Edition XS – see measurements here, extra comparisons with HE6SE V2 and GL2000; measurement of third-party pads
TL;DR: open and airy but well-balanced tuning leaning ever-so-slightly to the bright side, with the typical Hifiman dip at around 1-3khz making mid-range instruments less forward or aggressive. Great layering and separation. Good all-rounder for different music genres. Exellent bass extension is a major highlight for the price range of around US$500.
Pros: balanced tonality; decently capable technically; comfy; price-performance;
Cons: lack of wow factor; ever-so-slighly bright; low sensitivity; aesthetics;
Comparing to the Ananda
Toanlity:
Very similar overall. Differences are subtle in the mids and highs, but more apparently in the bass. Extension is exellent on the XS, as is bass punch and presence. As such the XS got more body to the sound, whereas the Ananda is softer and more airy. Some people call the Ananda overly ethereal, but I guess it’s just the tuning choice. That said I enjoy vocals on the XS more and instruments especially new-age type of music more on the Ananda.
Technicalities (hardcore objectivists – feel free to skip):
These are close performers. Soundstage on the XS may be a tad smaller than the Ananda, but the XS is just as expansive and open which is the hallmark of the Hifiman egg-shaped planar series. Punch and slam I feel is harder on the XS, but this can be due to more bass. As such the Ananda can also seemingly sound clearer. Layering and instrument separation are on par, which is not unexpected given the two share the same diaphragm and most of the structure. Overall I would say there is no significant differences here.
Comparing to the HE1000 V2
Technicalitiess are all behind not much surprise there. The Edition XS is no slouch – it nails layering, separation and ‘resolution’ especially considering the price. The biggest difference is spatial qualities: with huge soundstage and solid imaging the HE1000 V2 is still a league above. I am not saying the XS is terrible, in fact imaging is decently clear and solid on the XS, but just not as realistic as the HEK. In terms of tuning the XS holds its ground very well though: the HEK is more energetic and forward, while the XS is smoother and mellower. I would say the XS is the ‘well-tempered’ version of HEK. Although XS’s bass goes deep there is still a audible difference between the sense of punch and impact comparing to the HEK. As for highs the XS also does not have the glistening qualities of HEK most obvious in reproducing cymbal strikes. The good thing about that is the overall tonality of the XS is a lot more easy-going than the HEK. Vocals are mellower, whereas some poorly mastered tracks can sound harsh with the upper treble elevation on the HEK. Such is the double-edged sword of the HEK tuning: you get fascinating engaging instrument playback while vocals can sound occasionally too bright. Aside from HEK’s elevation between 6-8khz, the upper treble difference can be hard to see from a glimpse, but if you look closely, the difference between the XS and the HEK at around 10-11khz is about 4-5db, which is a lot and defnitely audible. Not all instruments token these frequencies and much less for vocals, but sometimes they are amplified and mastered so.
Endnote:
I can comfortably say that the XS has the most pleasant tuning out of the egg-shaped hifimans. These are all-rounders for any music genres: pop, rock, jazz, classical, you name it. If I had to nitpick it’s probably EDM/punk/rap that these do not pair so happily with (go for Focals instead). With balanced tuning and decent technicalities the XS is a solid performer, and IMO well worth the asking price at around US$500.
Is there any chance we could get distortion measurements of the Hifiman Edition XS? Some people report distortion issues, and I want to know whether this is a chronic problem or just an issue with some unlucky units.
Funnily enough, I recently picked up a 2026 pair because I’ve been thinking about doing an updated review. I still think the Edition XS holds up very well today as an entry-level planar.
Here’s the THD measurement from that particular pair. It’s defintely not ideal, but in practice I don’t find distortion to be an issue, although I don’t have a large enough sample size to say whether problematic units are common. I also tend to listen fairly quietly around 70-75 dB. For comparison, my older 2023 pair actually measures a little better: 2023 THD measurement.
So based on the two units I’ve measured, there does seem to be some unit variation, but I wouldn’t call distortion a chronic Edition XS problem from my sample alone.
Ive heard a pair from a friend of mine. He bought that unit in 2024. And his unit had like crazy ringing in 4 to 6khz. And and a little bit of rattling in sub200hz frequencies. And your 2026 unit seems to have similar distoriton issues in 4-6 khz too. We are either very unlucky with qc or post 2024 models seems to have some issues. I am going to pickup a pair of xs this black friday and i am really curious if its a chronic issue or not.
And also yeah i agree that xs is a good planar but the competition isnt super high in sub 300 bracket. Theres only xs, sundara and ft1 pro.
That pair does sound like it may have been faulty, especially with the bass rattling. My 2026 unit does show elevated distortion around 4–6 kHz, although that region can be tricky with planars since diaphragm/modal resonances often push THD up there. So I wouldn’t call it a chronic issue just yet, before wider reports or if I can test a few more pairs. If you’re planning to grab one I’d just make sure you buy from somewhere with an easy warranty process.
how these compare to he1000 stealth ?
i found xs fat and loose sounding, lacking in edge definition, tightness and focus. kind of a blob of sound without edges around images. Distant and diffused so stage is fairly big. pleasant sound. highs are gentle and brittle. arya stealth highs were more focused, solid, crisp and energetic from my memory. the bass was also much tighter, focused and snappier on arya stealth.
Yes, te XS bass can feel like that. It has excellent extension but the upper bass has some extra bloom. Overall I agree with your description.
The HE1000 Stealth basically feels like the XS all grown up. It really depends on what you prefer. Hifiman’s newer egg shaped headphones like the Unveiled series and the XV tend to have a smoother and less sparkly presentation. If you just want an upgrade over the XS with a similar tuning, the HE1000 Stealth is the one to get.