We wonder how big the market is for high-end audiophile headphones, because there seems to be no price ceiling. In 2017, HiFiMAN’s original SUSVARA open-back planar-magnetic headphones launched for $6,000 and garnered wide acclaim as one of the best money could buy at the time.
Today we have learned a successor has finally arrived called SUSVARA UNVEILED which will sell for $8,000 USD, capable of revealing even more musical detail. The company’s new reference open-back planar-magnetic headphones feature a newly developed nanometer thickness diaphragm and a new Magnetic Veil that fits over the ear cups when not in use, protecting the headphone from damage caused by the absorption of magnetic object.
“We named the new model SUSVARA UNVEILED because every detail of well-recorded music is unveiled by the headphone’s design and components,” says Dr. Fang Bian, Dr. Fang Bian, Founder, and CEO, HIFIMAN Electronics. “As the follow-up to our successful SUSVARA reference headphone, SUSVARA UNVEILED is the manifestation of our ongoing commitment to continually improving upon even the most successful and highest performing products in our line.”
Most headphones incorporate a metal mesh as a grill to protect the drivers. HIFIMAN’s top tier models including HE1000 and the original SUSVARA are specially designed to maximize the exposure rate of the grills because the nanometer-thick diaphragm is so lightweight that reflections from the grill disturb the movement pattern of the diaphragm.
As Dr. Bian explains: “The most effective way to avoid sound wave reflections and refractions from the grill is to eliminate the entirety of the grille design, leading to complete openness of the diaphragm. The result is sound that is demonstrably more detailed and open, which is why we refer to this approach as ‘unveiled’ technology.”
The open section of the headphone inspired Dr. Bian to create a removable back panel, called Magnetic Veil, that is a result of HIFIMAN using CNC (Computer Numerical Control) technology, a process of relying on computer software to control the movement and operation of machines that cut, carve, and engrave materials. Magnetic Veils fit over the ear cups, helping to avoid damage caused by the absorption of magnetic objects when the headphone is not in use.
New to the SUSVARA UNVEILED is a metallic silver conductor layer, as silver boasts the highest conductivity of all metals. Sensitivity is maximized, subtle details are revealed, and a sense of “air” that is so important for high-end audio performance is greatly improved.
The SUSVARA UNVEILED incorporates HIFIMAN’s Stealth Magnet technology, featuring an asymmetrical, double-sided magnetic circuit that gradually adjusts the magnet’s gap and cross-sectional shape, both inside and outside of the diaphragm. This approach achieves maximum sound transmittance and diaphragm control force at a refined balance point, reducing distortion to a bare minimum for sound that is naturally warmer, with maximum imaging and transparency
Comparison
| SUSVARA (2017 model) | SUSVARA UNVEILED (2024 model) | |
| MSRP | $6,000 | $8,000 |
| Frequency Response | 6Hz – 75kHz | 6Hz – 75kHz |
| Sensitivity | 83 dB | 86 dB |
| Impedance | 60 Ω | 45 Ω |
| Weight | 450 grams (15.9 oz.) | 430 grams (16.16 oz.) |
In the Box
- Pair of headphones
- 3m headphone cable (4-pin XLR plug)
- 3m headphone cable (6.35mm plug)
- Pair of Magnetic Veils
- Pair of ear pads (mounted on headphone)
- Pair of Magnetic Veils
- Owner’s Guide
Price & Availability
HiFiMAN SUSVARA UNVEILED are available for $8,000 at Headphones.com and from authorized HiFiMAN dealers and as well as the company’s online store: store.hifiman.com.
Related: HiFiMAN also introduced the Mini Shangri-La Electrostatic Headphone System for $2,300 today.
