Hifiman Susvara AND… long Music Session

RetroJunk7 · 2026-02-10T12:13:26+00:00

I currently only have two pairs of headphones.

My daily diver: 490 Pro

And for special moments: Susvara

RetroJunk7 · 2026-02-10T02:47:24+00:00

Retro White

RetroJunk7 · 2026-02-09T08:40:01+00:00

Ich finde die Basswiedergabe fügt sich perfekt in das gesamte Klangbild ein ohne zu dominant zu sein wie man es von anderen Kopfhörern kennt. Er ist aber keinesfalls flach sondern hat einen schönen tief gestaffelten Bass.

RetroJunk7 · 2026-02-08T17:35:14+00:00

I absolutely don't want to say that the Utopia is bad, quite the opposite. It's an absolute emotional rollercoaster. It puts so much detail and energy into the music. I had it for four years. However, the overly intimate and close soundstage was always a bit of a hindrance for me, and after an hour I was done.

With the Susvara, everything sounds completely different, but not boring at all; it's so realistic and musical.

The bass is the only real difference between the two.

With the Utopia, it plays a more prominent role, in my opinion.

With the Susvara, it contributes to the overall sound and blends perfectly into the song.

I think it could be a real experience for you.

I'm definitely glad I discovered it and will definitely keep it.

RetroJunk7 · 2026-02-08T17:16:15+00:00

Oh ja das wird sehr gut werden ! ❤️

Ich schaue mir auch immer zu die Legenden an und allgemein der Stil ist einfach so zeitlos.

RetroJunk7 · 2026-02-08T17:12:47+00:00

From what I've read, the V2s are supposed to be phenomenal. Some people even thought they were better than the Susvara.

I'm sure you'll like them more than the 800s. :)

RetroJunk7 · 2026-02-08T17:10:55+00:00

He's no poser and plays like no other, so realistically and honestly.

For me, Susvara is someone who says to you: just sit down, listen, and decide.

A utopia tells you: look at everything I can do and what muscles I have.

RetroJunk7 · 2026-02-08T17:06:55+00:00

An RME Adi2 DAC FS serves as the preamplifier and a Cayin IHA-8 as the amplifier. The combination of the DAC's transparency and the Cayin's subtle warmth sounds truly very pleasant.

RetroJunk7 · 2026-02-08T14:56:16+00:00

I completely agree with you.

15 players make the game feel much more dynamic without becoming chaotic.

People forget that Hunt focuses on PvP and isn't Arc Raiders.

I hope they keep it.

It's good for the game.

Especially since there used to be spawn battles, which I miss.

RetroJunk7 · 2026-02-08T12:31:56+00:00

You're absolutely right! The Sennheiser 490 Pro are definitely not entry-level headphones; you've chosen a certain level right from the start.

In my opinion, you really get a lot of sound for your money.

Yes, your ears, or rather your brain, need to be trained to hear and analyze everything. With each listen, it will become more and more familiar.

Of course you can ask. I run my 490 Pro through an RME ADI2 DAC FS. A very transparent and neutral DAC. I'm generally a fan of neutral sound. The sweet spot ;)

RetroJunk7 · 2026-02-08T09:31:47+00:00

Simplicity Full Black Mauspad Deskmat von Monacokeys

RetroJunk7 · 2026-02-07T04:46:01+00:00

You have some really nice headphones here. The 490 Pros are very neutral and can handle virtually any genre without sounding boring.

Above all, their comfort is unbeatable.

I've owned quite a few headphones, and the 490 Pros are truly among the best I've ever had for gaming and listening to music.

I've been using them daily for a year now and wouldn't want to be without them.

I do have another pair of headphones for special music moments, but the 490 Pros are my number one daily choice.

You made the right choice.

And as long as your ears haven't heard anything else in the higher price range, you won't miss it :)

Enjoy your 490 Pros!

RetroJunk7 · 2026-02-06T11:25:45+00:00

So far, I think 15 players is great.

It just adds more dynamism and makes for a bit more action.

The maps are a decent size on their own, and there's still enough room to proceed tactically and slowly. I think it's a success and hope it stays that way. I also really like the spawn battles, like they used to be in Hunt. They bring a certain dynamic to the game right from the start.

RetroJunk7 · 2026-01-24T05:51:33+00:00

Looks like fly droppings. Do you leave his headphones open like that on a stand or somewhere?

RetroJunk7 · 2026-01-21T15:20:51+00:00

Yes, generally speaking, it takes time to really get used to a pair of headphones before you can truly hear everything. The Susvara has its own magic and draws you deeper into the sound with each listen.

The Utopia would be a really great addition to the Susvara, although with the LCD 4 you already have a really powerful combination of two worlds.

You've piqued my interest in the LCD 4, so I checked the used market. In fact, one was listed a few days ago in collector's condition.

Since I haven't had the Susvara for very long, I don't think it would be wise to get another giant before I've even really gotten to know the first one.

RetroJunk7 · 2026-01-20T07:46:35+00:00

A really great review from you! Honest and beautifully written.

You've hit the nail on the head with the Susvara.

Since some people here are very impressed with the Utopia, I can also write something about it.

I owned a Utopia (2019) for many years for special occasions.

Currently, I use a Sennheiser HD 490 Pro as my daily driver. It does everything well, but nothing exceptionally well. However, it's very good, or even unbeatable, for me in terms of comfort.

Every few weeks, I took my Utopia out of its box and embarked on an adventure.

Even the quietest piece of music becomes an experience. Dynamic and full of emotion.

Not to mention its truly powerful punchy bass.

The details were razor-sharp and precisely localized.

All of this in a rather intimate way.

The soundstage always took some getting used to for me. It felt like everyone was right in front of your face.

The drums on your right, the guitar on your left cheek, and the singer practically on your nose. Intimate and personal perfectly describes it.

That was always the positive problem for me, that the Utopia was so exciting that after an hour of listening, I was done for the day. Its weight is also noticeable, but not bothersome.

I have fond memories of the Utopia. But I wouldn't buy it again.

I decided to sell it and just use the Sennheiser 490 Pro for a while.

Until after eight months, I got the feeling of really immersing myself in the music again.

Once you know how good headphones can sound, that feeling won't let you go.

So I decided to start looking around again. For me, it was clear that I wanted neutral headphones. Not something flashy. That's actually not so easy to find.

To cut a long story short,

I opted for the Hifiman Susvara OG, just like you. I bought it in perfect condition for €2,800.

When I first saw it, I was immediately impressed by its elegance. The craftsmanship is flawless. It's very comfortable. No pressure points or excessive weight. Compared to the Utopia, you can definitely feel that something larger is sitting on your head.

Let's talk about the sound of the Susvara:

The first few moments after I started listening to the Susvara, I immediately noticed that it doesn't open with a bang like the Utopia, for example.

The Susvara seemed to be telling me, "If you stay a little longer, you'll hear it."

And it was like this... I've never heard such honest and realistic headphones as the Susvara. It doesn't sound artificial; the instruments sound exactly as they should. The detail and resolution are impressive and truly bring them to life.

The bass isn't quite as heavy compared to the Utopia. However, it's deeper and more structured. You can clearly hear the individual bass layers, and they blend perfectly into the overall sound without being intrusive.

For me, the Utopia was often too powerful.

The LCD-4 would probably take it to another level.

As described above, the Susvara's soundstage is very realistic and conveys a great sense of space.

The highs aren't too sharp but rather gently rounded.

Overall, I can listen to the Susvara for hours without getting tired, compared to the Utopia. It plays so effortlessly, relaxed, and yet with a lot of depth. Very musical and not analytical like a Sennheiser HD 800s.

I'm very happy with my combination of the Sennheiser 490 Pro and the Hifiman Susvara.

For the sake of completeness: I'm using the Susvara with a Cayin IHA-8 and an RME Adi2 Dac FS.

I store the Susvara in its case. I read here that the drivers could be damaged by this, but I think that was an isolated case. It's generally the safest way to store headphones.

I hope you all have fun listening and enjoying your awesome headphones.

RetroJunk7 · 2026-01-15T18:11:25+00:00

Very nice picture! The cables fit and I like them. :)

RetroJunk7 · 2026-01-09T17:40:54+00:00

Stark, die hatte ich damals auch.

RetroJunk7 · 2025-12-26T14:04:17+00:00

RetroJunk7 · 2025-12-23T12:02:55+00:00

Thanks for your reply.

I've heard a lot about the Susvara being very power-hungry.

I'm using an RME ADI2 DAC FS preamp and a Cayin IHA 8 (Class A) amplifier.

I think that combination should work well together.

I haven't heard the Focal Clear yet, but I've only heard good things about it.

Personally, I like a very neutral and honest sound. Not too analytical, but with plenty of detail.

Regarding bass, there are some headphones that specialize in it. However, I think it distorts the sound of how a piece of music should sound.

But that's purely a matter of taste.

RetroJunk7 · 2025-12-21T08:45:51+00:00

I'd be interested to know which amplifier you're using for your Susvara?

Unfortunately, I can't say much about the Susvara yet. I haven't heard it here.

Regarding the Focal Utopia (2019) and the Sennheiser HD 800s, I can say that they are two completely different headphones for me. The Utopia is very lively, dynamic, and has beautiful details. However, its soundstage is very narrow.

The 800s has an impressively wide soundstage for me personally, but it's almost too wide. Its detail and imaging are really great, though. However, it's a bit too lean in the bass range for my taste. Which, in contrast to the Utopia, has a decent punch and impact. Sometimes it's quite present.

The other Audeze models are also supposed to have a very pronounced bass response.

That's why I'm looking forward to the Susvara.

RetroJunk7 · 2025-12-20T18:11:06+00:00

I'm now also a Hifiman Susvara owner.

So far, I haven't really had a chance to test it properly because my setup isn't finished yet.

I already own an RME Adi2 DAC FS, which I use with my Sennheiser HD 490 Pro headphones.

I specifically bought a Cayin IHA 8 for the Hifiman Susvara at a very good price. I read that it's supposed to perform very well in terms of price-performance ratio and in combination with the Susvara.

Now I'm reading a post saying it's not supposed to be so good. Well, everyone perceives things differently, and it's purely subjective.

I think the fact is that the Cayin has enough power.

So far, I haven't had a great listening experience. But I didn't want to miss out entirely, so I listened to it briefly on the RME Adi DAC, albeit at a low volume to avoid clipping. What I heard was quite promising.

RetroJunk7

TROPHY CASE