HIFIMAN (HiFi): Reviews, Used Pricing, and Dealers

HIFIMAN is a hifi brand known for its planar magnetic headphones that use extremely thin diaphragms and acoustically transparent "Stealth Magnets" to reduce sound distortion. The company pioneered high-resolution portable audio players and creates electrostatic headphones that bring high-end sound quality to more accessible price points, as well as widely renowned flagship models such as the Susvara.

What reviewers are saying

We read all the reviews. Here's what reviewers feel most strongly about:

HIFIMAN offers a wide range of headphone models, varying in tonality from warm to neutral to balanced, allowing for different listening preferences and catering to various audiophile tastes.
The brand is known for their "Stealth Magnet" design which reduces wave diffraction turbulence to lower distortion and improve transparency.
They incorporate planar magnetic drivers in many of their headphones, known for their speed, detail, and impactful bass response.

Our favorite reviewer quotes:

"The resolution of the 400i is nothing short of ecstasy to the highest power. Most people are familiar with the band Zed Leppelin, but I can assure you most people aren't familiar with the intense pleasure eruption that shoots out of your ears after they climax in rainbows like Radiohead." (https://homestudiobasics.com/hifiman-he400i-review)
"Susvara Unveiled has a massive soundstage and strong dynamics, which combine with lifelike imaging and a well-balanced tonality to deliver a highly immersive listening experience. The detail and resolution are among the best ever achieved in a conventional headphone, giving Susvara Unveiled a sublime mix of clear, accurate representation of the sound and engaging musicality." (https://bloomaudio.com/blogs/articles/ultimate-sound-revealed-hifiman-susvara-unveiled-review?srsltid=AfmBOoqp2zaZ4-mu6wE5T_075axnoTrguC27AN7O5ygB56w-yeaHiZmE)
"For detail retrieval, the Susvara is quite possibly the best headphone I've ever heard. It's certainly the best of any headphone I've reviewed extensively." (https://headphones.com/blogs/reviews/hifiman-susvara-review-endgame-flagship-planar?srsltid=AfmBOopGMqyxi8gbzJHvsxInjPFGVtaT6GaG9_4bNFShgQsxeUMNgy4t)
"Textural nuance, structural definition and clarity for the images is incredible with this headphone - so much so that it makes me discover new things in recordings that I've been listening to and reviewing headphones with for years." (https://headphones.com/blogs/reviews/hifiman-susvara-review-endgame-flagship-planar?srsltid=AfmBOopGMqyxi8gbzJHvsxInjPFGVtaT6GaG9_4bNFShgQsxeUMNgy4t)
"I've spotted macro and micro-details in my music, that I am normally experiencing with expensive desktop planars. They were moving huge quantities of air, creating a well spread soundstage with huge air gaps between every note." (https://soundnews.net/headphones/full-size/hifiman-he400i-ver-2020-review-entry-level-planar-headphones)

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Our interview with the brand

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What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?

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From Julian's interview with

Products

Release Timeline

Goldenwave Serenade Jr

Goldenwave Serenade (Wireless Version)

Ananda Stealth Magnet

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Lineup comparison

We think it's helpful to understand how their products compare. To learn more about each, scroll to the section above to click through to individual product pages.

EDITION XS:

Positioning: An entry-level headphone offering compact design and affordability.
Description: Features stealth magnets design with a frequency response from 8Hz to 50kHz and low impedance for basic home or portable use. Compared to the mid-range options like AUDIVINA and HE1000SE, it provides essential performance for smaller rooms.

AUDIVINA:

Positioning: A mid-range headphone balancing clear audio performance with a reasonable price.
Description: Uses refined driver technology to deliver a natural sound signature and balanced frequency response for typical home listening setups. Compared to the simple approach of Edition XS and the more precision-focused HE1000SE, it offers enhanced detail while keeping costs moderate.

HE1000SE:

Positioning: A mid-range headphone engineered for improved clarity and dynamic range.
Description: Offers an extended frequency response from 8Hz to 65kHz and higher sensitivity for clearer audio reproduction in critical listening. In contrast to AUDIVINA's balanced performance, HE1000SE emphasizes precise tuning and a robust build.

SUSVARA:

Positioning: A high-end headphone crafted for immersive and detailed sound reproduction.
Description: Incorporates advanced driver engineering that extends its frequency range from 6Hz to 75kHz, supporting a wider and more open soundstage. Compared to mid-range models like HE1000SE and AUDIVINA, it offers broader performance and refined tuning.

SUSVARA UNVEILED:

Positioning: A premium headphone representing the pinnacle of the brand's lineup.
Description: Features cutting-edge materials and driver technologies that produce exceptionally detailed sound across its wide frequency spectrum. When compared with SUSVARA and other models, it delivers superior engineering and an expansive performance.

Julian Shapiro

ExtremeHiFi Writer

Used

HIFIMAN

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Our interview with the brand

What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?

What's your approach to customer support?

What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?

What other products pair best with yours?

Julian Shapiro

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Our interview with the brand

What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?

What's your approach to customer support?

What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?

What other products pair best with yours?

Julian Shapiro

ExtremeHiFi

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Our interview with the brand

What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?

What's your approach to customer support?

What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?

What other products pair best with yours?

Julian Shapiro

ExtremeHiFi

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Our interview with the brand

What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?

What's your approach to customer support?

What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?

What other products pair best with yours?

Julian Shapiro

ExtremeHiFi

Brand Page

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Our interview with the brand

What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?

What's your approach to customer support?

What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?

What other products pair best with yours?

Julian Shapiro

ExtremeHiFi

Brand Page

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Our interview with the brand

What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?

What's your approach to customer support?

What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?

What other products pair best with yours?

Julian Shapiro

ExtremeHiFi

Brand Page

Questions? Ask their dealers.

Unilet Sound & Vision

Todd The Vinyl Junkie

Tenacious Sound (Augusta Location)

706-940-4380

Georgia

Tenacious Sound (Syracuse Location)

Planète Haute Fidélité

Gramophone (Timonium)

410-308-1650

Maryland

Gramophone (Kitchen Design Center)

410-683-0123

Maryland

Gramophone (Columbia)

410-381-2100

Maryland

Gramophone (D.C. Metro)

301-296-6202

Maryland

Gramophone (Experience Center)

addicted to audio (Melbourne)

+613 9810 2999

Victoria

addicted to audio (Sydney)

+612 9550 4041

New South Wales

addicted to audio (Perth)

+618 6478 4816

Western Australia

addicted to audio (Adelaide)

+618 8354 2673

South Australia

addicted to audio (Auckland)

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Product Categories

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Products

Speakers are transducers that convert electrical audio signals into sound waves using drivers, crossovers, and enclosures to faithfully reproduce a wide range of frequencies.

Amplifiers are electronic devices that increase low-level audio signals from sources to a power level capable of driving speakers, ensuring clear and dynamic sound reproduction.

Headphones are personal audio transducers that deliver sound directly to the ears via small drivers in an enclosed or open-back design, offering a portable yet detailed listening experience.

DACs (Digital-to-Analog Converters) transform digital audio data into analog signals, bridging the gap between digital media sources and the analog amplification and speaker systems.

Subwoofers are specialized speakers dedicated to reproducing low-frequency sounds, adding depth and impact by handling bass frequencies that standard speakers often cannot deliver as effectively.

Turntables are mechanical devices that rotate vinyl records at precise speeds while a stylus tracks the grooves to convert physical vibrations into electrical audio signals.

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