The HiFiMan Sundara 2020 are open-back, planar magnetic headphones. They're the next generation of the HiFiMan Sundara 2018, and the manufacturer advertises redesigning the ear cup padding. They're comfortable audiophile headphones that are best suited to listening at home due to their bulky design and lack of a carrying case. They also have an impedance of 32 ohms and a sensitivity of 94dB, which is enough to be driven by mobile devices like phones and laptops. However, like most open-back audiophile headphones, these headphones perform best when paired with a dedicated amp.
Our Verdict
The HiFiMan Sundara 2020 are great for neutral sound. Their sound is well-suited for audiophile use, thanks to smooth, flat mids, which ensure natural vocals and instruments. While their treble range is more prone to peaks, they're fairly minor, adding brightness and clarity. Their sound lacks a bit of thump and rumble in the low end due to their open-back design, though, which can be a downside if you enjoy genres like EDM and hip-hop. Their soundstage is perceived as wide and spacious, which helps them create an immersive audio experience. They also deliver sound consistently, so you won't need to readjust them constantly.
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Well-built and comfortable.
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Amazing passive soundstage.
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Very consistent sound delivery.
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No EQ or presets.
The HiFiMan Sundara 2020 are a poor choice for commuting and traveling since they're not designed for this use. They have a very comfortable fit, but their open-back design doesn't isolate you from any background noise, including the rumble of bus and plane engines. Their bulky size makes them inconvenient to carry, and they don't come with any case or pouch to protect them.
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Well-built and comfortable.
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Not designed to isolate you from passive noise.
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No protective case or pouch.
While the HiFiMan Sundara 2020 have a comfortable fit, they aren't designed for sports and fitness use. They trap a lot of heat against your ears, which may make you sweat more. They don't have a very stable fit and may fall off your head during workouts. They're also quite bulky and lack an IP rating, but that's to be expected from audiophile headphones.
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Well-built and comfortable.
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No IP rating for dust and water resistance.
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Not designed to isolate you from passive noise.
The HiFiMan Sundara 2020 are poor for office use. They're well-built and comfortable, and their wired design means you don't need to worry about running out of battery. However, they don't block out ambient noise, so they won't isolate you from distractions like background conversations. They also leak a lot of audio, so people sitting nearby will hear your music if you use these headphones at the office.
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Well-built and comfortable.
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Not designed to isolate you from passive noise.
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Leak a lot of audio.
The HiFiMan Sundara 2020 are wired-only headphones; you can't use them for wireless gaming.
The HiFiMan Sundara 2020 are okay for wired gaming. You can connect them to your PC or plug them into an Xbox or PlayStation console. Thanks to the wide soundstage, you can hear sounds like footsteps clearly and easily locate them. However, since they lack a microphone, you can only receive audio with these headphones. They're very comfortable, although they trap quite a bit of heat against your ears, so you'll want to take breaks occasionally during long gaming sessions.
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Well-built and comfortable.
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Amazing passive soundstage.
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No microphone.
The HiFiMan Sundara don't have a microphone and aren't suitable for making phone calls. You can still use a standalone mic with them, but they're not designed to isolate you from outside noise, so you'll be easily distracted by your surroundings.
- 8.3 Neutral Sound
- 3.7 Commute/Travel
- 5.3 Sports/Fitness
- 4.4 Office
- 4.7 Wireless Gaming
- 6.7 Wired Gaming
- 1.6 Phone Calls
- Updated Sep 12, 2024: The following test groups have been updated following Test Bench 1.8: Sound Profile, Raw Frequency Response, Mid-Range Profile: Target Compliance, Peaks/Dips. There have also been text changes made throughout the review, including to the product comparisons to match these results.
- Updated Sep 12, 2024: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.8, which updates our target curve and Sound tests. You can read more about this in our changelog.
- Updated Jun 28, 2024: The following test groups have been updated following Test Bench 1.7: Noise Isolation - Full Range and Noise Isolation - Common Scenarios. There have also been text changes made throughout the review, including to the usages and product comparisons to match these results.
- Updated Jun 26, 2024: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.7, which updates our Noise Isolation test. We've also expanded the scope of this test to include Common Scenarios in addition to Voice Handling and Wind Handling.
- Updated Feb 01, 2024: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.6 , which updates how we measure latency. We've updated and renamed the following test groups: Wired Connection, Bluetooth Connection, and Wireless Connection (Dongle). We've also added new codec latency measurements and provided an audio sample of recorded latency.
- Updated Jan 19, 2024: We've added a comparison between these headphones and the Audeze MM-100 in Build Quality.
- Updated Sep 26, 2023: We've updated this review for clarity and accuracy.
- Updated Aug 31, 2023: We've added a comparison between these headphones and the HiFiMan Arya Stealth Magnet Version in Build Quality.
- Updated Jul 24, 2023: We've added a comparison between these headphones and the Sony MDR-MV1 in Comfort.
- Updated Aug 05, 2022: We’ve added a comparison with the HiFiMan HE400se in the 'Compared' text. The HE400se are a more affordable option compared to the Sundara 2020, but their treble is more recessed, which can hurt the detail and clarity of vocals and instruments.
- Updated Jun 29, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.5.
- Updated May 28, 2021: Review published.
- Updated May 21, 2021: Early access published.
- Updated May 19, 2021: Our testers have started testing this product.
- Updated May 18, 2021: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
- Updated May 10, 2021: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The HiFiMan Sundara 2020 come in one color, 'Black', which we tested. They're an updated version of the HiFiMan Sundara 2018, with new ear cup padding, which results in slight differences in fit, seal, and positioning that affect sound delivery. However, both models otherwise perform (and reproduce sound) very similarly. If you come across another variant or yours is different, please let us know in the forums, and we'll update our review.
Compared To Other Headphones
The HiFiMan Sundara 2020 are planar magnetic headphones meant for audiophiles. Their performance is similar to the previous generation HiFiMan Sundara 2018, although the manufacturer advertises that they've changed the ear cup padding. They have a similarly neutral sound profile and a wide, spacious soundstage. Although they offer a similarly balanced sound to high-end audiophile headphones, like the Sennheiser HD 800 S, they aren't as well built and lack the Sennheiser's truly immersive soundstage.
Check out our lists of the best over-ear headphones, the best headphones for music, and the best audiophile headphones.
The HiFiMan Edition XS are better audiophile headphones than the HiFiMan Sundara 2020. The Edition XS reproduce audio more consistently and follow our target curve slightly more closely, with a touch of added thump that listeners of bass-heavy genres like hip-hop may appreciate. However, the Sundara 2020 have a more comfortable ski-band headband design and feature a slightly wider soundstage.
The HiFiMan Sundara 2020 and the HiFiMan Ananda have different strengths, and you may prefer either one, depending on your needs. The Sundara follow our target curve a bit closer, which some listeners may like. On the other hand, the Ananda are much more breathable, have significantly better build quality, and come with an extra audio cable. They also have a much better passive soundstage performance.
The HiFiMan Sundara 2020 are better planar magnetic headphones than the HiFiMan HE400se. While both headphones are very comfortable and well-built, the Sundara follow our target curve more closely, especially as their treble response is flatter and less veiled. Their passive soundstage is slightly better, too, as it sounds a bit more natural, and the headphones are prone to fewer inconsistencies in audio delivery.
The HiFiMan Sundara 2020 are better for neutral sound than the Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO. Both pairs have balanced sound profiles, but the HiFiMan are more comfortable. They also have a much better passive soundstage performance and deliver audio more consistently. However, the Beyerdynamic are better-built, more breathable, and have a pouch that protects the headphones from minor scratches and splashes.
The HiFiMan Sundara 2020 are better for neutral sound than the Philips Fidelio X2HR. The HiFiMan have a more immersive passive soundstage and deliver sound more consistently across users. However, while both headphones lack thump and rumble because of their open-back design, the Philips are able to reproduce a bit more low-bass, which some listeners may prefer. They also come with a long, 10-foot audio cable.
The HiFiMan Sundara 2020 are better headphones for neutral sound than the Beyerdynamic DT 900 PRO X. The HiFiMan have a planar magnetic transducer, which is advertised to help improve audio quality. Their sound also follows our target curve a bit more closely, they're more comfortable, and have a wider, more immersive-sounding soundstage performance. That said, the Beyerdynamic are better-built and have a more stable fit.
The HiFiMan Arya are better for most purposes than the HiFiMan Sundara 2020. Both models have an open-back design and very neutral sound profiles, but the Arya do a better job reproducing low-bass, giving them a more thumpy, rumbly sound that some listeners may prefer. They also have more consistent audio delivery and a much better build quality, with faux-leather padding and a different hinge design. On the other hand, the Sundara come with a 1/8" TRS cable, while the Arya come with a 1/4" TRS cable, so you need an adapter to use them on devices like smartphones or consoles.
The HiFiMan Sundara 2020 and the Sennheiser HD 660 S are both over-ear headphones designed for neutral sound reproduction. The HiFiMan do a better job at this, producing bass with more thump and punch than the Sennheiser, as well as treble with more clarity and detail. That said, both are very well-balanced throughout the mid-range, so vocals and instruments should sound present without being honky. Though they are both open-backs, the HiFiMan have a significantly more speaker-like passive soundstage and are more comfortable than the Sennheiser, but the latter are more stable on the head, which might be important if you like to headbang while listening to music.
The HiFiMan Sundara 2020 are better for neutral sound than the Sennheiser HD 600. The HiFiMan are more comfortable, deliver audio more consistently, and have a significantly better passive soundstage performance. While their sound profile lacks bass, they deliver more thump and rumble than the Sennheiser. On the other hand, the Sennheiser trap much less heat against your ears. They're also much more stable and should stay in place while you headbang to your favorite tunes, although they aren't quite stable enough for workouts.
The HiFiMan Sundara 2020 are better for neutral sound than the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO. The HiFiMan have a much flatter treble response, which some listeners may prefer. They have a better passive soundstage performance and much better frequency response consistency. They're also more comfortable. On the other hand, while both pairs have an open-back design, the Beyerdynamic deliver more bass, which some may prefer. They also trap less heat against your ears.
The HiFiMan Sundara 2020 are better for neutral sound than the Sennheiser HD 650. The HiFiMan are more comfortable and can produce a bit more low-bass. They deliver sound more consistently, and their passive soundstage is perceived as larger. However, the Sennheiser have a more stable fit and don't trap as much heat against your ears.
The Audeze MM-100 and the HiFiMan Sundara 2020 are both open-back headphones with planar magnetic drivers. However, the two have quite different sound profiles, with the HiFiMan following our target curve a bit better. They're also slightly more comfortable, and it's easier to get consistent audio delivery between listening sessions when using them. That said, the Audeze are considerably better built and more likely to be a durable, long-term option in the studio.
The HiFiMan Sundara 2020 are better for neutral sound than the HiFiMan HE-400i. The HiFiMan have better build quality, a more stable fit, and deliver sound more consistently. They also have a more accurate bass response, which some listeners may prefer. However, the HE-400i have a slightly better passive soundstage performance. They also come with a longer, 10-foot audio cable.
The HiFiMan Sundara 2020 are slightly more premium than the Sennheiser HD 560S. The HiFiMan deliver audio more consistently with a bit more low-end, and they have a better passive soundstage performance. They also have a much better build quality. However, the Sennheiser are more stable fitting, weigh less, and offer more midrange presence, which you may prefer.
The HiFiMan Sundara 2020 and the HiFiMan Arya Stealth Magnet Version are both open-back planar magnetics from the same manufacturer. The Arya Stealth Magnet Version can reproduce more low-bass, which some users may prefer. They also have a more immersive soundstage. That said, the Sundara 2020 follow our target curve more closely in the treble range, ensuring clear and bright vocals and instruments.
The HiFiMan Sundara 2018 and the HiFiMan Sundara 2020 are over-ear headphones with nearly identical performance. They're both well-built, comfortable, and are well-suited for neutral sound. The 2020 have redesigned ear cup padding. However, they trap more heat against your ears, which may be because of changes to the padding. If over-ear headphones make your ears feel warm during long listening sessions, you may prefer the 2018 version.
The Sennheiser HD 800 S are better for neutral sound than the HiFiMan Sundara 2020. The headphones have similar, well-balanced sound profiles, but the Sennheiser have a better soundstage performance. They're also much more breathable and comfortable and have a better build quality. However, the HiFiMan come with a 1/8" TRS audio cable, while the Sennheiser come with a 1/4" cable, meaning you need an adapter for devices like smartphones and consoles.
The HiFiMan Sundara 2020 are better for neutral sound than the Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO. The HiFiMan have an open-back design. They're more comfortable, deliver sound much more consistently, and have a much more open, spacious soundstage. On the other hand, the Beyerdynamic are closed-back headphones so they can reproduce more bass, and ensure your music has more thump and rumble, which some may prefer. They're also more breathable and have a better build quality.
The HiFiMan Sundara 2020 are better for neutral sound than the Sennheiser HD 6XX. Both have similarly well-balanced sound profiles, but the HiFiMan are able to reproduce treble a bit more evenly, and their passive soundstage is perceived as larger. They're also much more comfortable.
The HiFiMan Sundara 2020 are somewhat better for neutral sound than the Philips SHP9500. The HiFiMan deliver audio more consistently. They have a better passive soundstage performance and more extended bass. They also have significantly better build quality, and their passive soundstage is more immersive and wide. On the other hand, the Philips are much more comfortable and very breathable.
The HiFiMan Sundara 2020 are better for neutral sound than the Sennheiser HD 599. The HiFiMan have better build quality, deliver sound more consistently, and have a better passive soundstage performance. However, the Sennheiser are significantly more comfortable and breathable.
The HiFiMan Sundara 2020 are better for neutral sound than the Sennheiser HD 58X Jubilee. The HiFiMan are more comfortable, deliver sound more consistently, and have a much better passive soundstage performance. The Sennheiser are more stable and breathable, however.
The HiFiMan Sundara 2020 are better audiophile headphones than the Sony MDR-MV1. The HiFiMan have more consistent audio delivery deliver a bit more low-bass, which some users may prefer, and their passive soundstage is better, making for an even more immersive audio experience. However, the Sony are more comfortable.
The HiFiMan Sundara 2020 are better for neutral sound than the AKG K712 PRO. The HiFiMan are able to reproduce a bit more low-bass, which some listeners may prefer. Their passive soundstage is also perceived as bigger and more open. On the other hand, the AKG come with a longer, 10-foot audio cable. They're also much more breathable.
The HiFiMan Sundara 2020 are better headphones for neutral sound than the Focal Celestee. While both headphones are comfortable, the HiFiMan are open-back, planar magnetic headphones. They have more consistent audio reproduction, a treble response that follows our target curve a bit more closely, and a larger, more spacious passive soundstage. However, the Focal Celestee are closed-back headphones with a dynamic transducer and significantly better build quality.
The HiFiMan Sundara 2020 are better headphones for neutral sound than the Drop + Sennheiser HD 8XX. While both are comfortable, the HiFiMan are planar magnetic headphones that can reproduce a more extended bass, and their passive soundstage seems more natural. However, the Drop + Sennheiser are dynamic headphones with significantly better build quality.
Test Results
The HiFiMan Sundara 2020 have a similar design to the previous edition HiFiMan Sundara 2018. They have a premium-looking all-black finish, with big round ear cups. Their padding and ski-band headband are faux leather, and the headphones have a screen-like design on the outsides of their ear cups. The ear cup padding is slightly different on the 2020 model, but it doesn't affect performance in any significant way.
These are very comfortable headphones that feel light on your head. However, they can make your ears feel hot after a while. They also fit more tightly on your head than the HiFiMan Sundara 2018, but it doesn't feel overwhelming. If you want more comfortable headphones, try the Sony MDR-MV1 instead.
These headphones have sub-par breathability. Despite having a very similar open-back design, they trap more heat against your ears than the HiFiMan Sundara 2018. This could be because they fit more tightly on your head. Their ear cup padding also fits against your head at a different angle than the previous generation, which can contribute to the difference. They can make you sweat more, so you'll want to take breaks during long listening sessions with these headphones.
These bulky headphones aren't intended for outdoor use or carrying around with you regularly. Their ear cups don't swivel to lay flat, unlike the HiFiMan HE-400i, and they take up a good amount of space in a backpack or large bag. They also don't come with a protective case or pouch.
These headphones have a good build quality. They're similar to the HiFiMan Sundara 2018, except the ear cup padding fits against your head at a different angle than the 2018 version. The hinges, ear cups, and yokes are made of metal and feel solid. The cable feels good, too, and the padding is faux leather and cloth. However, the rigid headband feels like a weak point in the build. Overall, they don't feel as sturdy or premium as models like the HiFiMan Arya Stealth Magnet Version, Audeze MM-100, or Sennheiser HD 800 S. As usual for audiophile headphones, they don't have an IP rating for dust and water resistance.
While our unit has had no issues, it's worth noting that some users have reported issues with the overall construction and build quality of these headphones. We encountered issues with the HiFiMan Sundara 2018, where the earpads and, eventually, the ear cups fell off. The manufacturer has since changed the glue they use to secure the earpads to the frame. If you encounter any quality control issues, please let us know. You can read more about problems with the 2018 model here.
These headphones have okay stability. They'll stay in place during casual listening sessions. However, they aren't intended for sports, so high-intensity activities like headbanging might cause them to slip off.
- HiFiMan Sundara 2020 headphones
- 1/8" TRS to L/R 1/8" TRS cable
- 1/4" TRS to 1/8" adapter
- Manual
The HiFiMan Sundara 2020 have a very neutral sound profile. They lack some low-bass because of their open-back design, but the mids are very well-balanced and is suitable for a wide variety of content and genres. Unlike other open-back audiophile headphones, like the Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO, their relatively low impedance and sensitivity mean they're easy to drive with mobile devices like phones and laptops. Your audio will still be full and quite loud even when listening on these devices.
These headphones have excellent frequency response consistency. Their treble delivery can vary depending on fit and positioning, but issues won't be noticeable to most listeners. If you take the time to adjust them, you'll get consistent audio delivery every time.
These headphones have great bass range target compliance. They have an underemphasized low-bass range, so mixes won't not have enough low-end thump for fans of bass-heavy genres like EDM and hip-hop. The mid-bass range is also slightly underemphasized, so your music lacks a bit of body and punch. The high bass is well-balanced and flat, ensuring your audio has the right amount of warmth and fullness.
These headphones have excellent mid range target compliance. Most of the range is very flat and well-balanced, which results in a clear and accurate reproduction of vocals and instruments, though the dip in the high-mid can weaken them a bit. In songs like Walk in the Park by Beach House, you can clearly differentiate vocals against bass and synthesizer sounds.
When it comes to the treble range, these headphones follow our target curve very well. The low-treble is a bit underemphasized, which slightly veils instruments and lead vocals. The mid-treble range is well-balanced, so sibilants sound bright without being piercing.
These headphones have good peaks and dips performance. There are several peaks and dips concentrated in the mid to treble ranges, but they're all minor, and these headphones generally stay true to their own sound profile. The treble range has a series of peaks that brings out detail in vocals and instruments while sibilants are bright.
The HiFiMan Sundara 2020 have an excellent imaging performance. The group delay falls below the audibility threshold for most of the range, except for a minor peak in the low-bass range, indicating mostly tight bass and transparent treble reproduction. Also, the L/R drivers of our unit are very well-matched in frequency, amplitude, and phase response, ensuring the accurate placement of objects (like footsteps and voices) in the stereo image.
It's worth noting that users online have reported issues with this manufacturer's quality control and ergonomics. Some of the other products in their lineup that we've tested have had imaging issues, and we've even had to reorder a new pair of HiFiMan headphones due to driver issues. However, planar magnetic drivers tend to be more susceptible to damage than dynamic drivers, as the diaphragms are more fragile. Planar magnetic drivers are also more complex to reproduce, and this can lead to issues with phase response matching between the L/R drivers. As a result, it's important to keep in mind that imaging varies across units.
The HiFiMan Sundara 2020 have an amazing passive soundstage performance. You'll perceive their soundstage as big and wide, but sound seems to be coming from inside your head rather than from speakers in the room around you, which is similar to the HiFiMan Sundara 2018. In the song How Soon Is Now by The Smiths, it's possible to hear the different guitar parts move clearly across the stereo field. Because of their open-back design, the soundstage seems more open than that of closed-back headphones.
These headphones have a very good weighted harmonic distortion performance. There's some distortion present at normal listening volumes, particularly with the right driver. However, it can be hard to hear with real-life content as it's minor. All other frequencies fall under acceptable limits, producing mostly clean and pure audio reproduction.
These are the settings used to test these headphones; our results are only valid when you use them in this configuration.
Like the HiFiMan Edition XS and other open-back headphones, these HiFiMan headphones have a bad noise isolation performance. They block out virtually no ambient noise by design, so you hear external noises like bus engine rumbles or office chatter around you.
The HiFiMan Sundara are terrible at isolating you against noises you might encounter in common scenarios. Their open-back design means that the rumble of plane engines is extremely audible when wearing the headphones. Likewise, they provide almost no attenuation if you're on a busy street or in a bustling office.
These headphones have a bad leakage performance, typical of open-back headphones. By design, they leak a lot of audio. Escaping audio is concentrated primarily in the treble range, meaning people around you can easily hear your music if you listen at a high volume in an environment like an office.
These headphones come with a TRS cable with a 1/8" connector on one end and a 1/8" connector for each ear cup on the other end. There's also a 1/8" to 1/4" TRS adapter. However, they don't have an in-line mic, so they can only receive audio.
You can easily connect these headphones to a PC via the 1/8" TRS cable.
You can use these headphones wired on PlayStation if you plug their 1/8" TRS cable into a controller. However, given the lack of a microphone, you can't input audio to communicate with teammates.
You can use these headphones wired on Xbox if you plug their 1/8" TRS cable into a controller. However, you can only receive audio.