In this article we review the Hifiman Mini Shangri-La electrostatic headphone and amplifier combo, which costs $2,300 USD.
Disclaimer: Hifiman sent us the Mini Shangri-La for this review in exchange for our honest opinion.
Hifiman
It is simply impossible that you have not heard of Hifiman. They are a China-based personal audio company led by Dr. Fang Bian and have been around for 10 to 15 years.
What we like about Hifiman is that it is an innovative company that continues to R&D new goodies for Audiophiles. More importantly, it allows high-end technologies to trickle down to its lower-range units, resulting in an impressive product lineup.
I also appreciate that they have great gear in all market segments. No matter what budget you have, Hifiman has something good for you. We’ve reviewed many Hifiman gear at Headfonia in the past, and each time, we get excited as if it’s the first time. Just type Hifiman in our search box. For those of you who’d like to know more about Hifiman and its founder, we interviewed him.
Hifiman Mini Shangri-La
We’re on the latter side with this review, so I’ve had to listen to this system for quite some time. Before I start, let’s check the Mini Shangri-La and get an overview. As you probably know by now, Hifiman entered the high-end electrostatic systems market in 2018 with the release of the Shangri-La system. This system was a prominent challenger to the legendary Sennheiser HE-1, especially with its $50,000 price tag. Later, Hifiman introduced a system that costs a fraction of that, the Shangri L Jr., which has an asking price of $8,000.
Lieven reviewed the Shangri-La Jr. in March 2023, remarking on its outstanding performance for the price, especially against the flagship offering:
Hifiman has a tradition of implementing its technologies in lower-priced units, so the Mini Shangri-La release wasn’t surprising. However, the $2,300 price made it even more accessible and appealing to a broader audiophile audience that wants to experience electrostatic systems. You can buy the Mini Shangri-La directly from Hifiman here. Note that you can also purchase the headphones or amplifier separately if you wish to do so.
For the technical differences of their offerings, Hifiman has a simple chart to distinguish each unit. The bottom unnamed unit is probably a Stax system or maybe the HE-1. Who knows?
The Mini Shangri La headphone uses a 90mm <0.001mm nanometer-thickness diaphragm and a nanoparticle coating at a sub-micrometer thickness. It also has a nanometer-thick acoustically transparent protection layer known as the dust cover. The housing comprises ABS and a steel frame made from a stainless-steel honeycomb mesh for the anode casing.
The system’s amplifier is a pro-bias (550V—650) high-voltage direct-output solid-state. A Discrete Cascode MOSFET transistor powers the balanced output amplification, while the high-voltage power supply uses an independent power supply regulator. It has XLR balanced and RCA inputs and two headphone output jacks. A 21-level Volume Control allows precision volume adjustment. The amp can simultaneously drive two electrostatic headphones.
Build Quality & Layout
With an item in this price range, you expect the build quality to be solid, but the Mini Shangri La’s headphone leaves something to desire here and there. Hifiman seems to have reduced some design elements and features to lower the price tag. First, the headphone’s headband is taken straight from the budget lower-end Hifiman offerings. You don’t get the headband design of the HE1000 Stealth, for example, a $ 1399 headphone. This new Mini Shangri La headphone is no slouch regarding its price range, but it doesn’t get that regardless.
The headphone is exceptionally light, so it’s very comfortable and has large earcups. However, you occasionally hear creaking noises while you move or turn your head, which is annoying. Compared to the headphone, the amplifier has a much more robust and assuring build and presence in that aspect. The creaking noise is not a huge issue, as it rarely happens, but I think it shouldn’t happen. You can, of course, DIY a solution. Other than that, the headband does its job, and the clamping force of the headphones is nicely balanced.
As said, the amplifier’s build quality is impeccable. Regarding I/O, you have two HP outs and a 5-pin EST proprietary. The inputs are XLR BAL and RCA SE. It’s pretty simple. Everything, from the shiny surfaces to the solid frame, the sockets, and the knobs, are finished at a high level on the amplifier unit. I wish I could’ve said the same for the headphone itself.
Overall, it’s a simple system that’s also pretty and classy. You open the system from the switch on the back, and you have two big knobs to operate. The one on the left side is for alternating between SE and BAL inputs. The right knob is for volume adjustment.
Sound General
The Hifiman Mini Shangri La offers the usual electrostatic qualities, which are significant from the start. Transients and speed are the main distinguishing features that separate it from, say, dynamics and planars. If you haven’t experienced electrostatic headphones yet, the Mini Shangri La will impress you with its performance, and it’s an excellent entry point into the electrostatic world.
The sound overall is neutral, except with the mid-range focus. The bass is primarily light, the mid-range transparency and detail are very high quality, and the treble is excellent with a well-balanced tuning. The amp and headphone are also very transparent, which you notice when connecting different DACs. The Mini member of the Shangri-La family surely impresses.
The article continues on the second page. Click here or use the jumps below.
Page 2: Sound
Page 3: Comparisons, Conclusion
