The HiFiMan Edition XS are open-back planar-magnetic headphones and are the next generation of the HiFiMan Edition X. Unlike their predecessor, they have a more conventional headband and use a thinner diaphragm to help the reproduction of details in tracks while keeping distortion low. They also have the manufacturer's 'Stealth Magnets' design, which HifiMan claims improves their sound quality.
Our Verdict
The HiFiMan Edition XS are inadequate for sports and fitness as they're not designed for this. They can fall off your head with moderate movement, and their audio cable can snag on something and pull them off your head. They also leak a lot of audio. That said, they have a comfortable fit and feel well-built, but we don't recommend you use these for even the gentlest workout.
- Well-built design.
- Can fall off with your head with moderate movement.
- Don't block out any background noise.
- Leak a lot of audio.
- No IP rating.
The HiFiMan Edition XS are bad for commuting and travel. Don't let their comfortable, well-built design fool you, these open-back audiophile headphones don't block out any background noise and leak a lot of audio, so anyone around you will hear your audio. They're also bulky and don't come with a carrying case to help protect them when you're on the go.
- Well-built design.
- No mic.
- Can fall off with your head with moderate movement.
- Don't block out any background noise.
- Leak a lot of audio.
- No IP rating.
The HiFiMan Edition XS are terrible for office use. They have an open-back design, meaning they won't block out any ambient chatter or AC noise around you. They also don't have a built-in microphone. That said, they have a comfortable design, so if you're working from a private room and don't need to make conference calls, these will be fine.
- Well-built design.
- No mic.
- Don't block out any background noise.
- Leak a lot of audio.
The HiFiMan Edition XS are wired headphones, and you can't use them wirelessly.
The HiFiMan Edition XS are alright for wired gaming if you don't need mic support. These headphones have a balanced sound profile that ensures that rumbly sound effects are immersive and dialogue and lead instruments are clear and natural. They're comfortable enough to wear for long gaming sessions, and their open-back design means their soundstage feels immersive.
- Deliver audio very consistently.
- Well-built design.
- No mic.
- Frame is a bit large and may not fit small heads well.
The HiFiMan Edition XS have very good audio reproduction accuracy. Their sound closely follows our target curve, meaning bassy sounds feel warm and full, mid-range instruments are reproduced accurately, and trebly sounds like high percussion feel crisp and clear. Fans of EDM may wish they had a touch more low-bass, but open-backed headphones tend to have slightly less in that area. Their treble range is a little uncontrolled, with some peaks that can render sibilants a touch piercing. The L/R drivers are very well matched for an accurate stereo image, and they don't generate audible harmonic distortion. Their design lends your audio an immersive feel and produces a PRTF that resembles that of angled reference monitors in a treated room.
The HiFiMan Edition XS have terrible noise isolation. These open-backed headphones block out almost no noise. They're meant to be used to listen to audio in private rooms, not shared spaces like offices or buses.
The HiFiMan Edition XS don't have a microphone.
The HiFiMan Edition XS have great frequency response consistency. Once you achieve a stable fit and a good seal is established, these headphones are able to deliver audio consistently. This should be the case regardless of your physical features, though those with smaller heads will need to spend some time adjusting the fit, due to their bulky frame.
Performance Usages
Changelog
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Updated Mar 26, 2026:
This review has been updated to Test Bench 2.1, which removes the Group Delay test and rebalances scoring for the Harmonic Distortion test and Audio Reproduction Accuracy performance usage. For more details, consult our full changelog.
- Updated Mar 24, 2026: We've converted this review to Test Bench 2.1, which features minor updates to our sound tests.
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Updated Oct 02, 2025:
We've mentioned the FIIO FT1 Pro in the Comfort box.
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Updated Sep 23, 2025:
After noticing an error in some target deviation calculations, we updated this review's Bass, Mid-Range, and Treble Target Compliance scores, as well as its Peaks and Dips score. As a result, some Usages and side-by-side text may also have changed.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The HiFiMan XS come in one color variation: 'Black', and you can see our model's label here. If you come across another variant of these headphones, please let us know in the discussions, and we'll update our review.
Popular Headphones Comparisons
The HiFiMan Edition XS are the successor of the HiFiMan Edition X. Unlike their predecessor, they have a more typical headband design that feels a bit heavier than the manufacturer's ski band headband design. However, their frame is quite large, so if you have a small head, the bottom of the ear cups may reach your jaw. They have a very similarly neutral sound profile to the HiFiMan Ananda, making them suitable for a variety of audio content, and their fantastic passive soundstage performance also helps immerse you in your favorite audio. If you prefer a brighter sound signature, Beyerdynamic headphones are typically a good place to start, with the Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO being a good alternative to the Edition XS for fans of an airy sound. On the other hand, if you like a warmer, smoother treble, the Sennheiser HD 560S are a great pick.
Check out our recommendations for the best audiophile headphones, the best open-back headphones, and the best headphones for music.
The HiFiMan Edition XS are slightly better audiophile headphones than the HiFiMan Sundara 2020. The Edition XS reproduce audio more consistently and follow our target curve slightly more closely, with a touch of added thump that listeners of bass-heavy genres like hip-hop may appreciate. However, the Sundara 2020 have a more comfortable ski-band headband design.
The HiFiMan Edition XS and the HiFiMan Ananda are both great headphones for well-balanced sound, and depending on your preferences, you may enjoy either one. The Edition XS have a typical headband design and can reproduce sound more consistently. However, the Ananda are better built and have a ski-band headband design that's more comfortable.
The HiFiMan Edition XS and the FIIO FT1 Pro are both open-back, over-ears equipped with planar magnetic drivers. The commonalities in their configuration contribute to somewhat similar sound profiles that align more closely with the SoundGuys.com studio target than our own. The HiFiMan sound a touch brighter, with a peak in the mid-treble. The HiFiMan also feature better driver-matching and a PRTF response that's more aligned with our benchmark, as well as a better build quality. That said, the FIIO are more comfortable and come with a sturdy semi-hardshell case.
The HiFiMan Edition XS and the HiFiMan Arya are both excellent audiophile headphones with slight differences. Both headphones have a similarly bright sound profile, but the Arya have a ski-band headband design, are more comfortable, and feel better built. On the other hand, the Edition XS have a more standard headband, and a 1/8" cable and an included 1/8" to 1/4" adapter, while the Arya only have a 1/4" cable.
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