Less jokes? More? Just right? Let me know!! Also: The cup issue mentioned in the video applies to all HIFIMAN 400 series models unfortunately (400i/400S/Sundara,4XX, etc.), but won't rear it's ugly head too much as long as you don't change pads a lot. Here's to hoping HIFIMAN fixes that issue like they did with the overall upgraded build of the newer DEVA and 2020 400i!! ⌚Timestamps Build - 0:40 Question of the Day - 2:00 It's The Cost Of Business, Yo - 2:10 Comfort - 2:30 Full. Metal. Jacket - 2:40 Sound - 3:06 Your Mom's Meatloaf - 3:30 Imaging, Soundstage, and Planar Strengths - 3:40 Genre - 4:26 YEAAAAH! YES I'M EXCITED! 4:39 Amplification - 5:00 Final Word, Grandchildren, Troll, Don't Give Up, Rap - 5:39
Honestly? I would like a few memes or jokes sprinkled in with straight forward information. Not over fond of "big ass head" and the like. You are clearly attractive, erudite and well spoken. You obviously do diligent research for your videos and your recommendations. I feel like "apple ass" and similar negate those attributes. Insulting doesn't equal funny. HOWEVER! It's your channel, and you do you, Boo. I'll still be watching and Patreon-ing.
@@redforrori Hey! Yeah I thought of that after, and I should clarify that I'm kind of making fun of myself but it's totally understandable that it wouldn't come across that way xD, but: The story goes that when I was working at Wal-Mart years back, I was really good friends with this girl who also worked with me in the bakery. At the time I was going by my middle name (Charles). We would always bust on each other and stuff, and one day I was teasing her and she stops and goes "Charles you best shut up whicho apple a** head" and I just busted out laughing because the way she said it was priceless. To this day it still makes me laugh out loud, because I really do have a weirdly shaped head depending on how long my hair is, and she totally got me :D
@@redforrori Thank you! And also thank you for being honest with your thoughts but framing it in such a way that it actually resembles a critique and not an attack. There are many people who think they're giving a critique without actually understanding how they work, and I would know since I sat through them for 4 years in college as a fine art major. :) I would also like to thank you for your patronage and continued support of the blog and channel. Talk soon!
The HD600 was my first quality headphone and I loved it but I gave it to my sister a few years ago and I've been kicking myself ever since doing it. Also, I had the 6XX for a while and still have the Sundara and if I had to choose one out of those 3 it would be the Sundara/HD600. 😉 A very unique way to present a headphone shootout, the humor was a nice touch.
It's not an upgrade but more of a side step. I think you should just stay with the Sundara and wait to get something truly better like the Ananda or something.
@@TechnoGuy11 I think many people said that the mids on the hd6xx is soo good. I actually have the focal clear now, been used it for few days. I prefer the sound of the sundara than the clear, the treble is hugely better than focal clear and the imagging and soundstage. do you think hd6xx is related to focal clear? if so is it a good "upgrade" since i have only 1 problem with the sundara which is the comfort and something if i use longer than 2 hour my ear is fatigue
Loving the lastest content. The humor is great and I appreciate the direct approach. And it looks like you're enjoying yourself which is dope. Also butter smooth bass fisherman is another shirt idea to add to the list. Keep up the good work.
@@kellanmackenzie5230 I'm designing the graphic for the homie thing. So in your opinion, Does this read right? "I'm a kick back and relax type-a homie." To me that sounds funnier and I read it as "Type Of" but I want to make sure it's not being read as "Type A" I think it sounds way funnier when you say it out loud vs. "I'm a kick back and relax type *of* homie." What do you think?
Man, you really do a great job. Your reviews in video are honest and precise. And the written reviews contains a lot of considerations and details, it's so good. I arrive in the channel because of the shp9500 and i bought them (they still arriving) (and sorry fot any typing issue, English it's not my primary language)
Thank you so much man and no worries you're English isn't bad at all! Thanks for the reminder I need to put the written review in the description box :) Which 9500 video did you watch?
@@HomeStudioBasics hello, the video was Philips shp9500 part 2, of 1 year later. I was searching for a good headset gamer and i realized that audiophile headphones are so best than the headsets. I entered this world of headphones through the Brazilian channel (yes, I am Brazilian) called "mind the headphones". There are many good reviews on this other channel. Even before buying the shp9500, I was going to buy a so-called arcane shp300 or shp80 (I would like to leave a suggestion: you could review these headphones too, since they are very cost-effective. Besides the headphone of this same channel youtuber " MTH ", the disco kuba.)
Thank you so much man! That video does seem to get a decent amount of views :) Definitely keep me posted on the 9500. I'm actually trying to get the new X3 and 9600 as well! Haven't heard of those others. The SHP300 looks similar to the SR850, AKG K240, and Superlux HD668B!
I laughed out loud when you said don't overthink it! I feel like you were talking directly to me. I just got a BTR5 to use with my Samsung S7 and m40x headphones. It's a huge Sound and Power upgrade over the sound I get from my phone so I decided to order the hd6xx. The btr5 can power the m40x to ear bleed levels yet I keep worrying if it'll be enough to power the hd6xx after reading all the reviews. I know the m40x is way more efficient but I can't imagine it not being enough power for the hd6xx.
Haha so glad I made you laugh! I think you'll be fine man! But keep me posted for sure. The 6XX isn't very hard to drive :) I have the BTR3K here actually that I've been meaning to get to. How do you like the BTR5?
@@HomeStudioBasics I'm really liking it. It's much fuller and more dynamic sounding than just plugging the headphones into the phone. Connectivity has been real easy using Bluetooth. I have a usb micro to c cable on the way to see how that will work but from what I've read my S7 might not be able to send audio through the USB so that's why I wanted to go with something that had Bluetooth. My phone supports ldac so I'm using that playing CD quality Flac files from my phone or streaming with Google Play. Both sound excellent. I did order the balanced cable with the hd6xx to get the most out of my btr5. The unbalanced out only uses one of the internal chips where the balanced uses both and from what I've read increases the volume also. I will let you know when my hd6xx comes in in a few weeks. Thanks
Hi ASMR Helper! Thank you! Wow. That's a tough one. No pressure from J Ownbey right? Heh. I will attempt to frame this in terms of the games that had the biggest impact on me growing up until the present day. Okay here goes: While the other 4 were fairly easy, #5 is really hard to narrow down because theoretically, a lot of games could make the cut. Also I've been agonizing over this for like 3 hours D: #5) *The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.* Way back in the mid to late 90's my best friend Ryan lived right next door to me and had an N64. Playing Ocarina of Time was a mesmerizing experience from the start, as we would play for hours and hours. I wasn't nearly as good at it as he was, but it was certainly ground breaking for it's time, and still gets talked about and played even now. Really really close runners up include Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1-3, The Sims, Legend of Zelda: A Link To The Past, and The Last of Us, the first 3 of which were also played almost religiously by Ryan and I. #4) *Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest.* Growing up, I had always read it as "Diddy Kong's Quest." LOL dyslexia. It wasn't until years later that I finally read it correctly and it blew my mind. Also 1 and 3 were extremely good, but I think 2 had the most profound impact on me as a youngster. There is one level near the end of the game that to this day is almost impossible to beat. #3) *Super Mario World.* This was tough to decide because from '85 to '96 they didn't make a bad game. Super Mario Bros. 3, Lost Levels, and Yoshi's Island would be close runners up. I would say 3, but I think "World" was ultimately more memorable for me, as I used to play it with my sister growing up. I remember the year I got the SNES for my b-day or Christmas in '90 or '91, (I was born 12/18) and it came packaged with the game. I was excited beyond comprehension. It's one of those moments you'll never forget. The game itself was incredible, and still has replay value to this day because of how well made it was. Plus, Yoshi. Lol. #2) *Fallout 3/New Vegas.* I've had a tough time deciding which I like better for over 10 years, but by and large these games are responsible for subtracting perhaps thousands of hours off of my life span. Haha. I think 3 was better in terms of the rawness of the environment, as it felt more like an actual wasteland with endless amounts of nooks and crannies, while New Vegas had a better story/writing, characters, dialogue, and quests. Both have extraordinary levels of social commentary which remain arguably even more relevant now, but still, it's very close and I've never been able to definitively say one way or another which I liked more. If you're interested, I wrote an article about the big 3 (New Vegas, 3, and Fallout 4), which still needs a couple more edits. homestudiobasics.com/fallout-3-vs-new-vegas-vs-fallout-4/ #1) *Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty* If you want to know why, I'd love to extrapolate. I firmly believe this is one of (if not the most) important games of the last half century, and I mean that. I mean, it's not really even a game, it's more of a social commentary/postmodern experiment. The ideas therein were so far ahead of their time that it's almost impossible to overstate the games magnitude and weight, especially considering that a lot of what Kojima was saying 20 years ago, has now become an uncomfortable reality in the current age of digital information and the idea of "truth." If I had to choose 1, this would be THE game that completely blew my mind when I learned what it was actually about. Some people may scream, "Well what about MGS1 and 3!?" Yes, they're both right there too, and while I think 1's commentary on "genes" is super important, 2's in depth look at "memes" and information is a bit more so. Lol I know that was absurdly long, but what are your favorites?
What would you say is a great pairing for the Sundara? K3 or maybe NX4 if I wanna go portable or an Ifi Zen dac or Hipdac? asking since you said the Sundara is a tad bit warmer than the Deva in your review. I just don't want it to sound too gooey or unnecessarily warm or boomy......basically I want a balanced sound man, and after this I most probably won't upgrade, maybe try to get a hd600 to listen to a different headphone but that's it. (The main reason I can't buy a HD600 is that the replacement earpads like 99% of other replacement parts for headphones aren't available in India).
@@HomeStudioBasics Thank you so much my man! And yes I've read almost all of your blog reviews at this time! Thanks a lot for doing this stuff really appreciate your honesty with things related to audio. You got a permanent subscriber here :)
'Buttery smooth bass', I'm gonna use that one! I was going to tell you in my other comment that my next 'phones will be either the HIFIMAN Sundara or the Sony MDR1AM2 but after watching this video and learning about the advantages of planar, I'm leaning toward the Sundara's now. But that's all right, don't have to decide right now. Thanks for the video, Stu!
Hey man I haven't really used them for mixing but here are my thoughts on mixing cans: homestudiobasics.com/the-best-studio-headphones-for-mixing/ If you were looking at a Sundara I may just go with a 400se instead: homestudiobasics.com/hifiman-he400se-review/
Keep doing what you’re doing, usually enlightening, always entertaining! If I had one critique (as a non-American) it would be to talk just a tad slower. The combination of changing accents and rapid flow has me struggling to keep up at times as the tears flow down my cheeks from the jokes. Mmmmm, nice bass 🐟👌🏼
Haha thanks man! Another well written critique (Check Rori's above as well). And yeah, I think you're right, I will slow it down some. Not too slow though because apparently I'm boring asf when I talk lmao. Just from scripting the videos and keeping it moving, I've noticed my watch % skyrocketed. Before it was like 30% and sometimes lower, now it's like 50%+ with the added bonus that the videos are much easier to cut in the beginning! Do you actually laugh that hard at my dumb jokes? LOL I'd really like to know honestly. If so, that's pretty funny because sometimes when I'm making these I don't really know how it's going to sound to others (I think I've mentioned this to you before), but by the same token, I'm the one who has to edit it and watch it over and over and over for QC purposes. And yeah man, I need to go fishing lol. Haven't really been much lately.
Gotta run the sundy balanced with an overpowered amp. They go from “yeah thats good” to surprisingly transparent sound representers. I have some old one mic live recordings of the grateful dead that the crowd talking is creepily accurate around you with good soundstagers
Haha that good 'ol Grateful Dead head crowd. There's a version of "Turn on your love light" where I could have sworn I heard a woman having sex in the background. I commented on it on some TH-cam video and a few people responded saying they were there and she indeed was getting it. I'll have to see if I can find the video, but if they were telling the truth that's pretty hilarious. I've noticed that a lot of people who comment on those types of videos seem to be the ones that attended the actual shows and stuff.
Hey man! Yeah I think a planar does perform a bit better than a dynamic in most regards, although the K702 is a great example of a dynamic that has some of those planar characteristics regarding Timbre and resolution. The Sundara is just incredibly natural and life like sounding, without the unnecessary treble spikes present in a lot of other headphones. The only minor complaint I have is the sometimes too laid back mid-range gradual roll off after 1k. It can almost lull you to sleep at times, but I would def take it over a too forward mid-range every day of the week and twice on Sunday HOMIE!
@@el_manosanta Yeah I would say so. Did you see my gaming set up vid? th-cam.com/video/706MqoZ_iMc/w-d-xo.html Putting on a DEVA was like "Wow." This is so much better. More open. Better spacing. I could hear things much clearer. Resolution, etc. Soundstage width. It's just crazy how many boxes the DEVA ticks. The K702 isn't too far behind though. It's like right there. But I'd still prefer a planar/DEVA if someone forced me to choose.
I wish I could give you 1000 subs. Your efficient and focused reviews are better than 90% of the other channels. Short and to the damn point! How can we get you more subs?!?! I bought the DF Red based on one your videos and happy I did.
Hey man thank you so much! Sometimes I wish I could wake up and have 100k, but life nor TH-cam works that way heh. Your support is much appreciated. Sharing and commenting on the blogs and videos helps out a ton! Spread the word! Here's the article: homestudiobasics.com/hifiman-sundara-vs-sennheiser-hd650-vs-hd600/ Browse my other posts as well :) Staying on the site for longer also helps (like session duration/how many pages you read, etc.) So glad you're enjoying the DF Red! I'm using one now with a Zen CAN amp and it sounds really marvelous..
Hey, I currently have a DT990 Pro 250ohm and am looking to upgrade. I like the vshape and imaging of the DT990 and am wondering which would be better to use as a daily driver. I am currently stuck between the 660 and sundara (mainly price and inability to actually listen to either). I listen to just about anything and plan to use either with my A50s on desktop and have a usbc dongle for on the go. Ultimately, I like the sound of the 990 but also want to expand my horizons in audio. Honestly, cant tell if I am overcomplicating it because of the hype around the Sundaras or not. Any advice would be great and from your reviews we seem to have similar music tastes etc. So now that I have written a novel in the comment section, I'd like to say thank you in advance!
Hey man yeah! You're def in the right ballpark for an upgrade.. I'd either go with 6XX or Sundara. I haven't heard the 660 though. Check this out it will really help you decide I think: homestudiobasics.com/the-5-best-audiophile-headphones-for-under-500/ Let me know! I think it ultimately comes down to the warmer, more laid back mid-range on the Sundara that can sometimes sound too syrupy and glossy but that's me. It *is* a tough decision but I personally would rather have a 6XX. Def read the article though because I go into much greater detail :)
@@HomeStudioBasics awesome! I read the article a few times and it was really helpful, but thought going to the man who wrote it would give me more insight(which it did)! I ended up going with the Sundara because I wanted to try something more analytical than the 990 (and because I’m lazy and wanted Amazon prime to give me my headphones fast😂) I’ll let you know how they sound! Also, did you ever get around to listening to King gizzard and the lizard wizard? If so, what did ya think?
Hi! You guys might help me here. I bought the Sundarars and a Ifi Zen dac. I wanted to plug my headphones to the balanced output so I bought an extra 3.5mm female to 4.4mm male jack adaptater. The problem is that it got worse, so much worse... there was a buzz sound and the music got all messed up. Si I send back my adaptater thinking it had an issue... So my question is : is the Sundara stock cable balanced ? Do I just have to get a working 3.5mm to 4.4mm adaptater to use the Ifi zen dac balanced output? Thanks. Hope someone find this message
Hey I responded to your other comment but for anyone else reading: /// Hey man! You can't make a balanced signal out of unbalanced with an adapter. Just get a balanced 4.4mm cable that is suitable for the Sundara.
Hello there... Could someone tell me what would be the best pick for blues(rock), classic rock, acoustic, folk, and some jazzy tunes? HD600, HD650, HiFiman 400SE, or... sth else entirely?
Thanks for the review, very detailed and now I'm leaning more towards the Sundara. I have a question tho, when you say the Sundara works well with many of the same genres as the dynamic headphones, will it do it if I listen mainly to Rock or should I go for the 600 ?
HD6.. Cable are copper oxygen free with no.microphonics anti tangled and also there is a silicone protection over the copper there.are 4 braided inside with 2 grounds ... One of the best cable i have ever worked .
@@HomeStudioBasics the original hd 25 and original HD600 was made from cevlar thats true... But New 650 660 600 6xx 58x are all copper oxygen free amazing cables... To me after market cables doesnt worth it ...and i am saying that already using FOW clair hybrid cable on my 660s
@@HomeStudioBasics any idea where i could get some reasonably priced balanaced cables for the Sundara? It seems that the Meze 99 cables should do the trick
i actually have a old hd580 precision at home (well not mine technically huehue) but are u able to compare with the hd600/650? i heard some people mention that they are similar
Hey man haven't heard a 580 but I just got a 58x and listening balanced. It does sound mostly the same as the 600 line but I'm noticing it seems a little more forceful in how it presents music and a tad less smooth. There's also more bass as well. Those are only my initial impressions as I will be coming out with a separate single review.
HD600 sensitivity is 97dB/1V which is prohibited on mobile HD650/HD6XX is 103dB/1V which is borderline on mobile depends on content. Sundara is kind of like HD650 but impedance is much lower I have 6XX and it's OK to acceptable with mobile
Hey man the sounds are very similar. I think the K5 Pro is more versatile in the things it can do, and has more power. The only thing the Zen has that the K5 Pro doesn't is the bass boost. The K5 Pro is slightly warmer sounding at 1.2 Ohm Output Impedance, while the Zen sits around 1 or maybe slightly lower than that I believe. I have it written somewhere. XD Did you see my shootout? th-cam.com/video/ZeKYnErN_6U/w-d-xo.html I would choose based on features, and I think the K5 wins easily. You can do so many different things with it. You could even pair it with another DAC or amp, use it with a turntable, separate speakers, console, etc. I use it with my PS4 a lot. :) Both can play DSD and files over 48kHz, both can render Tidal Masters, etc. If you don't really care about the extra features of the K5, go with the Zen. My pick is K5 though. Let me know what you think! Check the article as well: homestudiobasics.com/ifi-zen-vs-fiio-k5-pro-vs-jds-atom-vs-bravo-ocean/ That should really help out!
Hey dude, great video! Im a newbie..Thinking of the HD 650 or Sundara. Getting a lot of different opinions as to how to drive the Sundara. Would love to go wireless as Im out often. Would the Fiio BTR5 do the job for the Sundara? I have a Motu M2 (play piano) at home and am guessing that should work but for on the go not sure. Any recommendations if not the BTR5? Keep up the great work :)
Hey man thank you! Hmmm. I haven't paired those 2 but I think you will be good to go although some snobs may say otherwise. It provides about the same amount of power as an E10K (220mW into 32 Ohm) and I've NEVER had an issue driving any headphone with an E10K. I say go for it! Check out this article and consider picking one up from one of my links: homestudiobasics.com/fiio-btr3k-vs-btr5-vs-dragonfly-red/ Keep me posted!!!
@@HomeStudioBasics Ok nice! Going to test a few different pairs of cans tomorrow. Dude at my audio store is giving me the green light to try the Sundara and others so I want to compare before making such a purchase! Thanks again for your input, congrats for the 5K subscriptions also :)
Hey man, I have a budget of $500, been researching for a month now.. between the 660s..sundaras..ekg712s..lcd2cs..I can't decide. I've had the 555s..598s..I want something new.. but I love the sennheiser oval ear..I just don't know what to do. I want good imagining. Good bass. Yet all the mids of the senns.
Hey man! I would scrap 712, too warm, LCD-2 ticks all the boxes but the mids actually can sound a bit pushed back at times but still one of my favorites. Sundara has a similar issue after 1kHz it kind of slowly rolls off. Still a great choice but a bit syrupy like the 712. Haven't heard 660S but if you're a mid-centric guy the 600 series may be what you're looking for as they're a definite upgrade from the 500 series. Check this out: homestudiobasics.com/the-5-best-audiophile-headphones-for-under-500/
Thanks man! And no, Absolutely not. I would not trust anyone who tells you otherwise but that's jmo. homestudiobasics.com/the-5-best-audiophile-headphones-for-under-500/
hahahaha your way too cool homie!! good rap at the end!! keep that up its a great end to the video. i one day hope to listen to sundara’s i do own the 6xx though
Hah thanks man! The Sundara is a fantastic headphone, perhaps just a tad too laid back at times because of the mid roll off after 1k, but still nearly perfect in all regards. Highly recommended! I want to get my hands on a 2020 400i though as the build looks exactly like the improved DEVA build but in all black! Also Sundara auto corrects to Saundra. I think that's fitting being how sexy the headphone is ;) From now on we will call her Saundra. Or Sundara Bullock LMAO
Correction Sennheiser HD 6.. Pads are Hybrid a lot of people dont know that. Sennheiser original.pads are velur without stitches on front and if u take them off u gone see they have synthetic leather under them close to the ring. For example Dekony velurs are all velur .
Wow nice catch. I never noticed that. Just took off my 600 pads and saw the synthetic leather. That's crazy lol. I've had them since 2016 and never caught that. I'd still say they're all velour because that leather doesn't touch your ears at all. Technicality I suppose. Extremely nice find though haha.
@@HomeStudioBasics Yeah most people dont know that...in use its all velur but technical speaking are hybrids. Also The synthetic leather inside the ring is there so the sound be like that. For example the original pads have the synthetic leather so the pads can be more bright and domt lose the punch... And the out velur and no use of memmory foam is there to have more openess... Om the other side Aftermarket pads id they are all velur they get mudded and muffled and if they are leather they loose airines and aoundstage . The only aftermarket pad that i heard and its not terrible are the Fenestrated shipskin from dekony but again not even close to priginal pads... I also love that Original pads have no stitching touching your ears... Its the only Pad on a Headphone that i have seen without visible stitching.
I love your hair man your hair is starting to become like mine super long I never get tired to hear your jokes it's like a breath of fresh air and coming up for air under the sea I can't wait for you to check jds labs el ii stack Wich will be my hopefully my next upgrade
Thank you so much man!!! It's almost long enough to tie back out of the shower haha. I'm conflicted whether I should keep growing it or cut it. Whenever I cut it all the ladies flock to me. Dead serious. Haircut = chick magnet. It's like a light switch goes off. Or on ;) :D More jokes on the way this Saturday LOL XD Def want to check the EL Stack. I will reach out to JDS!!
Thank you for another entertaining and informative review, Stu ! The ending was much improved ! Someone recommended that you try the HD58X and I agree. I believe that this model now has the new 150 Ohm driver, similar or the same as the new HD660S. That would be an interesting comparison. They would both be easier to drive than the 300 Ohm models. It’s tempting for me to go for the Sennheiser 660S, which comes with a balanced cable in addition to the single ended cable. The Sundara also tempts me because of its extended lower frequency. Have they really fixed the pad issue on the new HiFiman 400i. ? Best wishes and stay safe 😀.
Hey Arthur glad to hear from you! Did you happen to see my post in the community thread awhile back thanking you for your feedback on the diminishing returns graph? And yeah, I've been wanting to get a 58X here for quite awhile now. I think I'm going to purchase one. Pad issues are kind of the same actually, but they did fix the cable issues on the newer DEVA. I wish they would just employ the same pad protocol that Dekoni uses, and really hope they fix it. I mean, if you don't swap pads a lot it's not a big deal but that glue crap is a huge no no in my opinion.
@Home Studio Basics: G’day Stu. Yes I remember seeing your acknowledgment of the correction. Hey, a simple error like that is easy to make and it’s much easier for me to pick on what I observe in isolation. Heck if I were doing what you do, there would be lots of faux-pas. You are doing a great job and I like the way you are making improvements to your reviews. It’s not easy putting yourself on show in front of the camera and you are doing great. I like some of the film captions for emphasis and humour. On the HD58x and HD6xx, I can’t buy them from Drop for some unknown reason. They won’t sell these to me in Australia; yet have bought a couple of adapters from them with no problem. It may be that they have a deal with an Australian sales outlet who sell them here. As that outlet are sold out too, that leaves me with nowhere to go apart from buying real Sennheisers. I can get the HD660S for $AU639 whereas the Drop HD5x and HD6xx are $AU299 and $AU399 when available. The Sundara is just under $AU600 from the same outlet. I like the fact that the HD660S comes with a balanced cable, but I don’t have anywhere to stick a 4.4mm jack!😲 I would need a 4.4mm female to a 4 pin male XLR connector to plug it into my amplifier. Or I could buy a Sennheiser balanced cable with the 4 pin XLR plug from another dealer for $AU250! It all gets expensive very quickly. I suppose I could get a balanced cable made up for the Sundara, but I don’t know whether the wiring in the headphones is balanced or single ended. Maybe I will have to stick with single ended connections until the market starts to cater more for balanced connections. There are certainly a number of budget priced amplifier/DAC’s emerging with balanced connections. The portable devices seem to be going for 2.5mm balanced sockets (like the FiiO Q1 and BTR5) whereas the larger desktop models prefer the 4 pin XLR connectors (e.g. Topping, SMSL, Burson and others). I wish that the headphone and cable manufacturers would communicate more effectively with the amplifier/DAC companies and sort out some accepted and reliable standards. A range of available balanced adapters would be good too. Best wishes. Keep safe and well. 😀
@@arthurcrosby5755 Hey man didn't see this! Thank you so much! I usually have to go back and read through comments to find replies. I agree; I thought at first that balanced would generally be 2.5mm but now there's 4.4 and all this other stuff. Hard to keep up. I saw your other more recent reply on the DEVA vs. Sundara vid. What about a wired DEVA? Could you get one of those from amazon?
Home Studio Basics Hey Stu. Glad you got this. Yes the Deva looks really nice. I can get the wireless version locally at a few dollars under the Sundara. I’ve seen the wired version on Amazon for a lot less. So yes it is a tempter. I saw your review of the Sundara versus Ananda and you mentioned the wide soundstage of the AKG 702 which interested me. You probably have seen my comment though I’ve not checked yet if you replied. Anyway, I saw them on Amazon Australia for sale at just under $AU200. They were actually for sale on Amazon UK 🇬🇧 but I could buy them through Amazon Australia with free postage from the UK. So I bit the bullet and ordered them. If they suit my purpose then it will be $AU400 + cheaper than the Sundara or Sennheiser 660S. However I’ll be that far behind on a purchase of either one of those. It will be nice to experience the wide sound stage and the frequency response/musical presentation should be OK. It’s a part of this journey I need to take too widen my experience. Take care.
I may scrap all that and get a 400se at this point. homestudiobasics.com/the-5-best-audiophile-headphones-for-under-500/ My official review is linked in there as well as all my reasoning. Keep me posted.
Hey Dario! LCD-1 is ruler flat. Like.. really, really flat. I personally don't like it that much. It's kind of dry and boring. Sundara is fairly neutral but with some warmth and more bass impact. The LCD-1's have like no life to them.
@@HomeStudioBasics thanks!! I just ordered the Sundara so i made the right decision lol. Now I am looking for amp/dac with bluetooth function. Do you happen to know about one that will power the Sundara and not break the bank?
Yeah man sorry to hear that. I think HIFIMAN has fixed that moving forward with the newer DEVA and 2020 400i. I will say I noticed a really tiny paint chip on my DEVA though :( Kind of annoying, but it's a minor nitpick I guess. I didn't drop them or anything, and I'm really gentle with them. Lol. What Amp are you running the Sundara with?
Home Studio Basics mine comes with wearing out of the box. Still don’t know how can their QC let it passed though. I’m plugging it into a Fiio BTR5 because I also want to listen via Bluetooth on my phone. Pretty happy with the outcome and I mightn’t upgrade anytime soon. Been through some more serious equipments but right now I just want to enjoy music rather than finding that little details which differentiate $400 and $1000 headphones
Exactly. Just be happy with what you have! I'm at that stage too. I've heard so much gear that I'm just kind of like wow, it really ain't that serious. Still going to keep listening though because addiction. XD
Hey man, great vid! Your infographs are always superb and definately a distinction among other AP channels! If I were to recommend something though, I'd say you'd profit much from getting some studio lightning in your talking shots, nothing gigantic for overproducing, just a more direct light in your face, which sometimes feels dark and grainy from the environment
Thank you so much! Absolutely my friend. A complete camera overhaul has actually been in the works for awhile now. I do prefer natural lighting, but the way my apt. is situated, if I sat in front of the window instead of on the couch all you'd see is the kitchen and dining room in the background. Not very flattering, but yeah I really want to get a better set up with either a ring light or 2 bigger lights on the right and left side. I will probably record in the studio where all the gear is as well, and I think it will look pretty cool. In the meantime, I will see what I can do about some more light now, because I agree that sometimes it can be a bit too dark. I thought the beginning looked pretty good, but then as the light changes outside it can sometimes have undesirable effects.
Now that I'm thinking about buying some headphones I'm noticing people saying the Sennheiser pads need to be replaced on possibly a yearly basis if you use them a lot. I use my headphones a lot. The thought of paying ~$40 a year for pads is not appealing to me, it makes me feel like I'm renting the headphones. Is this sort of thing par for the course with better headphones or is it just Sennheiser? I liked the video presentation. On jokes I prefer when the jokes are part of the flow, so people either pay attention and catch the joke or it goes right by them.
DMS states the you have to change the pads yearly, I've owned the HD600s for about 4 years and only changed them once. You don't have a significant decrease in comfort and none in sound quality, it's just that the pads lose their firmness after some time.
Hey man great to hear from you again! It also applies to HIFIMAN as well unfortunately. They will start to lose their "spring" after awhile just like a Senny would and do flatten out (perhaps more so than a Senn). Like Marc and Lucca, I've had my 600's for awhile as well (since 2016) and haven't changed pads. They could probably use a replacement, but they are still not as worn down as you would think. I use them pretty often, but perhaps not as much as you might since I am fortunate to always have quite a few different brands on hand. That's hard to gauge, but I think this issue tends to happen with all pads and is just a fact of life. For instance my M50 pads wore out, my 7506 pads wore out, etc. Surprisingly, my 9500 pads have not, and have mostly retained the same exact shape since I bought them 3 years ago. The main takeaway is that replacing pads every year is kind of a bit over the top in my opinion. Unless you're using them for like 8 hours a day every single day, the wear on them will happen pretty gradually. As far as sound, do you think you'd prefer the HIFIMAN or a Sennheiser?
flibber123 That’s overkill unless you use them for work 8 hours a day, don’t stress it. My original 6XX pads are 3 years old, used for 10-15 hours a week and look/feel/sound like new.
Home Studio Basics I have not heard the Sundara, but I have the Hifiman 400S, so I can speak to a comparison between it and the 600/650. 400S is wonderfully clear and spacious, but the bass is very rolled off, it lacks impact, it definitely requires amplification and a bass boost to make it sound world class. The Sennheiser HD 600 To me sounds like the way a really good pair of headphones should sound, natural is the word I would use. It is not as wide or clear as the 400S, but it just sounds right. With a stereo receiver or Valhalla 2, it sounds incredible. The 650 is a warmer smoother darker version of the 600, I like it with certain genres, like pop and soul. If I could only have one, I’d take the 600. But I’m glad I have the other two. I also prefer the build quality of the Sennheiser headphones. I know you’re not a big Grado guy but I like my RS2E more than the other three out of an iPad or a phone.
Hey according to this video, i can safely say that sundara is better. And i wonder why your number 1 favourite is hd6xx (from your article) while the sundara is number 2. After reading your article, i quickly bought the hd6xx cause u said something like, "you can live in a deserted island with the hd6xx, and the every man's headphone" and made me pull the trigger to buy the hd6xx. Now i feel kinda bummer cause sundara is better in every other aspect. Cheer me up lil bit pal, why you put hd6xx in the first place and sundara second? Enlighten me :')
Also if u would like to know, i also bought the sony mdr 7506 for my first "audiophile" headphone, also after watch your reviews and articles. So the hd6xx was my second pair. Why you drag me into this rabbit hole hobbies man 😭🥲😂
Heh. Yeah the Sundara is just a bit too warm at times which is why it's second. Kind of almost too velvety or syrupy. I like the 6XX better as an all rounder because it's snappier and crisper. The other thing is that the 600 series headphones will pretty much never break down while the Sundara may. Depends on QC, really. HIFIMAN has improved a lot but there's still work to do on that front.
Hey man! I'd go with the 650 or Sundara, leaning towards Sundara. 650 is a bit better than 600 for gaming and film, but the Sundara is going to sound more open. :) Check out the article and consider purchasing from Apos! They have great customer service, 2-year warranty, and 30-day returns! You'll see a link inside: homestudiobasics.com/hifiman-sundara-vs-sennheiser-hd650-vs-hd600/
@@HomeStudioBasics i just saw review of hd 559. According to z reviews, they are the best of the Sennheiser 5xx lineup. They have warm and smooth sound signature with good thumping bass. I am thinking for taking that. And I won't have to spend so much money. Thanks for your reply
No worries! Unsure why you all of a sudden switched over to 500 series? I personally wouldn't bother. You'll be upgrading like ASAP if you do that. Just warning you ahead of time. Z's cool, but would probably take a lot of his advice with a grain of salt. Anyways, keep me posted and if you have any more questions, hit the link and leave a comment here homestudiobasics.com/hifiman-sundara-vs-sennheiser-hd650-vs-hd600/ as I don't get follow up replies and have to sift back through.
My opinion is to skip them all. Buy the Ananda and the Tempotec Sonata HD Pro instead. The Ananda is much easier to drive than the Sundara, so no need for a desktop amp/DAC. The $30 Sonata dongle will drive them to painfuly loud volumes and its DAC is superior to many desktop rivals that cost in the hundreds. That's potentially endgame for many people. I know it is for me. Just make sure you have an official HiFiMAN warranty.
Home Studio Basics just started watching your videos. Bought a sundara recently and ordered a 6xx, will be seeing how they compare soon, this video was helpful, thanks dude
Home Studio Basics yeah dude the hd6xx is great but so was my commadore 64 at one time. Ok so the difference isn’t that vast but planars are just a more natural/realistic level, perform better, as you’ve said. The 6xx is a smoother, warmer sound, less attention grabbing, maybe less fatiguing, if you’re into that. I’d imagine it’s why people like it. I equate warmer often as sonic detail getting absorbed elsewhere. Me screaming into a pillow is going to sound warmer than without, for example.
@@jdavis234 Exactly! Spot on man. And I laughed out loud at your comment too XD Actually took a screen shot for the upcoming 5k thank you/comment hall of fame video.
I tried both the Sundara and HD650.I kept the HD650.They have that deep low rumbling bass that the Sundara's are missing.The Sundara have a wider Soundstage but I think the HD650 have a natural and transparent Soundstage.And I think the HD650 image better.But you need a powerful amplifier to bring out their best.My Atoll IN200 sig drives them beautifully.
HAHAH! I will add that one to the list. I like that one. It makes me feel sexy. I think I will wear some tight boxer briefs and walk around my apt. now.
YEAH! 😂 This is a rap, and a good one at that, so give me some dap and just relax 'cause like Michael, I got this one in the bag. While guys are staying high like Six Flags getting wrecked, I sometimes get sad but stay low like Hi-Tek. Stacking chips like Pringles working on my Craft stayin' single no rap career in sight but you best believe I got the jingle. WOOOOOOO!!!!
@@HomeStudioBasics Hey ! Well put together video. it is masterly .Sundara wins greatly. I regret not paying attention to them right away. Successful videos to you, buddy.
Haha I love how you slowly evolved from being serious at the start to dropping them sick bars
LOL I just couldn't help myself xD Wait do you mean in the review or the rap after?
@@HomeStudioBasics during the review hahaha
@@liam_7017 lmao oh yeah the built to last like duralast 😂
I had to do a double take lol
Hey guys! Liking the cleaner drop down description? What about the new format? Less jokes? More? Just right? Let me know!!
Also: The cup issue mentioned in the video applies to all HIFIMAN 400 series models unfortunately (400i/400S/Sundara,4XX, etc.), but won't rear it's ugly head too much as long as you don't change pads a lot. Here's to hoping HIFIMAN fixes that issue like they did with the overall upgraded build of the newer DEVA and 2020 400i!!
⌚Timestamps
Build - 0:40
Question of the Day - 2:00
It's The Cost Of Business, Yo - 2:10
Comfort - 2:30
Full. Metal. Jacket - 2:40
Sound - 3:06
Your Mom's Meatloaf - 3:30
Imaging, Soundstage, and Planar Strengths - 3:40
Genre - 4:26
YEAAAAH! YES I'M EXCITED! 4:39
Amplification - 5:00
Final Word, Grandchildren, Troll, Don't Give Up, Rap - 5:39
Honestly? I would like a few memes or jokes sprinkled in with straight forward information. Not over fond of "big ass head" and the like. You are clearly attractive, erudite and well spoken. You obviously do diligent research for your videos and your recommendations. I feel like "apple ass" and similar negate those attributes. Insulting doesn't equal funny. HOWEVER! It's your channel, and you do you, Boo. I'll still be watching and Patreon-ing.
Buttery smooth bass was funny :) and clever.
@@redforrori Hey! Yeah I thought of that after, and I should clarify that I'm kind of making fun of myself but it's totally understandable that it wouldn't come across that way xD, but: The story goes that when I was working at Wal-Mart years back, I was really good friends with this girl who also worked with me in the bakery. At the time I was going by my middle name (Charles). We would always bust on each other and stuff, and one day I was teasing her and she stops and goes "Charles you best shut up whicho apple a** head" and I just busted out laughing because the way she said it was priceless. To this day it still makes me laugh out loud, because I really do have a weirdly shaped head depending on how long my hair is, and she totally got me :D
@Hersey Berry What's up my man!?
@@redforrori Thank you! And also thank you for being honest with your thoughts but framing it in such a way that it actually resembles a critique and not an attack. There are many people who think they're giving a critique without actually understanding how they work, and I would know since I sat through them for 4 years in college as a fine art major. :) I would also like to thank you for your patronage and continued support of the blog and channel. Talk soon!
The HD600 was my first quality headphone and I loved it but I gave it to my sister a few years ago and I've been kicking myself ever since doing it. Also, I had the 6XX for a while and still have the Sundara and if I had to choose one out of those 3 it would be the Sundara/HD600. 😉
A very unique way to present a headphone shootout, the humor was a nice touch.
Thanks man! You like the HD600 more than 6XX?
i have sundara, is it worth upgrade to hd6xx?
It's not an upgrade but more of a side step. I think you should just stay with the Sundara and wait to get something truly better like the Ananda or something.
@@TechnoGuy11 I think many people said that the mids on the hd6xx is soo good. I actually have the focal clear now, been used it for few days. I prefer the sound of the sundara than the clear, the treble is hugely better than focal clear and the imagging and soundstage.
do you think hd6xx is related to focal clear? if so is it a good "upgrade" since i have only 1 problem with the sundara which is the comfort and something if i use longer than 2 hour my ear is fatigue
@@TechnoGuy11 and hot
Awesome shootout review, concise and entertaining and pack full of originality. Don't give up!
Thank you for your continued support and encouragement man! I'm liking the new format as they're much easier to cut after the initial shoot!
Great review thanks. What would you suggest for jazz or classical? HD600 or HD650? Thanks
Loving the lastest content. The humor is great and I appreciate the direct approach. And it looks like you're enjoying yourself which is dope. Also butter smooth bass fisherman is another shirt idea to add to the list. Keep up the good work.
I agree with this assessment.
Thanks so much man! I'm currently working on getting those T's up on the channel! How could we incorporate headphones into that one? Any ideas?
Thank you man!
@Home Studio Basics Hmmm maybe use headphones as bait attached to a coiled cable as fishing line???
@@kellanmackenzie5230 I'm designing the graphic for the homie thing. So in your opinion, Does this read right? "I'm a kick back and relax type-a homie." To me that sounds funnier and I read it as "Type Of" but I want to make sure it's not being read as "Type A" I think it sounds way funnier when you say it out loud vs. "I'm a kick back and relax type *of* homie." What do you think?
Thanks for your review, I decided to buy all three of them
Haha my pleasure! Let me know your impressions and all that after you've had some time with 'em.
Man, you really do a great job. Your reviews in video are honest and precise. And the written reviews contains a lot of considerations and details, it's so good. I arrive in the channel because of the shp9500 and i bought them (they still arriving) (and sorry fot any typing issue, English it's not my primary language)
Thank you so much man and no worries you're English isn't bad at all! Thanks for the reminder I need to put the written review in the description box :) Which 9500 video did you watch?
@@HomeStudioBasics hello, the video was Philips shp9500 part 2, of 1 year later. I was searching for a good headset gamer and i realized that audiophile headphones are so best than the headsets. I entered this world of headphones through the Brazilian channel (yes, I am Brazilian) called "mind the headphones". There are many good reviews on this other channel. Even before buying the shp9500, I was going to buy a so-called arcane shp300 or shp80 (I would like to leave a suggestion: you could review these headphones too, since they are very cost-effective. Besides the headphone of this same channel youtuber " MTH ", the disco kuba.)
Thank you so much man! That video does seem to get a decent amount of views :) Definitely keep me posted on the 9500. I'm actually trying to get the new X3 and 9600 as well! Haven't heard of those others. The SHP300 looks similar to the SR850, AKG K240, and Superlux HD668B!
I laughed out loud when you said don't overthink it! I feel like you were talking directly to me. I just got a BTR5 to use with my Samsung S7 and m40x headphones. It's a huge Sound and Power upgrade over the sound I get from my phone so I decided to order the hd6xx. The btr5 can power the m40x to ear bleed levels yet I keep worrying if it'll be enough to power the hd6xx after reading all the reviews. I know the m40x is way more efficient but I can't imagine it not being enough power for the hd6xx.
Haha so glad I made you laugh! I think you'll be fine man! But keep me posted for sure. The 6XX isn't very hard to drive :) I have the BTR3K here actually that I've been meaning to get to. How do you like the BTR5?
@@HomeStudioBasics I'm really liking it. It's much fuller and more dynamic sounding than just plugging the headphones into the phone. Connectivity has been real easy using Bluetooth. I have a usb micro to c cable on the way to see how that will work but from what I've read my S7 might not be able to send audio through the USB so that's why I wanted to go with something that had Bluetooth. My phone supports ldac so I'm using that playing CD quality Flac files from my phone or streaming with Google Play. Both sound excellent. I did order the balanced cable with the hd6xx to get the most out of my btr5. The unbalanced out only uses one of the internal chips where the balanced uses both and from what I've read increases the volume also. I will let you know when my hd6xx comes in in a few weeks. Thanks
Hi Home Studio Basics.
Solid video and nice to see how these 3 popular headphones compares to each other.
What are your top 5 favorite videogames?
If its not ff7 five times in a row he’s wrong lol
Hi ASMR Helper! Thank you! Wow. That's a tough one.
No pressure from J Ownbey right? Heh. I will attempt to frame this in terms of the games that had the biggest impact on me growing up until the present day.
Okay here goes:
While the other 4 were fairly easy, #5 is really hard to narrow down because theoretically, a lot of games could make the cut. Also I've been agonizing over this for like 3 hours D:
#5) *The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.* Way back in the mid to late 90's my best friend Ryan lived right next door to me and had an N64. Playing Ocarina of Time was a mesmerizing experience from the start, as we would play for hours and hours. I wasn't nearly as good at it as he was, but it was certainly ground breaking for it's time, and still gets talked about and played even now. Really really close runners up include Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1-3, The Sims, Legend of Zelda: A Link To The Past, and The Last of Us, the first 3 of which were also played almost religiously by Ryan and I.
#4) *Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest.* Growing up, I had always read it as "Diddy Kong's Quest." LOL dyslexia. It wasn't until years later that I finally read it correctly and it blew my mind. Also 1 and 3 were extremely good, but I think 2 had the most profound impact on me as a youngster. There is one level near the end of the game that to this day is almost impossible to beat.
#3) *Super Mario World.* This was tough to decide because from '85 to '96 they didn't make a bad game. Super Mario Bros. 3, Lost Levels, and Yoshi's Island would be close runners up. I would say 3, but I think "World" was ultimately more memorable for me, as I used to play it with my sister growing up. I remember the year I got the SNES for my b-day or Christmas in '90 or '91, (I was born 12/18) and it came packaged with the game. I was excited beyond comprehension. It's one of those moments you'll never forget. The game itself was incredible, and still has replay value to this day because of how well made it was. Plus, Yoshi. Lol.
#2) *Fallout 3/New Vegas.* I've had a tough time deciding which I like better for over 10 years, but by and large these games are responsible for subtracting perhaps thousands of hours off of my life span. Haha. I think 3 was better in terms of the rawness of the environment, as it felt more like an actual wasteland with endless amounts of nooks and crannies, while New Vegas had a better story/writing, characters, dialogue, and quests. Both have extraordinary levels of social commentary which remain arguably even more relevant now, but still, it's very close and I've never been able to definitively say one way or another which I liked more. If you're interested, I wrote an article about the big 3 (New Vegas, 3, and Fallout 4), which still needs a couple more edits. homestudiobasics.com/fallout-3-vs-new-vegas-vs-fallout-4/
#1) *Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty* If you want to know why, I'd love to extrapolate. I firmly believe this is one of (if not the most) important games of the last half century, and I mean that. I mean, it's not really even a game, it's more of a social commentary/postmodern experiment. The ideas therein were so far ahead of their time that it's almost impossible to overstate the games magnitude and weight, especially considering that a lot of what Kojima was saying 20 years ago, has now become an uncomfortable reality in the current age of digital information and the idea of "truth." If I had to choose 1, this would be THE game that completely blew my mind when I learned what it was actually about. Some people may scream, "Well what about MGS1 and 3!?" Yes, they're both right there too, and while I think 1's commentary on "genes" is super important, 2's in depth look at "memes" and information is a bit more so.
Lol I know that was absurdly long, but what are your favorites?
What would you say is a great pairing for the Sundara? K3 or maybe NX4 if I wanna go portable or an Ifi Zen dac or Hipdac? asking since you said the Sundara is a tad bit warmer than the Deva in your review. I just don't want it to sound too gooey or unnecessarily warm or boomy......basically I want a balanced sound man, and after this I most probably won't upgrade, maybe try to get a hd600 to listen to a different headphone but that's it. (The main reason I can't buy a HD600 is that the replacement earpads like 99% of other replacement parts for headphones aren't available in India).
Hey man! Yeah I'd go for the Zen, K5 Pro or ATOM. Check this out: homestudiobasics.com/ifi-zen-vs-fiio-k5-pro-vs-jds-atom-vs-bravo-ocean/
@@HomeStudioBasics Thank you so much my man! And yes I've read almost all of your blog reviews at this time! Thanks a lot for doing this stuff really appreciate your honesty with things related to audio. You got a permanent subscriber here :)
'Buttery smooth bass', I'm gonna use that one! I was going to tell you in my other comment that my next 'phones will be either the HIFIMAN Sundara or the Sony MDR1AM2 but after watching this video and learning about the advantages of planar, I'm leaning toward the Sundara's now. But that's all right, don't have to decide right now. Thanks for the video, Stu!
Keep me posted man!!
are sundaras great for mixing? what's your thoughts? any open-back recommendations for mixing at the same price range?
Hey man I haven't really used them for mixing but here are my thoughts on mixing cans: homestudiobasics.com/the-best-studio-headphones-for-mixing/ If you were looking at a Sundara I may just go with a 400se instead: homestudiobasics.com/hifiman-he400se-review/
Keep doing what you’re doing, usually enlightening, always entertaining! If I had one critique (as a non-American) it would be to talk just a tad slower. The combination of changing accents and rapid flow has me struggling to keep up at times as the tears flow down my cheeks from the jokes. Mmmmm, nice bass 🐟👌🏼
Haha thanks man! Another well written critique (Check Rori's above as well). And yeah, I think you're right, I will slow it down some. Not too slow though because apparently I'm boring asf when I talk lmao. Just from scripting the videos and keeping it moving, I've noticed my watch % skyrocketed. Before it was like 30% and sometimes lower, now it's like 50%+ with the added bonus that the videos are much easier to cut in the beginning!
Do you actually laugh that hard at my dumb jokes? LOL I'd really like to know honestly. If so, that's pretty funny because sometimes when I'm making these I don't really know how it's going to sound to others (I think I've mentioned this to you before), but by the same token, I'm the one who has to edit it and watch it over and over and over for QC purposes.
And yeah man, I need to go fishing lol. Haven't really been much lately.
Home Studio Basics Yes, pacey is good. Yes, we laugh at your gags. Have fun, don’t overthink it.
@@antoinep9733 Pacey IS Good: th-cam.com/video/BunZi24tcBg/w-d-xo.html
Gotta run the sundy balanced with an overpowered amp. They go from “yeah thats good” to surprisingly transparent sound representers. I have some old one mic live recordings of the grateful dead that the crowd talking is creepily accurate around you with good soundstagers
Haha that good 'ol Grateful Dead head crowd. There's a version of "Turn on your love light" where I could have sworn I heard a woman having sex in the background. I commented on it on some TH-cam video and a few people responded saying they were there and she indeed was getting it. I'll have to see if I can find the video, but if they were telling the truth that's pretty hilarious. I've noticed that a lot of people who comment on those types of videos seem to be the ones that attended the actual shows and stuff.
So Sundara better? Planar better than dynamic? To many questions
Hey man! Yeah I think a planar does perform a bit better than a dynamic in most regards, although the K702 is a great example of a dynamic that has some of those planar characteristics regarding Timbre and resolution. The Sundara is just incredibly natural and life like sounding, without the unnecessary treble spikes present in a lot of other headphones. The only minor complaint I have is the sometimes too laid back mid-range gradual roll off after 1k. It can almost lull you to sleep at times, but I would def take it over a too forward mid-range every day of the week and twice on Sunday HOMIE!
@@HomeStudioBasics planar over dynamic in gaming too?
@@el_manosanta Yeah I would say so. Did you see my gaming set up vid? th-cam.com/video/706MqoZ_iMc/w-d-xo.html Putting on a DEVA was like "Wow." This is so much better. More open. Better spacing. I could hear things much clearer. Resolution, etc. Soundstage width. It's just crazy how many boxes the DEVA ticks. The K702 isn't too far behind though. It's like right there. But I'd still prefer a planar/DEVA if someone forced me to choose.
I wish I could give you 1000 subs. Your efficient and focused reviews are better than 90% of the other channels. Short and to the damn point! How can we get you more subs?!?! I bought the DF Red based on one your videos and happy I did.
Hey man thank you so much! Sometimes I wish I could wake up and have 100k, but life nor TH-cam works that way heh. Your support is much appreciated. Sharing and commenting on the blogs and videos helps out a ton! Spread the word! Here's the article: homestudiobasics.com/hifiman-sundara-vs-sennheiser-hd650-vs-hd600/ Browse my other posts as well :) Staying on the site for longer also helps (like session duration/how many pages you read, etc.)
So glad you're enjoying the DF Red! I'm using one now with a Zen CAN amp and it sounds really marvelous..
Hey, I currently have a DT990 Pro 250ohm and am looking to upgrade. I like the vshape and imaging of the DT990 and am wondering which would be better to use as a daily driver. I am currently stuck between the 660 and sundara (mainly price and inability to actually listen to either). I listen to just about anything and plan to use either with my A50s on desktop and have a usbc dongle for on the go. Ultimately, I like the sound of the 990 but also want to expand my horizons in audio. Honestly, cant tell if I am overcomplicating it because of the hype around the Sundaras or not. Any advice would be great and from your reviews we seem to have similar music tastes etc. So now that I have written a novel in the comment section, I'd like to say thank you in advance!
Hey man yeah! You're def in the right ballpark for an upgrade.. I'd either go with 6XX or Sundara. I haven't heard the 660 though. Check this out it will really help you decide I think: homestudiobasics.com/the-5-best-audiophile-headphones-for-under-500/ Let me know! I think it ultimately comes down to the warmer, more laid back mid-range on the Sundara that can sometimes sound too syrupy and glossy but that's me. It *is* a tough decision but I personally would rather have a 6XX. Def read the article though because I go into much greater detail :)
@@HomeStudioBasics awesome! I read the article a few times and it was really helpful, but thought going to the man who wrote it would give me more insight(which it did)! I ended up going with the Sundara because I wanted to try something more analytical than the 990 (and because I’m lazy and wanted Amazon prime to give me my headphones fast😂) I’ll let you know how they sound!
Also, did you ever get around to listening to King gizzard and the lizard wizard? If so, what did ya think?
Hi! You guys might help me here.
I bought the Sundarars and a Ifi Zen dac. I wanted to plug my headphones to the balanced output so I bought an extra 3.5mm female to 4.4mm male jack adaptater. The problem is that it got worse, so much worse... there was a buzz sound and the music got all messed up. Si I send back my adaptater thinking it had an issue... So my question is : is the Sundara stock cable balanced ? Do I just have to get a working 3.5mm to 4.4mm adaptater to use the Ifi zen dac balanced output? Thanks. Hope someone find this message
Hey I responded to your other comment but for anyone else reading:
///
Hey man! You can't make a balanced signal out of unbalanced with an adapter. Just get a balanced 4.4mm cable that is suitable for the Sundara.
Hello there... Could someone tell me what would be the best pick for blues(rock), classic rock, acoustic, folk, and some jazzy tunes? HD600, HD650, HiFiman 400SE, or... sth else entirely?
Hey Adam! My top rec for mid-fi is the 400se: homestudiobasics.com/hifiman-he400se-review/
Thanks for the review, very detailed and now I'm leaning more towards the Sundara. I have a question tho, when you say the Sundara works well with many of the same genres as the dynamic headphones, will it do it if I listen mainly to Rock or should I go for the 600 ?
HD6.. Cable are copper oxygen free with no.microphonics anti tangled and also there is a silicone protection over the copper there.are 4 braided inside with 2 grounds ... One of the best cable i have ever worked .
Hey man! Are you referring to an aftermarket? I know the original 600 cable is super strong because it's actually partly made of Kevlar I believe.
@@HomeStudioBasics the original hd 25 and original HD600 was made from cevlar thats true... But New 650 660 600 6xx 58x are all copper oxygen free amazing cables... To me after market cables doesnt worth it ...and i am saying that already using FOW clair hybrid cable on my 660s
What about the sound of the newer 600 and 650? Same great sound as the old?
Hi I just wanted to ask, can any of these be driven balanced by the Fiio BTR5 ? Am considering the Sundara especially
Hey man! Yeah you can get balanced cables for the Sundara. Does the BTR5 have 2.5mm as balanced? I'm running a BTR3k now and it's 2.5 I believe.
@@HomeStudioBasics yep it does have a 2.5mm balanced and it has more power than BTR3K
@@HomeStudioBasics any idea where i could get some reasonably priced balanaced cables for the Sundara? It seems that the Meze 99 cables should do the trick
@@HomeStudioBasics thanks!
Not too sure man as I don't own a Sundara, but what about these? oidiosound.co.uk/mongrel-arya-sundara
i actually have a old hd580 precision at home (well not mine technically huehue) but are u able to compare with the hd600/650? i heard some people mention that they are similar
Hey man haven't heard a 580 but I just got a 58x and listening balanced. It does sound mostly the same as the 600 line but I'm noticing it seems a little more forceful in how it presents music and a tad less smooth. There's also more bass as well. Those are only my initial impressions as I will be coming out with a separate single review.
HD600 sensitivity is 97dB/1V which is prohibited on mobile
HD650/HD6XX is 103dB/1V which is borderline on mobile depends on content.
Sundara is kind of like HD650 but impedance is much lower
I have 6XX and it's OK to acceptable with mobile
what do think pairs better with the hifiman sundara, Fiio K5 Pro or ifi Zen Dac?
Hey man the sounds are very similar. I think the K5 Pro is more versatile in the things it can do, and has more power. The only thing the Zen has that the K5 Pro doesn't is the bass boost. The K5 Pro is slightly warmer sounding at 1.2 Ohm Output Impedance, while the Zen sits around 1 or maybe slightly lower than that I believe. I have it written somewhere. XD
Did you see my shootout? th-cam.com/video/ZeKYnErN_6U/w-d-xo.html
I would choose based on features, and I think the K5 wins easily. You can do so many different things with it. You could even pair it with another DAC or amp, use it with a turntable, separate speakers, console, etc. I use it with my PS4 a lot. :) Both can play DSD and files over 48kHz, both can render Tidal Masters, etc. If you don't really care about the extra features of the K5, go with the Zen. My pick is K5 though. Let me know what you think!
Check the article as well: homestudiobasics.com/ifi-zen-vs-fiio-k5-pro-vs-jds-atom-vs-bravo-ocean/
That should really help out!
hi,im new to this audiophile. which one works better fo sundara, fiio k5 pro or fiio q1 mk2?
I would go with the K5 Pro: homestudiobasics.com/fiio-k5-pro-amp-dac-review/
Hd650 or Sundara which one have best bass response among those 3?? Or they are very similar??
Hey man probably Sundara by a slight margin.
Ello - So what do you think of the Ollo S4X v1.2 ? R u an Ollo fello ?
Hey dude, great video! Im a newbie..Thinking of the HD 650 or Sundara. Getting a lot of different opinions as to how to drive the Sundara. Would love to go wireless as Im out often. Would the Fiio BTR5 do the job for the Sundara? I have a Motu M2 (play piano) at home and am guessing that should work but for on the go not sure. Any recommendations if not the BTR5? Keep up the great work :)
Hey man thank you! Hmmm. I haven't paired those 2 but I think you will be good to go although some snobs may say otherwise. It provides about the same amount of power as an E10K (220mW into 32 Ohm) and I've NEVER had an issue driving any headphone with an E10K. I say go for it! Check out this article and consider picking one up from one of my links: homestudiobasics.com/fiio-btr3k-vs-btr5-vs-dragonfly-red/ Keep me posted!!!
@@HomeStudioBasics Ok nice! Going to test a few different pairs of cans tomorrow. Dude at my audio store is giving me the green light to try the Sundara and others so I want to compare before making such a purchase! Thanks again for your input, congrats for the 5K subscriptions also :)
Thanks so much man! Keep me posted!
Hey man, I have a budget of $500, been researching for a month now.. between the 660s..sundaras..ekg712s..lcd2cs..I can't decide. I've had the 555s..598s..I want something new.. but I love the sennheiser oval ear..I just don't know what to do. I want good imagining. Good bass. Yet all the mids of the senns.
Hey man! I would scrap 712, too warm, LCD-2 ticks all the boxes but the mids actually can sound a bit pushed back at times but still one of my favorites. Sundara has a similar issue after 1kHz it kind of slowly rolls off. Still a great choice but a bit syrupy like the 712. Haven't heard 660S but if you're a mid-centric guy the 600 series may be what you're looking for as they're a definite upgrade from the 500 series. Check this out: homestudiobasics.com/the-5-best-audiophile-headphones-for-under-500/
Great review man! I would like to ask though, is the jump from the he400se to the sundara worth 3x the price?
Thanks man! And no, Absolutely not. I would not trust anyone who tells you otherwise but that's jmo. homestudiobasics.com/the-5-best-audiophile-headphones-for-under-500/
@@HomeStudioBasics if i have the hd 650, 600, and he400se am i missing out on the sundara?
Not really.
hahahaha your way too cool homie!! good rap at the end!! keep that up its a great end to the video. i one day hope to listen to sundara’s i do own the 6xx though
Hah thanks man! The Sundara is a fantastic headphone, perhaps just a tad too laid back at times because of the mid roll off after 1k, but still nearly perfect in all regards. Highly recommended! I want to get my hands on a 2020 400i though as the build looks exactly like the improved DEVA build but in all black! Also Sundara auto corrects to Saundra. I think that's fitting being how sexy the headphone is ;) From now on we will call her Saundra. Or Sundara Bullock LMAO
@@HomeStudioBasics lmao
Correction Sennheiser HD 6.. Pads are Hybrid a lot of people dont know that. Sennheiser original.pads are velur without stitches on front and if u take them off u gone see they have synthetic leather under them close to the ring. For example Dekony velurs are all velur .
Wow nice catch. I never noticed that. Just took off my 600 pads and saw the synthetic leather. That's crazy lol. I've had them since 2016 and never caught that. I'd still say they're all velour because that leather doesn't touch your ears at all. Technicality I suppose. Extremely nice find though haha.
@@HomeStudioBasics Yeah most people dont know that...in use its all velur but technical speaking are hybrids. Also The synthetic leather inside the ring is there so the sound be like that. For example the original pads have the synthetic leather so the pads can be more bright and domt lose the punch... And the out velur and no use of memmory foam is there to have more openess... Om the other side Aftermarket pads id they are all velur they get mudded and muffled and if they are leather they loose airines and aoundstage . The only aftermarket pad that i heard and its not terrible are the Fenestrated shipskin from dekony but again not even close to priginal pads... I also love that Original pads have no stitching touching your ears... Its the only Pad on a Headphone that i have seen without visible stitching.
I love your hair man your hair is starting to become like mine super long I never get tired to hear your jokes it's like a breath of fresh air and coming up for air under the sea I can't wait for you to check jds labs el ii stack Wich will be my hopefully my next upgrade
Thank you so much man!!! It's almost long enough to tie back out of the shower haha. I'm conflicted whether I should keep growing it or cut it. Whenever I cut it all the ladies flock to me. Dead serious. Haircut = chick magnet. It's like a light switch goes off. Or on ;) :D More jokes on the way this Saturday LOL XD Def want to check the EL Stack. I will reach out to JDS!!
Thank you for another entertaining and informative review, Stu ! The ending was much improved ! Someone recommended that you try the HD58X and I agree. I believe that this model now has the new 150 Ohm driver, similar or the same as the new HD660S. That would be an interesting comparison. They would both be easier to drive than the 300 Ohm models. It’s tempting for me to go for the Sennheiser 660S, which comes with a balanced cable in addition to the single ended cable. The Sundara also tempts me because of its extended lower frequency. Have they really fixed the pad issue on the new HiFiman 400i. ? Best wishes and stay safe 😀.
Hey Arthur glad to hear from you! Did you happen to see my post in the community thread awhile back thanking you for your feedback on the diminishing returns graph? And yeah, I've been wanting to get a 58X here for quite awhile now. I think I'm going to purchase one. Pad issues are kind of the same actually, but they did fix the cable issues on the newer DEVA. I wish they would just employ the same pad protocol that Dekoni uses, and really hope they fix it. I mean, if you don't swap pads a lot it's not a big deal but that glue crap is a huge no no in my opinion.
@Home Studio Basics: G’day Stu. Yes I remember seeing your acknowledgment of the correction. Hey, a simple error like that is easy to make and it’s much easier for me to pick on what I observe in isolation. Heck if I were doing what you do, there would be lots of faux-pas. You are doing a great job and I like the way you are making improvements to your reviews. It’s not easy putting yourself on show in front of the camera and you are doing great. I like some of the film captions for emphasis and humour. On the HD58x and HD6xx, I can’t buy them from Drop for some unknown reason. They won’t sell these to me in Australia; yet have bought a couple of adapters from them with no problem. It may be that they have a deal with an Australian sales outlet who sell them here. As that outlet are sold out too, that leaves me with nowhere to go apart from buying real Sennheisers. I can get the HD660S for $AU639 whereas the Drop HD5x and HD6xx are $AU299 and $AU399 when available. The Sundara is just under $AU600 from the same outlet. I like the fact that the HD660S comes with a balanced cable, but I don’t have anywhere to stick a 4.4mm jack!😲 I would need a 4.4mm female to a 4 pin male XLR connector to plug it into my amplifier. Or I could buy a Sennheiser balanced cable with the 4 pin XLR plug from another dealer for $AU250! It all gets expensive very quickly. I suppose I could get a balanced cable made up for the Sundara, but I don’t know whether the wiring in the headphones is balanced or single ended. Maybe I will have to stick with single ended connections until the market starts to cater more for balanced connections. There are certainly a number of budget priced amplifier/DAC’s emerging with balanced connections. The portable devices seem to be going for 2.5mm balanced sockets (like the FiiO Q1 and BTR5) whereas the larger desktop models prefer the 4 pin XLR connectors (e.g. Topping, SMSL, Burson and others). I wish that the headphone and cable manufacturers would communicate more effectively with the amplifier/DAC companies and sort out some accepted and reliable standards. A range of available balanced adapters would be good too. Best wishes. Keep safe and well. 😀
@@arthurcrosby5755 Hey man didn't see this! Thank you so much! I usually have to go back and read through comments to find replies. I agree; I thought at first that balanced would generally be 2.5mm but now there's 4.4 and all this other stuff. Hard to keep up.
I saw your other more recent reply on the DEVA vs. Sundara vid. What about a wired DEVA? Could you get one of those from amazon?
Home Studio Basics Hey Stu. Glad you got this. Yes the Deva looks really nice. I can get the wireless version locally at a few dollars under the Sundara. I’ve seen the wired version on Amazon for a lot less. So yes it is a tempter. I saw your review of the Sundara versus Ananda and you mentioned the wide soundstage of the AKG 702 which interested me. You probably have seen my comment though I’ve not checked yet if you replied. Anyway, I saw them on Amazon Australia for sale at just under $AU200. They were actually for sale on Amazon UK 🇬🇧 but I could buy them through Amazon Australia with free postage from the UK. So I bit the bullet and ordered them. If they suit my purpose then it will be $AU400 + cheaper than the Sundara or Sennheiser 660S. However I’ll be that far behind on a purchase of either one of those. It will be nice to experience the wide sound stage and the frequency response/musical presentation should be OK. It’s a part of this journey I need to take too widen my experience. Take care.
Should I return my hd 560s for the sundara or the hd 600 is it worth double the price? What I mean is will I notice a difference in sound quality?
I may scrap all that and get a 400se at this point. homestudiobasics.com/the-5-best-audiophile-headphones-for-under-500/ My official review is linked in there as well as all my reasoning. Keep me posted.
@@HomeStudioBasics ok, thanks I will check out the Hifiman 400se, I hope is better than the 560s.
Thoughts on Audeze LCD-1 vs Sundara, please?
Hey Dario! LCD-1 is ruler flat. Like.. really, really flat. I personally don't like it that much. It's kind of dry and boring. Sundara is fairly neutral but with some warmth and more bass impact. The LCD-1's have like no life to them.
@@HomeStudioBasics thanks!! I just ordered the Sundara so i made the right decision lol. Now I am looking for amp/dac with bluetooth function. Do you happen to know about one that will power the Sundara and not break the bank?
hey man can i get a balanced signal with a balanced cable + adapter into a 1/4 input.
I just bought the Sundara. Its inner metal headband painting wears off right out of the box. However, it sounds great.
Yeah man sorry to hear that. I think HIFIMAN has fixed that moving forward with the newer DEVA and 2020 400i. I will say I noticed a really tiny paint chip on my DEVA though :( Kind of annoying, but it's a minor nitpick I guess. I didn't drop them or anything, and I'm really gentle with them. Lol. What Amp are you running the Sundara with?
Home Studio Basics mine comes with wearing out of the box. Still don’t know how can their QC let it passed though.
I’m plugging it into a Fiio BTR5 because I also want to listen via Bluetooth on my phone. Pretty happy with the outcome and I mightn’t upgrade anytime soon.
Been through some more serious equipments but right now I just want to enjoy music rather than finding that little details which differentiate $400 and $1000 headphones
Exactly. Just be happy with what you have! I'm at that stage too. I've heard so much gear that I'm just kind of like wow, it really ain't that serious. Still going to keep listening though because addiction. XD
Hey man, great vid! Your infographs are always superb and definately a distinction among other AP channels! If I were to recommend something though, I'd say you'd profit much from getting some studio lightning in your talking shots, nothing gigantic for overproducing, just a more direct light in your face, which sometimes feels dark and grainy from the environment
Thank you so much! Absolutely my friend. A complete camera overhaul has actually been in the works for awhile now. I do prefer natural lighting, but the way my apt. is situated, if I sat in front of the window instead of on the couch all you'd see is the kitchen and dining room in the background. Not very flattering, but yeah I really want to get a better set up with either a ring light or 2 bigger lights on the right and left side. I will probably record in the studio where all the gear is as well, and I think it will look pretty cool. In the meantime, I will see what I can do about some more light now, because I agree that sometimes it can be a bit too dark. I thought the beginning looked pretty good, but then as the light changes outside it can sometimes have undesirable effects.
Now that I'm thinking about buying some headphones I'm noticing people saying the Sennheiser pads need to be replaced on possibly a yearly basis if you use them a lot. I use my headphones a lot. The thought of paying ~$40 a year for pads is not appealing to me, it makes me feel like I'm renting the headphones. Is this sort of thing par for the course with better headphones or is it just Sennheiser? I liked the video presentation. On jokes I prefer when the jokes are part of the flow, so people either pay attention and catch the joke or it goes right by them.
I’ve had an Hd600 for six years, still using the same pads.
DMS states the you have to change the pads yearly, I've owned the HD600s for about 4 years and only changed them once. You don't have a significant decrease in comfort and none in sound quality, it's just that the pads lose their firmness after some time.
Hey man great to hear from you again! It also applies to HIFIMAN as well unfortunately. They will start to lose their "spring" after awhile just like a Senny would and do flatten out (perhaps more so than a Senn). Like Marc and Lucca, I've had my 600's for awhile as well (since 2016) and haven't changed pads. They could probably use a replacement, but they are still not as worn down as you would think. I use them pretty often, but perhaps not as much as you might since I am fortunate to always have quite a few different brands on hand.
That's hard to gauge, but I think this issue tends to happen with all pads and is just a fact of life. For instance my M50 pads wore out, my 7506 pads wore out, etc. Surprisingly, my 9500 pads have not, and have mostly retained the same exact shape since I bought them 3 years ago.
The main takeaway is that replacing pads every year is kind of a bit over the top in my opinion. Unless you're using them for like 8 hours a day every single day, the wear on them will happen pretty gradually.
As far as sound, do you think you'd prefer the HIFIMAN or a Sennheiser?
flibber123 That’s overkill unless you use them for work 8 hours a day, don’t stress it. My original 6XX pads are 3 years old, used for 10-15 hours a week and look/feel/sound like new.
Home Studio Basics I have not heard the Sundara, but I have the Hifiman 400S, so I can speak to a comparison between it and the 600/650. 400S is wonderfully clear and spacious, but the bass is very rolled off, it lacks impact, it definitely requires amplification and a bass boost to make it sound world class.
The Sennheiser HD 600 To me sounds like the way a really good pair of headphones should sound, natural is the word I would use. It is not as wide or clear as the 400S, but it just sounds right. With a stereo receiver or Valhalla 2, it sounds incredible.
The 650 is a warmer smoother darker version of the 600, I like it with certain genres, like pop and soul.
If I could only have one, I’d take the 600. But I’m glad I have the other two.
I also prefer the build quality of the Sennheiser headphones.
I know you’re not a big Grado guy but I like my RS2E more than the other three out of an iPad or a phone.
which one is better for spoken word not songs ?
Hey man definitely the HD600. Vocals are more present and sound clearer than the other 2.
How are your Grandchildren? I don’t believe you have grandkids. It’s just a way to see if we’re watching all the way through and paying attention. 😁
LMAO. I DO TOO HAVE THEM!! Haha I was just thinking about doing a video on this because you wouldn't believe how many people ask me on this channel XD
I'm not trying to choose between them. I have hd650s and I want something different. Hoping sundaras give me a different experience.
Hey according to this video, i can safely say that sundara is better. And i wonder why your number 1 favourite is hd6xx (from your article) while the sundara is number 2. After reading your article, i quickly bought the hd6xx cause u said something like, "you can live in a deserted island with the hd6xx, and the every man's headphone" and made me pull the trigger to buy the hd6xx. Now i feel kinda bummer cause sundara is better in every other aspect. Cheer me up lil bit pal, why you put hd6xx in the first place and sundara second? Enlighten me :')
Also if u would like to know, i also bought the sony mdr 7506 for my first "audiophile" headphone, also after watch your reviews and articles. So the hd6xx was my second pair. Why you drag me into this rabbit hole hobbies man 😭🥲😂
Heh. Yeah the Sundara is just a bit too warm at times which is why it's second. Kind of almost too velvety or syrupy. I like the 6XX better as an all rounder because it's snappier and crisper. The other thing is that the 600 series headphones will pretty much never break down while the Sundara may. Depends on QC, really. HIFIMAN has improved a lot but there's still work to do on that front.
Lol sorry about your wallet. That series was really meant to share my own experiences in the hobby HAHA.
with this attitude you could have some quiet punchy creepy beat in the background, you would seem dangerous
LOL! I don't think I've ever made a dark beat in my life. Well maybe sort of sad/melancholy, but never like a murder type really hardcore one. xD
No
@@riseuplight shut up bitch wtf you mean "no" *creepy beat gets louder*
Which is better for Netflix?
Hey man! I'd go with the 650 or Sundara, leaning towards Sundara. 650 is a bit better than 600 for gaming and film, but the Sundara is going to sound more open. :) Check out the article and consider purchasing from Apos! They have great customer service, 2-year warranty, and 30-day returns! You'll see a link inside: homestudiobasics.com/hifiman-sundara-vs-sennheiser-hd650-vs-hd600/
@@HomeStudioBasics i just saw review of hd 559. According to z reviews, they are the best of the Sennheiser 5xx lineup. They have warm and smooth sound signature with good thumping bass. I am thinking for taking that. And I won't have to spend so much money.
Thanks for your reply
No worries! Unsure why you all of a sudden switched over to 500 series? I personally wouldn't bother. You'll be upgrading like ASAP if you do that. Just warning you ahead of time. Z's cool, but would probably take a lot of his advice with a grain of salt. Anyways, keep me posted and if you have any more questions, hit the link and leave a comment here homestudiobasics.com/hifiman-sundara-vs-sennheiser-hd650-vs-hd600/ as I don't get follow up replies and have to sift back through.
sundara with bigger tuning pads and ifi zen dac with bass button on
pure fun
a stellia owner
For some reason I feel like I have known you for a long time, kind of like an old friend 🤷♂️
Aw thanks man!! I'm def an old soul/nostalgic type of chap. :)
@@HomeStudioBasics I think it might be the style of your videos too. It feels like the real you with nothing to hide
Yeah man! What you see is what you get lol. I really appreciate your continued support!
nice video! hifiman sundara + monolith liquid spark + smsl m100 = DONE.
Thank you man! Will have to jot those down. :)
@@HomeStudioBasics great cheap amp and dac combination! I hope you review it!
The Sundara is balanced?
Hey man! I think you can use balanced cables with it, yes. I have not personally done so with Sundara.
Hi Stu, you really need to test the 58X someday :D
Hey man! Got that one written down for the VERY near future my friend!!
Finally someone said bass properly
Haha! xD
new favorite channel hahaa
Haha thanks man! I will have to watch this again and see what you're referring to :)
@@HomeStudioBasics lmfao never give up!
Does ifi zen dac power the sundara?
Yea on high gain you'll never go past 2.
My opinion is to skip them all. Buy the Ananda and the Tempotec Sonata HD Pro instead. The Ananda is much easier to drive than the Sundara, so no need for a desktop amp/DAC. The $30 Sonata dongle will drive them to painfuly loud volumes and its DAC is superior to many desktop rivals that cost in the hundreds. That's potentially endgame for many people. I know it is for me. Just make sure you have an official HiFiMAN warranty.
What's your opinion on the Meizu HiFi Pro compared to the Sonata?
Disregard the comment, I see your point of avoiding investing in an amp. But if you already have it, doesn't the Sundaras make sense?
@@lczpYeah, Sundara is better value if you already have an amp.
Yeah next week's video will be really interesting as I'm going to compare the Ananda to the Sundara. Should be really fun!
@@mn-cb3hk Sonata has better measurements, but is bulkier than the Meizu. Sonato is probably more durable since its cable is replaceable.
Are you from Michigan?
Hey man no. Waterbury, CT originally.
@@HomeStudioBasics Sorry, was your accent that made me think that. :D!! CT is cool.
Drop down description and format👍 keep up the jokes, nice job Stu
Thanks bro! I'm diggin' the format as well as it's much easier to cut that initial footage!
Great video you rap better then those new rappers haha
Haha thanks man!! Great to hear from you. What are you up to? See I rhymed again. :P
love this dude
Dope flow dope rhymes ✊
Thanks man! Don't think I've ever seen you comment before. Do you watch regularly?
Home Studio Basics just started watching your videos. Bought a sundara recently and ordered a 6xx, will be seeing how they compare soon, this video was helpful, thanks dude
Keep me posted man!
Home Studio Basics yeah dude the hd6xx is great but so was my commadore 64 at one time. Ok so the difference isn’t that vast but planars are just a more natural/realistic level, perform better, as you’ve said. The 6xx is a smoother, warmer sound, less attention grabbing, maybe less fatiguing, if you’re into that. I’d imagine it’s why people like it. I equate warmer often as sonic detail getting absorbed elsewhere. Me screaming into a pillow is going to sound warmer than without, for example.
@@jdavis234 Exactly! Spot on man. And I laughed out loud at your comment too XD Actually took a screen shot for the upcoming 5k thank you/comment hall of fame video.
I tried both the Sundara and HD650.I kept the HD650.They have that deep low rumbling bass that the Sundara's are missing.The Sundara have a wider Soundstage but I think the HD650 have a natural and transparent Soundstage.And I think the HD650 image better.But you need a powerful amplifier to bring out their best.My Atoll IN200 sig drives them beautifully.
bruh, you will not be talkin to me like that, I swear
Nice Review Malaka :)
Haha uh.. how did you mean that word? That's typically not a very friendly thing to call someone lol.
@@HomeStudioBasics Friendly speaking always mate... U know.i am joking.
@@Tripokaridos22 :D
I’m cryin bruh I’m too high for this
Lmao I had to go back and watch it 'cause I forgot what I even said or did 😂
Stu the hair is lookin good long.
Thanks bro! I need to get it cut though :D
I don'T think the sennheiser cabla has an official name... It's just "sennheiser 600 series cable"... haha
Thank you! Finally someone answered. LMAO
@@HomeStudioBasics HAhaha I feel you
Should of included the Ollo S4x headphones into the shootout
Such weird interjections... this doesn’t seem like it goes with your natural personality bud.
Hey man! I'm sorry you feel that way.
Hahahaha !!!! Great shit !
Hey man thank you! Great to see you around again! Check out my 5k video; you're in it! th-cam.com/video/M7-NIbSYsNk/w-d-xo.html
Yo tony stark sup?
HAHAH! I will add that one to the list. I like that one. It makes me feel sexy. I think I will wear some tight boxer briefs and walk around my apt. now.
Meatloaf!
You hungry?
@@HomeStudioBasics yes.. MOOOMMM
@@Martinullis HEY MA!! THE MEATLOAF!! WE WANT IT NAOW!!! xD
Niceee
Thanks bro! You thinking about getting one of these?
@@HomeStudioBasics Hey, I'm saving up for the hd 58x but I like your comparisons 👍
is this a rap lol
YEAH! 😂 This is a rap, and a good one at that, so give me some dap and just relax 'cause like Michael, I got this one in the bag. While guys are staying high like Six Flags getting wrecked, I sometimes get sad but stay low like Hi-Tek. Stacking chips like Pringles working on my Craft stayin' single no rap career in sight but you best believe I got the jingle. WOOOOOOO!!!!
!
🤦♂️
Hey man! Glad you enjoyed it :)
@@HomeStudioBasics Hey ! Well put together video. it is masterly .Sundara wins greatly. I regret not paying attention to them right away. Successful videos to you, buddy.
Thank you so much! Love Sundara :)