Over-Ear
HiFiMAN Edition X V1
78Great
$1799
Full review dataHiFiMAN Edition X V1 vs ZMF Tessidera: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the ZMF Tessidera comes out ahead with an HearWiki score of 88. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Our pick: ZMF Tessidera - Outstanding overall at around $2500.
Over-Ear
ZMF Tessidera
88Outstanding
$2500
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
HiFiMAN Edition X V1
Sound8.5
Value6.5
ZMF Tessidera
Sound9.2
Value7.5
Specifications
| Spec | HiFiMAN Edition X V1 | ZMF Tessidera |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Over-Ear | Over-Ear |
| Price (USD) | $1799 | $2500 |
| HearWiki score | 78 / 100 · Great | 88 / 100 · Outstanding |
| Released | 2016 | 2026 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | planar | Planar magnetic with 1-micron diaphragm |
| Driver size | 131.15 mm | 80 mm |
| Drivers per side | 1 | 2 |
| Frequency response | 8Hz-50kHz | 20Hz-20kHz |
| Impedance | 25 Ω | 35 Ω |
| Sensitivity | 103 dB/mW | 92 dB/mW |
| Wireless | ||
| Multipoint pairing | No | - |
| Features | ||
| Active noise cancelling | No | - |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 399 g | 570 g |
| Detachable cable | Yes | - |
| Balanced connection | Yes | - |
What reviewers said
HiFiMAN Edition X V1
The HiFiMAN Edition X V1 is a premium open-back planar magnetic headphone designed for serious home listening, offering a spacious and balanced sound with a slight warmth. Its low 25-ohm impedance makes it easy to drive from portable sources, while its comfortable build and included accessories add to its appeal, though its design is not suited for noisy or on-the-go environments. The headphone delivers a refined, smooth tonal character that suits critical listening sessions in quiet spaces.
- Pro:Easy to drive from portable devices
- Pro:Spacious and balanced soundstage
- Pro:Comfortable for extended listening
- Con:Strong sound leakage
- Con:Poor isolation for noisy environments
- Con:Large and bulky for travel
ZMF Tessidera
The Tessidera is a premium open-back planar headphone that channels ZMF's signature warm, musical tuning into a planar driver format. It delivers a smooth, full-bodied sound with particularly rich vocals and natural timbre, all while being relatively easy to drive for a high-end model. The build is solid overall, though the stock grill finish shows minor cosmetic imperfections.
- Pro:Smooth, full-bodied tuning with rich vocals
- Pro:Excellent timbre and natural instrument reproduction
- Pro:Relatively easy to drive despite large 80mm drivers
- Con:Mid-forward balance can vary with amplifier pairing
- Con:Minor cosmetic roughness on the stock grill
- Con:Heavy at 570g, requiring a sturdy headphone stand
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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