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Head to head · for music listening
HIFIMAN Sundara vs Edition XS
More people recommend the HIFIMAN Sundara overall (79 vs 27). Only 1 of the 49 comments naming both explicitly choose one (0 for the HIFIMAN Sundara, 1 for the HIFIMAN Edition XS), too few to call a winner.
- Comments naming both
- 49
- Say they own both
- 2
- Choose the Sundara
- 0
- Choose the Edition XS
- 1
Preference evidence:Limited1 explicit choice among 49 comments naming both.What the levels mean
Counted across 20 review videos, harvested Sep 2026. A comment counts as a choice only when it says so in plain words (prefer X over Y, upgraded from Y to X); questions never count. Quotes are whole sentences of 12 words or fewer, linked to where they were said. How we count.
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical price | $179cheaper | $209 |
| Overall rank | #7higher | #22 |
| People who recommend it | 79more | 27 |
| Say they own it | 109more | 36 |
| Mentions | 806more | 304 |
| Type | open-back planar wired | open-back planar wired |
| Known for | Planar detailHomeAmp helps | PlanarSpaceValue |
| Best for | The planar most often recommended under $200, by people who already have, or will buy, a small desktop amp. | Recommended as the planar to buy when you want Arya-style space for a fraction of the price. |
| Buy | Amazon · $179 | Amazon · $209Direct |
People who mention both, in their own words
“Edition XS > Sundara >>>> ALL”
Picks the Edition XSA commenter under Best Headphones Under $500 Compared! (The Headphone Show) · Sep 2022
#7 overall
HIFIMAN Sundara
6 of the 49 comments naming both come from people who say they own this one.
What owners love
- Planar speed and detail that people say is unmatched at the price
- Good soundstage and imaging; responds well to EQ
- Frequently on sale or open-box direct from HIFIMAN, which is how many owners bought it
- Comfortable and clean; several owners say they stopped shopping after buying it
The complaints
- Needs a proper amp or DAC/amp; weak from a phone
- Older units had driver failures and some people call HIFIMAN build and quality control poor
- Tuning takes getting used to; a couple of listeners simply do not like planars
In their words
“I bought the Sundara on your recommendations and really love it”
A commenter under Sundara v 660S v 1990 (Under $500 Headphone Comparison) (Joshua Valour) · Feb 2020
“I got my Sundaras at a crazy price, and I love them”
A commenter under The Best Deal in Audio... Period. (Joshua Valour) · Nov 2024
“I use the sundaras and i would recommend them”
A commenter under Why Do All Streamers Use These Headphones? (Dagwummy) · Jul 2023
#22 overall
HIFIMAN Edition XS
3 of the 49 comments naming both come from people who say they own this one.
What owners love
- Owners call it the best sound under $300 and better than anything in the $300-500 range
- Huge soundstage and clarity; takes EQ bass boosts without distortion
- The price keeps dropping, and people who bought at $169-$270 call it the best deal in audio
The complaints
- The headband and build: thin stock pads and a strap many owners mod or replace
- Big and awkward for some heads; uncomfortable for a minority
- HIFIMAN quality control and support worry owners
- Needs a DAC/amp to shine
In their words
“I really love my Hifiman Edition XS, cheap but really amazing pair”
A commenter under The Headphones I actually use. (DankPods) · Sep 2024
“I also have the HiFiman Edition XS and love them as well”
A commenter under Why You SHOULDN'T Buy HD 600... & What To Get Instead (The Headphone Show) · Sep 2025
“to Hifiman Edition XS and love them too”
A commenter under Don't Buy Studio Headphones Until You See This Tier List! (Under $500) (Andrew Chapman Creative) · Dec 2025
Questions people ask about this pair
Every answer is built from the counts on this page, not from our own listening.
- Is the HIFIMAN Sundara better than the HIFIMAN Edition XS?
- Only 1 of the 49 comments naming both choose one (0 for the HIFIMAN Sundara, 1 for the HIFIMAN Edition XS), too few to call a winner. Overall, 79 people recommend the HIFIMAN Sundara and 27 the HIFIMAN Edition XS.
- Which is cheaper, the HIFIMAN Sundara or the HIFIMAN Edition XS?
- The HIFIMAN Sundara is cheaper: $179 against $209 when we last checked. Prices move, so the buy buttons show the live price.
- Which do more people recommend, the HIFIMAN Sundara or the HIFIMAN Edition XS?
- The HIFIMAN Sundara: 79 people recommend it against 27. On the site-wide leaderboard the HIFIMAN Sundara is #7 and the HIFIMAN Edition XS is #22.
- Do people own both the HIFIMAN Sundara and the HIFIMAN Edition XS?
- Yes. 2 of the 49 comments that name both come from people who say they own both pairs. 6 say they own the HIFIMAN Sundara and 3 the HIFIMAN Edition XS.
- What do owners complain about on the HIFIMAN Sundara and the HIFIMAN Edition XS?
- The most repeated complaint about the HIFIMAN Sundara: needs a proper amp or DAC/amp; weak from a phone. About the HIFIMAN Edition XS: the headband and build: thin stock pads and a strap many owners mod or replace. The full lists are on each side below.