HIFIMAN ISVARNA Planar Magnetic (Closed back) Headphones
About a year ago, in June 2024, I attended the Shanghai CANJAM in China at the Shanghai Marriott Marquis City Centre. One evening, HIFIMAN CEO/Founder Fang Bian excitedly pulled me aside and asked if I would like to privately listen to a new kind of closed-back headphones in the early stages of development.
In his hotel room, I experienced an impressive listening session of something bold in vision: A hybrid model utilizing a primary planar magnetic full-range driver for mid and high frequencies and a dynamic oval-shaped “subwoofer” driver for seriously backing up the low frequencies for a “shaking the couch” sensation.
Easier said than done, this involves dealing with a classic phase differential problem when there are multiple drivers in a speaker (i.e., requiring crossovers): At the crossover frequency, both drivers send out at that same frequency, but starting from different locations, and scaling down at various rates; by the time they reach your ears, they can be out of synch (phase) causing a degradation in sound quality. Loudspeakers allow for both the positioning of the speakers and the position/distance of the listener to the speakers, but headphones allow neither; the optimal positioning of the mini subwoofer inside is not apparent.
Lucky for those who demand/desire extreme sub-bass, HIFIMAN ultimately figured out a design solution, and the finished product is the focus of this review: the HIFIMAN ISVARNA Planar Magnetic (closed-back) headphones (USD 2,899), with a frequency response of 6Hz-60KHz.
The objective is to offer bass with impact/punch and a rumble/shaking sensation.
There is a reason why the word ISVARNA (a Sanskrit word) emits the essence of “power/leader/ruler.” The powerful bass is not because of the low-frequency response of 6Hz—most of HIFIMAN's high-end headphones offer similar specs—but because of the innovative subwoofer: Each cup even has a rear-facing bass port. If you are a sub-bass lover (think heavy metal, hip hop, rap, various electronic/experimental music, watching movies using headphones, and playing video games), then the ISVARNA is for you.
How do they look?:
Although HIFIMAN’s other high-end closed-back models have wooden cups, the ISVARNA has modern-looking silver aluminum alloy cups that are widened at the bottom to accommodate the bass port. They match well with the polished silver-colored upper metal headband used for size, as do the black leather ear pads and bass port grills with the lower-level black leather band (that fits snugly on your head and is breathable). Moreover, the three cables supplied are black too, adding a nice touch.
Specifications
Frequency Response: 6Hz-60Khz
Impedance: 16 Ohms
Sensitivity: 93dB
Crossover: 300Hz
Weight: 462 gms
Supplied cabling (3): Four-pin XLR balanced (3m), 6.35mm (¼”) plug (3m), 3.5mm plug (3m)
Is the ISVARNA easy to drive?
The ISVARNA is very easy to drive! With a low 16-ohm impedance and high 93dB sensitivity, it worked fine plugged into my mini-iPad or MacBook Pro using the new Qobuz App. (I thus used this method to burn ISVARNA in; HIFIMAN suggested 150 hours.)
My Use
In addition to a MacBook Pro and a mini iPad (with the new Qobuz App), I also used (for better sound quality) the HIFIMAN EF600 DAC and headphone amplifier, and with my higher-level home (digital) system: PS Audio BHK Signature Preamplifier (it has a built-in headphone amp), Infigo Audio IS-1 Cryogen Streamer (with Roon), Mojo Audio Mystique X SE DAC.
As a comparison for headphones, I also used HIFIMAN Audivina Closed-Back Planar Studio Headphones, which are not a “bass-boosting” model but offer ample but well-balanced bass and fine clarity in all frequencies. In general, the ISVARNA has a smoother overall sound compared to the Audivina (which I like for its nuanced clarity and revealing complexity in the sound), and a more powerful presence with bass.
Music
“ Béla Fleck and the Flecktones” from the 1991 album of the same name, Qobuz 16/44.1.
This piece is famous for Victor Wooten’s use of a custom-made fretless electric bass guitar, with a mind-bending ultra-deep and powerful bass effect that the ISVARNA perfectly gives the impression that you are dealing with an overfed, blubbery hippopotamus making its way into the cosmos. ISVARNA was crucial throughout to boost that bass and blubber.
Big Bad John, Geoff Castellucci, Qobuz 2022.
A fun piece, with a thundering low (unreal) voice. It's a good choice for these headphones.
In this, there is not much other than that voice that can compete with the other essentials; Castellucci is front and center. It did not shake my couch, but the ISVARNA did an admirable job of trying to convince me so.
Blind Faith, Do What You Like, Polydor Records, 1969. Qobuz (24/192).
An unusual album just after the breakup of Cream and the breakup of Traffic; it had a star cast including Eric Clapton (guitar), Ginger Baker (drums), both from Cream, and Steve Winwood (mainly keyboards and vocals) from Traffic. But they broke up after the one album. “Do What You Like” is a Ginger Baker composition that (of course) included a drum solo. The recording quality is so much better than any of Cream’s albums, so in that sense, the drums are a pleasure to hear with more natural resonance and lower bass-tuned toms and double bass drums than previous recordings of Baker in Cream (Fresh Cream (1966), for example, has Baker’s drums in his debut drum solo, “Toad” all recorded in the right channel only). The solo in “Do What You Like” is booming in bass frequencies, with good use of stereo, and to me, it offers an example where the ISVARNA shines in presentation.
Summary
The HIFIMAN ISVARNA (USD 2,899) is aimed at those who want to experience a couch-shaking illusion of low bass without a couch. However, it also gives respectful diligence to the mid-high ranges, which is paramount to HIFIMAN products. If you are a low-bass lover, then I highly recommend trying the ISVARNA; you are getting the new subwoofer technology and its current high-quality sound that HIFIMAN continues to bring to the table.
Further information: HIFIMAN
