In this review we look at the Hifiman Isvarna headphone. It is selling for $2,899 USD at this moment.
Disclaimer: Hifiman sent us the Isvarna for this review in exchange for our honest opinion.
Hifiman
If you’re into personal audio, then you must be familiar with the Hifiman brand. It was founded in 2007 by Dr Fang in New York to produce high-end personal audio products. Hifiman was the first brand to release a high-end portable audio player, the HM-801, which was like a catalyst for Reference Audio Players that we know today.
One of the many points that make Hifiman stand out is that they are a very innovative company, and they are constantly chasing the better, in every price range. They create different flavoured headphones, warm, neutral, and balanced, for every kind of audiophile out there. We’ve reviewed many Hifiman units in the past, and each time we get excited as if it’s the first time. Just type Hifiman in our search box and discover all of our Hifiman reviews.
For those of you who’d like to know more about Hifiman and their founder, there’s always this interview we did with him: https://headfonia.com/q-n-a-saturday-hifiman/
In this new Hifiman review, we’re looking at the Hifiman Isvarna headphone.
Let’s get started!
Hifiman Isvarna
Many brands in the past have already tried to build a great sounding hybrid headphone, but very few have succeeded in doing so. Hifiman was up for a big challenge.
The Hifiman Isvarna not only is a hybrid headphone combining driver types, it also is a semi-closed back design, making things even more complicated. Hifiman of course has a lot of experience with both orthodynamic as well as dynamic driver types, so why not go for it.
With this hybrid design, Hifiman wants to enhance the low-frequency response, combining it with audiophile-grade sonics (their words). To achieve this, the Isvarna uses a rounded planar driving for handling the mid and high frequencies.
Of course Hifiman is using their stealth magnets and nanometer thickness diaphragm for the orthodynamic driver. An oval shaped dynamic driver is in charge of the low frequencies.
A well-known issue or difficulty in hybrid designs is the phasing. Hifiman solved the phase differential of a hybrid design by adjusting the driver angle and position, and they placed the drivers and crossover in an aluminium headphone housing.
I have to say Hifiman did an excellent job here and it’s the first time I really find a hybrid design to work well. More on that later!
On paper this hybrid design’s performance looks like this:
The Hifiman Isvarna’s dedicated web page can be found here. You can buy the Isvarna directly from Hifiman here, or via one of their dealers here. They’re also available on Hifiman’s US amazon store here.
Accessories, Box, Specifications
The Isvarna comes delivered in Hifiman’s typical imitation leather box we already know by now. For the Isvarna it is a brown version.
In the center of the box you will find three headphone cables, all featuring a single crystalline copper wire alongside a single crystalline silver wire.
We have one 1.5m long cable, terminated with a 3.5mm single ended, a 3 meter long 6.35mm single ended cable and a 3 meter long 4-pin balanced XLR. I actually quite like these cables and have used them myself but you can of course opt for a nice aftermarket boutique cable if that’s your thing.
Inside the box I also found an owner’s guide, the warranty card and a Stealth tech flyer. It’s a nice package and a nice delivery.
Specifications
Frequency Response: : 6Hz – 60kHz
Sensitivity: : 93dB
Impedance: : 16Ω
Net Weight: : 462g
Build Quality & Design
From a design point of view, the Isvarna looks like a variation of their HE-R10 headphones, but with aluminum covers and a large vent at the back. I like the modern industrial design Hifiman went for this time.
The Isvarna, like most of their latest headphones, uses the familiar and excellent Hifiman headband system. With the Isvarna we again get black ear pads and a grey frame, a combination which I like myself.
Like with all of Hifiman’s recent headphones, the Isvarna uses 3,5mm connectors. I have no issues whatsoever with the build quality of my review unit, and everything looks and feels perfect as usual.
Comfort, usability & Isolation
The Isvarna with its double drivers weighs 462g and that’s in the same ballpark as the other reference headphones on the market.
We’re already familiar with Hifiman’s headband, and it again does an excellent job in distributing the weight over the top of your head. Even with 462g, it is a very comfortable headphone and I can use it for hours without any discomfort from the pads or the top band.
With the Isvarna, Hifiman is using their tranquility pads which feature a high quality leather on the outside. The ear pads have a ring shaped inner surface to absorb sound and prevent sound leakage through the sides of the earpads. The contact edge is constructed of highly permeable material to ensure optimal head comfort
The sound is also effortlessly produced and this easy sound production doesn’t give you any listening fatigue whatsoever.
As said, the Isvarna is a closed-back headphone with a rather large vent on the outside, as you can see in the pictures. From an isolation point of view, the Isvarna still does an excellent job.
Even though there is a vent, the sound leakage is minimal and I don’t even hear any music playing when they are on my desk next to me. Some noise in theory can leak in, but to me this is as good a full closed-back design.
From a usage perspective, the Isvarna mostly is a desktop headphone, as it is quite large and on the heavier side. You could however take it with you on walks if that is your thing.
Sound
This is the chapter in which we find out how the companies describe their products’ sound. For the Hifiman Isvarna we have found the following.:
The Isvarna delivers a precise and harmonically rich audio performance. Isvarna delivers a transparent, coherent and wide sound stage, with maximum comfort.
That’s quite a general description, so let’s find out how it really sound!
The article continues on the second page. Click here or use the jumps below.
Page 2: Sound General, Sound Classics, Amplification, Conclusion, Summary
