Sundara Closed with EQ

[Misguided]

I have been looking at closed backs to use at work and as a fan of the open back Sundara I am quite tempted by these, they are pretty cheap at £150 and look nice. I have heard the tuning is a bit of a mess but I have a Qudelix 5k so can EQ these.

What do members think? Are they worth getting and can they be EQ'd. Given the open back Sundara is easy to eq I was hoping it would be the same with the closed.

My other option is Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro 80 Ohm which has the annoying non detachable cable and dont look as nice but are a little cheaper. It probably is the more sensible choice but I love my Sundaras and these do look pretty.

 

[staticV3]

The Sundara Closed-back has a pretty bad stock response:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/9sba...back.pdf?rlkey=w5bhof29y7kbqte7qjfysuzes&dl=0

It seems to me like Hifiman took their well developed Sundara design, slapped some wood cups on it, and put it up for sale with little regard for what that would do to the sound.

IMO, it looks the part as well. More like a fan mod than a well thought out product.

Some alternatives in the same price range: AKG K371, DT 770 Pro X (new version with replaceable cable)

 

[Dunring]

I love Hifiman but their closed back headphones are a disappointment. I even had the Audivina for a few weeks to review and didn't like them. The new Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro X is good if you equalize, and the AKG K371 wired are really nice out of the box. My preference is the DT770 250 Ohm with 2 plies of toilet paper over the driver under the foam pad. The bass extension is party time when the music calls for it.

 

[Klonatans]

I also considered to give them a try, but the frequency response of Sundara Closed looks so messy that EQing might be problematic.

 

[Misguided]

Hi Thanks. I know it is a bit of a mess just wondering if anyone has tried the Sundara eq'd or seen anything about how it sounds after eq. I saw Oratory 1990 has a preset on the Qudelix App.

Also I wasnt aware the DT770 now has a detachable cable, that is useful, thanks.

 

[Misguided]

The Sundara Closed-back has a pretty bad stock response:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/9sba...back.pdf?rlkey=w5bhof29y7kbqte7qjfysuzes&dl=0

It seems to me like Hifiman took their well developed Sundara design, slapped some wood cups on it, and put it up for sale with little regard for what that would do to the sound.

IMO, it looks the part as well. More like a fan mod than a well thought out product.

Some alternatives in the same price range: AKG K371, DT 770 Pro X (new version with replaceable cable)

Thanks again, I couldn’t open the Dropbox link before as was on a work pc. I can now see the Oratory tunings, looks ok to be honest.

 

[solderdude]

Also I wasnt aware the DT770 now has a detachable cable, that is useful, thanks.

You were misguided... the DT770Pro doesn't and still has a fixed cable.

The DT770 Pro X limited Edition is a more expensive model and that one has a connector.
It basically is a crossing between DT770 and DT700ProX (enclosure + pads = DT770, connector + driver = DT700ProX)

 

[fluufy]

I got them off Aliexpress because they were so cheap ($220.00AUD!!). They didn't sound as terrible as I expected out of the box, but the Oratory1990 eq is a definite improvement. They are easy to drive - need to put my SH-9 on low gain for these. I did need to tweak the Oratory measurements a bit, maybe my ears are weird as I've had to do that with others as well. If you are fine to EQ, for the price these are a bargain.

 

[Blorg]

@Misguided they are tuned terribly out of the box but Oratory's EQ fixes them right up and they sound great. He had a previous profile but updated it recently and the new one sounds just a little better. 95/100 Harman score after EQ and it sounds very good to me. As @fluufy says they are also very easy to drive (98dB/mW) so that means EQ is no problem even on portable sources. I run them out of a Qudelix myself, they are a perfect closed back to pair with it.

At the new price ($149) they are an absolute bargain if you can EQ. And they are even cheaper from Hifiman's Official Store on AliExpress, $125 and you can get $18/129 with voucher code SS18. This is Hifiman, so you get full warranty too. Add a cheap 2.5mm balanced cable for the Qudelix (this is the one I use, I like the look/feel) and you can use the $18 off voucher, with coins I get both for $115 (headphone by itself is $107 with coins and $12 coupon).

Bear in mind they have quite poor isolation for a closed back. Still better than an open back but I wouldn't pick them if you will be using in a very loud environment. I think they look good and they are comfortable too. Current price is insane and well worth it.

 

[Misguided]

Hi

Thanks for the advice. I’m in the UK and they are about £100 on Ali Express right now. It seems a bit to good to be true.

I keep flip flopping, I really do like the idea of them with eq as I can fix the tuning and they have good separation and a decent soundstage. The only thing is the Sennheiser 620 are a lot better although more expensive and Fiio have a closed back coming out in July, the FT1. The Sundaras are also quite big which is ok but not ideal.

It’s my birthday in July and Amazon have Prime Day around the same time so may hold off and see what deals come up.

I have also been looking at some better IEMs but I currently have the Hexas and I am very happy with them. The only affordable upgrade for me would be the Moondrop Blessing and I don’t think it is a big enough improvement to justify the cost.

 

[Blorg]

I have also been looking at some better IEMs but I currently have the Hexas and I am very happy with them. The only affordable upgrade for me would be the Moondrop Blessing and I don’t think it is a big enough improvement to justify the cost.

Blessing 3 is a big step up from the Hexa, if you want a thin, bright, bass light signature. It's much more natural sounding, the timbre is much better. The treble on the Hexa sounds gritty and a bit off to me, I do think it's good for the pricepoint but there is also a lot better. You don't have to go all the way up to the B3, either, the Truthear Nova is a huge step up from it and I suspect it's around $100 or less at the moment with the sale, I paid $95 for it. It's so much better than the Hexa for me. There are also a load of IEMs in the $100-200 sort of range, below the B3 price.

Sundara Closed is well worth it. I noticed it's even a bit cheaper if you have coins and buy from the coins page. The $149 is the new permanent MSRP though, when Hifiman drop the prices on stuff like this, they stay dropped. I suspect as well it will be further reduced to $125 (and less with coupons) in every AliExpress sale from now onwards. So just that I don't think this is your one opportunity to get it at this price, it's never going back to $399 and it will be on sale regularly until they get rid of them.

 

[yourmom210]

Hi

Thanks for the advice. I’m in the UK and they are about £100 on Ali Express right now. It seems a bit to good to be true.

I keep flip flopping, I really do like the idea of them with eq as I can fix the tuning and they have good separation and a decent soundstage. The only thing is the Sennheiser 620 are a lot better although more expensive and Fiio have a closed back coming out in July, the FT1. The Sundaras are also quite big which is ok but not ideal.

It’s my birthday in July and Amazon have Prime Day around the same time so may hold off and see what deals come up.

I have also been looking at some better IEMs but I currently have the Hexas and I am very happy with them. The only affordable upgrade for me would be the Moondrop Blessing and I don’t think it is a big enough improvement to justify the cost.

I tried em stock and hated them when I first got them, kept em in the box for months, then recently revisited them and they're pretty bomb w EQ

 

[sancho]

I have been looking at closed backs to use at work and as a fan of the open back Sundara I am quite tempted by these, they are pretty cheap at £150 and look nice. I have heard the tuning is a bit of a mess but I have a Qudelix 5k so can EQ these.

What do members think? Are they worth getting and can they be EQ'd. Given the open back Sundara is easy to eq I was hoping it would be the same with the closed.

My other option is Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro 80 Ohm which has the annoying non detachable cable and dont look as nice but are a little cheaper. It probably is the more sensible choice but I love my Sundaras and these do look pretty.

When Sundara are EQed (Wavelet or Equalizer APO with Oratory1990 eq profile for instance) to match Harman target, they are completely different and a real pleasure to listen to.

 

[Blashyrkh]

I just bought it out of curiosity, for 140euro

Out of the box I can hear many of the strenghts relsted to planars. I don't think anything at this price point can be compared with normal drivers.

I tried to ear a sweep Sine with my ears and I don't ear such a messy frequency response, especially in the 300hz range.
But anyway not perfect at all.

What seems odd instead is the feel it has of reproducing music with some kind of virtualized effect. Like the virtualization of a small room. This is to be expected a bit since for me all closed sound "boxy", but this is a bit accentuated.
Bass is also quite strong, it can be also boomy for my tastes, but this is not only about the 300 range.
Everything else is outstanding, speed, imaging, separation, energy.
A perfect match for gaming/movies with Equilazer Apu + hesuvi.
I have also HD800 and He500 for the comparisons.

I will try the suggested EQ and see the differences also.

One thing to mention is also that even if wirh low impedance and decent sensivity, they need power

Gear used: smsl do300 and topping L70

 

[Klonatans]

As an experiment I bought it a month ago on Amazon for 139 EUR with a hope PEQ can make it sound at least acceptable. Unfortunately it wasn't the case. Probably the problem is in the the cheap drivers used, as EQ could only make it sound slightly less terrible. Returned it to Amazon without any regrets.

 

[Blashyrkh]

Can anyone provide the oratory csv for equalizer apo?

Or tell me what BW can be translated in the txt given to EApo?

 

[Blashyrkh]

As an experiment I bought it a month ago on Amazon for 139 EUR with a hope PEQ can make it sound at least acceptable. Unfortunately it wasn't the case. Probably the problem is in the the cheap drivers used, as EQ could only make it sound slightly less terrible. Returned it to Amazon without any regrets.

Yeah terrible indeed.

 

[Hagan66]

I have been looking at closed backs to use at work and as a fan of the open back Sundara I am quite tempted by these, they are pretty cheap at £150 and look nice. I have heard the tuning is a bit of a mess but I have a Qudelix 5k so can EQ these.

What do members think? Are they worth getting and can they be EQ'd. Given the open back Sundara is easy to eq I was hoping it would be the same with the closed.

My other option is Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro 80 Ohm which has the annoying non detachable cable and dont look as nice but are a little cheaper. It probably is the more sensible choice but I love my Sundaras and these do look pretty.

Bought a pair recently for £119 in the UK. Other cans are grado 60, 125, 325, beyerdynamic DT 1990 pro (250 ohm version), and Sundara open backed. Am really enjoying the Sundara open backed. A bit different and am not an audiophile snob

I have been looking at closed backs to use at work and as a fan of the open back Sundara I am quite tempted by these, they are pretty cheap at £150 and look nice. I have heard the tuning is a bit of a mess but I have a Qudelix 5k so can EQ these.

What do members think? Are they worth getting and can they be EQ'd. Given the open back Sundara is easy to eq I was hoping it would be the same with the closed.

My other option is Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro 80 Ohm which has the annoying non detachable cable and dont look as nice but are a little cheaper. It probably is the more sensible choice but I love my Sundaras and these do look pretty.