Hifiman Svanar Review

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Sound performances

My main sources were the FiiO Q7 / Shanling H7 / iBasso DX320. Trusted sources from trusted brands that I used extensively for the past months.

As usual, files were played from either Apple Music / Spotify or my own music library. Some tracks will be highlighted, just so you can try them at home too!

Overall signature

So, how far has Hifiman evolved since our previous encounter? Between my previous RE800/RE2000 review, and today’s one, a little less than 4 years have elapsed – almost a decade in the audiophile world!

First impressions were quite good right off the bat: solid lows, refined highs and a vast soundstage, even when powered by my MacBook headphone jack on the train. And if the sound signature didn’t vary much compared to the RE2000, on a quick A/B comparison, I was still able to hear some nice improvements. Even more when, paired with a premium source like my Shanling H7. In that regard, I do recommend getting a highly potent source, with a good power reserve, as the Hifiman Svanar proved to be quite difficult to drive on various occasions. 

That said, once properly driven, I was struck by the massive sound pressure those new ears could output, without sacrificing the dynamic. Paired with the almighty iBasso DX320, the IEM was able to deliver thunderous bass, reaching non-safe sound levels with ease, while maintaining a very large dynamic range. Combined with the better sealing, provided by the various ergonomic improvements, this makes the Svanar a great pick for bass-headed listeners like I am.

Paired with the almighty Chord Mojo 2, the Topology driver impressed me even more, with quick transients, no decay and excellent responsiveness to Chord’s DSP settings. It’s a full sound, distortion-free, giving me toe-tapping bass on each and every tracks. Maybe that’s thanks to the gold-plated chamber, or simply improved tuning from their sound engineers, but most of the time the end result is stunning.

As expected, my best pairing was with the same brand EF400, a desktop DAC/Amp that never left my desk since the day it arrived. And the R2R DAC, combined with the Hifiman Svanar delivered a beautiful, organic, render falling straight in line with the brand’s in-house signature. I preferred the NOS render to the OS one but, to be fair, the difference wasn’t massive and it sounded amazing on each mode.

On well-produced tracks like Rock You from Dirty Loops, the IEM displays the expected controlled bass response, magnified by lifelike impact. For a sole driver, the result is more than compelling, helped by the tight-seal offered by the new shape, and techno-lovers, like me, with an extended budget, may prefer this kind of render to the analytic one found on IEM like the Camelot from Nostalgia Audio.

Yet, for me, the piece of resistance remains the voices, coupled with a baffling wide soundstage, even outmatching my faithful FiiO FD7, which remains my favourite mono-dynamic IEM to this day. Sure, the FiiO isn’t completely on par in terms of resolution and clarity, but you have to remember that no less than $1500 separates those two IEMs. For an enthusiast or someone that wants the Hifiman signature on the go, this is a definitive upgrade compared to the RE2000.

Of course, perfection isn’t of this world – at least for now – and there are still a few issues that should be addressed: highs remain a bit too bright, especially when paired with the Chord Mojo 2 and depending on the source you’ll pair, they may sound a bit too harsh. That’s not an issue most of the time, but on bad recordings, you may have to dampen the 8kHz on your EQ, to give your ears some relief.

I listened to classic tracks like Hysterias from SebastiAn, or vocal one like La Jeune Fille en Feu from Par One and that confirmed my first impression: bass is tremendous, almost physical and with a potent source, voices are as good as they can get. I also tried complex tracks like Crash Landing from Illangelo which highlights the ear’s impressive dynamic range. Add a potent source like the FiiO Q7 or the iBasso DX320 (yeah) and the IEM unfolds even more, with sharper mids, supreme instrument positioning and even more weight. Finally, if the transition between low, mids, and highs is usually seamless, the treble can sometimes go solo, which isn’t an issue in classical music, but can be in Jazz music.

A great IEM all-in-all, a bit too pricey in my opinion, but performance-wise, they really are awesome.

Tonality

Highs: sparkling, but good otherwise. High-frequencies extension is great, but, due to that, the HiFIman Svnana are one of the least forgiving IEM I reviewed those past months. Not only do you have to pick the right source, but you also have to carefully choose your track – I had to ditch many of my favourite albums for that reason. Definitely fidelity over fun.

Good test-track:  The Look Of love – Dusty Springfield

Mediums: wide and magical. As usual with Hifiman, mids are superb and provide a perfectly balanced presentation, at any given volume. Voices, especially women singers, really benefit from the brand’s field expertise and even seasoned audiophile might be surprised by what the Svanar achieved here. Kudos to the team!

Good test-track: Plastic Love – Mariya Takeuchi

Bass: tremendous bass and deep rumble. Bass is the real feat here: deep, well-defined, impactful, “toe-tapping” and the more you push, the more you’re rewarded. It’s deeply addictive, with powerful kicks, absolutely no decay, and wondrous definition from top to bottom, even more, if you can use a good source!

Good test-track : Peur des filles – L’impératrice

Conclusion

The Hifiman Svanar is an exceptional IEM that delivers an audiophile-grade listening experience thanks to its innovative topology driver technology. It produces a precise and balanced sound signature, with impressive clarity and detail topped by one of the most solid bass and widest soundstages I listened to recently.

On top of that, Hifiman really upped his game with a superb casing – I repeat gold plated copper – that not only adds to its appeal but also enhances its acoustic performance. And while the price point of the Svanar is certainly high, the audio quality and craftsmanship maintain the strong appeal of the brand signature.

The only true flaw I could point out would be the lack of a proper bundle, and the flimsy cable that comes with it – for $2000 I’d at least expect a braided, balanced cable. But otherwise, you get what you paid for: TOTL sound, for TOTL price, impressive!

Pros:

• great sound,
• nice design,
• excellent fit,
• topology driver delivering solid bass and crisp highs

Cons:

• feeble cable,
• dire bundle
• pricey ($2000)