Wireless headphones can be a mixed bag. Some emphasize ANC at the expense of better sound quality and that’s ok if the end user cares more about active noise cancelling because they use their headphones when they commute or travel and really want to turn out any external noise. My favorite wireless headphones are the HiFiMAN DEVA which we reviewed last year and I’ve yet to try anything else that delivers the same level of sound quality at that price point. HiFiMAN have already announced a new 24-bit R2R DAC module called the HIMALAYA and it would appear that this new technology has been integrated into the new HiFiMAN DEVA Pro Wireless Headphones.
The new HiFiMAN DEVA Pro (SRP: $329) picks up where its predecessor left off, offering full-range, audiophile-grade sonics, whether listening via wired or via Bluetooth. The new model builds on the value of the original by incorporating two recent HIFIMAN developments – Stealth Magnet technology and Himalaya R2R DAC (digital to analog) architecture.
“The DEVA proved that it is possible to achieve true high-performance audio from a Bluetooth headphone,” said Dr. Fang Bian, President, and CEO, HIFIMAN Electronics. “With our new DEVA Pro, we added two of our latest technologies to enhance the headphone’s performance while still maintaining an affordable price point.”
HIFIMAN’s Stealth Magnet technology is acoustically transparent, dramatically reducing wave diffraction turbulence that degrades the integrity of the sound waves, maximizing the accuracy of the sonic output.
Stealth Magnets feature a unique shape that enables waves to pass between the magnets without generating interference. Sonics are detailed and transparent, exposing every detail of the recording. Thanks to the new Stealth Magnets design, the DEVA Pro is easier to drive, offers better imaging, solid build quality, and a more accurate soundstage.
Packaged with the DEVA Pro is an update to the original Bluemini that enhances detail and overall performance through the company’s HIMALAYA DAC, which features the R2R architecture.
A chip composed of an array of resistors with a new algorithm reduces power handling between the chip and peripheral components. As a result, signal-to-noise ratio, total harmonic distortion, and energy consumption are at their most efficient and cost-effective.
The Bluemini R2R dongle turns the DEVA Pro into a powerful wireless headphone with superb dynamics and crystal-clear audio.
In addition, the dongle supports such advanced high-resolution codecs as LDAC and aptX-HD, making it well-suited to most currently available high-definition streaming devices. Playback time is rated at eight hours.
In addition to its wireless connectivity, the Bluemini R2R dongle can be used as a powerful integrated DAC/amp for audiophile-grade performance from smartphones and other low-power devices simply by connecting a USB-C cable.
A built-in amplifier module provides more than 200 mw per channel, and the two-channel high-fidelity DAC/filter ensures exceptionally detailed sonic output, no matter the source.
The DEVA Pro features a frequency response of 20Hz – 20kHz. Impedance is 18 ohms, sensitivity is rated 93.5dB, and it weighs 12.7 oz. A double-sided 3.5mm balanced input accepts stereo cables and the Bluetooth R2R dongle.
Price & Availability
The DEVA Pro will be available in October 2021 at a suggested retail price of $329. It will be available from authorized HIFIMAN dealers and the company’s online store, http://store.hifiman.com/.
Related reading: HiFiMAN DEVA Wireless Headphone Review
