Testing ALL Hifiman's new Headphones! - HE600, Edition XV, Ananda Unveiled & Audivina LE

HIFIMAN just dropped a whole wave of new headphones, and I’ve had the chance to spend some early time with four of them: the Audivina LE, Edition XV, Ananda Unveiled, and the HE600. These are just initial impressions — full reviews with measurements will follow — but I wanted to share some thoughts on how these models stack up, both against each other and against HIFIMAN’s past releases. Spoiler: one of them really impressed me.

Edition XV – Smooth and Accessible

At $400, the Edition XV will likely attract a lot of attention. Not only is it one of the more affordable new releases, but it also represents a departure from HIFIMAN’s typical tuning.

For the listener’s who found Hifiman’s other options too bright, the Edition XV takes a step in a warmer direction. Treble is smoothed out, particularly in the 3-7 kHz range, making it less fatiguing and more relaxed without totally sacrificing clarity. Vocals and instruments retain natural timbre, avoiding the hollowness that plagues headphones with deep 2 kHz dips.

Compared to the Arya Stealth or HE1000 Unveiled, it doesn’t stage quite as wide/deeply and bass transients feel slightly softer, but the overall tonal balance is more forgiving and enjoyable for long listening.

I’ll need to spend more time with it but for now I’ll say this: the Edition XV is definitely worth trying if you’ve wanted to like HIFIMAN, but found past models too bright.

Audivina LE – Still Problematic

Like the original Audivina, it suffers from severe tuning issues. Sub-bass is absent, leaving only mid-bass, while the midrange is dominated by a 1 kHz honk and missing the critical 3 kHz ear-gain region. Vocals sound thin and strange. Add in an upper-treble peak, and the result is a headphone that’s simultaneously boxy, harsh, and hollow.

Put simply: I can’t recommend this one.

Ananda Unveiled – Natural but Less Exciting

The Ananda Unveiled follows the same pattern as other “Unveiled” revisions: filling in the 2-3 kHz dip for more natural vocals and timbre. Compared to the original Ananda, it loses some of that huge, spacious stage but gains realism in vocal presentation.

Treble balance sits closest to the HE1000 Unveiled, making it a brighter listen than the Edition XV. But here’s the catch: it doesn’t deliver the same level of detail retrieval. Above 10 kHz, extension and sparkle feel lacking, leaving it feeling less technically impressive, at least to me.

It’s not a bad headphone by any means — it’s enjoyable — but in HIFIMAN’s own lineup, it’s overshadowed. The Arya Stealth or HE1000 Unveiled both offer more of the “X-factor” that I think people want from HIFIMAN’s headphones.

HE600 – The Standout

Now to the star of the show: the HE600. Priced at $800, these are my clear favorite of the bunch and possibly one of HIFIMAN’s best releases in years.

First, the sound. The HE600 introduces a subtle sub-bass lift around 50 Hz, giving it punch and authority without bloat. It’s the most engaging bass I’ve heard from a modern HIFIMAN—tight, controlled, and tactile. The midrange is natural, but still has the flair HIFIMAN is known for; the 2 kHz dip is present but restrained, keeping staging wide without sacrificing vocal realism.

Where the HE600 really shines is the treble. Ear-gain around 3 kHz is handled beautifully, pushing enough to give vocals presence, but not enough to be shouty. Upper treble is balanced and extended, lending detail and transparency without harshness. The result is timbre that feels among the most realistic of any Hifiman. Vocals, in particular, are some of the best I’ve heard from HIFIMAN outside of the Susvara OG.

Comfort is the one drawback. The circular cups cause my ears to touch the pads, making them less comfortable than the egg-shaped designs. But that’s a small price to pay for the sonic performance here. At $800, these offer exceptional value and may well be the new benchmark in HIFIMAN’s midrange price bracket.

Final Thoughts

Out of the four, the HE600 is easily the winner for me and one of HIFIMAN’s best recent releases. The Edition XV is also a success, offering a smoother house sound at an affordable price. The Ananda Unveiled is decent but forgettable, and the Audivina LE is unfortunately still a miss. But as with anything, make sure to give these a listen yourself if you get the chance, because your impressions may differ dramatically from mine. Keep an eye out for our full reviews of these headphones in the coming weeks, both here on the Audio Files and on our YouTube channel.