Hifiman Svanar Wireless Review

Sound performances

For this review, my main sources were the FiiO M15S, my iPhone and Samsung Galaxy S20. Three wireless source that should cover all and every possible situation.

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 TW600 tryout, and today’s one, a little more than 3 years have elapsed – almost a decade in the audiophile world! And if the old model didn’t leave me an everlasting impression, I have high hopes for this new TWS, even more now that I’ve tried the “classic” Svanar.

Upon unboxing, my initial impressions of the Svanar in ANC mode were, to put it mildly, underwhelming. I decided to test them during my regular commute on the train and subway, expecting a robust experience. However, I was met with weak bass, thin highs, and a constricted soundstage, a stark contrast to the wired edition. The disappointment was so profound that I questioned whether I had made a mistake. I even gave them a second chance, pairing them with my iPhone, but the result was the same: no improvement.

Curious to see if Transparency mode would offer a different experience, I switched the Svanar to this setting, hoping for a more immersive sound. Yet, much to my dismay, the situation remained unchanged; the bass continued to lack depth, the highs were still thin, and the soundstage failed to expand, mirroring the disappointing performance I had encountered in ANC mode. Even after adjusting various settings and experimenting with different devices, the result was consistent with my earlier findings, leaving me to conclude that the Transparency mode, too, fell short of my expectations.

Thankfully though, switching the Svanar Wireless into ‘HiFi’ mode made a noticeable shift in performance, a sensible improvement that began to address some of the issues that had previously marred my listening experience. The bass, once weak and lacking presence, now found a semblance of strength, reaching levels that, while not as thunderous as the “classic” Svanar – even more when powered by the iBasso DX320 –  were at least more satisfying. 

The soundstage, previously shrunken and constrained, seemed to breathe a bit more freely. It expanded to a more acceptable width, all without losing the integrity of the music. The highs, too, found a better balance, more in line with what one might expect from a product in this category. Once again, the Topology driver remains deeply impressive with quick transients, no decay and excellent responsiveness once you begin to push the volume. 

Yet, despite all these improvements, I couldn’t shake the feeling that the Svanar Wireless still fell short, remaining a few steps below competitors like the AirPods Pro 2 and the Devialet Gemini. Both of these rivals offering a more refined experience at half the price, even if the sound signature of the Svanar remained closer to the expected “neutral” experience most audiophile crave for. 

All-in-all, if the “HiFi” mode did indeed make a difference, fixing many of the issues that had initially disappointed me, it couldn’t elevate the product to the level of those aforementioned rivals. Moreover, head to head with the “classic” Svanar + EF-400, the wireless one doesn’t hold a candle in my opinion and ten times out of ten, I’d go for the wired one.

A shame, because on well-produced tracks like Rock You from Dirty Loops, the IEM displays the expected controlled bass response, and exquisite mids with that singular equilibrium only shown on Hifiman’s Topology driver. For a single DD, the result is more than compelling, but it never reached the level of its bigger brother and missed the chance to overthrow Apple’s latest TWS. It’s a full sound, distortion-free, giving me a real joy, but never achieving the level of performance I seek for.

I listened my usual classic tracks,  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 – LDAC compatible I mean – you’ll really enjoy your time here. I also tried complex tracks like Crash Landing from Illangelo which highlights the ear’s impressive dynamic range, and good instrument positioning. And, if the transition between low, mids, and highs isn’t perfectly seamless – the treble sometimes going solo –  sound remains enjoyable on a daily basis.

Would I exchange my AirPods Pro 2 for them? I don’t think so, nor should you at the moment, but for a second try, the improvement remains quite impressive. Just stay far from the ANC and transparency modes.

Tonality

Highs: sparkling, but good otherwise. High-frequencies extension is great, but the integrated DSP seems quite sensible to the source, making the Hifiman Svnanar wireless one of the least forgiving TWS 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 favorite albums for that reason. Definitely fidelity over fun.

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

Mediums: wide and clean. As usual with Hifiman, mids are the piece of resistance providing a balanced presentation, especially with  women singers, who really benefit from the brand’s field expertise and even seasoned audiophiles might be surprised by what this TWS achieved here. 

Good test-track: Plastic Love – Mariya Takeuchi

Bass: 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, as long as you stick with the HiFi mode.

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

Sensitivity / Hiss 

Impedance isn’t really a matter of importance on a TWS, but hiss is. And unfortunately, the Hifiman Svanar Wireless suffers from hiss – not on a critical level thankfully.

At low volume or when no music is playing, you’ll hear a faint « hum ». A noise that seems inherently associated with the R2R technology as my EF-400 do exhibit some noise too with sensitive ears. If you’re sensitive to that effect, I’ll advise you not to get the Svanar.

Conclusion

The Hifiman Svanar Wireless is an intriguing IEM that aims to deliver the same  audiophile-grade listening experience as its predecessor, on the go. While the audio quality and craftsmanship align with the brand’s signature, I must admit that I found myself somewhat disappointed by the performance..

The ANC and transparency modes were particularly disappointing. Despite the promise of these features, they proved to be ineffective in practice, further contributing to the sense of unmet expectations. Thankfully, in “HiFi” mode, it offers some commendable traits, producing a sound signature that is precise and balanced, with clarity and detail that can be appreciated. The bass, while solid, and the soundstage, though wide, did not fully meet my expectations, especially considering the recent advancements in this price range.

The design of the Svanar is certainly eye-catching, with a carbon fiber casing that adds to its appeal and is intended to enhance its acoustic performance. However, the overall size feels a bit too large, and the setup comes across as clunky, particularly for the $499 price tag.

Looks like my AirPods still have a long way to go.

.Page 1: About the brand, design and build quality

Page 2: Sound Performances

Pros

• Topology driver with excellents transients
• Good bass in Hifi mode
• Comfy and good feeling with the carbon fiber
• R2R DAC that works most of time

Cons

• ANC and Transparency mode not on par with the competition
• low performances in those modes
• a bit too big