Edition XV Review: a HiFiMan headphone with a warm and melodic sound

The HiFiMan Edition XV is the latest evolution of the “Edition X” series headphones from the well-known Chinese company.

HiFiMan Electronics is a Chinese company founded in 2007 by Dr. Fang Bian. HiFiMan has gained great popularity with its line of advanced planar magnetic headphones, which have won numerous awards in recent years and are considered among the best in their respective price ranges. In addition to headphones, HiFiMan also produces other high-end audio electronics: DACs, headphone amplifiers, and portable music players. The Chinese company’s “X” line was introduced to the market in 2015 with the “Edition X” headphones and later developed with the “Edition X V2”, and in 2021 with what is perhaps the most popular and well-known model in the series, the “Edition XS“, introduced in 2021. The headphones in this series follow the principles introduced by the revolutionary HE-1000, starting with the large asymmetrical egg-shaped ear cups and ultra-thin diaphragm drivers, while aiming to reduce the price and improve ease of use and drivability to appeal to a wider audience.

Overview

Recently released on the market, the HiFiMan Edition XV is the latest addition to the HiFiMan “X” series. Compared to the previous Edition XS, the XV features upgraded magnets, a new and lighter ergonomic headband, and a new diaphragm with “Neo Supernano” technology, 60% thinner than that of the Edition XS.

Here are the technical specifications:

• Frequency response: 8Hz – 50KHz
• Impedance: 12 Ohms
• Sensitivity: 92dB
• Weight: 452g

The Edition XV is easily available on Amazon, at a price of around 400 euros.

The Edition XV looks exactly like all other HiFiMan headphones: it comes in a standard cardboard box, protected by a foam damping material that can also be used as a stand for the headphones. The only accessory included is a 1.5-meter unbalanced cable, with an adapter for connection to a 6.35 mm headphone output.

Once taken out of the box, the Edition XV reveals itself as a planar magnetic headphone of large size, elegant and solid. The new headband and the new hexagonal grille give the Edition XV a much more robust look compared to similar previous-generation HiFiMan headphones, such as the Edition XS or the Ananda Nano, which appear rather fragile in comparison.

Once worn, the Edition XV is quite comfortable despite its weight (450g) being far from light. The new ergonomic headband, heavily criticized on the HE600 for not adapting well to particularly large heads, is in this case perfectly adequate in length thanks to the larger ear cups of the Edition XV. The pressure on the head remains medium-high, probably due to the rather short leather strap, and some may find it uncomfortable. In this case, as with many other HiFiMan planar magnetic headphones with “giant” drivers and teardrop-shaped ear cups, talking about pressure on the ears is inappropriate since the ear cups fully surround the ears with minimal contact.

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Sound

Let’s move on to the listening tests: we had the opportunity to test the Edition XV for weeks, pairing it with HiFiMan’s own DAC/headphone amplifiers EF400, EF500, and EF600, as well as the Fosi Audio ZH3 and ZD3, and comparing it with other HiFiMan planar magnetic headphones and the Fosi Audio i5.

Having tested numerous HiFiMan headphones in the past, after just a few minutes of listening to the Edition XV it becomes clear that the sound of this headphone is not a simple “refinement” of the Edition XS, nor another variation of the typical HiFiMan tuning, but rather a true shift by the Chinese company toward a warmer and smoother sound. In fact, HiFiMan has almost consistently adopted in its recent models a rather bright sound signature, with slightly emphasized highs and upper mids, especially in their “Stealth” headphone series. This is a tuning that is widely debated in the headphone hi-fi community: many love it, while others more sensitive to high frequencies feel that these headphones require equalization to perform at their best.

The Edition XV is a headphone that will be loved by those who do not enjoy bright highs and find other HiFiMan planar magnetic headphones too analytical: the XV’s upper midrange is tuned so that it is never overly emphasized compared to the rest of the spectrum, resulting in an overall sound that is very “dense” in the low and low-mid frequencies, never fatiguing and at times truly engaging. The midrange is perhaps the highlight: clear yet never too light, very melodic. Vocals are quite full-bodied and realistic, never harsh or sibilant.

The soundstage is not as wide as in higher-end models, but the spatial organization is good, creating the impression of listening in a small room, with slower passages that feel pleasantly intimate and close. The trade-off for this smoother, slightly warm tuning is a less “airy” sound compared to other planar magnetics, with the perception of slightly reduced micro-detail and a narrower stereo image.

Pairings

We particularly liked the pairing with the Fosi Audio ZH3, and in general, given the headphone’s tuning, we see good synergy with amplifiers that have a transparent and detailed sound, such as many common DAC/headphone amp combos based on ESS or AKM chips. The Edition XV is very easy to drive with any modern desktop amplifier. Given the headphone’s very low impedance and moderate sensitivity, even some portable devices should be able to handle it properly; however, in our opinion, trying to use such a large and heavy headphone—clearly not designed for on-the-go use—with a portable device does not make much sense.

It goes without saying that we also achieved good performance with the company’s own DAC/amps, so expect solid results when pairing it with the EF400 or the EF500.

Conclusions

Ultimately, the Edition XV is much more than an evolution of the Edition XS: it is a headphone that sounds completely different and, in some ways, marks a revolution in HiFiMan’s entry/mid-level lineup. If you do not like headphones that are too analytical or too aggressive in the upper midrange and instead prefer a warmer, more musical presentation that is never fatiguing and suitable for any genre, the Edition XV is the planar magnetic headphone for you. At its current price of around 400 euros, we feel confident recommending it to anyone looking for a headphone with these characteristics.

Interested in the Edition XV? >> Check current price and availability on Amazon.

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