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Head to head · for music listening
HIFIMAN Sundara vs HE1000
More people recommend the HIFIMAN Sundara overall (79 vs 13). None of the 10 comments that name both says outright which one to buy, so read the loves and complaints and decide by taste.
- Comments naming both
- 10
- Say they own both
- 1
- Choose the Sundara
- 0
- Choose the HE1000
- 0
Preference evidence:Limited0 explicit choices among 10 comments naming both.What the levels mean
Counted across 5 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 | $1399 |
| Overall rank | #7higher | #31 |
| People who recommend it | 79more | 13 |
| Say they own it | 109more | 17 |
| Mentions | 806more | 190 |
| Type | open-back planar wired | open-back planar wired |
| Known for | Planar detailHomeAmp helps | AiryScaleNeeds amp |
| Best for | The planar most often recommended under $200, by people who already have, or will buy, a small desktop amp. | Recommended as a wide, airy end-game planar by people who want scale rather than punch. |
| Buy | Amazon · $179 | Amazon · $1399 |
#7 overall
HIFIMAN Sundara
1 of the 10 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
#31 overall
HIFIMAN HE1000 (V2 / se / Stealth)
1 of the 10 comments naming both come from people who say they own this one.
What owners love
- Owners describe hearing things in familiar tracks for the first time
- Lighter and more comfortable than an Audeze LCD-X; usable lying down
- Called a monster of a headphone that defines end-game for staging
The complaints
- More analytical than fun for some tastes
- HIFIMAN build and quality-control reputation
- Price varies wildly by version
In their words
“I've since rebought he1000v2 as it's my favorite headphone of all time”
A commenter under HiFiMAN HE1000 V2 Live Impressions & Measurements - Resolve Q&A (The Headphone Show) · Dec 2022
“I love my Hifiman HE1000SE, EQd”
A commenter under ARYA ORGANIC -VS- EVERYTHING! (Joshua Valour) · Aug 2023
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 HE1000?
- None of the 10 comments naming both says outright which one to buy. Overall, 79 people recommend the HIFIMAN Sundara and 13 the HIFIMAN HE1000. Read what owners love and complain about below and decide by taste.
- Which is cheaper, the HIFIMAN Sundara or the HIFIMAN HE1000?
- The HIFIMAN Sundara is cheaper: $179 against $1399 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 HE1000?
- The HIFIMAN Sundara: 79 people recommend it against 13. On the site-wide leaderboard the HIFIMAN Sundara is #7 and the HIFIMAN HE1000 is #31.
- Do people own both the HIFIMAN Sundara and the HIFIMAN HE1000?
- Yes. 1 of the 10 comments that name both come from people who say they own both pairs. 1 say they own the HIFIMAN Sundara and 1 the HIFIMAN HE1000.
- What do owners complain about on the HIFIMAN Sundara and the HIFIMAN HE1000?
- The most repeated complaint about the HIFIMAN Sundara: needs a proper amp or DAC/amp; weak from a phone. About the HIFIMAN HE1000: more analytical than fun for some tastes. The full lists are on each side below.