Electrostatic Headphones - HiFi Man

Electrostatic headphones produce low distortion and incredibly accurate sound. The larger ultra-thin diaphragms are very responsive resulting in an incredible transient and tight bass response. They typically have an extended frequency response spanning beyond the range of human hearing.

HiFi Man, established in 2007 by Dr Fang, is a leader in planar magnetic headphone technology and is renowned for headphones that feature state of the art driver technology. HiFi Man headphones are also on demo in our showroom.

As well as their planar headphones, HiFi Man also design and manufacture "best in-class" dynamic headphone models, along with a selection of earphones and accessories. Some of their best known models include the HE400i, Susvara, Ananda and Arya headphones and RSR2000 and HM-Series portable players.

HiFi Man supply a range of portable players, desktop headphone amplifiers, in ear monitors (IEMs), as well as Reference series headphones from entry-level Sundara to the flagship Shangri-La Senior.

HiFi Man have gathered many awards and raving reviews in renowned HiFi industry publications for their products. HE-6 chosen as one of The Audiophiliac's best-sounding gear of 2012. RE-600 and HE400 were both EXC!TE Award Winners in 2014 with the HE400 having been named a RESI Award Winner two years prior. HE-560 won the 2015 "Audio Excellence Award", "CES Innovations Design and Engineering Awards" and "2014 CES Editors’ Choice Award Winner".

HE1000 collected 2015 product of the year awards from both Soundstage! and HEADPHONE.GURU also winning the "CES Innovation Award Honouree" the following year. Its second reincarnation also went on to win the "Headfonics Best Open Headphone," "Audio Magazine Golden Ears," "hifi+ Cost No Object Headphone," "TAS Editors Choice Award" and "European Design Product Award."

Their current range is considered to be their best yet and with these products and many new additions coming soon, HiFi Man are widely regarded as one of leading designers and manufacturers of hi-fi headphones and portable audio products.

Electrostatic headphones apply a static charge evenly across an ultralight film that floats between two perforated stator plates, without touching it for minimal interference. The electrons move the film, instead of moving around it. In contrast, conventional headphones usually have a coil of wire inside a magnet, glued to a stiff cone or dome and secured with a springy suspension, all of which is moved by electromagnetism.

The transducers on electrostatic headphones convert audio signals into corresponding sound waves. The stator plates are made of conductive metal and hold alternating electric charges. The diaphragm is attracted to the negatively charged stator while being repelled by the positively charged stator causing it to move back and forth between the plates.

The rapid transient response of the driver results in transparent, natural and detailed sound. This driver weighs less than the air around it and has no resonances or energy storage. The small acoustic space of a headphone lets it cover the entire audible spectrum without crossovers for low distortion.

Regular headphones amplifiers typically work to boost signal strength at a low impedance matching the headphones. Electrostatic headphone amplifiers uniquely send the signal to the step-up stage, raising the voltage of the audio signal to fully charge the plates, before delivering it to the electrostatic headphones. They also supply the diaphragm with the DC biasing voltage required to hold a fixed charge (usually 200 VDC to 700 VDC).

All electrostatic headphones require a dedicated high-voltage headphone amplifier to produce sound.