Here u go @MrCypruz
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Finally some evidence! Thanks for sharing Dex.
I wonder if they tweaked the drivers / soundā¦ I hope not. Lol
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They OP from that post claims that it āfeels harderā to drive. Not sure about that though as that wouldnāt be a silent revision, instead a full revision which could require disclosure.
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Hi everybody, Can the phonitor x/xe drive the Susvara to close to its max potential? Any experiences with that amp? I will be using an rme adi-2 pro be as my face. Thanks for the help!
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Based on my experience with the Phonitor X, the short answer is NO, it canāt drive the Susvara to its full potential even with the dip switches ON (12 & 22 dBU boost). It sounds satisfactory but still a bit underpowered, lacking that cavernous stage that the Susvara is known for, the punch (even though the Susās softness) also lacks and the sense of ease to the sound is also not there.
The Susvara came to life when I added the Performer s800 power amp driven by the Phonitor X. I was driving the Susvara directly from the speaker taps and everything sounded much better, namely: the out of head and deep stage experience, better dynamics and more punch (again albeit the overall softness of the Susvara) and the sense of ease to the sound. It felt like the headphones disappeared and the music was just there.
These days I use the PX+s800 combo as my SS rig and the Woo Audio WA33 as my tube rig for the Susvara.
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try the bakoon 13R if you can swing itā¦simply wonderful with the susvara
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I hadnāt planned on getting Susvaraātoo expensive, and I couldnāt imagine how anything could justify such a steep premium over Utopia. However, some stars aligned and I got a great deal on a pair, and, well, Iām ruined.
Having heard from another owner of Susvara (who normally used a Benchmark AHB2) that A90 drives it well, I scrambled to order one to replace the Monoprice 887 that had been my desktop reference amp up until that point. Iām happy to report that combo (fed by an ADI-2 DAC) is mighty impressive. Ruinously good.
Given their haughty reputation, I challenged Susvara to prove their superiority over my beloved Utopia with a London Symphony Orchestra rendition of the theme from 2001: A Space Odyssey. Something had to be a first track, so I threw down a gauntlet: show me youāre good enough to deserve this kind of exaltation, you crazy headphone.
It turns out that was a prescient choice, because Susvara proceeded to school me with the most realistic timbre and convincing dynamics Iāve heard outside of loudspeaker systems that could qualify for a mortgage. Notably, cymbal crashes had a presence that real cymbals in the same room have, but recordings of cymbals never seem to reproduce correctlyāa sort of instantaneous loudness that announces that a collision has occurred nearby.
The other thing that stuck out during continued listening was the bassāevery kind of bass, from soft, fuzzy, diffuse bass to punchy, impactful bass, to grippy bass where you can feel the low-frequency ripple. Susvara excelled at every aspect of bass in a deeply impressive way.
Susvara also performed what Iāve come to call the ādisappearing headphone trick,ā where audio playback is so natural and smooth and convincing that it doesnāt sound as though youāre listening to headphones at all, but rather that sound is just happening all around. Very, very few headphones have managed to be so refined. Maybe Susvara and VC, paired with the Pendant.
Speaking of whichāI was surprised and pleased to discover that Susvara plays well with the Pendant, too:
I am not a tube expert, nor terribly experienced with tube amps, but having recently acquired the Pendant and VC, I wanted to try out the combination. It turns out the Pendant is plenty powerful enough to drive Susvara and the same general benefits that I get with VC are noticeable with Susvara as well.
Although Pendant lost the amazing cymbal-crash dynamics and realism, it added the enhanced sense of holographic space and intoxicatingly smooth delivery that makes virtually any type of music an absolute joy to experience. Sure, if I want to feel like Iām sitting in front of a live orchestra, Iāll go back to solid state, but if I want get lost in music for literally hours, until my eyelids are at war with my ears and my brain keeps screaming āJust One More Song!ā¢ā then Pendant is the ticket.
For those of you who know what youāre doing with tubes, Iām using the NOS set of Baldwin tubes picked by Zach and supplied with my amp. Theyāre the first thing I plugged in, and theyāre the only thing Iāve listened to since the Pendant arrived. Apparently, not rolling is how I roll. 
Iāve yet to find anything I donāt like about Susvara, or any tracks that donāt pair well, aside from my noted preference for a SS chain when real instruments are the star of a piece. Otherwise, the only nits to pick are the price, and some minor challenges with powering them properly. And, I guess the stock cables kinda remind me of a vacuum cleaner power cord, but theyāre soft and flexible and functional. As long as I donāt spend too much time handling them and thinking about the weird texture, thereās really no reason to complain.
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Fantastic. Cover me in jealousy sauce and then cook me in an envy pie. Great setup.
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Just a quick personal rating and record of my amp paring experience thus far with the Susvaras.
- Update 2.10 - Added CS-55A, Vidar and MC-10L, previous post deleted (unable to edit). Added as X.5.
Short background: I messed a bit around with a HE-6 a couple of years back, from that memory the Susvara seems a bit more forgiving in terms of āpower scalingā and pairing. I am not the most pairing dependant listner, if the can is good and the drive isnāt totally botched i can usually enjoy it just fine. However, there are differences and benefits to be had for sure just not world bending for me personally.
Shouldāve had a higher tier SS headamp to compare with and probably a fat Class A speaker amp. But it is what it is.
1 - Rating: Very good
McIntosh MA352 - 200W@8 class AB
Tube hybrid, maybe unsurprisingly kind of the best of both worlds from 2 and 3. Heavier and warmer than 2, yet more precise than 3. The best amp i have for it at least according to my matching flavour, unfortunately it is rare that i bother running it on this one as it is in my living room and a bit too cumbersome to move around.
Headroom: Can blow up the Susvara.
2 - Rating: Very good
Hegel H160 - 150W@8 class AB
Very fast and clean sound possibly because Hegel runs at very high DF. An increase in impact, agility and tactility are the first things that come to mind. Makes it sound more open and clean. If i was to showcase a āreferenceā of the stuff iāve got it would probably be this. Lacks a bit of weight probably for some listenerās preference.
Headroom: Can blow up the Susvara.
2.5 - Rating: Very good
Cayin CS-55A - 22W@8/4 SET / 40W@8/4 PnP
This is a really nice option for tubes on the Sus. Also sort of comes at a nice price/perfomance point. Easy tube option for the Sus that I really like a whole lot. Where #3 struggles with headroom, this one can take it all the way. It also feels faster and more tactile than the Mog without giving up really all that much in terms of that sweet tube sound. The SET mode makes me question the power rating of the Mog and this a bit as well, as the 22W here seem way way more juicy vs the 8W of the Mog.
Headroom: More than your ears, both in SET and UL acctually
3 - Rating: Good
Mogwai SE - 8,5W@8 class A SET
Not a lot of headroom but it can drive it surprisingly well. Adds a whole lot of weight and some slam to the Susv. Retains character otherwise quite well. Neutral KT88/5AR4 roll required. Very cool flavour. Wanna kick back and relax someā¦ works well. Some people will find it too coloured for sure. I find great enjoyment out of the combination of this and 2.
Headroom: Can be maxed quite easily volume wise, though only extremely loud listeners should have a problem in practice.
3.5 - Rating: Good
Schiit Vidar - 100W@8 class AB
It will drive the Susvaras with ease and with all the slam in the world. I just found this amp a bit heavy handed in general. It makes for an appealing pairing, but itās not kind of making a ballerina into a boxer or some kind of analogy along those lines.
Headroom: Yes, plenty
4 - Rating: Average
THX789 - 6W@16 class A(?)
If you like the amp with other cans itās probably gonna do the job just fine. A bit on the flat and on the dead side. Felt uninspiring, but it does that with most headphones for me. Some will probably like it over 3 though.
Headroom: Got really loud on gain 3, but was wearable for me to the top of the pot.
4.5 - Rating: Average
Yaqin MC-10L - 52W@8/4 PnP
Barely makes it in terms of noise floor. Nothing wrong with the sound, decent extreme budget option of sorts. Kind of falls into the same cathegory as Vidar, doesnāt have enough finesse (even more-so). Pleasant and decent, but i donāt really see people going out to get a Yaqin to power a Sus really.
5 - Rating: Subpar
Bel Canto C5i - 60W@8 class D Ice
Better than 7 for sure, but i am not even sure if it was that much to gain from the humble 6. Felt cramped and dense, not really a good match in general. Something about timbre to it that felt off. I donāt like this amp much to begin with, and the Susvara felt like no exception (bias?).
Headroom: Got plenty loud, never pushed itā¦ felt like a bad idea.
6 - Rating: Subpar
RME ADI 2 - 1,5W@32 class A(?).
Might be a good example of what an underpowered Susvara sounds like, underpowered but not unlistenable. Sounds flat as a pancake and a bit grainy compared to others. Would still take it over 7 though, power is not all it seems.
Headroom: Can get loud acctually, almost to the level of the THX, but it lacks juice to and feels wonky and less controlled in comparison.
7 - Rating: Sub-subpar
SMSL DA-8S - 40W@8 class D.
Thought this might be a good idea for a cheap option. Turned out i was wrong. Like the 6-4 not really unlistenable by any means, but it didnāt sound good either. Had the same traits as 5, but sounded even more off in terms of being dense and unpleasant. Made me kinda wanna take them off my head quite fast.
Headroom: Seemed plenty, but this amp i noticed would break up very early on the pot with speakers.
8 Likes
Hi MuseMuff,
can you tell me please, where did you get this headphone stand from? IĀ“m looking for a stand like this to carry two headphones.
What cable do you use with the Susvara? What do you recommend?
Thanks in advance!
Patrick
ZMF Salire, Iām not sure if ZMF sells these anymore.
In case it helps anyone, below is a list of amps that appear to work well with the Hifiman Susvara. This list is derived from a mixture of personal experience, discussions with Susvara owners I have gotten to know, as well as manufacturers and reviewers whose advice I trust. The list should apply to other hard to drive planars. Feel free to add to this list!
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Wells Audio Headtrip II
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Bakoon 13-R
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Audiogd Master 9
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Audiogd HE 9
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Audiovalve Solaris
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Audiovalve Luminare
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Riviera AIC 10
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GSX MK 2
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Cayin IHA-6
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Nimbus US4+
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Topping A90
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GSX-Mini
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Flux FA-10
Tube Amplifiers:
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Cayin HA 300B
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Auris Headonia
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Auris Nirvana
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ZMF Pendant
Integrated amps/speaker amps (many Susvara owners prefer speaker amps as you will know):
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Schiit Ragnarok
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PrimaLuna EVO 400
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PrimaLuna Dialog Premium HP
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McIntosh MA352
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Hegel H160
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Cayin CS-55A
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Mogwai SE
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Schiit Vidar
Other reputed amplifiers Susvara owners have tried and liked include the Vioelectric HPA V281, the Benchmark HPA4, Bryston BHA 1, and the SPL Phonitor X, but there are debates on how well these amps actually drive the Susvara close to its full potential. The Benchmark amp was recommended by Hifiman reps during a recent Canjam for trial during show conditions.
Disclaimer: This list is work-in-progress
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A few additional amps capable of grabbing the Sus by the balls:
Woo Audio WA33
Viva Egoista 2A3
Soundaware P1
Formula S
Speaker amp: SPL Performer s800 (power amp)
Note: the Riviera AIC-10 is a tube amp.
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formula s/powerman and bakoon 13r are outstandingā¦the wells amps work wellā¦
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Yes. I missed the WA33, and the rest are some solid recommendations as well. I canāt seem to edit my list. Let me try to. And yeah, missed putting the Riviera on the Tube Section, haha. Thanks for the catch.
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Battle Royale
A quick comparison between
The Hifiman Suvara and the Abyss 1266 Phi TC
Disclaimer:
- This was not a very scientific comparison since I volume matched by ear, but the results were not a close call, in my opinion.
- There are amps out there that can better drive both these HPs, although the 1266 is easier to drive. That said, I wanted to post comparisons of the two HPs using the stacks I currently have, which are the Topping A90/D90 and the iFi Pro iCAN/iDSD. If you are skeptical of the Susvara-A90 comparison, do look up threads on this posted by other Susvara users. I was too, until I tried it.
Comfort:
- The Susvaras are supremely comfortable. Sometimes, I will have them on even with no music running. You donāt feel them on the head.
- Comfort-wise, the 1266 are okay, slightly awkward but not as bad as some people make them out to be.
Susvaras > 1266
Aesthetics:
- The Susvaras look beautiful. I love the gold plating of the drivers shining through the grills of the ear cups. I love the metal and wood look. Also the shape of the cups.
- I am torn about the aesthetics of the 1266. They look cool and iconic yes, but they donāt look necessarily inviting. I still think the 1266 looks like a Medieval torture device.
Susvaras > 1266
Build Quality:
- The Susvaras have decent build quality. No creaking, no nothing, and it does not feel cheap. The headphones are handmade and that shows, and whether thatās a good or bad thing, thatās up to you. Some people like the odd imperceptible imperfection that you notice if you look closely, as it reassures them that it was built by hand.
- The 1266 build is clearly more premium-looking than the Susvaras. No doubts.
1266 > Susvaras
Sound Quality:
- Sonically, the Susvaras are clearly more detailed and at the same time, smoother than the Abyss 1266 Phi TC. I find this remarkable. Running higher quality tracks, i.e., better mastered ones, they sound similar, but running poorly recorded tracks, the Susvaras clearly stand out in their ability to retrieve detail.
- Despite the advantage in detail retrieval, the Susvaras are smoother and considerably more musical. Although the TC revises and tones down some of the treble peakiness and harshness of the CC, the 1266 is still not as musical as the Susvaras.
- Both have incredible dynamic slam.
- Both have strong mid range and good vocals, but the Susvarasā vocals sound more natural. They are a hair backward instead of forward, and for a lover of the HD 600s, this was surprisingly easy to not just get used to, but also love, because it sounds more natural than the HD 600 (odd comparison I know, but 600 users will hopefully understand).
- The 1266 has more bass and soundstage, but the Susvaras have a more detailed low end, and to me, the bass and sound stage felt natural and optimal on the Susvaras.
- The Susvaras have superior timbre characteristics. Hands down.
Verdict :
Susvaras > 1266, if cost price is no object.
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Great comparison.
I havenāt heard the Abyss yet, but I agree with your comments regarding the Susvara.
The timbre is something that I fell in love with once I heard it. The best way I can summarize the Susvara is that it presents the music in the most realistic and organic manner that Iāve ever heard.
They are fantastic indeed.
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iFi pro-iCAN works great with the Susvara
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Yup, the timbre is one of its standout features.
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