HiFiMan has had quality control issues in the past, and users have reported build issues from other products in their lineup. The unit we’ve reviewed is also our second pair, and we had to replace our previous pair as there were issues with the right driver. However, planar magnetics are more susceptible to damage due to their design since their diaphragms are more fragile. It’s also more difficult to ensure that the L/R drivers match as the planar magnetic drivers are more complex to reproduce. However, imaging indicates a manufacturer’s quality control and ergonomics. Imaging also varies across units, so you may receive one unit that performs poorly and another that performs as intended.
Our second unit has outstanding imaging. Their L/R drivers are well-matched in group delay and phase, amplitude, and frequency response, ensuring that sound objects like voices are accurately localized in the stereo image.
