Hifiman Deva Pro Review

Wired vs. Wireless Sound

I’ve tried the headphone in both configurations and of course, there are some differences between these two modes. The wired performance of the Deva Pro is better but to hear the difference you need to pair it up with a quality source or setup. The stereo imaging, bass quality, and texture improve with a desktop rig. There’s more space between the instruments, and there’s more air in the sound. The Dethonray DTR1+ (review soon) also improved the sound quality with its excellent resolution and imaging.

However, when I tried the headphone with the HiBy R3 Pro, the difference between the wired & wireless sound is not significant. This exactly shows you the importance of the source device. So if you’re considering the Hifiman Deva Pro, and if you’re not going to invest in a high-level source, then to me the Bluemini module is a very nice DAC/Amp for it. There’s no need to make an investment for more unless you want to get a great high-level setup. But then again, you may want to consider the Ananda model for that kind of setup depending on your budget.

Comparison to Ananda BT

I compared the Ananda BT to Deva numerous times in the text, but to sum it up, I will provide you with a bit more detail here. First of all the Ananda BT is the heavier headphone. Yes, it has the new type of Hifiman headband system for distributing the weight equally, but after some time, you feel the pressure of the Ananda BT because of its weight. That 100 gr difference plays a role in long listening sessions. The Ananda BT has a bit more impressive build quality with its materials when inspected in hand.

Ananda BT

Hifiman Ananda BT

For the sound, the two actually have a similar presentation except for the bass. The Ananda gives more body in the bass with better texture and more impact. It has more authority and kick there, and of course, it has more bass quantity. Other than that, they both have forward mids. Hifiman has improved the clarity and transparency, as well as the sound stage with the Deva Pro. However, there’s still a big margin with the Ananda, in terms of technical performance and overall layering. The Ananda is simply more effortless, detailed, and extended on both ends. It simply does everything better and at a higher level. Especially in terms of layering, staging width, and separation.

Conclusion

Let me copy a small part of my conclusion from the original Deva review for you to understand the context:

“The new Hifiman Deva to me is an excellent headphone. I wouldn’t have minded a bit better-staging performance but rest assured, for the price and for a wireless headphone, everything else is very impressive.”

Now the sound-stage department is improved indeed, and the Deva Pro feels like an even more complete headphone. It’s more polished and ironed out in terms of an audiophile BT headphone. The only thing I can try to extract as a negative is that the headphone doesn’t come with a cheaper wired option like the Deva Wired. Maybe Hifiman would release a wired model soon, and I believe they should. You can get these headphones as a great budget-friendly desktop solution if you already have a nice setup on your desk.

But for now, the Deva Pro comes with the R2R Bluemini module only. If you want a great Bluetooth full-size headphone, and if you think the Ananda BT is too expensive, you can definitely get this one and call it a day. You can improve the performance even more with a desktop setup so don’t think about it being only a wireless model.

Hifiman Deva Pro

Wireless sound has started to become believable to me after those three Hifiman headphones. Also, the versatility of the Deva Pro should be praised for what it is. So once again, this new Hifiman headphone makes it to our Best Full-Size Headphones List and it makes it rightfully so. I remove the original Deva since the price difference is only 30$ and you get the R2R module in return.

Page 1: About Hifiman, About Deva Pro, Package, Design & Build

Page 2: Comfort, Operation, General Usage

Page 3: Sound

3.9/5 - (118 votes)
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A keen audiophile and hobby photographer, Berkhan is after absolute perfection. Whether it is a full-frame camera or a custom in-ear, his standpoint persists. He tries to keep his photography enthusiasm at the same level as audio. Sometimes photography wins, sometimes his love for music takes over and he puts that camera aside. Simplistic expressions of sound in his reviews are the way to go for him. He enjoys a fine single malt along with his favourite Jazz recordings.

1 Comment

  • Reply February 23, 2022

    Cooe

    IMO, this review sells this very, VERY special product rather short…

    Even if you consider just the headphones themselves only a 4/5 in terms of quality (which I’d still argue isn’t particularly fair/accurate, but it’s definitely way, WAAAAAAY less so), this is EASILY a 4.5/5 product as a TOTAL PACKAGE!

    The normally $150 if bought ala-carte R2R Bluemini adds absolutely freaking RIDICULOUS LEVELS OF VALUE to this just $330 “kit”!!! (Aka, making the wired planar open-back cans themselves basically just “$180″… O___O…)

    IMO, these are wired planar magnetic open-back, over-ear headphones that are damn near the $330 price of admission ALONE! (Having roughly similar overall quality drivers to the 2020 Sundara’s but with a very, VERY different, more warm + “fun” & less cold + “hyper-analytical” tuning job, plus a not quuuite as nice build w/ more plastic).

    But throw in the straight up “Swiss Army Knife” levels of use case flexibility provided by the pack-in combo R2R DAC + shockingly powerful amp + proper “high-res” [full LDAC & aptX HD support] Bluetooth wireless receiver w/ 2x device multipoint, “R2R Bluemini”?

    (Aka ↓
    1. As good of BT wireless as exists atm.
    2. Wired over USB-C w/ basically ANYTHING.
    3. And even both wired & wireless w/ literally ANY other headphones using a 1x female 3.5mm TRRS to 2x male 3.5mm TRS [or other needed input] cable/adapter.)

    Well then… That’s IMO essentially a total “game-over” for basically EVERYTHING under $1000 for a first time hifi cans buyer whom doesn’t ALREADY have a suitable DAC + amp setup for driving them… And ESPECIALLY so for the ENTIRE so-called “entry level”.
    (Why buy $130 HE400se’s if you’ll still need to spend at LEAST ≈+$100 on the DAC + amp setup you need to use them, when $330 gets you an “all-in-one” kit AND w/ BT wireless!)

    And even for everyone else? IMO, it basically invalidates everything under the new $500 Edition XS.

    Why get $350 2020 Sundara’s when the $330 hybrid wired & wireless Deva Pro’s are INFINITELY more flexible (+ WAY more fun & easy on the ears for extended listening) for slightly less $, & for only +$150 more the $500 & also wired only Edition XS’ absolutely CRUSH THEM in terms of sound quality???

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