Is the HiFiMAN Edition X V2 worth the upgrade from the HiFiMAN Edition X V1?
Verdict
Marginal upgrade
There's only 4.0 points between the HiFiMAN Edition X V1 and the HiFiMAN Edition X V2. That's inside the range where two reviewers might simply disagree. None of the shared sub-scores move by more than half a point, so the two behave very similarly on the things reviewers measure. Worth checking: active noise cancelling goes No to No and driver size goes 131.2 mm to 80 mm. It's also $500 cheaper, which makes this an easy call. Keep what you have unless a specific feature above is the thing you're missing - the overall quality gap won't be what convinces you.
What actually changes
Sub-scores both products have, on the same 0-10 scale. Bars extend right for a gain, left for a loss.
- Sound8.58.5
- Value6.56.5
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | Edition X V1 | Edition X V2 | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active noise cancelling | No | No | |
| Driver size | 131.2 mm | 80 mm | |
| Driver | 131.2 mm planar magnetic | 80 mm planar magnetic |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "Edition X V1 to Edition X V2". The other direction is a separate question with a different answer. Scores blend published review verdicts across over-ear and shift as new reviews land, so a marginal call today may not be one next quarter.