HiFiMAN - Sundara

I been using this for over 2yrs daily (2-5hrs), both active and passive listening across a variety of genres and this headphone (along with ifi zen dac v2 & apple music hi-res) creates a soul touching musical ensemble for every song that i listen to. Awesome headphone for all types of music and very comfortable for long listening sessions or background listening (like chillhop music). I feel a little heat on my ears depending on outside temperature but it'll be there for any headphones however costly they are. So, definitely go for it along with a good desktop DAC to make them shine. Best part is there is no ear fatigue at the end of the day. Before joining this audiophile club, i had a plethora of earphones/headphones for years and i stop listening to them after 45mins max, i get ear fatigued easily. A good quality headphones are a game changer and this sundara positions itself at a sweet spot, not too costly but provides an ultimate listening experience for me.

Previously I was using Meze 99 classics and I am fully satisfied with it. On a trail base to test Planar Magnatic drivers I bought this Sundara and noticed some what better than 99 classics. To enjoy it at its capacity Amp like Hidiz pro+ is necessary.Now I want to dispose 99 classics.

At this price point, this headphone offer exceptional sound quality that is truly phenomenal.

Great pair of audiophile gear. Only the cables could’ve been nicer. Stock ones are just floppy, but gets the job done. Needs to be paired with a decent dac(these are power hungry). I’m using a topping dx1. If budget permits go for dx3 pro+.

I've been using it from nearly an year now and it has been my daily driver. What all the others said about the sound quality is totally true, so i'm not going to repeat. Somehow listening to sundara from apple hires music paired with zen dac v2 touches your soul, the details and those unheard frequencies make a great experience. I actively and passively listen to songs with this many hours a day and these are very very comfortable for long hours of listening. The weight is on the higher side but you won't feel it much. The best part is the open back headphones, i don't have to remove them when my wife is calling/talking to me and trust me this is one of the reason i bought this, saving me a lot of trouble from my previous closed back headphones (DT 770 pro) :-)

Great offering by Hifiman in the midfi budget.

The Hifiman Sundara headphones offer exceptional sound detail, making them a great choice for audiophiles. However, it's worth noting that they require an amplifier for optimal performance, which might catch some users off guard. In terms of looks, they may not be the most striking headphones, but their focus on audio quality more than makes up for it. Overall, the Hifiman Sundara provides an amazing listening experience. Additionally, I had a positive first experience with the customer service at Headphonezone. I reached out to them with several questions on Instagram, and they were responsive, providing answers within 24 hours. This level of customer support added to the overall satisfaction of my experience.

It's quite something to describe a feeling where you are awestruck. I've been delaying writing a review cause i rarely do but for this i felt like i had to ( in a good way :-) ).
I guess, I should start with

The Experience - Well, One feels like a grown up. I remember drooling over gear and acquiring what i could afford here and there over the years. it was the cheapest stuff the brand made, but it was new and i loved the feeling. That was the kid wanting something new ever so often and replacing it with the next, no idea where he lost the old earphones or CDs. Secretly wishing the gear/equipment to fail, in order to get by hands on the latest on the shelves.

This (sundara) feels like a keeper, Something to hang on to for a long long time.

Sound -

The headphones i owned (still do) prior to buying this is the Bose QC series. Compared to that it has been a revelation. It feels more open, i didn't miss the bass at all, there's plenty of it here. I know what listening to a track mixed well sounds like, you hear the ambient sounds, the notes hiding in the background. With the sundara it becomes 10x more visible. i began to rediscover my playlist of songs again. It's was a joy to experience all the nuances of the mixes.

Comfort -

These can be worn for hours, I simply forgot i had these on, these are heavier than the Bose but i didn't notice the weight while listen to them at all

Regrets -

Not having found these soon enough, But i'm so glad that i did.

I was heavily into music growing up but slowly but surely as the mp3 phenomenon took over i lost interest somehow. I held onto my walkmans and subsequent discman for the longest time. Even gave the ipod touch a go. But it wasn't the same. And when physical media disappeared form the shelves of stores. So did my hobby.

The whole process of finding the best quality source(Lossless music) and equiment(Amp/DAC) and the right headphones are itself such a blast.

I am transported back more than decade where listening to music was a worthwhile way to spend one's time. To sit in one place for an hour or two and giving your whole attention to the artist.

Music is not a passive experience anymore.