Had the opportunity to try them out from a coworker who bought them. The main difference with the open back is def a wayyy smaller sound stage. Would only get these if you want to use it around other people like the office and even still there’s probably better closed back headphones out there. Not too bad for like 150 but would def go with the original vs the closed back for full price.

Is there a good HIFIMAN?

Sony has a pair of wireless planar headphones on pre order today for $150 that also do lossless, I believe. So… there are options for planars at that price I’d consider over them.

So I own these, just got them with the sale, and I have to say I actually enjoy them. The sound was more spacious then I would have expected coming off my AKG712 Pro or my ATH-RX70, two headphones, which I use fairly frequently.

There is definitely and interesting element to the soundstage and imaging, probably a result of it being planar, but I feel for most people it will be a preference if you like it or not. Which I think ultimately makes or breaks this headphone for a lot of people.

That said, coming off the 400HE my first and only other product from Hifiman I feel like if you have a choice between this or the open back, you are probably should go with the regular Sundara unless you just really need or want a closed back.

So many people in the comments having really strong opinions about a headphone they have never heard. Classic audiophile behavior. Automatic upvote to anyone who actually owns this pair and offering a response to op.

There is a reason why they made 60% discount. If you are up for the modding. Check out the Custom Can YouTuber.

They’re shite.

I tried them and returned them. And I do have a pair of “regular” Sundaras.

Sound like underwater

I have only heard terrible things about them and their frequency response looks insane. Not bad for $150, bad for enjoying music.

Don’t bother, and buy a refurbished pair of open-back Sundaras from Hifiman for $200, or a used pair in r/AVExchange for $150 or less.

gonna buy it and see for myself if it is really as bad as others say it is, I can always return it or decide to keep it, I will let my own hearing make the decision for me.

I have them. People say these are dogshit but I’m not sure where they’re coming from. Though I’m probably not qualified to talk about sound as I struggle to pickout the differences betwren all my various gear unless they are extremely obvious.

But anyway, my thoughts. They are fine. For $150, they’re not bad. I have found no problem with the sound. Nothing stood out to me as bad whilst listening to it. Bass is fast, and phonk songs like DVRST are enjoyable on it to me. I run it off my Topping DX1 fine on low gain.

My previous headphones were some coolermaster mh752 and the he400se, and whilst I don’t have those anymore. I’d say the sundara closed is at least better than both of them imo.

Comparing it to IEMs, I have tried the Moondrop Aria, which I personally hated due to how bright it was to me for some reason and how it doesn’t fit my ear properly. I have also tried the Truthear Zeros and EPZ K5s, and I vastly prefer the Sundara Closed over them (which I would hope so considering these IEMs are cheaper anyway)

I have not tried the original sundara but that’s probably why many were disappointed by the closed. For 150, they’re not bad and aesthetically speaking they’re quite nice.

Compared to the R9 or R7 how do these compare!

Might be fun to tear apart and retune at that price could be an interesting project, I’ve never tuned a fully closed back planar, usually stick to open back Biodynamics.

I own a pair and have listened to them extensively for the past week or so. There is a hump which makes some vocals feel too forward and instruments in the same frequency range ring slightly, but I’ve EQ’d this almost to extinction, and have also received a CustomCans mod kit today, that I’ll install this weekend.

After EQ, I’ve really got zero complaints! I’m running them balanced from a Hiby R5 Pro. They sound way better than my DT-990 Pro in all respects. I also have some well worn HD-650 and while they’re very very very different, they’re no less enjoyable. 650 for chilling, Sundara CB for feeling alive!

I think with a bit of EQ, these are a proper bargain!

Comfy, well made, punchy, detailed, fun, energetic, oh, and the bass drops like a bastard stone and is really detailed!

I like them, a lot!