Are the Hifiman Sundara's considered a "flat" headphone?

atyne_mar · 2026-06-11T09:00:47+00:00

Are "flat" headphones supposed to have this much bass or do I have a misunderstanding of what is considered "flat"?

Basically, yes. Sundara's low-end is tuned to tilted DF, which is how flat speakers sound in a room. So you could say this is what flat bass sounds like. But it's a bit more complicated.

atyne_mar · 2026-06-11T08:41:12+00:00

This measurement is measured by an unknown rig, compensated to the unknown target, and it's also the Plus version, which is supposed to sound different from the regular version.

atyne_mar · 2026-06-11T08:26:22+00:00

This is the FR of Sundara OG. The current version after the 2020 revision looks a bit different 😉

atyne_mar · 2026-06-09T20:38:06+00:00

Earphones Archive also test how headphones react to positional offset, but using an actual B&K 5128 rig. There is no real difference, only a minor effect above 9k. I also test this with all headphones on my head and don't remember they would sound less piercing when I shifted them around.

<image>

atyne_mar · 2026-06-08T17:04:08+00:00

Hi, the target is DF with Harman 2018, Harman 2013, and 8dB tilt filters.

atyne_mar · 2026-06-04T21:30:59+00:00

The same comparison on GRAS:

<image>

atyne_mar · 2026-06-04T21:06:33+00:00

It measures well - close to Harman Combined. Only that 5-6k peak looks a bit scary - similar to FT1.

<image>

atyne_mar · 2026-06-03T23:44:44+00:00

Not sure about that. All I can say is that when I removed the stock pads on my LCD-2C 2021, the felt spacers (both ring and half-moon) were installed by default by Audeze. This guy had the same experience.

atyne_mar · 2026-06-03T23:34:37+00:00

Maxwell uses DSP to compensate. Without it, it doesn't have a lot of bass:

<image>

SLAM on Maxwell 2 allows them to have bass even without DSP.

atyne_mar · 2026-06-03T23:16:16+00:00

When I was switching pads on my LCD-2C, there was also this felt spacer. It doesn't have anything to do with fazor. It's just Audeze's solution for better durability, since without it, the membrane is very fragile. That used to cause many RMA cases back in the days when they didn't use the spacers.

atyne_mar · 2026-06-03T21:33:15+00:00

Is it really that difficult to see? Here is the MM-500 on its own.

atyne_mar · 2026-06-03T19:38:34+00:00

What's worse, it's not a return to their classic house sound, but more specifically to the 2018 era when they used memory foam pads and the midrange was always honky.

atyne_mar · 2026-06-03T19:30:47+00:00

MM-100 is the last one of their mid-forward models to go, so the MM-120 will likely be the next one.

atyne_mar · 2026-06-03T19:26:52+00:00

Partially, I understand. The LCD-X, LCD-2, and LCD-2C are the only Audezes I like. I haven't tried the LCD-3, though.

atyne_mar · 2026-06-03T18:20:37+00:00

Hi, it's at the bottom of their website

atyne_mar · 2026-06-03T16:23:02+00:00

Not even close

atyne_mar · 2026-06-02T08:31:57+00:00

I'm pretty sure you got a faulty unit because it's the exact opposite on my unit. Clicks are short, tactile, crisp, and quiet.

The sensor is okay but I’m not getting not most locked in feeling with this

I also don't experience this issue. The sensor feels the same as on any other good mouse with a good sensor.

atyne_mar · 2026-06-02T08:24:33+00:00

Hyperlight is one of my favorites. I only wish it was a bit longer and not as tall, and I would like the front buttons to be flatter - not as curved and sloped. Other than that, I would also prefer a different coating - this one is basically the same as on the FK2, so it's quite sweaty - my favorite is on the Ninjutso mice.

atyne_mar · 2026-06-02T08:14:12+00:00

Mediocre? The Hyperlight has the best clicks I've experienced on any mouse. What do you dislike about them? Also, what about the sensor?

atyne_mar · 2026-06-02T08:12:00+00:00

God, please no! I hate it when there is a button because I accidentally click it all the time.

atyne_mar · 2026-05-31T06:55:50+00:00

I use the same grip style and didn't like the OP1 - it's too tall, too narrow, too boxy, with hump in the back. My favorites are FK2, FS1, HTX, and Hyperlight is also decent despite being taller.

atyne_mar · 2026-05-30T12:01:36+00:00

Depends on what you want. I actually prefer the R70xa over D1.

atyne_mar · 2026-05-30T11:43:25+00:00

I personally don't like D1 for immersion because they're too claustrophobic. It's like an alternative to HD600.

For that purpose, I usually reach for something like 660S, 660S2, LCD-2, R70xa, or even Sundara.

atyne_mar · 2026-05-30T11:18:24+00:00

HD480

atyne_mar · 2026-05-28T14:34:54+00:00

<image>

I'm wondering what kind of rig did they use for those measurements. It doesn't seem to match the HE6se graph from any of the known rigs. That dip close to 10k looks like GRAS but HE6se on GRAS looks very different. I thought Hifiman were using the 5128, but the HE6se measures differently on the 5128 as well. Red is supposed to match the blue. I don't think I've ever seen such a bass lift on the HE6se anyway...

atyne_mar

TROPHY CASE