Section 01
First Impressions
What I thought before listening.
Enormous. Genuinely enormous. The headband suggests they were designed for a different species.
Section 02
The Setup
What source, DAC, headphones or IEMs were used.
- Amp: Topping DX5 II
- Source: Roon → Mac → USB
- Reference: Sennheiser HD 660S2
Section 03
What I Loved
- ✓Soundstage you can walk around in.
- ✓Planar speed and attack that dynamics fans will adore.
- ✓Tonally more grown-up than older HiFiMAN sets.
Section 04
What Drove Me Slightly Mad
- ✕Fit is a project, not a feature.
- ✕Build quality still feels one accidental nudge from disaster.
Section 05
The Reluctant Audiophile Verdict
The Edition XS is what happens when an engineer ignores the industrial designer entirely. Sonically, it is a steal. Physically, it is a commitment. If you can make peace with the second part, the first part is genuinely brilliant.
Section 06
The ARSE Breakdown
Audio
Tonality, resolution, technical performance.
8.9 / 10
Regret
Buyer’s remorse. Lower is better.
3.4 / 10
Spend
Value per pound. Higher = better value.
8.2 / 10
Enjoyment
The goosebumps metric.
8.8 / 10
Overall
ARSE Score
8.1
Section 07
Who Should Buy This?
Buy It
You want a taste of high-end planar magnetic sound without remortgaging.
Maybe
You have a small head, a delicate disposition, or both.
Walk Away
You need a closed-back for office use. Not these. Not even slightly.
