HiFiMan SUNDARA Open Back Headphones

The Planar Headphone That Keeps Beating Its Price Class

The HiFiMan SUNDARA is an open-back planar magnetic headphone built around Stealth Magnets and a Super Nano diaphragm, technology that's kept it a genuine, lasting favorite since its original launch.

The Super Nano diaphragm is up to 80% thinner than the diaphragm in HiFiMan's much earlier HE400 series, resulting directly in a wider frequency response with faster, more detailed audio performance overall.

At just 13 ounces, the SUNDARA is genuinely lightweight for a full-size planar headphone, helped along by a hybrid headband that keeps even long sessions comfortable rather than ever feeling fatiguing at all.

Where the Super Nano Diaphragm Earns Its Keep

Stealth Magnets, Shaped to Get Out of the Way

Stealth Magnets are shaped specifically to let sound waves pass cleanly through with minimal interference, reducing the wave diffraction a conventional magnet array often tends to introduce into the final overall signal.

A crystalline copper wire cable carries that signal directly to your amplifier, chosen specifically for genuine, actual audio quality and high resistance to the everyday stress of regular cable handling.

A Hybrid Headband, Built for All-Day Comfort

A metal outer headband provides real strength and a firm, secure fit, while a soft inner strap disperses weight evenly so the headphone rests genuinely comfortably for hours at a time without complaint.

The detachable cable design means you can swap in an upgraded cable later without ever giving up the comfort and fit HiFiMan built directly into the headband design itself overall.

What Reviewers Are Saying

Gear Patrol called the SUNDARA a standout for its "transparency, punchy bass response, midrange resolution and overall comfort," noting you can wear it for hours without fatigue.

The Ear's Tyll Hertsens, previewing the SUNDARA at its original launch, found HiFiMan's engineering team had produced a headphone that was "quite appealing" straight out of the gate.

Major HiFi praised "a bigger sense of depth" than HiFiMan's own 400i, along with "a really nice and expansive" sense of width in the soundstage.

Who Is the HiFiMan SUNDARA Best For?

• You want planar magnetic detail at a genuinely accessible entry point: reviewers consistently note it performs like headphones costing considerably more
• You value soundstage width and midrange resolution: multiple reviewers single these out as the SUNDARA's real strengths
• You want a headphone light enough for genuinely long sessions: at 13 ounces, it's easy to wear comfortably for hours at a stretch
• You have a quiet home listening environment: open-back headphones leak sound in both directions, so they're best away from shared spaces
• You want the widest possible soundstage — the open-back SUNDARA opens the room up

How Does It Connect to Your System?

A detachable crystalline copper cable connects via a 3.5mm plug at the headphone side, so upgrading later to an aftermarket cable never requires replacing the headphone itself.

Pair the SUNDARA with a headphone amplifier or DAC/amp combo to hear the driver's full dynamic range, since a phone alone won't unlock everything it's capable of.

Pairs Well With

What finishes the system around a HiFiMan SUNDARA:

• Headphone amplifiers — unlocks the dynamics and control the Stealth Magnet driver is capable of
• Digital-to-analog converters — a clean digital source feeding your amp matters as much as the amp itself
• Headphone cables — the detachable connector accepts a wide range of aftermarket options
• Headphone stands — a proper resting spot between listening sessions

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a headphone amplifier for the SUNDARA?

Not strictly, but it's genuinely recommended. A dedicated amplifier or DAC/amp combo delivers noticeably better dynamics and control than a phone or laptop alone.

What does open-back mean for everyday use?

Sound leaks freely in both directions — people nearby hear your music, and outside noise comes in. Reserve these for quiet home or studio listening, not a commute.

Can I replace the cable?

Yes. The detachable design accepts aftermarket cables, letting you upgrade for a balanced connection or a different length without replacing the headphone itself.

How is this different from the SUNDARA Closed-Back?

The Closed-Back version uses hand-assembled beechwood earcups for isolation and bass emphasis; this open-back version trades that isolation for a wider, more spacious soundstage.

Is the SUNDARA comfortable for long sessions?

Yes. At roughly 13 ounces, it's light for a full-size planar, and the hybrid headband's soft inner strap distributes weight evenly across the top of the head.

Are the earpads replaceable?

Yes. The earpads are a wear item and are designed to be swapped out over time, since pad condition affects both comfort and sound quality.

See It in Action

The Headphone Show presents HiFiMAN Sundara Headphone Review - Best value planar in 2020?.

The Headphone Show presents $300 Planar Shootout - HiFiMAN HE560 vs Sundara.

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Learn More

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