Hifiman Edition XV

A Hifiman with a more relaxed tuning — Hifiman’s Most Approachable New Mid-Fi Headphone

Hifiman shared all four of their recent mid-fi headphones — the HE600, Edition XV, Ananda Unveiled, and Audivana LE — and for the past several months they have become part of my listening family. All four have had a spot within easy reach, taken off stands and put back far more times than I can count. That kind of time is useful: you find out what you actually reach for, not just what impresses you in the first week.

Since I was giving them all nicknames, for the Edition XV, I called it “the normal one.” I mean that as the highest compliment, but I will get to it in the conclusion.

Three months with all four, tested primarily through the JDS Labs Element IV and Topping DX5 II. The Edition XV was not the one I reached for most often that was the HE600 but it was the one I learned the most from over time.

The “normal one” reference is deliberate. When Jürgen Klopp arrived at Liverpool in October 2015, he introduced himself as the normal one — a characteristically self-aware contrast to Mourinho’s special one persona. He turned out to be one of the most special managers in the club’s history, but it took time to see it. The Edition XV is like that: it does not immediately grab you, but over weeks and months it earns a different kind of appreciation.

But first, let’s take a look at what’s in the box.

Unboxing and Packaging

The Edition XV arrives in Hifiman’s familiar clean outer box, with specifications printed on the side panel — practical and immediately useful:

Inside, the headphone is nested in shaped foam, with the cable accessories box tucked alongside it. The accessories box includes a QR code linking to further documentation:

The headphones sit snugly in the foam insert before removal:

As with the rest of this Hifiman lineup, the foam insert does double duty as a headphone stand once the headphone is removed — a simple but genuinely useful touch that is consistent across all four new models:

The contents are minimal: the Edition XV itself, a 1.5m 3.5mm headphone cable, and a 3.5mm to 6.35mm adapter. At $399 the absence of a carry case is less surprising than at the HE600’s price point, and of course the cable is very ordinary.

Design, Build Quality, and Driver Technology

The Edition XV follows the Hifiman egg-shaped earcup geometry that defines this new model family. Up close, the build quality is convincing — well-machined grille work, solid cup construction, and a finish that feels appropriate for the price:

The large interior volume of the earcup — visible in the deep egg-shaped geometry — is a defining characteristic of this headphone family. More internal space means more ear-to-driver clearance, which is part of what gives Hifiman planars their characteristic spacious, uncongested sound:

The planar driver is visible through the grille. I love how the Edition XV looks, but I ended up calling the Ananda Unveiled ’the beautiful one’ but it was close. Two close-up angles show the consistency and precision of the grille work as well as a direct view of the driver membrane underneath:

A further zoom shows the planar driver clearly through the grille — a satisfying piece of visible engineering:

The earpads are generously sized and comfortable, with material that is pleasant against the skin during extended sessions:

The new headband mechanism — shared across all four new Hifiman models — is a genuine step forward. The composite headband adjusts smoothly, feels more premium than the older click-and-slide system, and distributes the 452g of the Edition XV well enough that I had no fatigue across multi-hour sessions. In my opinion, the new design removes any need for aftermarket comfort straps that older Hifiman headbands sometimes required. The image on the left shows the headband at full extension and the visible improvement over the previous generation design:

The cable is functional but unremarkable — the kind of braided 3.5mm cable that does the job and no more. Compared to the cables included by FiiO, Aune, or other brands at similar or lower price points, this is a clear a letdown compared to the rest of the build quality with these new Hifiman’s:

Neo Supernano Driver

The Edition XV uses Hifiman’s Neo Supernano planar magnetic driver — full-surface drive, ultra-thin diaphragm, low distortion. If you have read the HE600 review, it is the same driver family. At 120Ω and 92dB, it is a bit less sensitive than the 28Ω HE600, so a phone output will not get the most from it. Any decent DAC/amp — including the JDS Labs Element IV and Topping DX5 II I used — has no trouble:

Fit and Comfort

The egg-shaped earcups sit wide and deep on the head, with enough internal volume that my ears had clear driver clearance throughout.

The 452g weight is on the heavier side, but the new headband distributes it across a larger surface area of the crown than older Hifiman designs managed.

After three months of regular evening use, I had no discomfort issues with this headphone. The earcup geometry within the broader Hifiman egg-shaped family is shown here with some of the other models from the same design era:

Sound Impressions

All listening impressions were formed using the JDS Labs Element IV and Topping DX5 II, with no EQ applied. The Edition XV was in regular rotation over a three-month period alongside the HE600, Ananda Unveiled, and Audivana LE.

Bass

The Edition XV’s bass is clean, extended, and well-controlled — no mid-bass bloom, no roll-off. Interestingly, the bass subjectively feels slightly more present than on the HE600, not because there is more of it in absolute terms, but because the more relaxed treble of the Edition XV shifts the perceived tonal balance toward the lower frequencies. Though I ended up liking the sub-bass on the Ananda Unveiled the most in this review group, but they all have that fantastic ‘planar bass’ that Hifiman’s are famous for.

On “Enjoy the Silence” by Depeche Mode, the driving bass line has real weight and authority without overstaying its welcome into the lower midrange — precisely controlled and satisfying without demanding attention. As with the HE600, a sub-bass shelf via PEQ is easily applied if you want more weight, and the driver handles it without strain.

Midrange

The midrange is where the Edition XV begins to differentiate itself most clearly from the Edition XS it replaces. The XS — like many Hifiman designs — carries a degree of upper-midrange recession that can make the soundstage feel slightly pulled back or less forward in vocal-heavy music. The Edition XV has a more direct, present midrange character that puts vocals and instruments closer to the listener without feeling aggressive.

On “Fast Car” by Tracy Chapman, the voice is immediate, the guitar body is present and convincing, and there is none of the slightly ethereal quality that sometimes makes the XS feel more " audiophile" than simply natural.

Treble

The treble is the Edition XV’s defining characteristic and the source of both its main strength and its main trade-off. It is noticeably more relaxed than the HE600 — less energetic in the upper frequencies, smoother through the cymbal range, and considerably more forgiving of recordings that were mastered hot in the highs. Where the HE600 will tell you plainly when a 1980s recording was too bright, the Edition XV handles the same track with more composure.

On “She Said She Said” (2022 mix) by The Beatles, the Edition XV renders the electric guitar and drum cymbals with real texture and presence, but without the occasional edge the HE600 can introduce on vintage recordings. The trade-off is that this relaxed treble tuning makes the Edition XV slightly less immediately exciting than its sibling — it takes time to appreciate what it is giving you, which is effortless long-session listening across any genre.

Soundstage and Imaging

The soundstage sits slightly wider than the HE600’s more intimate presentation, though it does not approach the genuinely expansive stage of the Ananda Unveiled or the Edition XS. What the Edition XV offers is a well-proportioned, consistent stage with reliable imaging — instruments sit in stable positions, layering front-to-back is clean, and nothing blurs or wanders.

On “Private Investigations” by Dire Straits, the guitar, bass, and vocal each have a defined home within the mix, and the spatial organisation of the ensemble comes through clearly. It is not a wide-stage headphone, but within its frame the imaging precision is not something you need to look hard to find.

Comparisons

The Edition XV is Hifiman’s intended evolution of the Edition XS, and the comparison bears that framing out. The XS — now available for around $209 — still has a slight edge in perceived “audiophile” detail thanks to its more energetic treble character, and for someone encountering Hifiman planars for the first time, that extra treble bite can feel exciting and revealing. The Edition XV is better in almost every other respect: build quality, headband comfort, midrange balance, and long-term listenability. The XS remains an easy recommendation at its new lower price; the Edition XV is the right second Hifiman purchase, or the right first purchase for anyone who already knows they prefer a balanced, forgiving sound signature:

The Ananda family — including the Hifiman Ananda Stealth and the new Ananda Unveiled — still has a soundstage and imaging advantage over the Edition XV, particularly in stage width. The Unveiled also has a gorgeous open grille design with real acoustic benefits, so both are strong alternatives if space is your priority:

Against the Hedd Audio HEDDphone D1, the Edition XV holds up well. The D1 has the stronger midrange in absolute terms — perhaps the best midrange clarity of any headphone I have reviewed in this price range — and its treble is arguably even more neutral than the Edition XV’s already relaxed presentation. In the bass, I gave the slight edge to the Edition XV, which felt more controlled and linear in the low end. Both headphones are excellent and comfortable recommendations at their respective prices:

The Edition XV alongside the HE600 and several other headphones from this review period shows the breadth of the company comparison here:

The Meze 105 AER deserves a mention as one of the more compelling open-back alternatives in this price range. It is extremely comfortable — one of the most comfortable headphones I have used — and carries a warmer, slightly more relaxed sound signature that many listeners will find immediately appealing. I prefer the Edition XV for technical performance and imaging precision, but the Meze’s fit and its warm character make it a genuinely competitive alternative, particularly for listeners who know they prefer warmth over neutrality:

Specifications

Measurements

Against the Harman OE 2018 target, the Edition XV shows a linear bass region and a well-behaved midrange, with a treble that sits below the target’s recommended energy level — confirming in measurements what is immediately apparent in listening: this is a relaxed, easy-to-live-with tuning:

Against the ‘Tilted ’ DF target you can see the mostly relaxed treble, though you still get some nice airy treble:

Across multiple measurement positions the response remains consistent, which speaks well of both the driver and the headband fit repeatability, with the one measurement showing the bass boost when wearing glasses:

The direct comparison with the HE600 shows a very similar frequency response, but as far as the treble, I feel the KB501X that I used for this measurement doesn’t match my subjective opinion, which is the HE600 has subtle more treble that gives it the edge just:

With both plotted against the Harman target the picture shows a similar story:

The Edition XS comparison is also very similar but again I feel the Edition XS has more treble than these measurements show:

Against the Sundara, the Sundara goes for a more Neutral midrange while the Edition XV goes for a soundstage, the Sundara was always a neutral-midrange headphone:

Two comparisons with some of my favourite recent FiiO headphones the FiiO JT7 and FiiO FT1 Pro — show how the Edition XV’s tuning places it in context against headphones many listeners will already be familiar with:

JT7 is arguable too forward in the vocal presense	The FiiO FT1 Pro is also forward in the vocal and I feel the bass is better on the Edition XV

Distortion performance is excellent throughout the frequency range — clean, well-controlled, and consistent with what the planar magnetic driver technology promises:

Rating Explanation

The Pragmatic Rating of 5 is a different flavour of 5 than the HE600 gets. The HE600 is more immediately impressive; the Edition XV earns it more slowly. Three months in I am incredibly happy with both, the Edition XV has replaced my Edition XS, though I would still recommend the Edition XS as a ‘first time’ audiophile headphone over both, but that is a different story. For the Edition XV, the build quality, headband, and driver engineering are all very strong for $399, and the sound signature is mature enough to work with anything without requiring EQ adjustments or genre caveats.

The Price Rating of 5 is simple: this is an impressive headphone for $399. The Features Rating of 4 comes from the improved headband (good) and the cable (not good). A headphone this good at this price deserves accessories, and Hifiman can do it which is why the Audivana LE’s cable package looks great. The Measurements Rating of 5 reflects excellent channel matching, clean distortion, and a frequency response that executes its intended relaxed-treble signature consistently and measurably.

Conclusion

Jürgen Klopp arrived at Liverpool calling himself “the normal one.” It was modest, self-aware, and ultimately a poor description of what he turned out to be. The Edition XV is something similar: it will not immediately impress you the way the HE600 does, and it does not have the visual drama of the Ananda Unveiled. What it does have is a kind of sustainable, genre-agnostic excellence that you come to appreciate more the longer you spend with it — a quality that is genuinely rare at $399 and that most two-week reviews will not have enough time to find.

The Edition XS at $209 is still a great entry point. But if you know what you are looking for or if you are buying your second Hifiman and want something you can live with long-term without reservation, the Edition XV is the right answer. “Normal”, in this case, turns out to be rather special.