---
title: "Kiwi Ears Atheia Review: A $349 Planar + Dynamic Closed-Back"
description: "Kiwi Ears Atheia review: a $349 closed-back hybrid - a 50mm dynamic for slam, a 14.5mm planar for speed, in walnut and aluminum. Cups run small. 7.9/10."
url: "https://theaudiostuff.com/reviews/kiwi-ears-atheia/"
type: "article"
section: "Headphones"
author: "Jakub Charkiewicz"
published: "2025-12-10T00:00:00.000Z"
modified: "2025-12-10T00:00:00.000Z"
checked: "2026-09-19"
tags: ["Hybrid", "Planar Magnetic", "Dynamic Driver", "Closed-Back", "Kiwi Ears", "Over-Ear"]
product: "Kiwi Ears Atheia"
brand: "Kiwi Ears"
score: 7.9
score_max: 10
verdict: "Recommended"
---

> Markdown rendering of https://theaudiostuff.com/reviews/kiwi-ears-atheia/
> Canonical URL to cite: https://theaudiostuff.com/reviews/kiwi-ears-atheia/
> Generated from the published page. Text and links only; see the HTML for layout.

Breadcrumb: [Home](https://theaudiostuff.com/) > [Reviews](https://theaudiostuff.com/reviews/) > [Headphones](https://theaudiostuff.com/reviews/headphones/) > Kiwi Ears Atheia

# Kiwi Ears Atheia Review: A $349 Planar + Dynamic Closed-Back

A closed-back hybrid headphone pairing a 50mm dynamic driver with a 14.5mm planar - dynamic slam on the bottom, planar speed on top, in a walnut and aluminum chassis.

Kiwi Ears By [Jakub Charkiewicz](https://theaudiostuff.com/authors/jakub-charkiewicz/) $349 Reviewed Dec 10, 2025 Checked Sep 2026

Score 7.9 out of 10

Recommended

higher than 30% of everything we have tested Distribution of every score on the site, 6.5 to 9.3, median 8.1. This review is in the 7.5-8.0 band, which holds 14 of them.

- **Standout**: Walnut wood earcups with aluminum brackets
- **Watch out for**: Vegan leather pads feel a bit generic
- **Better alternative**: [HIFIMAN Edition XS](https://theaudiostuff.com/reviews/hifiman-edition-xs/): has an easier listen, $80 less, scores 0.8 higher.

[What the verdicts mean](https://theaudiostuff.com/about/#verdict-scale)

Is it for you?

- Buy it if you want the balance to lean warm, with the top end eased
- Buy it if you do not want to buy an amplifier before you can hear it properly
- Skip it if you want every last bit of treble detail

Read 7 min Watch 10 min

Pick **#9 of 12** in our [Best Headphones Under $500](https://theaudiostuff.com/guides/best-headphones-under-500/) guide.

You probably think you know how headphones work - one driver per side, simple right? But what if I told you these use two drivers per side? Not for show, but to actually split the sound between them. It's called the Kiwi Ears Atheia, and it does things very differently. The question is - does this unusual design actually make them sound better or worse?

[![The full Kiwi Ears Atheia open-back headphone on a wooden stand, showing both walnut earcups, the leather suspension headband, and aluminium yokes, with its retail box behind](https://theaudiostuff.com/images/kiwi-ears-atheia-on-stand-1152w.avif) (view larger)](https://theaudiostuff.com/images/kiwi-ears-atheia-on-stand-1536w.avif)

*The Atheia in full - walnut cups, a self-adjusting suspension headband, and aluminium yokes.*

## Comfort & Build Quality: Walnut Done with Care {#comfort--build-quality-walnut-done-with-care}

[Watch this part (0:33)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxRns_qS56w&t=33s)

The Kiwi Ears Atheia feels immediately different from most headphones you pick up. The earcups are made from walnut wood, which gives them a really warm, nice feel, and the aluminum brackets add some weight and durability without looking industrial. The headband isn't just a simple design either - the suspension strap adjusts automatically on stretchy rubber bands. And the entire headband assembly can move up and down on a slider for a more precise fit through adjustment. That makes it sit comfortably on your head without putting too much pressure on the top.

[![The Kiwi Ears Atheia's walnut wood earcups with the engraved logo and aluminium brackets](https://theaudiostuff.com/images/kiwi-ears-atheia-walnut-earcups-1152w.avif) (view larger)](https://theaudiostuff.com/images/kiwi-ears-atheia-walnut-earcups-1536w.avif)

*The walnut earcups, engraved logo, and aluminium brackets.*

The ear pads are vegan leather, soft, and they form a decent seal - for some reason they have a very generic feel though. For shorter sessions, it's super comfortable, and even for a couple of hours, it's fine - but your ears might start to feel a little warm because the cups aren't huge. Also, the ear openings aren't massive, so most ears, including mine, will touch the pads a bit. It's not a dealbreaker, but something to know if you're picky about that.

The cable is another standout. It's a [single-ended](https://theaudiostuff.com/glossary/#single-ended) 3.5mm cable, but what makes it neat is the locking mechanism - it twists and clicks into the earcups so it won't come loose if you accidentally tug on it. The cable itself mixes braided nylon and a softer rubberized section near the cups, which helps keep it flexible and perhaps reduces microphonics, but unfortunately still it is a quite bit microphonic. Regardless, it's a nice step up from the generic cables you usually get in this price range.

[![The Kiwi Ears Atheia's cable, mixing braided nylon and a softer section, with locking 3.5mm L/R connectors](https://theaudiostuff.com/images/kiwi-ears-atheia-locking-cable-1152w.avif) (view larger)](https://theaudiostuff.com/images/kiwi-ears-atheia-locking-cable-1536w.avif)

*The cable's braided nylon and locking 3.5mm connectors.*

And then there's the carrying case. It's a small, hard-shell case with a soft lining, so you don't have to worry about scratches when you're transporting the headphones. Not massive or clunky - just practical.

Overall, the Atheia keeps a balance between premium aesthetics and everyday comfort. It's not heavy, and it doesn't feel very cheap. Many companies outside the headphone world, when making their first headphones, tend to create a product that feels generic and really OEM, but the Atheia avoids that entirely. It feels like it was designed with care and attention to detail, not just as another product to check off a list, and keep in mind that Kiwi Ears is mostly an [IEM](https://theaudiostuff.com/glossary/iem/) company.

## Technologies: A Dynamic-Planar Driver Split {#technologies-a-dynamic-planar-driver-split}

[Watch this part (3:45)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxRns_qS56w&t=225s)

The Atheia's standout feature is its dual-driver hybrid design - a 50mm [dynamic driver](https://theaudiostuff.com/glossary/dynamic-driver/) working in tandem with a 14.5mm [planar magnetic](https://theaudiostuff.com/glossary/planar-magnetic/) driver. The idea is that the dynamic handles the heavier low end - all the [slam](https://theaudiostuff.com/glossary/#slam) and full-bodied [bass](https://theaudiostuff.com/glossary/#bass) - while the planar driver takes care of the upper mids and treble, especially in the textures and detail region. That lets each driver do what it's better suited for, instead of forcing one driver to do everything.

To support that, the internal acoustic architecture is tuned to balance resonances between the two driver systems. Kiwi Ears went with wooden cups that help tame [coloration](https://theaudiostuff.com/glossary/#coloration) and resonance, paired with aluminum alloy brackets to add stability and reduce vibrational flex.

The cable system is also part of the tech design. The Atheia uses a unique left/right cable configuration, where swapping the ends breaks operation - which is essential because the dual-driver layout demands specific routing.

## Does It Need an Amp? Easy to Run, Scales with Amps {#does-it-need-an-amp-easy-to-run-scales-with-amps}

[Watch this part (4:54)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxRns_qS56w&t=294s)

First, [impedance](https://theaudiostuff.com/glossary/impedance/) is listed as 32Ω - that's nice and low, meaning the Atheia is easy to drive from most [DACs](https://theaudiostuff.com/glossary/dac/), amps, or even quality portables. With [sensitivity](https://theaudiostuff.com/glossary/sensitivity/) around 102dB/mW, you won't need huge amplification to get to satisfying listening levels. But what I found is that due to the unusual design and two separate drivers, a better amp gives noticeably tighter control and cleaner separation.

The frequency range is spec'd from 20Hz up to 40kHz. Yes, the top end is way beyond what we hear, but this tells us the drivers, especially the planar component, are capable of extending treble and subtle overtones, or harmonics. The dynamic side gives weight down low, and claims usable bass output that can be felt well below 40Hz.

For distortion, according to Kiwi Ears it stays below 0.5% at 1mW. That's reasonable for this type of hybrid design - low enough that at typical listening volumes you shouldn't hear harsh artifacts.

Weight is modest - it's not ultra-light, but the combination of wood cups and open aluminum parts keeps it easily manageable. The headband mechanics and adjustment play a massive role in how wearable it feels.

When you put all those spec numbers together, what you expect is a headphone that gives strong [bass extension](https://theaudiostuff.com/glossary/#bass-extension) without strain, decent treble reach, low distortion under load, and driver synergy that theoretically minimizes audible transitions between driver zones.

## How Does It Sound? Huge Stage, Exaggerated Reverb {#how-does-it-sound-huge-stage-exaggerated-reverb}

[Watch this part (6:44)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxRns_qS56w&t=404s)

When I first started listening to the Kiwi Ears Atheia, the first thing that hit me was just how big it sounds. For a [closed-back](https://theaudiostuff.com/glossary/closed-back/) headphone, the [soundstage](https://theaudiostuff.com/glossary/soundstage/) is surprisingly wide and open - it almost feels like you're listening to a semi-open design. Everything feels spread out, with this sense of [air](https://theaudiostuff.com/glossary/#air) and depth that you just don't expect from something sealed off.

The bass is honestly one of the most impressive parts here. It's punchy, energetic, and digs really deep - actually deeper than some much more expensive planars I've tested recently. There's great extension all the way down, and that [sub-bass](https://theaudiostuff.com/glossary/#sub-bass) rumble gives electronic and cinematic tracks a lot of weight and excitement. It's definitely tuned to be engaging.

Now, one thing that stood out to me pretty quickly is how the Atheia exaggerates reverb in recordings. It gives tracks this sort of larger-than-life, atmospheric character - it makes certain songs sound huge and immersive, but when things get busy or complex, that extra reverb effect can make the sound a bit messy or diffuse. It's one of those traits that adds fun, but not necessarily accuracy.

Vocals are a bit of a mixed bag. They're clean and well-defined, but not very full-bodied - there's a slightly honky, [midrange](https://theaudiostuff.com/glossary/#midrange)-forward quality that makes voices sound focused but not particularly warm. It's clear that Kiwi Ears went for cleanliness over richness here, and while it works well for modern mixes, it doesn't flatter older or more midrange-heavy recordings from the '70s and '80s quite as much.

Tonally, it's on the slightly thinner side - not in a bad or fatiguing way, but enough to make it sound quick and tight rather than lush or dense. That thinner presentation actually contributes to its technical performance, giving it a fast, detailed, almost [analytical](https://theaudiostuff.com/glossary/#analytical) [edge](https://theaudiostuff.com/glossary/#edge). In fact, it feels like a hybrid of planar-style detail retrieval and dynamic-driver [punch](https://theaudiostuff.com/glossary/#punch), which makes sense given its dual-driver design. Or maybe I'm just imagining it and it would've been possible to do just well with a single driver, who knows?

One interesting thing I noticed is how it stages everything a little farther away from you - instruments and vocals feel like they're pushed a step back. It's a cool effect that adds to that sense of spaciousness, but it does make some tracks sound a bit more distant than intimate. I liked that effect quite a lot, as it showed me a different perspective on tracks I already knew very well.

## Verdict: Spacious, Fast, Full of Energy {#verdict-spacious-fast-full-of-energy}

Overall, the Atheia has a very distinct personality - super spacious, clean, detailed, and fast, with bass that really slams and a top end that keeps things lively. It's not a warm or cozy-sounding headphone, but if you like something that's open, precise, and full of energy, it definitely stands out from the crowd.

## Sound signature {#signature-heading}

Derived from the words this review uses: each axis runs between two opposite descriptors, and the shape leans toward whichever side the writing does.

- Warm ↔ Bright Leans warm
- Relaxed ↔ Analytical Leans analytical
- Polite ↔ Aggressive Leans aggressive
- Lean ↔ Bass-heavy Leans bass-heavy
- Intimate ↔ Wide stage Leans wide stage

Hear what "warm, analytical, aggressive, bass-heavy, wide stage" means: a short synthesised loop, flat and then with those leanings. **An illustration of the words, not a recording of the Atheia.**

Not sure which signature suits you? [Find yours with a blind A/B test](https://theaudiostuff.com/tools/sound-signature-finder/)

![Jakub Charkiewicz, founder & lead reviewer at The Audio Stuff](https://theaudiostuff.com/images/jakub-charkiewicz-112w.avif)

Reviewed by

### [Jakub Charkiewicz](https://theaudiostuff.com/authors/jakub-charkiewicz/) {#rv-author-box-title}

Founder & lead reviewer · on The Audio Stuff since May 2023

[Everything by Jakub](https://theaudiostuff.com/authors/jakub-charkiewicz/) [@TheAudioStuff (opens in new tab)](https://www.youtube.com/@TheAudioStuff) [LinkedIn (opens in new tab)](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakub-charkiewicz) [Testing methodology](https://theaudiostuff.com/about/#methodology-title) [Report a correction](https://theaudiostuff.com/contact/#report-correction)

Read next: review [HIFIMAN Sundara Closed-back](https://theaudiostuff.com/reviews/hifiman-sundara-closed-back/) Scored 6.8, the nearest headphones review to this one by class, price and brand line. ![The Sundara Closed-back's real Beechwood earcup and suspension-strap headband on a stand](https://theaudiostuff.com/images/thumb/hifiman-sundara-closed-back-beechwood-earcup-160.avif)

[Read next: review HIFIMAN Sundara Closed-back](https://theaudiostuff.com/reviews/hifiman-sundara-closed-back/)

### Pros {#rv-pros-heading}

- Walnut wood earcups with aluminum brackets
- Hybrid: 50mm dynamic + 14.5mm planar magnetic
- Surprisingly wide soundstage for a closed-back
- Bass extension deeper than many pricier planars
- Auto-adjusting suspension headband with stretchy bands
- Locking 3.5mm cable connectors with mixed braided/rubber
- Hard-shell carrying case included
- Easy to drive (32Ω, 102dB) but scales with better amps

### Cons {#rv-cons-heading}

- Vegan leather pads feel a bit generic
- Cups aren't huge - some ears will touch the pads
- Mids are slightly recessed and lean honky
- Tonally thin/quick - not warm or lush
- Exaggerates reverb - can sound messy in busy mixes
- Cable is still mildly microphonic

### At a glance {#glance-heading}

- **Price**: $349 Budget
- **Type**: Hybrid Closed-Back Over-Ear
- **Score breakdown**: Sound 7.7 Technical performance 8.2 Build & comfort 7.8 System fit 8.1 Value 7.6 0.2 below the 8.1 average across all 30 headphones reviews. From 12 of this review's pros and cons, weighted to the published rubric. [How a score is built](https://theaudiostuff.com/about/#rubric)
- **Rank**: [#20 of 30 headphones by score - see the full ranked list](https://theaudiostuff.com/reviews/headphones/#top-rated) by score, of all headphones we've reviewed [Above Sivga Anser Score 8.0 out of 10](https://theaudiostuff.com/reviews/sivga-anser/) [Below Sivga Robin SV021 Score 7.8 out of 10](https://theaudiostuff.com/reviews/sivga-robin-sv021/)
- **Value**: Fair Mid-pack for the price in headphones [Better value Sivga Luan Score 8.1 out of 10](https://theaudiostuff.com/reviews/sivga-luan/)

### Specifications {#specs-heading}

**Key specifications for the Kiwi Ears Atheia**
| | |
| --- | --- |
| Driver | 50 mm dynamic + 14.5 mm planar (hybrid) |
| [Impedance](https://theaudiostuff.com/glossary/impedance/) | 32 Ω |
| [Sensitivity](https://theaudiostuff.com/glossary/sensitivity/) | 102 dB/mW |
| [Frequency response](https://theaudiostuff.com/glossary/frequency-response/) | 20 Hz - 40 kHz |
| Connector | Dual 3.5 mm (locking) |

Manufacturer figures, from [Kiwi Ears's official site](https://kiwiears.com), unless a measured value is noted. [See an error? Tell us.](https://theaudiostuff.com/contact/#report-correction)

Calculator

Will my amp drive these headphones?

About 6.3 mW

to reach 110 dB peaks, which is a phone jack or any dongle.

From this review's 32 Ω and 102 dB/mW.

[Reproduce this in the Headphone Power Calculator](https://theaudiostuff.com/tools/headphone-power-calculator/#h=kiwi-atheia)

### More from Kiwi Ears {#sister-heading}

- [Belle, Cadenza II, Orchestra II Score 8.1 out of 10, Recommended](https://theaudiostuff.com/reviews/kiwi-ears-belle-cadenza-orchestra/)
- [Orchestra Lite Score 8.0 out of 10, Recommended](https://theaudiostuff.com/reviews/kiwi-ears-orchestra-lite/)

## Watch the video review {#video-heading}

[Subscribe on YouTube (opens in new tab)](https://www.youtube.com/@TheAudioStuff)

Prefer to read? The written review above covers everything in the video.

[Watch The Best of Both Worlds? Kiwi Ears Atheia (Planar + DD) Review on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxRns_qS56w)

1. [0:00 The TRUTH About Hybrid HiFi Headphones (opens in new tab)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxRns_qS56w&t=0s)
2. [0:33 Comfort & Build Quality (Wooden Cups, Suspension Strap Band, Vegan Leather Pads) (opens in new tab)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxRns_qS56w&t=33s)
3. [3:45 Technologies (Locking Cable System, Planar Magnetic and Dynamic Drivers) (opens in new tab)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxRns_qS56w&t=225s)
4. [4:54 Technical Specification (Frequency Response, Amplifier Matching, Sensitivity, Low Impedance) (opens in new tab)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxRns_qS56w&t=294s)
5. [6:44 Sound Quality (Semi-Open Sound, Bass Dynamics, Soundstage Width) (opens in new tab)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxRns_qS56w&t=404s)

## Common questions about the Atheia {#rv-faq-heading}

1. ### Is the Kiwi Ears Atheia worth it? {#review-kiwi-ears-atheia-faq-is-the-kiwi-ears-atheia-worth-it}
   Yes, for the right listener - 7.9/10, Recommended, higher than 30% of everything we have tested, against a catalogue median of 8.1. On value it rates fair: mid-pack for the price in headphones. Price: $349.
2. ### Who should buy the Kiwi Ears Atheia, and who should skip it? {#review-kiwi-ears-atheia-faq-who-should-buy-the-kiwi-ears-atheia-and}
   Buy it if you want the balance to lean warm, with the top end eased, and you do not want to buy an amplifier before you can hear it properly. Skip it if you want every last bit of treble detail.
3. ### What amplifier does the Kiwi Ears Atheia need? {#review-kiwi-ears-atheia-faq-what-amplifier-does-the-kiwi-ears-atheia-need}
   Impedance is 32 Ω. By the rule of eighths the amplifier feeding it wants an output impedance no higher than 4 Ω, otherwise the interaction between the two tilts the frequency response rather than simply making it quieter. Power is the separate question. About 6.3 mW to reach 110 dB peaks, which is a phone jack or any dongle.
   [Load the Atheia into the headphone power calculator](https://theaudiostuff.com/tools/headphone-power-calculator/#h=kiwi-atheia)
4. ### What else have you tested around the price of the Kiwi Ears Atheia? {#review-kiwi-ears-atheia-faq-what-else-have-you-tested-around-the-price}
   No head-to-head page for this one yet. The closest reference points we have scored in the same bracket: the Verum Audio Verum 1 at 8.0/10, the HIFIMAN Ananda Stealth at 8.8/10, and the HIFIMAN Sundara at 9.0/10.
5. ### Does the Atheia's hybrid driver design actually help? {#review-kiwi-ears-atheia-faq-does-the-atheia-s-hybrid-driver-design-actually}
   It sounds like it does, and I want to be honest about the limits of that claim. The 50mm dynamic handles the low end while the 14.5mm planar takes the upper mids and treble, so each does what it is better suited to. What I hear is planar-style detail retrieval with dynamic-driver punch, which matches the design exactly. Whether a single well-executed driver could have got there too, I genuinely cannot say - but the result stands on its own.
6. ### Can you swap the Atheia's cable ends around? {#review-kiwi-ears-atheia-faq-can-you-swap-the-atheia-s-cable-ends}
   No - swapping the ends breaks operation, and that is by design rather than a fault. The dual-driver layout demands specific left and right routing, so the cable configuration is not symmetrical the way a normal headphone's is. Worth knowing before you buy an aftermarket cable, and worth checking if one channel ever goes quiet. The stock cable locks in with a twist-and-click mechanism, so it will not pull loose.
7. ### Why does the Atheia exaggerate reverb? {#review-kiwi-ears-atheia-faq-why-does-the-atheia-exaggerate-reverb}
   It is the trait that defines the listening experience, for better and worse. Recordings take on a larger-than-life, atmospheric character that makes certain songs sound huge and immersive. When a mix gets busy or complex, that same effect turns messy and diffuse. It adds fun rather than accuracy. Combined with how far back it stages everything, it gave me a genuinely different perspective on tracks I already knew well - which I liked.
8. ### Is the Kiwi Ears Atheia warm? {#review-kiwi-ears-atheia-faq-is-the-kiwi-ears-atheia-warm}
   No, and if that is what you want, look elsewhere. Tonally it sits on the thinner side - not fatiguing, but quick and tight rather than lush or dense - and that leanness is part of what gives it its fast, detailed, almost analytical edge. Vocals are clean and well defined but not full-bodied, with a slightly honky, midrange-forward quality. It flatters modern mixes and does less for midrange-heavy recordings from the seventies and eighties.
9. ### Is the Atheia's soundstage really that wide for a closed back? {#review-kiwi-ears-atheia-faq-is-the-atheia-s-soundstage-really-that-wide}
   It is the first thing that hits you. For a sealed headphone the stage is surprisingly wide and open - close to a semi-open design in feel - with air and depth you do not expect from something closed. Part of that comes from how it pushes instruments and vocals a step back from you, which adds spaciousness at the cost of intimacy on some tracks. The bass supports it too: punchy, energetic, and digging deeper than some far more expensive planars.
10. ### Does the Atheia need a good amplifier? {#review-kiwi-ears-atheia-faq-does-the-atheia-need-a-good-amplifier}
    It runs off anything and it rewards better. At 32Ω and around 102dB/mW it is easy to drive from most DACs, amps or decent portables. What I found is that the unusual two-driver arrangement responds to amplification more than the numbers suggest - a better amp gives noticeably tighter control and cleaner separation between the driver zones, which is exactly where a hybrid can fall apart.
11. ### Will the Atheia fit large ears? {#review-kiwi-ears-atheia-faq-will-the-atheia-fit-large-ears}
    Probably not without contact. The cups are not huge and the ear openings are not massive, so most ears including mine touch the pads somewhat. It is not a dealbreaker, and it is worth knowing if you are particular about it. Warmth builds over a couple of hours for the same reason. The vegan leather pads are soft and seal decently, though they feel oddly generic against a headphone that is otherwise clearly designed with care.

### If you're interested in this {#rg-heading}

[All 30 headphones reviews](https://theaudiostuff.com/reviews/headphones/)

Closest alternatives

- [![The Sivga Anser's solid-wood earcups, aluminium mesh grilles, and gold-trimmed 3.5mm connectors](https://theaudiostuff.com/images/thumb/sivga-anser-wood-earcups-160.avif) Sivga Anser leans tighter in the bass, $150 less, a near-tie on score Scored 8.0 out of 10](https://theaudiostuff.com/reviews/sivga-anser/)
- [![The Verum 1's wood-finish comma-shaped earcup, metal cut-out grill, and suspension headband](https://theaudiostuff.com/images/thumb/verum-1-wooden-earcup-grill-160.avif) Verum Audio Verum 1 a near-tie on score Scored 8.0 out of 10](https://theaudiostuff.com/reviews/verum-audio-verum-1/)

Step up

- [![The HIFIMAN Edition XS on a stand, showing its oval slatted Window Shade grille and leather headband](https://theaudiostuff.com/images/thumb/hifiman-edition-xs-open-back-egg-grille-160.avif) HIFIMAN Edition XS has an easier listen, $80 less, scores 0.8 higher Scored 8.7 out of 10](https://theaudiostuff.com/reviews/hifiman-edition-xs/)

Step down

- [![The Sivga SV021 Pro's wooden closed-back earcups, leather headband and soft pads, lit on a dark wooden surface](https://theaudiostuff.com/images/thumb/sivga-sv021-pro-wood-earcups-160.avif) Sivga SV021 Pro has an easier listen, $170 less, scores 0.3 lower Scored 7.6 out of 10](https://theaudiostuff.com/reviews/sivga-sv021-pro/)

Different direction

- [![The Sivga Luan's real-wood earcup, blacked-out metal mesh grille, and silver aluminium ring](https://theaudiostuff.com/images/thumb/sivga-luan-wood-earcup-grille-160.avif) Sivga Luan leans tighter in the bass, $50 less, scores 0.2 higher Scored 8.1 out of 10](https://theaudiostuff.com/reviews/sivga-luan/)

### Comparisons to explore {#fi-nearby-heading}

- [HIFIMAN Sundara vs Meze 105 Silva 9.0 vs 8.7](https://theaudiostuff.com/compare/hifiman-sundara-vs-meze-105-silva/)
- [HIFIMAN Edition XS vs OLLO Audio X1 8.7 vs 8.9](https://theaudiostuff.com/compare/hifiman-edition-xs-vs-ollo-audio-x1/)
- [HIFIMAN Edition XS vs Meze 105 Silva 8.7 vs 8.7](https://theaudiostuff.com/compare/hifiman-edition-xs-vs-meze-105-silva/)

### Featured in {#fi-guide-heading}

- [Best Headphones Under $500 #9 of 12](https://theaudiostuff.com/guides/best-headphones-under-500/)
- [Best Planar Magnetic Headphones #11 of 11](https://theaudiostuff.com/guides/best-planar-magnetic-headphones/)

### Published around it {#fi-adjacent-heading}

- [Previous HarmonicDyne Eris Scored 6.8 out of 10](https://theaudiostuff.com/reviews/harmonicdyne-eris/)
- [Next HIFIMAN Arya Unveiled Scored 9.1 out of 10](https://theaudiostuff.com/reviews/hifiman-arya-unveiled/)

### Tools for this gear {#fi-tools-heading}

- [Am I listening too loud? Safe Headphone Volume Calculator](https://theaudiostuff.com/tools/safe-listening-calculator/#h=kiwi-atheia)
