On this article we evaluation the Hifiman Mini Shangri-La electrostatic headphone and amplifier combo, which prices $2,300 USD.
Disclaimer: Hifiman despatched us the Mini Shangri-La for this evaluation in change for our sincere opinion.
It’s merely unattainable that you haven’t heard of Hifiman. They’re a China-based private audio firm led by Dr. Fang Bian and have been round for 10 to fifteen years.
What we like about Hifiman is that it’s an modern firm that continues to R&D new goodies for Audiophiles. Extra importantly, it permits high-end applied sciences to trickle all the way down to its lower-range items, leading to a formidable product lineup.
I additionally admire that they’ve nice gear in all market segments. It doesn’t matter what price range you could have, Hifiman has one thing good for you. We’ve reviewed many Hifiman gear at Headfonia previously, and every time, we get excited as if it’s the primary time. Simply sort Hifiman in our search field. For these of you who’d prefer to know extra about Hifiman and its founder, we interviewed him.
Hifiman Mini Shangri-La
We’re on the latter facet with this evaluation, so I’ve needed to hearken to this method for fairly a while. Earlier than I begin, let’s test the Mini Shangri-La and get an summary. As you most likely know by now, Hifiman entered the high-end electrostatic programs market in 2018 with the discharge of the Shangri-La system. This method was a distinguished challenger to the legendary Sennheiser HE-1, particularly with its $50,000 price ticket. Later, Hifiman launched a system that prices a fraction of that, the Shangri L Jr., which has an asking worth of $8,000.
Lieven reviewed the Shangri-La Jr. in March 2023, remarking on its excellent efficiency for the value, particularly towards the flagship providing:
Hifiman has a practice of implementing its applied sciences in lower-priced items, so the Mini Shangri-La launch wasn’t shocking. Nevertheless, the $2,300 worth made it much more accessible and interesting to a broader audiophile viewers that wishes to expertise electrostatic programs. You should purchase the Mini Shangri-La instantly from Hifiman here. Observe which you could additionally buy the headphones or amplifier individually if you want to take action.
For the technical variations of their choices, Hifiman has a easy chart to tell apart every unit. The underside unnamed unit might be a Stax system or possibly the HE-1. Who is aware of?
The Mini Shangri La headphone makes use of a 90mm <0.001mm nanometer-thickness diaphragm and a nanoparticle coating at a sub-micrometer thickness. It additionally has a nanometer-thick acoustically clear safety layer often called the mud cowl. The housing includes ABS and a metal body made out of a stainless-steel honeycomb mesh for the anode casing.
The system’s amplifier is a pro-bias (550V—650) high-voltage direct-output solid-state. A Discrete Cascode MOSFET transistor powers the balanced output amplification, whereas the high-voltage energy provide makes use of an impartial energy provide regulator. It has XLR balanced and RCA inputs and two headphone output jacks. A 21-level Quantity Management permits precision quantity adjustment. The amp can concurrently drive two electrostatic headphones.
Construct High quality & Format
With an merchandise on this worth vary, you count on the construct high quality to be stable, however the Mini Shangri La’s headphone leaves one thing to want right here and there. Hifiman appears to have decreased some design components and options to decrease the value tag. First, the headphone’s headband is taken straight from the price range lower-end Hifiman choices. You don’t get the headscarf design of the HE1000 Stealth, for instance, a $ 1399 headphone. This new Mini Shangri La headphone is not any slouch concerning its worth vary, however it doesn’t get that regardless.
The headphone is exceptionally gentle, so it’s very snug and has massive earcups. Nevertheless, you often hear creaking noises whilst you transfer or flip your head, which is annoying. In comparison with the headphone, the amplifier has a way more strong and assuring construct and presence in that side. The creaking noise will not be an enormous situation, because it not often occurs, however I believe it shouldn’t occur. You may, after all, DIY an answer. Apart from that, the headscarf does its job, and the clamping pressure of the headphones is properly balanced.
As mentioned, the amplifier’s construct high quality is impeccable. Relating to I/O, you could have two HP outs and a 5-pin EST proprietary. The inputs are XLR BAL and RCA SE. It’s fairly easy. Every part, from the shiny surfaces to the stable body, the sockets, and the knobs, are completed at a excessive stage on the amplifier unit. I want I may’ve mentioned the identical for the headphone itself.
Total, it’s a easy system that’s additionally fairly and stylish. You open the system from the swap on the again, and you’ve got two large knobs to function. The one on the left facet is for alternating between SE and BAL inputs. The proper knob is for quantity adjustment.
Sound Common
The Hifiman Mini Shangri La provides the same old electrostatic qualities, that are important from the beginning. Transients and pace are the principle distinguishing options that separate it from, say, dynamics and planars. For those who haven’t skilled electrostatic headphones but, the Mini Shangri La will impress you with its efficiency, and it’s a superb entry level into the electrostatic world.
The sound total is impartial, besides with the mid-range focus. The bass is primarily gentle, the mid-range transparency and element are very top quality, and the treble is great with a well-balanced tuning. The amp and headphone are additionally very clear, which you discover when connecting totally different DACs. The Mini member of the Shangri-La household absolutely impresses.
The article continues on the second web page. Click here or use the jumps under.
Web page 2: Sound
Web page 3: Comparisons, Conclusion
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