In the early days of my audio obsession,electrostatic headphoneswere legendary.
Products likeStaxs SR-009andSennheisers Orpheus HE90promised higher resolution than was possible with the typical dynamic drivers of the day.
Fast forward to 2019, and the headphone landscape is far more diverse.
Its the companys cheapest electrostatic headphone; the others are$8,000and$50,000.
These headphones will not work with a standard amp, nor do they have a compatible connector.
So what makes electrostatic headphones so special in the first place?
The membrane basically floats in midair, rather than being mechanically anchored to the headphone.
This theoretically allows for lower distortion and a faster response to transients.
it’s possible for you to check outShureandStaxfor further reading.
Keep in mind the Jade comes with an amp only youll still need a source to feed into it.
The amp accepts plain old RCA or XLR balanced inputs.
Instead, I used a Fiio K3 or Monoprice Desktop amp for most of my listening.
Note: Shortly before posting this review, I learned theres been some drama surrounding the Jade II.
Hifiman responded to that claim with avideotesting the reviewers specific unit and explaining the safety measures in place.
The headphone itself feels flimsier than the amplifier.
But then you listen to them.
It also offers perhaps the most impressive treble performance Ive heard from any headphone Ive tested at home.
It seemed unfazed by complex orchestral crescendos (check outthis piecefrom theHow to Train Your Dragonfranchise).
It picks out detail with ease, but never approaches harshness or sibilance to my ears.
The soundstage is expansive but not diffuse.
Imaging is precise and layered.
Its easy to position instruments in live recordings.
The bass is more complicated, and where the Jade diverts from Hifimans other products.
The bass thats there is good, and its enough to maintain a neutral tonality.
Theres just not enoughslamfor popular music, preventing the Jade II from being the every-genre master Id hoped.
Compare that to the Aryas awesome bass extension.
While the Clear rolls off too, it does so more slowly.
Glasses wearers or those with luscious locks might see a steeper bass roll-off.
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