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Refurb: HIFIMAN Edition XS Over-Ear Open-Back Planar Magnetic Headphones
$83.55 or less
$149
+ Free S&Hat AliExpress
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Update: This popular deal is still available.
HIFIMAN Local Store via AliExpress has HIFIMAN Edition XS Over-Ear Open-Back Planar Magnetic Headphones (Refurbished) on sale for $98.55 - $15 off when you apply promo code 15USDEAL at checkout = $83.55. Shipping is free.
Thanks to Deal Editor iconian for sharing this deal.
Note: If your total is over $100 then apply promo code DBDEAL20 for $20 Off. Price may vary by account or fluctuate slightly with currency exchange rates. You must be signed into your AliExpress account and have your address added to add items to your cart and place an order. You may have to manually type in the promo code to apply it at checkout. This item ships from a USA warehouse. For expedited customer service, please email [email protected].
About this product:
HIFIMAN Local Store via AliExpress has HIFIMAN Edition XS Over-Ear Open-Back Planar Magnetic Headphones (Refurbished) on sale for $98.55 - $15 off when you apply promo code 15USDEAL at checkout = $83.55. Shipping is free.
Thanks to Deal Editor iconian for sharing this deal.
Note: If your total is over $100 then apply promo code DBDEAL20 for $20 Off. Price may vary by account or fluctuate slightly with currency exchange rates. You must be signed into your AliExpress account and have your address added to add items to your cart and place an order. You may have to manually type in the promo code to apply it at checkout. This item ships from a USA warehouse. For expedited customer service, please email [email protected].
About this product:
- Open-back planar magnetic headphones with Stealth Magnet technology
- NEO supernano diaphragm supports fast response and detailed sound
- Ergonomic headband and large earcups support extended listening
- 8Hz-50kHz response with 18-ohm impedance and 92dB sensitivity
- Refurbished by HIFIMAN with standard warranty and 30-day returns
Editor's Notes
Written by qwikwit | Staff- This price matches the previous Frontpage Deal from August., which received +95 community votes.
- Please see the original post for additional details & give the WIKI and additional forum comments a read for helpful discussion.
Community Notes
About the Poster
Deal Details
Community Notes
About the Poster
Update: This popular deal is still available.
HIFIMAN Local Store via AliExpress has HIFIMAN Edition XS Over-Ear Open-Back Planar Magnetic Headphones (Refurbished) on sale for $98.55 - $15 off when you apply promo code 15USDEAL at checkout = $83.55. Shipping is free.
Thanks to Deal Editor iconian for sharing this deal.
Note: If your total is over $100 then apply promo code DBDEAL20 for $20 Off. Price may vary by account or fluctuate slightly with currency exchange rates. You must be signed into your AliExpress account and have your address added to add items to your cart and place an order. You may have to manually type in the promo code to apply it at checkout. This item ships from a USA warehouse. For expedited customer service, please email [email protected].
About this product:
HIFIMAN Local Store via AliExpress has HIFIMAN Edition XS Over-Ear Open-Back Planar Magnetic Headphones (Refurbished) on sale for $98.55 - $15 off when you apply promo code 15USDEAL at checkout = $83.55. Shipping is free.
Thanks to Deal Editor iconian for sharing this deal.
Note: If your total is over $100 then apply promo code DBDEAL20 for $20 Off. Price may vary by account or fluctuate slightly with currency exchange rates. You must be signed into your AliExpress account and have your address added to add items to your cart and place an order. You may have to manually type in the promo code to apply it at checkout. This item ships from a USA warehouse. For expedited customer service, please email [email protected].
About this product:
- Open-back planar magnetic headphones with Stealth Magnet technology
- NEO supernano diaphragm supports fast response and detailed sound
- Ergonomic headband and large earcups support extended listening
- 8Hz-50kHz response with 18-ohm impedance and 92dB sensitivity
- Refurbished by HIFIMAN with standard warranty and 30-day returns
Editor's Notes
Written by qwikwit | Staff- This price matches the previous Frontpage Deal from August., which received +95 community votes.
- Please see the original post for additional details & give the WIKI and additional forum comments a read for helpful discussion.
Community Voting
Deal
Score
+120
Good Deal
Bad Deal
Top Comments
With aliexpress deals, the price tends to jump around depending on how and when you view the listing. If you're seeing a higher price than the OP, try using different browsers and/or incognito mode. You must be signed into an AliExpress account and have your shipping address added to add items to your cart and place an order. It may take a few minutes after putting an address into your account for the "This item can't be shipped to your address" message to disappear and allow you to add the item to cart. You may have to manually type in the promo code to apply it at checkout. If you know where to look, there may be significant CB available on purchases from aliexpress.
These headphones are sold by the official hifiman local store (ships from the US so no concerns about customs, and comes with 1yr warranty), and at this price are pretty much a no-brainer for those looking to dip their toes into high-end audio. I personally nabbed a second pair in the previous iteration of this deal a couple of months ago, and am extremely happy with them. Previous frontpage deal with 95 upvotes for reference: https://slickdeals.net/f/19891212-refurb-hifiman-edition-xs-over-ear-open-back-planar-magnetic-headphones-84-90-free-s-h
A few basics to get out of the way first, since I know people wander onto these headphone deals not realizing these are audiophile cans for critical listening: these headphones are wired only (no bluetooth or wireless connections of any kind), have no form of active noise cancelling, have extremely poor sound isolation (you can hear what's going on around you, and everyone around you can hear what you're listening to), have no built in volume control or equalization, underperform somewhat without a proper amplifier driving them, and are fairly heavy and bulky. They are designed to be used at home with a dedicated audio setup.
The edition xs use the standard old hifiman headband (a version with the newer hammock style headband was recently released, but is much more expensive), have large oval earcups, and weigh 405g. I have an above average sized head, and I'd say the edition xs are very slightly large for me even at the minimal headband adjustment. Clamping force is also fairly low. If your head is on the smaller side, the edition xs will likely not fit well. The earcups are very roomy inside, my ears don't touch the insides of the cups at all which I greatly appreciate. The weight may take a while to get used to, I can wear them fairly easily for hours long sessions, but I can certainly imagine some people struggling. Fortunately, most of the issues with fit and comfort can be mitigated by getting a headband strap that functionally turns the headband into a hammock style one. The ~$25 capra strap is the most commonly recommended strap, but there are plenty of cheaper options available and even files available online to 3d-print a strap yourself.
The edition xs has an official impedance of 18 ohms (with some community measurements showing 14 oms instead) and a sensitivity of 92db. The combination of quite low impedance along with fairly low sensitivity means these headphones are current hungry and moderately difficult to drive. Unfortunately, most cheap onboard audio solutions, such as the all in one realtek codecs that are commonly used in laptops and motherboards, struggle greatly specifically at properly powering current hungry headphones. As long as you're not planning on using eq (equalization) you might be able to get away with not using an amp if you have a high quality integrated audio solution, or are willing to tolerate lower volume and poorer dynamics. In general though, you'll want at minimum a high powered usb dongle dacamp (ex. Jcally jm20 max, fiio ka11, etc).
These headphones are not designed for portable use, and most phones and low-power usb-c to 3.5mm dongles probably won't do a very good job of driving them. If you'd be eqing these headphones to any meaningful degree (negative preamp of more than 3db or so), a proper amp is even more highly recommended. As planar magnetic headphones with low distortion they take rather well to eq, so eq is highly recommended if you have an amp.
Oratory1990 presets are good starting point for eq: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/6y...xftbum&e=1
Autoeq can also be a helpful tool: https://github.com/jaakkopasanen/AutoEq
The tonality of the edition xs are overall fairly neutral, with a good amount of bass and sub-bass for an openback (particularly when boosted with eq) and some moderate harshness and sibilance in the treble. Separation, detail retrieval, and dynamics are excellent for headphones in this price class. The soundstage (much of perception of soundstage is psychoacoustic and depends on the person, so ymmv) is also quite expansive, and imaging is good though not exceptional. If absolute precision in imaging is more important for you than soundstage width and depth (for example primarily playing competitive multiplayer fps games), then you might want to consider angled driver headphones like the sennheiser hd560s instead. It's worth remembering that while headphone "burn in" is mostly a myth, the human brain takes a significant amount of time to get used to a new sound signature (for example, you might find treble to be annoyingly sharp at first, but not have it bother you much once you've used the headphones for a while). I recommend reserving judgement on any new pair of headphones until you've used them for at least a week.
Diyaudioheaven (run by solderdude from audiosciencereview forums) has a fairly in-depth review of the edition xs, keep in mind this review is in the context of the edition xs costing ~$500 at the time: https://diyaudioheaven.
Hifiman has a reputation for somewhat worse quality control and product longevity compared to many more established western brands (though their reputation has improved over the past few years). I've personally been using some of their headphones for over 3 years without any issues, but that's obviously anecdotal so ymmv. Since you're purchasing from an official hifiman store, these refurbished headphones come with the standard 1yr hifiman warranty. Hifiman's warranty policy can be found here: https://store.hifiman.c
The previous two refurbished edition xs I purchased (one a couple of years ago, and one in the past couple of months) both arrived in near pristine condition, and the same goes for another family member who ordered theirs with this same deal a couple months ago. The pair I received from aliexpress recently looked like they'd never been worn, a tiny bit of dust and a couple of small smudges were the worst of it. The pads appeared brand new, and there were no hairs or any other concerning signs. The headphones have no audible issues or signs of physical damage, my only complaint would be some slight squeaking from the headband hinges when I turn my head wearing them.
The packaging was ultimately serviceable but definitely could be improved upon, they came seated on a foam headphone stand loose in an ups box with some generic packing material around them. The included headphone cable I received was the "sundara" cable, its perfectly functional but fairly short. It was quite microphonic and stiff at first, massaging the cable for a little while improved that. My order arrived within a few days of being placed without any issues.
While there is now significantly more competition in the lower-midrange headphone space (particularly from fiio and their sub-brand jade), the value proposition of the edition xs at under $100 is pretty much unmatched. The only audio deal comparable in value to this recently would be the extremely ymmv best buy open box sennheiser hd 560s at ~$50, but they're only available for literally minutes at a time and I haven't seen any available for a couple of weeks. Overall, if these headphones would fit your use cases and you're willing to purchase refurbished, this is an excellent deal.
Community Reviews
The Edition XS is a wide, detailed open back planar that shines for home listening, gaming, and tracks that benefit from strong separation and bass extension. Paired with a proper DAC and amp, it can sound far more refined and spacious than Sony XM4 class headphones, and EQ works well if you want to tame treble or shape the bass. Comfort is generally good with roomy cups, though the stock headband can feel awkward and a strap helps. The main cautions are weak isolation, no wireless or noise cancelling, and refurb quality that can range from spotless to needing a return. A strong value if your setup can drive it.
Home listeners wanting wide, detailed planar sound, because it delivers strong separation and soundstage when driven by a proper amp.
Desktop listeners with a capable DAC/amp, because the headphones sound much better when properly powered and can become harsh or underdriven otherwise.
Comfort-focused listeners with larger heads, because the roomy cups and low clamp can stay comfortable for hours once the headband is sorted.
EQ tinkerers chasing a neutral open-back tuning, because the low-distortion planar driver takes EQ well and can clean up treble sibilance.
Buyers who want a low-risk refurb, because some refurbished units have arrived with driver, connector, or QC problems.
Listeners using only a phone or weak dongle, because the headphones are current-hungry and can sound poor without enough power.
Travelers needing isolation, because the open-back design leaks sound and does not block background noise.
People with smaller heads, because the fit can run large and the clamp is fairly low.
Common Questions (5)
AI-generated summary based on comments from the community. Updated ago
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67 Comments
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The K13, and K11 are available in R2R or Delta-Sigma Dac chip versions.
The Topping DX 5 II is a great choice too, but Topping appears to have less quality control and many users report having issues with aspects of their units. It's not r2r, it's DAC chips and has an ultra quiet noise floor and EQ.
Also between all the amps and DAC chips and R2R and all that jazz, no one is telling a difference between these in blind tests. Much of it is placebo and what newcomers learn coming up in the hobby, like "R2R is smooth", and AKM has "Velvet" DAC's, Cirrus or ESS is more "clinical", etc etc. There can be sonic differences for sure but literally no one is telling these apart in blind testing.
I think your recommendations are solid but just know that amp and DAC "pairing" is mostly audiophilia pseudo-science but audio manufacturers send out all these units for free to "reviewers" to tell you their life changed when they got a new amp. Modern chip-based amp and DAC tech is effectively perfect, so get something that has the power and features you need and learn to use EQ or tiproll (IEM's) if you want to tweak your sound.
Side Note: Hifiman is releasing a new version of the XS with the updated HE600 style headband but it's pre-order only right now for $230, so this is still a crazy good deal.
The K13, and K11 are available in R2R or Delta-Sigma Dac chip versions.
The standard, non-R2R version is not an R2R DAC. It uses a conventional Delta-Sigma DAC chip—specifically the Cirrus Logic CS43198 chip in the K11 which prioritizes a cleaner, more neutral, transparent, and analytical sound profile with lower measured distortion. The FiiO K13 ESS Version (non R2R) uses dual ESS ES9039Q2M DAC chips.
A true R2R (Resistor-Ladder) DAC. Instead of using a standard integrated silicon DAC chip, uses a discrete 24-bit R2R resistor array network built from 192 precision thin-film resistors (48 per channel) to convert digital audio to analog. It also features switchable Oversampling (OS) and Non-Oversampling (NOS) modes and a warmer, more analog sound profile.
Non-R2R is lower noise, and seems more accurate. Sometimes this can make audio sound clearer in a good way, sometimes it makes audio sound clearer in a less pleasing way and exposes more faults in the recording. R2R seems warmer and generally keeps audio sounding musically pleasing.
I'd get something like the K11 if I were on a $150 or less budget (Apos has them open box for $105.) If money is not an issue, I'd get the K13 ESS because it gives you more power to push the Edition XS and 2 flagship ultra low noise DAC chips.
If I liked the R2R warmer sound I'd get that version of the K11 or K13.
The Topping DX 5 II is a great choice too, but Topping appears to have less quality control and many users report having issues with aspects of their units. It's not r2r, it's DAC chips and has an ultra quiet noise floor and EQ.
-As for IEMs, there are too many choices for me to recommend one for you. I only have 1 and I like it, but a lot of people could recommend from first hand experience and you might seek that out instead. I like my Linsol Septet, I wanted something open-back so it'd be more similar to the Edition XS with a more open soundstage and less 'in my head' the earbuds usually sound to me.
I won't let myself buy any more IEMs because it seems like a real can of worms and they can get pretty expensive, so I'd rather keep myself convinced to be happy with what I have rather than look at stacks of seldom used IEMs in my closet.
I hope that makes sense, we've been having celebratory drinks so let me know if I messed up explaining something.
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Here's a more affordable one, if you don't already have one. https://www.amazon.com/Youkamoo-B...matic_sspa
The K13, and K11 are available in R2R or Delta-Sigma Dac chip versions.
The standard, non-R2R version is not an R2R DAC. It uses a conventional Delta-Sigma DAC chip—specifically the Cirrus Logic CS43198 chip in the K11 which prioritizes a cleaner, more neutral, transparent, and analytical sound profile with lower measured distortion. The FiiO K13 ESS Version (non R2R) uses dual ESS ES9039Q2M DAC chips.
A true R2R (Resistor-Ladder) DAC. Instead of using a standard integrated silicon DAC chip, uses a discrete 24-bit R2R resistor array network built from 192 precision thin-film resistors (48 per channel) to convert digital audio to analog. It also features switchable Oversampling (OS) and Non-Oversampling (NOS) modes and a warmer, more analog sound profile.
Non-R2R is lower noise, and seems more accurate. Sometimes this can make audio sound clearer in a good way, sometimes it makes audio sound clearer in a less pleasing way and exposes more faults in the recording. R2R seems warmer and generally keeps audio sounding musically pleasing.
I'd get something like the K11 if I were on a $150 or less budget (Apos has them open box for $105.) If money is not an issue, I'd get the K13 ESS because it gives you more power to push the Edition XS and 2 flagship ultra low noise DAC chips.
If I liked the R2R warmer sound I'd get that version of the K11 or K13.
The Topping DX 5 II is a great choice too, but Topping appears to have less quality control and many users report having issues with aspects of their units. It's not r2r, it's DAC chips and has an ultra quiet noise floor and EQ.
-As for IEMs, there are too many choices for me to recommend one for you. I only have 1 and I like it, but a lot of people could recommend from first hand experience and you might seek that out instead. I like my Linsol Septet, I wanted something open-back so it'd be more similar to the Edition XS with a more open soundstage and less 'in my head' the earbuds usually sound to me.
I won't let myself buy any more IEMs because it seems like a real can of worms and they can get pretty expensive, so I'd rather keep myself convinced to be happy with what I have rather than look at stacks of seldom used IEMs in my closet.
I hope that makes sense, we've been having celebratory drinks so let me know if I messed up explaining something.
I picked up the Sundaras a couple months ago for a good price. I'm driving them with a portable amp that is underpowered for the specs. They sound really good to me, but maybe they'd sound even better with a properly spec'd amp. I'd prefer to spend as little as possible (since the headphones themselves were under 100). So what's the advantage of the K7 over the K11?
Thanks.
I'd say the refurbished condition is NIB and perfect for his example.
So is the K7 actually better than the K11? The K11 is cheaper which is weird since naming conventions generally would support the 11 being better than the 7.
I picked up the Sundaras a couple months ago for a good price. I'm driving them with a portable amp that is underpowered for the specs. They sound really good to me, but maybe they'd sound even better with a properly spec'd amp. I'd prefer to spend as little as possible (since the headphones themselves were under 100). So what's the advantage of the K7 over the K11?
Thanks.
I have personal experience with the K7 and it sounds really, really good. It'd be a great choice. The K11 is about $60 cheaper and people seem to like it too.
I'd feel really safe recommending the K7 if you can spend a little more for it. I often find that I prefer it a little more than my K13 r2r on most recordings.
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I have personal experience with the K7 and it sounds really, really good. It'd be a great choice. The K11 is about $60 cheaper and people seem to like it too.
I'd feel really safe recommending the K7 if you can spend a little more for it. I often find that I prefer it a little more than my K13 r2r on most recordings.
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