Website author headshot
Cameron Oatley
ExtremeHiFi
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi

Note that this is a discontinued product. You may want to visit the brand's page here to browse their newer products.

What reviewers think

Bloggers and YouTubers have tried this product—so we've summarized their strongest opinions below. Links to full reviews follow.

Product Strengths

  • The Caldera uses the same comfortable headband system as other ZMF headphones, which offers a good degree of adjustment
  • Lighter than expected, especially considering the planar magnetic drivers
  • Sounds natural and familiar, and is comfortable both ergonomically and sonically, providing body and fullness to notes
  • Beautiful craftsmanship with unique wooden earcups that give each unit its own identity
  • Exceptional build quality, and good support from ZMF

Product Considerations

  • Stock cable is fine, but could be softer with less shape memory
  • Can be polarising for ZMF house sound fans because the Caldera is very different
  • Tight clamp force can be an issue for some
  • Some found the mid-range forwardness can be fatiguing, especially the closed-back version

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

  • Compared to the Atrium, the Caldera is more resolving and lifelike, but the Atrium has more 'flavour' or colouration
  • Compared to the Hifiman Susvara, the Susvara is closer to neutral and more resolving, being a higher performance headphone, but the neutral presentation of the Susvara can be boring to some listeners
  • Compared to the Audeze LCD-5, the Caldera is similar to the LCD-5 in terms of low-end impact, but the Caldera’s treble is much more in line with personal preferences

Takeaway: The ZMF Caldera is a beautifully crafted headphone with a comfortable design, and also offers a natural, versatile sound that's somewhere in between the ZMF house sound and the Hifiman sound. It's technically competent and fun to listen to, which is an excellent package.

What are hifi reviews useful for? (1) Identifying products you should demo in person at a dealer. (2) Learning which products reviewers unanimously praise as the best they've heard (this means they probably are legitimately great). (3) Identifying a product's attributes that satisfy your idiosyncratic needs and tastes. Beyond that, we often discount what reviewers say because they heap praise on most products—and are often apprehensive about publishing strong criticism or comparisons between products. Further, they seldom have more than a few products on-hand, often relying on their memories to compare past products. Always listen for yourself.

All

Caldera

reviews

[{"title":"ZMF Caldera Review - An Exciting Step Forward","link":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPam4ttbMyk","source":"GoldenSound","datePublished":"2024"},{"title":"ZMF Caldera Open Headphone Review - The Art of Hi Value Hi-Fi","link":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pudQTXVzI9c","source":"GadgetryTech","datePublished":"2025"},{"title":"ZMF Caldera Closed Headphone Review - The Magic of Caldera in a Closed Back?","link":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGuZD_zeNcQ","source":"GadgetryTech","datePublished":"2025"},{"title":"Quick Take: ZMF Caldera flagship planar headphone review","link":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReezXClV-KY","source":"Reviews By WaveTheory","datePublished":"2023"},{"title":"Best Headphones Series: ZMF Caldera Open Back Review","link":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QyzhOyDDP4","source":"Reviews By WaveTheory","datePublished":"2025"},{"title":"Making sense of ZMF. Caldera Closed REVIEW","link":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itGjafe3myY","source":"DMS","datePublished":"2025"},{"title":"ZMF Caldera Review","link":"https://www.headfonia.com/zmf-caldera-review","source":"headfonia.com","datePublished":""},{"title":"ZMF Headphones Caldera – Full Review","link":"https://headphonesnstuff.blog/2024/02/10/zmf-headphones-caldera-full-review","source":"headphonesnstuff.blog","datePublished":""},{"title":"ZMF Caldera - The Review","link":"https://www.audiodiscourse.com/2023/04/zmf-caldera-review.html","source":"audiodiscourse.com","datePublished":""},{"title":"ZMF Headphones Caldera Closed Review","link":"https://headfonics.com/zmf-headphones-caldera-closed-review","source":"headfonics.com","datePublished":""},{"title":"Caldera Review","link":"","source":"audiosciencereview.com","datePublished":""}]
An excellent review of a great product
/
Publisher
/
3/1/2022
An excellent review of a great product
Publisher
/
3/1/2022

Manufacturer details

  • Impedance: 60 Ohms
  • Driver: 80mm with CAMS Patent Pending technology
  • Weight: 490 - 550g
  • Sensitivity: ~95dB/mW
The Caldera is ZMF's first proprietary planar magnetic headphone. In 2011, I modded a t50rp as a gift for my brother. I never would have guessed that twelve years later I'd design my own planar magnetic headphone. I knew I loved the punchy, ethereal and nuanced sound of planars. Through modding a couple thousand t50rp's into different models and tunings for enthusiasts, my "schooling" had begun, and now years later - I'm proud to present the Caldera.
Manufacturer Site

Brand highlights

Taking a step back to look at reviewers' thoughts of the brand's entire lineup—not just this product—what stands out most is the following:

  • ZMF Headphones are hand-crafted, using a wide array of wood choices, some of which are limited edition, making each headphone visually unique and potentially contributing to subtle sonic differences in decay and impact.
  • The brand is committed to providing a personalized audio experience, offering a variety of interchangeable pads, allowing users to tailor the sound to their preferences.
  • They offer a lifetime driver warranty on many of their products.

Auteur Classic Upgrade  

  • Positioning: An affordable retrofit option designed to enhance the original headphone's soundstage and resolution.  
  • Description: Offers a refreshed driver set with a larger stage, improved linear sub-bass, and lower distortion through features like the new wood baffle and Atrium Damping System. Stands apart from stock models by providing a cost‐effective, engineering driven upgrade that boosts performance without replacing the entire headphone system.  

BOKEH Open

  • Positioning: An open-back, semi-portable headphone made for easy driving and versatile listening environments.  
  • Description: Features a unique design with solid wood grilles made from SpectraPly, an exclusive oval cup formation, and the Atrium Damping System paired with specially developed Caldera pads for a balanced soundstage. In comparison to upgrade offerings and fully closed designs, it prioritizes portability and natural material aesthetics while retaining a refined open acoustic profile.  

Vérité Open  

  • Positioning: A high-fidelity open headphone that emphasizes natural sound reproduction and dynamic range.  
  • Description: Uses an angled, deeply inset vapor-deposited beryllium driver design paired with premium sapele wood construction to deliver a true-to-life musical decay and heightened dynamics. Compared to the Auteur and BOKEH models, its focus is on delivering a transparent and authentic acoustic reproduction.

Atrium Closed 

  • Positioning: A closed-back headphone engineered to create a well-controlled, intimate listening space with precise damping.  
  • Description: Uses an atrium-tuned biocellulose driver along with a patent-pending damping system and carefully chosen wood accents like Cherry or Canarywood to maintain clarity without deadening the sound. In contrast to open designs such as the Vérité and BOKEH, it offers enhanced isolation and a controlled acoustic environment tailored for private or noisier settings.  

Caldera Closed  

  • Positioning: The premium fully closed planar headphone that integrates advanced damping and patented technologies.  
  • Description: Features a 2 µm thick planar magnetic driver with CAMS technology, the patented Atrium Damping System, and an innovative Caldera Pad design that enhances sub-bass performance and isolation. Compared to the other models, it delivers a flagship level closed-back experience.
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Avg. Product Price
$2,501-$5,000
Used For Sale
6
 Available (Scroll Down)
Brand Popularity
448
 of 900+
Badges
Top 50 Brand
Top 250 Brand
Products Listed
12
Founding Year
2014

Our take on the brand

ZMF is a boutique hifi headphone brand that crafts one-of-a-kind wooden headphones from stabilized resin-wood billets, each harvested, processed, and assembled in the USA. Their patented acoustic systems include the Atrium Damping System (ADS) and the Caldera's trapezoidal magnet structure. The brand offers lifetime driver warranties and maintains measurement transparency using professional B&K equipment. They have created a distinct enthusiast culture around their annual "ZMF November" limited-edition sales.

Look inside the brand

Brand Page

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?

From our interview with
.
Brand Page

What if you spend more?

Product image
HIFIMAN
Susvara Unveiled
8000
8000
/
12
Reviews
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.
Check Amazon
Expand Details

Product Strengths

  • Outstanding sound quality with clarity, texture, and detail
  • Natural sound provides a you-are-there presence
  • Improved microdynamics make them quick and fast
  • Easier to drive than the original Susvara due to a changed metal trace on the diaphragm
  • Very comfortable, with good weight distribution
  • Driver is exposed, making it vulnerable to damage

Product Considerations

  • Can be unforgiving on poor recordings
  • Lacks soundstage depth and layering compared to some competitors

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

  • Vs Mesa Elite: The Mesa Elite offers greater bass weight and depth in the soundstage
  • Vs Audeze LCD-5: The LCD-5 provides more insight into the music, but the Susvara Unveiled excels in reproducing the attack and energy of plucked strings and in bass reproduction
  • Vs Focal Utopia 2022: The Utopia balances everything well—tonality, punch, detail, staging—however both have a little edginess from the treble
  • Vs HiFiMan HE1000 Unveiled: The HE1000 is brighter and seems a little faster and more detailed, but the Susvara Unveiled is smoother
  • Vs Original Susvara: The Unveiled model is more agile and lively, with added energy, clarity, and upper-treble extension, and the original is more laid back

Takeaway: The Susvara Unveiled provides detail and resolution that one has likely never heard before, making them astonishing headphones. If the priority is a reference-style tuning for orchestral music with excellent balance, scale, and tonal response, these headphones can provide a massive sonic treat.

Video review

Our take on the brand

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.
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
Product Page
Product Page
Product image
HIFIMAN
HE-R10P
5499
5499
/
8
Reviews
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.
Check Amazon
Expand Details

Product Strengths

  • Sounds big and open for a closed-back headphone, with an impressive soundstage for its type.
  • Offers a warm-leaning, smooth, mid-forward sound signature.
  • Very good imaging creates an immersive listening experience, and detailed separation of instruments.
  • Easy to drive with a low impedance and high sensitivity, making it suitable for use with portable devices.
  • The wooden earcups have a large internal space that brings sufficient volume and breathing room to the driver.

Product Considerations

  • Build quality may be disappointing for the price, particularly the headband, which is considered cheap compared to other headphones in the price range.
  • Comfort can be an issue due to the weight and headband design, which may cause discomfort on the scalp for some users.
  • Lacks clamping force, so the weight is felt on the top of the head, and it does not isolate sound very well.
  • Treble response might be somewhat softer or less energetic compared to other headphones, which might not appeal to those seeking a more exciting sound.
  • One review mentions an issue with a dip around 5kHz and a peak around 10kHz that impacts some instruments, though it is admittedly 'nitpicking'.

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

  • Vs HIFIMAN HE-R10D: There is a difference in price and sound signature.
  • Vs HIFIMAN Susvara: The HE-R10P has less soundstage, the Susvara has more transparency, but the HE-R10P has more mid-bass presence.
  • Vs Focal Stellia: The HE-R10P has a larger soundstage and more powerful bass, but Stellia has a safer tuning with a brighter high end.

Takeaway: The HiFiMan HE-R10P is a closed-back planar headphone that delivers exceptional sound quality with remarkable imaging and detail, making music sound lively and fun. Its unique design aims to create an open and spacious listening experience, allowing listeners to enjoy music for hours.

Video review

Our take on the brand

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.
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
Product Page
Product Page
Product image
RAAL-requisite
Immanis
9460
9460
/
7
Reviews
RAAL-requisite pioneered the world's first full-range true-ribbon headphones with their SR1a, which uses corrugated aluminum ribbons clamped only at the ends and floats freely outside the ear without cups to create a speaker-like soundstage. The brand's extreme low-impedance ribbons require specialised interface units to be run inbetween the amplifier and headphones.
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Expand Details

Product Strengths

  • Offers a combination of electrostatic resolution with dynamic timbre and planar bass extension, delivering the 'best of all worlds'
  • The build quality is superb, with premium materials and craftsmanship that surpass competitors
  • Delivers perfectly extended bass with a planar-like slam, with detail, texture, and physicality
  • Has a wide soundstage with excellent imaging that creates a holographic feeling of voices and instruments, with a true 360-degree experience
  • Very comfortable to wear, despite being somewhat heavy, with good weight distribution and no hot spots

Product Considerations

  • Requires a powerful headphone amp to get the most out of it, due to the need for a current drive interface/transformer
  • The weight (610g) may be a concern for some users, though the weight is distributed well
  • Some vocalists, particularly some female vocalists, may sound more distant than desired
  • Bad mastered songs tend to immediately show problems
  • Frequency response is dependent on synergy with the amplifier

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

  • Vs HIFIMAN Susvara, it combines the weight of the original Susvara with the soundstage and resolution improvements of the Susvara Unveiled—more power is needed
  • Vs Abyss 1266, it has more body of sound, smoother highs, and tighter, more natural bass, while the Abyss has a wider soundstage, better positioning, and more bass impact
  • Vs Dan Clark Audio Stealth, it has a wider soundstage and feels more effortless, and is more open, while the Stealth is closed, has more bass quantity, and a more pleasing treble
  • Vs RAAL-requisite CA-1A, it improves upon the CA-1A in terms of body of sound, bass, and timbre, while remaining comfortable, and the CA-1A has a lighter and more forward soundstage

Takeaway: The Immanis is an exceptional headphone that blends various sonic qualities together, boasting great build quality and an immersive sound experience. With the right equipment to support it, one can enjoy a detailed and spacious sound that makes it a top contender in the flagship headphone market.

Video review

Our take on the brand

RAAL-requisite pioneered the world's first full-range true-ribbon headphones with their SR1a, which uses corrugated aluminum ribbons clamped only at the ends and floats freely outside the ear without cups to create a speaker-like soundstage. The brand's extreme low-impedance ribbons require specialised interface units to be run inbetween the amplifier and headphones.
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
Product Page
Product Page
Product image
Spirit Torino
Pulsar
6000
6000
/
2
Reviews
Spirit Torino is a hifi headphone brand that pioneered the Twin Pulse Isobaric System, which uses two synchronized drivers working as one to deliver speaker-like dynamics and weight uncommon in headphones. The brand follows an "inertial frame" philosophy with heavy, mass-loaded aluminum shells and user-tunable mechanical filters that allow listeners to adjust sound signatures without EQ.
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Expand Details

Video review

Our take on the brand

Spirit Torino is a hifi headphone brand that pioneered the Twin Pulse Isobaric System, which uses two synchronized drivers working as one to deliver speaker-like dynamics and weight uncommon in headphones. The brand follows an "inertial frame" philosophy with heavy, mass-loaded aluminum shells and user-tunable mechanical filters that allow listeners to adjust sound signatures without EQ.
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
Product Page
Product Page

What competes at this price?

ZMF
Caldera Closed
3499
/
Released
2024
ZMF's first fully closed planar headphone, developed from the Caldera Open model. Awarded Headfonics Best Ortho 2023, the Caldera Closed features the patented Atrium Damping System, along with the patent-pending Caldera Pad and Caldera Magnet Systems. Sonically the Closed version imparts the speed, immediacy and dynamism of the open, while adding a sub-bass boost and tastefully closer(ish) to Harman tuning with the incredible isolation of a closed back.
Check Amazon
ZMF is a boutique hifi headphone brand that crafts one-of-a-kind wooden headphones from stabilized resin-wood billets, each harvested, processed, and assembled in the USA. Their patented acoustic systems include the Atrium Damping System (ADS) and the Caldera's trapezoidal magnet structure. The brand offers lifetime driver warranties and maintains measurement transparency using professional B&K equipment. They have created a distinct enthusiast culture around their annual "ZMF November" limited-edition sales.
Expand Details

Our Summary

Product Strengths

  • Excellent build quality and visually stunning design with unique wood cups, making each unit unique
  • Good bass response with well-balanced tonality, texture, definition, speed, and dynamics
  • Treble presentation is excellent, smooth, bright, and airy without being overly forward or fatiguing
  • The Caldera Closed uses Atrium Damping System (ADS) for a more natural sound decay
  • Very resolving with class-leading dynamics

Product Considerations

  • Mid-range tonality may be uneven and forward for some listeners, potentially causing fatigue or a 'hollow' timbre
  • Soundstage is relatively narrow compared to some other closed-back headphones
  • Can be moderately difficult to drive, not suitable for all portable amplifiers
  • Weight might be an issue for some users, though well-distributed
  • Requires high-quality audio tracks to sound its best

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

  • Versus Caldera Open, the closed version has a superior treble presentation, the open is preferable in the mid-range
  • Versus the Dan Clark Audio E3, the Caldera Closed is easier to drive and has better dynamics, the E3 has a wider soundstage and is more comfortable
  • The Caldera Closed is more spacious sounding than the Atrium Closed
  • The Caldera Closed is better than the Verite Closed for all-day listening

Takeaway: The ZMF Caldera Closed is a beautifully crafted, high-performance closed-back headphone with excellent bass and treble, making for a fun and engaging listening experience. The versatility to use it with most amps makes it a great choice.

Video review

Our take on the brand

ZMF is a boutique hifi headphone brand that crafts one-of-a-kind wooden headphones from stabilized resin-wood billets, each harvested, processed, and assembled in the USA. Their patented acoustic systems include the Atrium Damping System (ADS) and the Caldera's trapezoidal magnet structure. The brand offers lifetime driver warranties and maintains measurement transparency using professional B&K equipment. They have created a distinct enthusiast culture around their annual "ZMF November" limited-edition sales.
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
Product Page
Product Page
Austrian Audio
The Composer
2699
/
Released
2024
The Composer is a premium reference headphone designed for connoisseurs and professionals to hear their music in its finest form. These headphones deliver spacious yet precise high frequencies and faithful and swift bass impulses at remarkably low THD (Total Harmonic Distortion) levels, ensuring an incredibly revealing listening journey that sets new standards in high-end listening.
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Austrian Audio, founded by the former AKG Vienna core team, manufactures its own ceramic CKR12 capsules and Hi-X headphone drivers in-house in Vienna. Their capsule consistency is so precise that any two microphones can be used as a stereo pair without matching. The brand's microphones feature unique tech, including dual-output mode for reshaping polar patterns in post-production, and real-time wireless polar pattern control via Bluetooth.
Expand Details

Our Summary

Product Strengths

  • Built with premium, high-quality, sturdy materials with a solid feel
  • Very comfortable and relatively lightweight, suitable for long listening sessions
  • Easy to drive with low impedance and reasonable sensitivity
  • Delivers a reference-grade sense of clarity, balance, and vast soundstage
  • Excellent instrument separation and imaging
  • Easy to drive with low impedance and reasonable sensitivity

Product Considerations

  • Some reviewers found the range of headband adjustment limited, making it potentially unsuitable for those with smaller heads
  • The banana plug cable connectors are proprietary, limiting third-party cable options
  • The stock cable is acceptable, but not particularly premium feeling
  • The bass is a little lightweight and might require EQ adjustment for some listeners
  • A dip at 2kHz was noted by some reviewers

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

  • Vs Sennheiser HD800S: The Composer has better bass extension, but the HD800S has better resolution and detail
  • Vs HIFIMAN Arya/HE1000 series: The Composer sounds more natural than some HIFIMAN planars, and it may have greater bass depth
  • Vs Meze Audio Empyrean II: The Composer goes deeper in the soundstage, with better layering and more sub-bass presence, but the Empyrean II is softer and more relaxed
  • Vs ZMF Outure Classic: The Composer has better bass response but is smoother and more tame in the treble

Takeaway: The Austrian Audio Composer is a well-built, comfortable, and easy-to-drive headphone with a balanced, clear, and detailed sound signature. It offers a reference quality that can be great for critical listening and casual enjoyment.

Video review

Our take on the brand

Austrian Audio, founded by the former AKG Vienna core team, manufactures its own ceramic CKR12 capsules and Hi-X headphone drivers in-house in Vienna. Their capsule consistency is so precise that any two microphones can be used as a stereo pair without matching. The brand's microphones feature unique tech, including dual-output mode for reshaping polar patterns in post-production, and real-time wireless polar pattern control via Bluetooth.
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
Product Page
Product Page
Abyss
Diana MR
2995
/
Released
2023
DIANA MR headphones are designed to connect those who appreciate top shelf headphone sound with a minor focus on midrange and vocals. ABYSS developed this highly refined full-range planar headphone with ultra low distortion and smooth addictive clarity to sound. A relatively low 30 ohm impedance works well with low voltage portable battery operated gear as well as higher power desktop electronics, extracting excellent resolution while still sounding lush in the bass.
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Abyss is a hifi headphone brand that uses a patented single-sided planar-magnetic driver architecture and machines all-aluminum chassis with foamed-aluminum acoustics in their New York facility, targeting a "speakers-in-room" sound rather than typical headphone presentation. The brand offers granular fit adjustments through magnetic pad systems and interchangeable acoustic pads that allow owners to intentionally shift tonal balance, supported by a 10-year warranty and vertical integration from driver production to final assembly.
Expand Details

Our Summary

Product Strengths

  • Delivers a beautifully smooth and refreshingly beefy tuning compared to previous Diana headphones
  • The most comfortable planar magnetic set of cans ever worn
  • Build quality is very impressive
  • Good mid-range

Product Considerations

  • Needs additional padding for optimal scalp comfort
  • Treble can become problematic

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

  • Diana MR most remind reviewer of a super version of the HIFIMAN Edition XS
  • Spatial presentation is better from the HIFIMAN HE1000SE, and the midrange is better balanced as well

Takeaway: The Diana MR is the most accessible set of high-end open-back planar headphones to date from Abyss. It is a fun and impressive listen.

Video review

Our take on the brand

Abyss is a hifi headphone brand that uses a patented single-sided planar-magnetic driver architecture and machines all-aluminum chassis with foamed-aluminum acoustics in their New York facility, targeting a "speakers-in-room" sound rather than typical headphone presentation. The brand offers granular fit adjustments through magnetic pad systems and interchangeable acoustic pads that allow owners to intentionally shift tonal balance, supported by a 10-year warranty and vertical integration from driver production to final assembly.
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
Product Page
Product Page
HIFIMAN
Isvarna
2899
/
Released
2024
ISVARNA — Premium Open-Back Headphones with Enhanced Bass Response and Precision Crossover Design.
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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.
Expand Details

Our Summary

Product Strengths

  • Combines planar magnetic and dynamic drivers to deliver both detail/speed and powerful bass response
  • Comfortable for long listening sessions, despite having two drivers per side and a crossover
  • Produces clean and detailed sound, with a decent sense of clarity
  • Relatively easy to drive compared to other planar magnetic headphones
  • Smooth transition between the dynamic and planar drivers, creating a coherent sound

Product Considerations

  • Has a mid-bass hump and a roll-off in the sub-bass region, which may not appeal to all listeners or genres
  • Treble response may be too energetic for treble-sensitive individuals
  • The tuning may not be suitable as an 'all-rounder' headphone for all music genres
  • Needs a solid-state amplifier to control the dynamic driver in the low end

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

  • Vs HiFiMan HE-1000SE: The Isvarna has a wider soundstage, but less height and depth
  • Vs HiFiMan ARIA Organic: The Isvarna has more bass
  • Vs Kennerton Veneta: The HiFiMan is more bassy for bass heads

Takeaway: The HiFiMan Isvarna is a unique headphone that delivers a fun and engaging listening experience with its hybrid driver design, especially for those who enjoy bass. It is comfortable, relatively easy to drive, and offers a clean and detailed sound.

Video review

Our take on the brand

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.
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
Product Page
Product Page
final
D8000 Pro Edition
4799
/
Released
2019
Introducing the D8000 Pro Edition high end headphones bestseller. Leaving the delicate sound quality intact, we have tuned D8000 using the Air Film Damping System (AFDS) exclusively for professional use upon the request of recording engineers who wish to listen at louder sound volumes than ordinary consumers. The human auditory characteristic by which low frequency range becomes easier to hear as sound volume increases has also been taken into consideration. As a result, in comparison to the D8000 which is suitable particularly for classical music and other selections featuring a wide dynamic range, the D8000 Pro Edition provides sound quality perceived to be of higher clarity when listening to rock, pops and other selections that feature a narrow dynamic range.
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Final is a hifi audio brand known for deep in-house manufacturing control by designing and building its own diaphragm-forming machines and assembly jigs, while engineering products like their D-series headphones for longevity through screw-fastened parts that enable user repairs and future upgrades.
Expand Details

Our Summary

Product Strengths

  • Excellent bass reproduction with well-textured low tones, exceptional definition, articulation, and clean, nuanced deep sub-bass extension.
  • Detail retrieval and image clarity are remarkably good, competing with some of the very best headphones in the summit category.
  • Outstanding build quality, featuring a precisely machined aluminum-magnesium alloy chassis, conveys sturdiness and care in assembly.
  • The new pads are made from Toray Ultrasuede and are deeper and marginally firmer than the original memory foam cushions.
  • Easy to drive, with 60-ohm impedance and 98 dB sensitivity.

Product Considerations

  • A bit scooped out in the two kilohertz to three kilohertz range, almost like the ear gain has been taken and moved upwards in the frequency spectrum a bit.
  • Comfort can be an issue, due to the circular earcups not fitting larger ears well and the headband lacking sufficient padding for the headphone's weight.
  • The stock cable with the quarter-inch termination is heavy, potentially dragging the headphone down uncomfortably.
  • The proprietary 3.5mm connectors with locking mechanisms can make finding aftermarket cables difficult.

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

  • Compared to the HIFIMAN Susvara, the Susvara is lighter, more comfortable, and also has better detail retrieval.
  • Compared to the Audeze LCD4, the Final Audio D8000 Pro competes in many of the technical aspects that really matter, like detail.

Takeaway: The D8000 Pro is a well-built, detailed headphone with exceptional bass and a unique planar sound signature, perfect for audiophiles who want something different from standard planar sound profiles. Its high level of detail and solid dynamics create an engaging listening experience for those who appreciate nuanced sound.

Video review

Our take on the brand

Final is a hifi audio brand known for deep in-house manufacturing control by designing and building its own diaphragm-forming machines and assembly jigs, while engineering products like their D-series headphones for longevity through screw-fastened parts that enable user repairs and future upgrades.
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
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