As audiophiles, we are always thinking of ways to improve our listening experience to suit our ever-changing tastes. Some items come with a hefty price tag, but it is very disappointing when highly anticipated hi-fi items fail to live up to expectations. Recently, I had the pleasure of testing the new “Susvara Unveiled” from HifiMan. At $8000, it represents the ultimate of what audio engineers have been able to create at this point and time. The original Susvara was hailed as one of the most important contributions to the audio world in recent history. During extensive testing, I found the Unveiled to be a significant improvement from its predecessor, the Susvara. Let’s find out why.
Design
The first thing that caught my attention about the Susvara Unveiled was their design. With a frequency response of 6 Hz – 75 kHz, an impedance of 45 ohms, and a sensitivity of 86 dB, these headphones are easier to handle than the original Susvara. Weighing in at 430 grams, they are not the lightest headphones on the market, but the headband makes them feel lighter than they are. The weight distribution is very even, making them easy to wear for long periods of time. There is a 20 gram weight reduction from the original, and the asymmetrical headband is more comfortable than the first version. I had no issues with comfort, and the headphones fit well even after 6 hours of listening.
The Susvara Unveiled feature a completely open design, leaving the drivers exposed. This is a bold design choice that maximises the natural soundstage. HifiMan has included a ‘magnetic veil’ to ensure safe storage of the headphones. However, these are not durable headphones to take on the road. This is to be expected, as previous Susvaras were the same way. The magnetic covers are not designed to be used as a closed headphone, and there will be a significant drop in audio quality if used that way. HifiMan has clearly spared no expense on sound reproduction and accurate soundstage at the cost of durability.
There’s a unique driver architecture built using Stealth Magnet technology. The proprietary magnetic array combined with ultra-high-quality acoustically transparent magnets means more resonance comes from the diaphragm. This increased efficiency not only makes the Unveiled easier to drive than the original, but it also sounds more natural with less total harmonic distortion (THD).
As you would expect from $8000 headphones, these are truly the cutting edge in headphone technology and design. These features certainly seem future-proof, as I have no doubt we will see more of these features implemented in lower-end models. If you have a high-end setup, consider adding these to your collection.
Sound scene
During my testing, I found the Susvara Unveiled’s soundstage to be impressively wide and expansive, with a palpable sense of distance. Sounds are not only expansive, but can remain intimate depending on the recording. Microscopic changes in distance are clearly displayed in a way that no other headphones really do. For example, while listening to Freddie Hubbard’s “Red Clay,” I could clearly hear every movement of the trumpet bell—something that most headphones barely come close to fully capturing. The final reverb seems to have no boundaries, giving the sound a very natural feel. It doesn’t sound manufactured at all. In fact, the Susvara Unveiled have a speaker-like quality that really mimics a studio environment. It feels like you’re not listening to headphones at all.
Low
The Susvara Unveiled's bass has a powerful and warm sound. I was consistently surprised by its articulate yet “fat” qualities across a wide variety of genres. One of the amps I used was the Enleum HPA-23RM. With the boosted mid-bass input, there was a more boosted feel. Using the reference setting, the bass is dynamic and stays punchy. The CMA 15 Master was able to make the bass sound a bit flatter. On the new track “I Feel Nothing When You Cry” from Thou, the sub-bass is something you can feel. Nothing is muddy, but the bass is analytical. The low-mids and highs are more present than on the original Susvara. The Susvara Unveiled is slightly brighter than warm with a more ultra-light V-shape than the bright neutral found on the original. It responds very well to EQ and different amps if you're looking for more warmth or a boosted bass sound. Overall the bass is relatively flat, but has a much more natural sound than the original.
Media
The Susvara Unveiled's mids are relieved of the lower mids. It's clear that HifiMan put a lot of time into the tuning. Guitars, vocals, drums, synths and wind instruments all sound balanced but forward-sounding. Guitars are reproduced perceptibly. Without sounding boxy, muddy or shrill. There is a harmonic quality that midrange textures can't hide. It's not fatiguing because of how balanced it feels.
The bright and crunchy guitar sounds on Obituary's “Cause of Death” album maintain a perfect balance where there is a decisive fullness to their sound. Details of the warmer sounding guitars are also highlighted. On “There Will Never Be Another You” by Joe Pass, Andre Previn and Ray Brown, the full detail of Pass's playing is on display. The sound of the strings hitting the frets when plucked is perceptible. The excellent dynamics in Andre Previn's playing are felt, as legato and marcato notes have excellent timbre and dynamic range. A good boost at 2 kHz and a slight boost around 800 Hz make the drums cut through heavy mixes with ease. The subtlety in the dynamics is still present. The Susvara Unveiled has the best timbre I've heard in the midrange on a headphone.
Maximums
The Susvara Unveiled’s highs are fully extended yet neutral. These headphones offer a fantastic level of detail and the perfectly tuned highs remain flat with some boost in very pleasant frequencies. Their clear highs have an electrostatic quality to them. The 75kHz extension brings a more analytical quality to the highs rather than a fatiguing lightness. After hours of listening, I was left wanting more. Because these headphones are so hard to drive, the frequency response has a roll-off characteristic. Although the highs are fully displayed and can sound bright at times, less bass means the highs can remain relatively flat. The tuning of the highs doesn’t overwhelm the sound signature. Like a museum-quality piece of furniture, there is a detailed gluing of sounds that keeps them detailed yet full.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the HifiMan Susvara Unveiled are a significant upgrade over the original Susvara. With their improved design, expansive soundstage, deep, warm bass, balanced mids and fully extended highs, they offer an unparalleled listening experience. Add to this the fact that the Unveiled sound far more natural than the original, and it’s clear that HifiMan has spared no expense in creating headphones that prioritise sound reproduction and accurate soundstage over durability. If you’re a discerning audiophile or audio professional, these may be the perfect headphones for you.
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