HiFiMan Susvara Over-Ear Planar Headphone - Official Thread

Headphones Official Headphone Model Discussion
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How were you affixing the pads? Did you use the HiFiMAN Pad plastic ring? or did you just affix them directly to the cup.

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Super glue for the best seal. :ok_hand:

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Especially along the part that touches the head… creates the best seal… really creates a “Lush” sound by getting the best seal possible… :wink:

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wait do you mean superglue the pads to the side of your head? That’s next level headphone enthusiasm.

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Why do you think I shave my head? Hair just gets in the way of seal. If that sucker isn’t air tight, you’re doing it wrong. :rofl:

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This!! :point_up_2: lol! Wasn’t sure if you guys would pick up on the joke…

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Hahahaha it sounds like we’ll need to start an uncensored thread! :underage:

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Had a pair of worn out pads, so i ripped out the fastening ring.

If you’ve rolled older hifimans before it’s like a slightly more finnicky, but familiar thing.
As @Feilong4 mentioned above , the old round rings will also fit, but not look quite as elegant.

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Now, it’s a bit cruel to joke about superglue as the stock pads are indeed superglued to the ring. :stuck_out_tongue:

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Great writeup. Full of great info.

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I too own the Woo Audio WA33 amp. Someone is holding a pair of Susvara headphones for me. I can’t afford the Danacable Lazuli Nirvana Cables. What would be your second choice for $1000 or less?
Bobby

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Shouldn’t you listen to the supplied cables first before you decide that they aren’t adequate?

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You would be correct. Just planning ahead. Thx.

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I read that the Norne Audio Silvergrade S3C, Cardas Clear are great cables for the Susvara but those are pure silver - which I personally don’t really dig the sound on most of my headphones and didn’t want to risk it so I’ve ordered a Norne Audio Einvaldi Reference 8-wire (Silver and Copper) for the Susvara and should be delivered sometime this week. Again, based on the reviews and impressions available on various forums you can’t go wrong with the Cardas Clear or the Silvergrade S3C.

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That’s a great place for me to start. Thx for the post.

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Since the Easter Bunny did not show up with a basket of headphones, after a bottle of Pinot Noir later that night to walk my sorrows away. Easter bunny decided to came back today, bearing gifts via a little white truck with red and blue stripes.

Tried them on Headphone outs my UA Apollo x8 this afternoon while on conference calls, I will say it made the vocals sound very natural. There was enough power for this application on Susvara, even slipped few tunes between calls.

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Tonight was the first time I could get some time with Zmf Pendant with Chord Qutest. First, I can say there is plenty of power on Low-Z and High-Z outputs.

First up was some Electronica and EDM, it a good set of tracks to test Bass and Treble response.
Let there be a beat

The ZMF Pendant brings fantatic claritry and exclent fast hiting bass. Listening Ultravox Lament Xylophone is absolutly beutifully rendered, Vocal float in space.

From another play list Electronica through the ages

Switching genres

  • Dave Mathews Two Step Which can become very busy song shows clear instrument separation, never overwhelming Daves vocals.
  • Filter Hey Man Nice Shot Opening Droning Guitar rhythm, walking into kick drum quick hit with volume, over snare brings back in time, getting lost in wall of angst with the fast grinding guitar with screaming vocal over the top.
  • Bring it down with Gary Clark Jr Bright Lights, wow your in the first row now next to the drummer and Gary

Now another direction

  • 1812 Overture Op 49 , Th 49 ( Arr. Piano) Piano are just beautiful on this combo.
  • Nirvana Of Me ( Live Version) Acoustic guitar you can hear all the details like your live playing.
  • Fleetwood Mac Dreams (Take 2) Stevie Nick is just angelic, close your eyes and slip away.
  • Maria Callas Carmen, Act 1: “L’amour est un oiseau rebelle” (Carmen, Chorus) [Habanera]. The first song I need to push the amp little past noon, generally between 9 -11 o’clock on the volume with songs above. You step right into the opera house with this one.
  • Ben Howard Old Pine lovely hand-picking of the acoustic guitars following up opening harmonies time to close my eyes and enjoy.
  • Cat Power Dark End of the Street, Smokey Vocal, with simple guitar and the drummer on the snare, cymbals and kick holding time with a touch of Harmond rolling in. Nothing is congested; the instruments are perfectly spaced like your in your favorite small club.

I leave you today with Austin home town hero Stevie Ray Vaughan Tin Pan Alley where you hear every delicate note

I thought few of would like to see the relative size of a few headphones I have in my collection.

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I happily report even the Headamp GS-X mini has plenty of power, on XLR out with Bifrost 2 coming in on XLR, it another fantastic set up with these headphones. You have a darker noise floor so lots of explosive dynamics of hard-hitting bass, rich midrange, and detailed treble range.

Parov Stelar Jimmy’s Gang just hit you with authority, trumpets incredibly rendered, with rich layering in of the synth and vocals.

Thelonious Monk Straight, No Chaser. Just way it was meant to be played

I love the weight and size of these headphones. They are great with a wide variety of genres, turn out the lights and just sit back and enjoy.

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Simply stunning setup you have. What a collection. You are a lucky fellow. Enjoy.

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Thank you for your kind words. I will say it has been an adventure, started low price gear and then crawled up the ladder so I have I did the same thing when I got back into Guitar rotated though few until I had my Goldilocks moments. I am sure this is not the end, I would still love to hear the Utopia, Empyrean, and SR1a but they have to be on a loaner program since I really like where Susvara size, weight, sound quality with my two main amps the Zmf Pendant and Headamp GS-X Mini)

I look back over the years I filtered ( bought and sold off or handed to the kids) though a few headphones.

  • Sony MDR-7506 ( Gave to my son)
  • Audio Technica MTH-50 ( it is beat to death) and MTH-50x ( now use for field recordings )
  • Beyerdynamic DT-880 pro
  • AKG K712 Pro
  • Hifiman HE-560
  • Hifiman Ananda
  • Hifiman HE-4xx ( gave to my son)
  • Focal Elex
  • Dan Audio Aeon X ( Aeon Flow Open)

Countless Earbuds/In-ears

  • Anyone remember Velodyne V-Plus - just found it the other day

There is another post at some point talking about what I learned about Impedance and Sensitivity of headphones and their application - there are sweet spots

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Such a great journey. I don’t think it ever ends as long as the interest is there.

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That is one great collection, I would love to have just half of those :heart_eyes:

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