Susvara
Susvara
Some call the Susvara the best planar magnetic headphone on the planet. The lightweight construction and cavernous earcups make it a comfortable one that can be worn for hours at a time.
HIFIMAN Susvara
A legend in the high-end headphone world
A true high-end icon
When thinking about flagship headphones, there are only a handful of models that immediately come to mind – and one of the very first is almost always the Susvara. Introduced by HIFIMAN in 2017 as an uncompromising statement product and only subtly refined since, it has firmly established itself as a benchmark in the summit-fi segment.
The Susvara is widely regarded as the planar magnetic headphone against which all others are measured. Often mentioned alongside the Focal Utopia as an ultimate all-rounder, their sonic philosophies differ clearly: while the Utopia focuses on punch and immediacy, the Susvara presents a wider soundstage, more refined treble and an effortless level of detail. The Utopia stings like a bee – the Susvara floats like a butterfly.
Paired with the right amplifier, its qualities become immediately obvious, explaining why it consistently appears in the top-three lists of virtually every major reviewer.
Extended frequency response, fast and impactful transients, ultimate detail retrieval and a natural soundstage.
Awarded the highest Gold Award.
One of the most immersive and technically capable planar headphones available today, with zero listening fatigue.
Gold Award.
If I had that fortune, this is the headphone I would buy. Comfortable, extremely detailed and tonally balanced.
My favorite headphone, period.
Technical Specifications
| Design | Open-back, over-ear, planar magnetic |
| Technology | Stealth Magnet Technology |
| Frequency Response | 6 Hz – 75 kHz |
| Impedance | 60 Ω |
| Sensitivity | 83 dB |
| Weight | 450 g |
Measurements & Interpretation
The black curve represents the Harman target, derived from extensive listening studies aiming to define a sound signature that appeals to the majority of listeners.
Unlike many headphones that emphasize bass, the Susvara remains exceptionally linear into the midrange. This tuning places sounds slightly further away from the ear, resulting in a wide, open soundstage.
From the upper midrange onward, the tuning closely follows the target curve – resulting in an exceptionally balanced and versatile reference headphone.
Further reading on Harman Research:
The Perception and Measurement of Headphone Sound Quality – What Do Listeners Prefer?
Specific References
- ean13
- 6925624201425
Technical Specifications:
- Frequency Response: 6 Hz - 75 kHz
- Impedance: 60 Ohms
- Sensitivity: 83 dB/W/m
- Weight: 450 g
Measurements:
What does this mean?
The black line is something that could be called the „ideal“ curve of what a headphone should sound like. The Harman Research Group has a range of scientific studies around audio and the human perception of it - one of which was, how should a headphone sound like to be favored by a majority of people, no matter the age or other demographic variables? This result is called the Harman target.
From left to right we have the sub bass, bass, mids and then the curve finally tilts upward where the treble begins - this part of the frequency spectrum gets amplified naturally by the shape of the human ear.
Harman Research:
The Perception and Measurement of Headphone Sound Quality- What Do Listeners Prefer?
Some call the Susvara the best planar magnetic headphone on the planet. The lightweight construction and cavernous earcups make it a comfortable one that can be worn for hours at a time.