The Edition XV are standout headphones from HiFiMan. For $400, they’re some incredible mid-fi headphones that can push some bass-heavy and fully detailed audio if appropriately powered. They’re great for all-day listening, too!
The HiFiMan Edition XV sound weird. I know that sentence reads as a negative, but it’s worth noting that audio tuning and preferences vary wildly from ear to ear. Where one might praise a set of cans from Apple as being lively and powerful, another listener would quickly criticize those same cans as having an overly-emphasized bass that drowns out too much musical detail. When I say that the Edition XV sound weird, you should interpret that sentence as “these headphones sound highly unlike anything I have tested before…in a good way and a bad way.”
I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s focus on HiFiMan for a moment.
A few months ago, we started covering the array of HiFi audio products from HiFiMan. We’ve been quite impressed with their headphones’ tuning. They’re pricey, yes, but remember: High fidelity audio headphones typically don’t come cheap, nor should you settle for anything less than subpar. You should instead make a mindful decision based on your audio preferences; your ears will thank you. HiFiMan’s lineup of planar magnetic headphones are worthy of your consideration given how they punch above their price point with minimal compromises.
Before continuing further, I want to emphasize that the Edition XVs are a set of mid-fi headphones. Their price point is reflective of a higher audio quality that only be obtained when properly powered by a proper DAC/AMP combo. These headphones won’t produce amazing sound right out of the box – most mid-fi-and-higher cans require additional tech to get to those upper echelons of audio quality that many wish for but rarely come across. I’m going to assume that you already have such equipment in this review; if you don’t, you should most definitely invest in additional audio equipment before considering these headphones.
Check out the HiFiMan Edition XV on HiFiMan’s store by clicking here! (non-affiliated URL)
For this review, I tested the Edition XV using several EQ settings and my JD Labs Atom. After a period of around 80 hours breaking the headphones in without adjusting EQ, I tinkered with EQ further before settling with the recommended settings from /r/oratory1990. The screenshot below is of the settings I used during my final 20 hours of testing:
Let’s talk sound quality. I’ve become accustomed to detailed trebles, natural bass, and neutral brightness that some describe as “fun” or the “standard HiFiMan audio signature.” You can make the argument that the planar magnetic tech within the headphones is doing some heavy lifting in creating audio that’s realistic and precise. Minute details can be discerned easily, down to smaller tidbits like singers taking breaths and fingers sliding across guitar strings. The Edition XV steps away from this typical sound signature with a more prominent midrange that repositions vocals and some instruments closer to the listener.
The Edition XV’s treble is shockingly smooth, almost to the point of being toned down. Over longer sessions, the refined treble makes for easy listening for long periods without feeling that plasticky sharpness that can be discerned from some effects. If you find that Gorillaz’ “Clint Eastwood” is too harsh in some conditions, you’ll be relieved to know that the cymbal-heavy introduction sounds controlled without losing its powerful bite. The Edition XV handles bright and treble-heavy tracks with ease.
Remember how I said that the Edition XV sound weird? That weirdness is attributed to a shockingly airy and wide soundstage that makes music feel like it’s coming from above your head. This became immediately apparent when I was testing some EDM/house live sets from the likes of Diplo, DANSYN, and Vintage Culture. When wearing the headphones, it felt like I was standing in front of a set of speakers that were several feet above my head yet positioned at an angle where I could feel and hear everything. It’s almost like Dolby Atmos’ surround sound encapsulated within a single set of cans.
There’s some weight to the Edition XV’s bass that can make them feel clean and moderately controlled, but not overpowering. It solidly represents the “Planar Bass” description that many HiFiMan owners have come to enjoy over the years, albeit with slightly more prominence. Bass lines have weight. Kick-drums have impact. Audio is full bodied and weighty in the right ways. As a result, vocals can sound a smidge recessed (especially considering the spaciousness of the soundstage).
For the sake of comparison within HiFiMan’s lineup of mid-fi headphones, the closest product I’ve tested lies with the Sundara. Where the Edition XV has a mind-blowing soundstage (that can be misunderstood as “weird” – blame me for that), the Sundara (open-backed) leans fully into the midrange for a highly detailed audio experience that makes vocals shine. While similar in some respects to the Edition XV, the Edition XS has more energetic treble at the cost of a less-than-comfortable listening experience.
Oy, I haven’t even commented on fit, comfort, and build quality yet. The Edition XV blew me away in the comfort department. The giant, generous, and egg-shaped earcups are surrounded by leatherette/cloth pads that rest gently around my ears. The headphones boast a novel headband mechanism (which is reportedly now standard for HiFiMan’s newer mid-fi headphones – I’ll see as I continue to review other models in this price range) that is easier to adjust and feels quite premium. These headphones have some heft (around 500g worth, mind you), but you can’t feel it thanks to how the headphones’ headband easily distributes the weight. These headphones were so dang comfortable, there was no head fatigue whatsoever during my review period.
They look stunning, too. The outer metal showcases some well-designed honeycomb-shaped grille work and a shiny finish that screams premium finish. Even from far away, these headphones represent the premium aesthetic.
The only quibble I had with these headphones was with the mesh grille within the earcups. I kept thinking that one of the mesh grilles were loose and crinkled, but it turned out that my longer hair was brushing against the grille. When I got my hair cut at the end of the review period, the crinkle sensation stopped altogether, so be mindful of that should you choose these incredible cans.
I’ve seen some folks online claim that the Edition XV are the best $400 you can spend on some mid-fi headphones. I wholeheartedly agree with this statement, weirdness (in a good way!) and all. Where I differ in opinion is when some folks claim that these cans will provide great audio right out of the box, no tuning required. Sure, they sound great, but EQ tuning and additional hardware will push these headphones to their fullest potential. Don’t settle for good audio if opting for the Edition XV – take the time to adjust these headphones and enjoy some truly incredible audio in a comfortable form.
The Edition XV are standout headphones from HiFiMan. For $400, they’re some incredible mid-fi headphones that can push some bass-heavy and fully detailed audio if appropriately powered. They’re great for all-day listening, too!
