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So, you’re an audiophile who likes to get the best out of your audio system… but, you’re not the kind that can drop $50,000 to achieve this. It’s hard to get the best on a budget, and companies like HIFIMAN understand this. This is why the company launched the new HIFIMAN Mini Shangri-La Headphone System.
HIFIMAN is a company that specializes in high-quality audio equipment, and it’s a pretty popular brand. It recently released the SUSVARA UNVEILED. This is a set of premium open-back headphones that push the music-listening experience to the next level. They come with an incredibly thin 1nm-thick diaphragm, audibly invisible magnets, and other neat features that make them a game changer.
If you’re interested in picking up these headphones, they’ll run you back $8,000. For the level of quality you’re getting, the price tag is well justified.
HIFIMAN launches the Mini Shangri-La
In case you don’t know what a headphone system is, it’s a package that comes with both a pair of headphones and an amplifier. The amplifier ensures that the highest-quality audio is being pushed to the headphones.
It’s an electrostatic amplifier that supports both XLR and RCA single-ended input methods. On the front of the device, there’s a volume control knob and an RCA/Balance Input Selector knob. Needless to say, it’s a high-quality amplifier that will make everything sound amazing.
As for the headphones, you’re not getting the best that HIFIMAN has to offer, but you’re still getting a compelling pair. You’re still getting a high-quality pair of headphones. Just like the SUSVARA UNVEILED, these headphones come with an incredibly thin 1nm-thick diaphragm. Also, the diaphragm has a nano-particle coating that helps improve the clarity of the audio.
While it’s super thin, there’s a protection layer over the diaphragm. It’s nearly transparent to sound waves, so, it won’t be disturbed much by reflected/refracted sound waves and sound waves from outside.
These are planar headphones, so the drivers have the diaphragm sandwiched between two planes of magnets. This configuration will produce a more spacious sound than headphones with traditional cone-shaped drivers. The headphones use dual XLR cords, and they will plug into the ports on the front of the amplifier. This is something to keep in mind if you’re used to using headphones with aux cords.
Specs
Moving onto the specs, the headphones have a frequency response of 7Hz – 90kHz. That’s much wider than the standard which is about 20Hz – 20kHz. They weigh 320.2g, which is just shy of 3/4 of a pound. They’re pretty lightweight for a pair of headphones this high-quality.
Moving onto the amplifier, it weighs 5.83kg, which is nipping at the heels of 13lb. It has a bias voltage of 550V – 650V.
Price
Now, let’s talk price. HIFIMAN has some pretty pricey products on the market, and they’re not for the faint of heart. The price of the HIFIMAN Mini Shangri-La isn’t what you’ll call dirt cheap, but it’s very affordable compared to the other products that the company sells. The set sells for $2,300.
It’s a heck of a lot more affordable than its siblings. However, if you only want either the headphones or the amplifier, you can buy them separately. The headphones cost $1,100 and the amplifier costs $1,500. Click the link to put in your order.
If you buy within the first month of the launch, you’ll so get a handy headphone stand.