The Hifiman Edition XS and XV are two full-sized planar magnetic headphones from Hifiman. They share similar oval/egg-shaped cup design and the same effective diaphragm area of 80 x 50 mm. Both have very low impedance, with the XS at 18 Ohms and the XV at 12 Ohms, and both have a sensitivity of 92 dB/V.
The XS typically now costs 219 USD, while the XV costs 399 USD.
DRIVERS
Both have large planar magnetic drivers with dual-sided magnets but use different generations of Hifiman’s “Neo Supernano Diaphragm.” The XS has Gen.1, while the XV has Gen.2, which is 40% thinner. The actual thickness is not specified, but Gen.1 is specified as less than 1000 nanometers (nm), which means the XV must have a diaphragm thinner than 600 nm (40% thinner than Gen.1).
BUILD
Even though the cup size is identical, the two headphones have different grills and headbands. The headband is a very nice upgrade on the XV because it has a strap, but if you have a very large head it might not accommodate you.
PADS
Importantly, even though they look similar, the pads use different attachment systems. The XV and the Unveiled series from Hifiman have adopted a new system that is not compatible with the old one. Both the XS and XV use hybrid pads with fabric on the face that touches your skin, fenestrated pleather on the inside, and full pleather on the outside.
HISTORY
The Hifiman Edition XS and XV are the two latest generations of HIFIMAN’s Edition X series, which started with the Edition X (2015), then the Edition X V2 (2016), then the Edition XS (2022), and now the Edition XV (2025). They’ve all been marketed as easy-to-drive, cost-effective large planars, all with the characteristic oval/egg-shaped cups that Hifiman uses on many models.
HIFIMAN EDITION XS SPECIFICATIONS
- Open back circumaural type
- Planar Magnetic Drivers
- Dual-sided magnet driver
- NEO Supernano Diaphragm gen.1
- Effective Diaphragm Area: 80 x 50 mm
- Impedance: 18Ω
- Frequency response range: 8Hz-50kHz
- Sensitivity: 92 dB
- Weight: 405 grams
- Detachable cable with 3.5 mm TRS connectors on headphones
- Included cable: 1.5m single-ended 3.5mm with 6.35mm adapter
Current price and availability:
- AliExpress: Edition XS
- Amazon: Edition XS
HIFIMAN EDITION XV SPECIFICATIONS
- Type: full-size open-back
- Driver: planar magnetic
- Dual-sided magnet driver
- NEO Supernano Diaphragm gen. 2
- Effective Diaphragm Area: 80 x 50 mm
- Diaphragm thickness:
- Impedance: 12 Ohms
- Sensitivity: 92 dB/mW
- Frequency response: 8Hz-50kHz
- Cable: Detachable 1.5 mm
- Cable connectors: dual 3.5 mm
- Cable termination: 3.5 mm with 6.35 mm adapter.
- Headband: strap design
- Pads: hybrid
- Weight: 452g
Current price and availability:
- Amazon: Hifiman XV
- AliExpress: Hifiman XV
LISTENING COMPARISON
Associated equipment:
- Amplifier: Topping A90
- DAC: RME ADI-2 DAC FS
Alt e bra by Building Instrument
They’re very similar. Both sound great, the differences are minor here. The XS is a tad brighter, but not by much.
Terminal 7 by Tomasz Stanko Quintet
Here they are notably more different. Both are spacious with great imaging; the XV is however richer and thicker, while the XS is crisper and leaner. I prefer the XV here.
Blessed Feet by Tord Gustavsen Trio
The XS is light-footed and slightly bright. While similar in most ways, The XV has a thicker midrange presence.
Woodpecker by Tingvall Trio
Again, similar, but the XS is brighter with more upfront, crisp mids.
Escape Route by Boris Blank
The XV is again darker, with richer mids and a thicker-sounding midbass. The XS is leaner and a tad crisper in general. Still, detail, soundstage, and dynamics are very similar.
It Could Be Sweet by Portishead
Also here, the XV is richer and warmer. The vocals are warmer with the XV, and brighter and closer to sibilance with the XS. However, the sibilance on the XS isn’t very pronounced, I’ve heard it a lot worse.
Vicarious by Tool
The XS is nice, but on the brighter side without too much grunt. The XV has a meatier, darker delivery. The difference is quite significant here.
Like Suicide by Soundgarden
Here, the XS works surprisingly well; the XV sounds a tad muddy in direct comparison. It’s an unfair description, but that’s the word that comes to my mind. The XS just sounds tighter and cleaner, even though the XV sounds totally fine by itself.
Never Enough by Loren Alred
I often use this poorly mastered song to check for midrange dryness. The XV sounds very good, nicely forgiving. The XS is very different. It is not that it is overly dry, but the midrange is much more energetic, and the upper mids have much more presence. Again, the XS is significantly brighter. I prefer the laid-back XV, although something in between might be ideal.
Summer 3 Vivaldi Recomposed by Max Richter
Both sound good. The XS is brighter, the XV darker. I like both, but I prefer the tuning of the XV.
Young Vivaldi by Modo Antiquo
Again, the XS is brighter, the XV darker. I prefer the XV here, but the XS is also very good.
WRAPPING IT UP
Sound Signature
To put it shortly: the XV is neutral to dark, the XS is neutral to bright. Both have a very neutral and linear bass response.
Treble
The treble is not especially dark on the XV, but it is brighter with the XS. The XS occasionally has a more shimmering, energetic treble, while other times they’re very similar.
Midrange
The midrange is where the biggest difference is. The XS is consistently brighter and more upfront; there is more energy in the upper midrange. At its worst, this gives it a somewhat shouty character; at best, it brings out more articulate detail and presence.
The XV is generally darker and smoother in the midrange. This can be very nice, giving a sense of warmth, and forgiveness, but it can also lack a bit of articulation and energy. It is a trade-off.
Bass
The bass is pretty similar between the two. It’s very linear on both but the XV feels a tad bassier overall.
Soundstage and Imaging
The soundstage size and imaging capabilities are very similar. However, the difference in frequency response curve can make the XS sound wider, but the imaging is always very comparable.
Detail, Dynamics, and Timbre
I think the detail level is very comparable between the two models. They are both very detailed-sounding headphones, but they articulate the detail in different ways at times: the XV is smoother and more refined, the XS more energetic with a slightly rawer character.
Also in terms of dynamics, they are very comparable. The darker XV can often sound a bit more authoritative, the brighter XS a bit more articulate.
When it comes to timbre, the bass is pretty similar.
The midrange is consistently darker and smoother with the XV, brighter and more articulate with the XS. I mostly prefer the XV, which I find sounds more natural, but I think the “perfect timbre” might often be somewhere in between. The treble is generally brighter and has a rawer, more shimmering quality with the XS. I consistently prefer the treble of the XV.
CONCLUSION
In terms of technicalities, the XS and the XV are quite similar: similar detail level, similar soundstage, similar imaging, similar dynamics. I often find the XV to sound a tad more refined, but it is primarily the tuning that makes them different.
The XS is generally quite bright – mostly in a good way. The XV is generally darker in the highs and mids, with a smoother, more laid-back feel.
Which of them I prefer can depend on the track. I mostly prefer the darker XV but many listeners might still prefer the brighter XS.
All in all, though, I consider the XV a worthy upgrade – because of the darker tuning, slightly increased refinement, and the new headband.
Thanks for reading. You can support us by purchasing anything using any of our affiliate links.
- AliExpress: Edition XS
- Amazon: Edition XS
- Amazon: Hifiman XV
- AliExpress: Hifiman XV
Any purchase you make on Amazon, Linsoul , AliExpress or Audio46 with any of our affiliate links will give us a small provision at no cost to you.
We only get a provision for items that are not returned, so there’s no incentive for us to recommend something that’s not good.
Linsoul : Headphones, Earbuds, Wireless Earbuds, Desktop DAC/AMP, Portable DAC/AMP, Digital Audio Players,
Amazon: Headphones, IEMs, Headphone Amplifiers, Home Audio or Anything else.
.
If you enjoyed this article or other content on The Headphoneer, you might consider leaving a small donation to keep this website up and running. No donation is too small. Thanks for supporting us!
If you like our work please follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter , it will help us grow. Sharing is caring 🙂
