HIFIMAN Edition XS vs Meze 105 Silva
The HIFIMAN Edition XS and the Meze 105 Silva score the same, 8.7 each, and the Edition XS costs $230 less. The 105 Silva review puts the choice against the Edition XS this way: "If you buy the Edition XS, you are getting that massive, wide planar soundstage and a very fast, neutral tuning."
By Jakub Charkiewicz Published Updated
On score and price HIFIMAN Edition XS Level with the 105 Silva on score, for a lower list price.
When to choose the 105 Silva over the Edition XSIs the 105 Silva worth $230 more than the Edition XS?
Not on score: the 105 Silva and the Edition XS score the same. Going by the two reviews, what the 105 Silva adds for the money is its comfort and driver technology over the Edition XS's.
Same score
HIFIMAN Edition XS
Same score
Meze 105 Silva
In the reviewer's words
The 105 Silva review compares it with the Edition XS directly, verbatim below.
To understand where the Silva sits in the current market, let's compare it to some other popular headphones in this price bracket - specifically planar magnetic headphones like the HIFIMAN Sundara or the HIFIMAN Edition XS. If you buy the Edition XS, you are getting that massive, wide planar soundstage and a very fast, neutral tuning. The HIFIMANs are fantastic for absolute clarity, but their budget offerings can and will feel a bit dry or overly analytical depending on the song.
The Meze 105 Silva is basically the opposite approach. It doesn't try to beat HIFIMAN at being a flat reference monitor. Instead, it offers way more bass punch, a warmer overall tone, and a much more engaging, energetic personality.
Which one to buy
The Edition XS is the better buy unless its comfort would put you off, in which case take the 105 Silva.
| At a glance | HIFIMAN Edition XS | Meze 105 Silva |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 8.7/10, Highly Recommended | 8.7/10, Highly Recommended |
| List price | $269 | $499 |
| Lowest US price now | $209 at Apos Audio and 2 other stores on Oct 20, 2026 | $499 at Apos Audio and 4 other stores on Oct 20, 2026 |
| Better choice for | nothing in particular | comfort |
HIFIMAN Edition XS
Choose it if:
- You would rather pay $230 less for the Edition XS than for the 105 Silva, at the same 8.7 score.
Meze 105 Silva
Choose it instead if:
- Comfort is your priority, and the 105 Silva does better there than the Edition XS.
What matters most to you?
| What matters | HIFIMAN Edition XS | Meze 105 Silva |
|---|---|---|
| Sound | 8.3 | 8.2 |
| Technical performance | 9.0 | 8.7 |
| Build & comfort | 8.4 | 9.1 |
| System fit | 8.9 | 9.1 |
| Value | 9.1 | 8.7 |
The widest gap is build & comfort: 8.4 for the Edition XS against 9.1 for the 105 Silva. The Edition XS column is worked out from its review's 11 pros and cons and the 105 Silva column from 14, and each adds back up to its overall score, 8.7 and 8.7. How a score is built
Where they differ
The 105 Silva has a suspension strap and the Edition XS does not.
Only the Edition XS
Only the 105 Silva
Bass
The Edition XS review and the 105 Silva review both have something to say here, and the 105 Silva review compares the two on it directly, quoted above:
- Edition XS, praised: "Bass extends to 20Hz, clean and free of distortion"
- 105 Silva, criticized: "Mid-bass is slightly forward"
Comfort and fit
Here the 105 Silva review is the more positive of the two and the Edition XS review has reservations:
- 105 Silva, praised: "Self-adjusting elastic suspension headband - zero hotspots"
- Edition XS, criticized: "Solid headband (no suspension strap) creates a hotspot after a few hours"
Only the Edition XS review praises its soundstage and value; only the 105 Silva review praises its driver technology and in-box accessories but faults its tonal balance and cabling.
What they have in common
The Edition XS and the 105 Silva are both open-back headphones, the Edition XS with a planar magnetic driver and the 105 Silva with a dynamic one. The Edition XS and the 105 Silva are both praised for their amp matching and build, and both criticized for their treble and mids.
Sound signature, overlaid
For energy, bass weight, and stage size, the better guide is the 105 Silva review's own comparison with the Edition XS, quoted above.
On paper
The Edition XS and the 105 Silva share #8 of the 30 headphones reviewed here; on value the Edition XS rates Excellent and the 105 Silva Fair. To reach 110 dB peaks the Edition XS needs about 63 mW (most dongle DACs) and the 105 Silva at most 15 mW (a phone jack or any dongle). At 354 g against 405 g, the 105 Silva is 51 g lighter than the Edition XS.
The Edition XS and 105 Silva figures are the makers' own; IEC 60268-7 defines how they are measured.
| Spec | HIFIMAN Edition XS | Meze 105 Silva |
|---|---|---|
| Driver | Planar magnetic | 50 mm dynamic, carbon fiber-reinforced cellulose W-dome + titanium-coated torus |
| Impedance | 18 Ω | 42 Ω |
| Sensitivity | 92 dB/mW | 112 dB (reference not stated) |
| Frequency response | 8 Hz - 50 kHz | 5 Hz - 30 kHz |
| Weight | 405 g | 354 g |
How these verdicts were reached
The Edition XS review was published on Jun 1, 2023 and the 105 Silva review on May 17, 2026, three years later, on one reference chain and rubric. The 105 Silva review compares it with the Edition XS directly, quoted above. The Edition XS and 105 Silva reviews were both last checked on Oct 3, 2026.
Sources
Further reading for the Edition XS and the 105 Silva: the Edition XS's Stealth Magnets and the two driver types.
Questions about the Edition XS and 105 Silva
What is the difference between the HIFIMAN Edition XS and the Meze 105 Silva?
The Edition XS and the 105 Silva tie on score at 8.7. Going by the two reviews, the 105 Silva is stronger than the Edition XS on comfort. For voicing, the better guide is the 105 Silva review's own comparison with the Edition XS, quoted above.
Which should you buy, the HIFIMAN Edition XS or the Meze 105 Silva?
The Edition XS: it ties the 105 Silva at 8.7 and costs $230 less. The 105 Silva review's own take on the Edition XS is quoted above.
Which is more comfortable, the Edition XS or the 105 Silva?
The 105 Silva, narrowly: both reviews are mixed on comfort, the 105 Silva's less so than the Edition XS's.