HiFiMan SUNDARA Open Back Headphones

"Quite Appealing" - InnerFidelity.com

Affordable High Performance Planars with New Ultra-Fine Diaphragm

Bask in the beautiful look and sound quality of Sundara. The Sanskrit word "sundara" means "beautiful" and HiFiMAN's all new Sundara planar magnetic headphone fits this description in every way. It offers performance on a par with planar magnetics costing far more, thanks to cutting-edge design and advanced engineering from founder and head designer Dr. Fang Bian and his engineering team.

Previewing the Sundara at the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2017 show, Tyll Hertsens at InnerFidelity.com reports in his October 21, 2017 post, "Fang and crew have been working hard at this price range for quite a while now, and it doesn't surprise me one bit to find the new Sundara quite appealing."

"The HiFiMAN Sundara is simply amazing for the money," raves AudioAdvice.com. " We went through our normal playlist of headphone testing tracks and were just blown away. The amount of information we were hearing for $500 was staggering… Pair them with a good headphone amp/DAC and enjoy!"

"I was impressed by the sense of depth in the HiFiMAN Sundara," observes Steph Durwin, MajorHifi.com, December 30, 2017. "It is a bigger sense of depth than the 400i and felt on par with the HE-560. Additionally, the sense of width was really nice and expansive."

Ultra-fine Diaphragm

Sundara uses an all-new planar headphone design developed by HiFiMAN and developed from HIFIMAN's advanced technology from its other planar magnetic headphones. It features a newly developed diaphragm that is 80% thinner than the diaphragm used in its acclaimed HE400 series, resulting in a wider frequency response along with faster and more detailed audio performance.

Crystalline Copper Wire Headphone Cable

Sundara has a new 3.5mm headphone connector for enhanced durability, but that's not all. According to AudioAdvice.com, "HiFiMAN paid attention to the materials used in the connecting cable as well. They used a crystalline copper wire that has both great audio qualities and high resistance to stress, so you should get a lifetime of use." The headphone cable is detachable, allowing you to use upgrade cables with the Sundara if you wish.

Hybrid Headband Design

The Sundara uses a hybrid headband design for ultimate comfort and fit. The metal headband provides strength and a firm fit. Beneath the metal headband is a soft strap that disperses the weight of the headphones and feels good against your head. And by the way, these phones only weigh 13 ounces, which is very lightweight for planar magnetics. The combination headband looks great, too, with its sleek and sumptuous matte black finish.

• All-new planar headphone design
• Newly developed diaphragm that is 80% thinner than the diaphragm used in its acclaimed HE400 series,
• Wider frequency response along with faster and more detailed audio performance
• Detachable headphone cable
• New 3.5mm headphone connector for enhanced durability
• Crystalline copper wire headphone cable
• Hybrid headband design for ultimate comfort and fit

• Frequency Response: 6 Hz - 75 kHz
• Impedance: 37 ohms
• Sensitivity: 94 dB
• Weight: 13 oz.

Holiday Gift Guide For Music Lovers & Audiophiles 2021: Best Gifts Under $500 - Hi-Fi Trends

"If you’re looking for the best headphone under $500, then look no further. The $350 Hifiman SUNDARA has detail, soundstage, and separation that actually competes with headphones above $500, and the tuning is darn near perfect. It’s basically neutral through the midbass with a gentle lift in the bottom end to keep things interesting."

"This Planar Magnetic headphone has a relatively high sensitivity rating so you can drive it with a wide variety of devices. It also has cushy earpads and a nice suspension headphone for a great fit and excellent comfort. I currently use the SUNDARA a reference headphone for my reviews, because it is the standard by which all headphones under $500 should be measured."

- Hi-Fi Trends, November 22, 2021

"...the Hifiman Sundara is a fine pair of headphones that will sing when given proper source and amplification – like most hi-fi headphones."

"...the Sundara is competent and fun. You may find the extra energy enjoyable and as I’ve said, it will certainly lend vigour and liveliness to your music playback."

- Ammar Mariti, audioFi.net, October 21, 2019

"If your headphone budget tops out at $400, the HiFiMan Sundara might be the best option right now in audiophile headphones."

- Ian White, ecoustics.com, October 4, 2021

"Fang and crew have been working hard at this price range for quite a while now, and it doesn't surprise me one bit to find the new Sundara quite appealing."

- Tyll Hertsens, InnerFidelity.com, October 21, 2017 (previewing the Sundara at the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2017 show)

"The HiFiMAN Sundara is simply amazing for the money… We went through our normal playlist of headphone testing tracks and were just blown away. The amount of information we were hearing for $500 was staggering… Pair them with a good headphone amp/DAC and enjoy!"

"HiFiMAN paid attention to the materials used in the connecting cable as well. They used a crystalline copper wire that has both great audio qualities and high resistance to stress, so you should get a lifetime of use."

- AudioAdvice.com

"I was impressed by the sense of depth in the HiFiMAN Sundara. It is a bigger sense of depth than the 400i and felt on par with the HE-560. Additionally, the sense of width was really nice and expansive."

- Steph Durwin, MajorHifi.com, December 30, 2017

"A 'fun, fun product that people can actually get their hands on,' the affordable Sundara comes off as an incredible overachiever at its modest price point. It’s comfortable, and so easy to drive that you can plug it right into your iPhone and enjoy some pretty decent sound. With a good amp, however, it really struts its stuff."

- parttimeaudiophile.com - 2018 Editors' Choice Buyer's Guide, December 2018