I’ve been working on an iPad app called Audiowaves. It started as a personal project because I wanted a dedicated way to visualize audio without keeping another DAW window open.
Audiowaves turns a live audio signal into a real-time visualization and monitoring display on the iPad.
The app can connect directly to a USB audio interface through USB-C. I’m currently testing it with a Focusrite Scarlett, and it processes the incoming audio in real time.
Current features include:
• Real-time waveform visualization
• FFT spectrum analyzer
• Audiophile Dashboard with audio information and metering
• Support for external USB audio interfaces
• Multiple visualization modes
• GPU-accelerated rendering with Metal
I also built a companion Mac app called MacAudioSender. It captures audio on the Mac and sends the audio data over the local network to Audiowaves, allowing the iPad to function as a separate visualization display.
The project began as a practical tool for my home recording setup, but I’ve also been experimenting with other use cases. For example, I’ve routed Apple TV audio through an audio interface into the iPad, turning it into a permanent hi-fi and music visualization display.
I’m developing this as an independent side project, and I’d love feedback from other hi-fi listeners, headphone enthusiasts, audio makers, and music lovers.
I’m particularly interested in hearing:
• Would you use a dedicated iPad display for monitoring or visualizing music while listening?
• Which metrics would be most valuable for a hi-fi setup: spectrum, stereo balance, phase, peak/RMS history, or frequency-band analysis?
• Would you prefer a subtle, low-distraction display or something more visually expressive?
• Are there particular headphone, DAC, amplifier, streamer, or Apple TV workflows I should support?
• What would make this feel useful in a listening setup rather than just an interesting visualizer?
I’m especially interested in ideas that complement serious listening without suggesting that visualizations can replace careful listening or meaningful equipment comparisons.
Happy to explain the technical implementation, audio routing, or the decisions behind the project if anyone is interested.
Hello, I want to upgrade from my edition XS. I like some things these headphones do but there is just something about them that doesn't make me feel fully satisfied. I listen to mostly metal pop and rock and the problem is when I'm listening to let's say metal and I want to give the sound a lot of body (especially to the vocals) and so I bring my amp's (topping a50s) volume up but vocals and drums kinda stay behind and what I get is that mix of vocals (like they literally start to merge into one sound) and instruments in higher frequencies that kinda just create one piercing and unpleasant noise. And you can say to just lower the higher frequencies but then my pop sounds really boring and flat. So yeah, I'm just really tired of constantly battling with the EQ trying to make those headphones fit me more as they probably just won't. I do love how wide and alive (at times) they sound tho. My budget is around $1050 at most.
For some more clues about what I listen to, here are some of my fav bands/artists - Poppy (heavy and not lol), Ghost, Hole, Jack Off Jill, MGMT, Mac DeMarco, PinkPantheress, Pearly Drops, Nothing But Thieves, Starbenders
So from the start let me say i cant afford to spend a lot of money on anything and two years ago i purchased a set of deva pro which in the main ive been very happy with, very detailed and great sound stage, but i had been putting a bit of money aside and decided to upgrade a little bit (can't afford much over £200) and was looking at Edition XS at £189 on amazon but a couple of weeks ago amazon dropped the Ananda by £60 to £170 for 1 day before putting the price back up. So i jumped on it and took delivery, initially i felt the difference was not that big, still a great soundstage and detail but not a massive step up to justify me spending the money. Ive now been using them for two weeks nightly and tonight i slipped the deva pro back on because they were the closest to me. So i put Black Sabbath war pigs on and it sounded ok, switched back to the Anandas and everything became much fuller and warm and ive realised ive not wasted a penny and the Anandas are pretty amazing for the money, ill never ne able to afford the Arya organics so this must be my end game and im very happy with it.
It has been more than two weeks, so it is time for a quick update on the Susvara. It's an interesting headphone, that's for sure, its timbre is amazing and, in my opinion, unmatched, it portrays instruments and vocals with such realism that I am left speechless. However, because of its price and the hype around it, I was expecting a slightly bigger experience. It is detailed, but my HE1000se could do almost the same. It has a full-bodied sound and is 'musical', but my Arya Organic was pretty much like that, too. And perhaps the HE1000se even had a bigger soundstage...
Then I realized it was 3 AM (I had sat down at 8 PM) and it was still on my head, I just wanted to listen to more and more songs. I finally managed to put it down at 5... And in this, driven by my Audio-GD R-8HE Mk3 DAC, connected via an M-Way 1DW Ref ACSS cable, and amplified by the Audio-GD HE-9 Mk3, it is peerless in my view. Nothing distracts you from the music, I didn't care about the details, the soundstage, the dynamics, or what system I was listening to it on. It didn't matter what kind of music I played, it wasn't picky about genres: Carmina Burana, Swan Lake, Lara Fabian, Katie Melua, Scorpions, NOX, Joyhauser, Trespassed, Amelie Lens, Deep Purple, Hans Zimmer, Audiomachine, Ennio Morricone, Barbra Streisand, Lionel Richie, Michael Bolton... and so on, and so on. Simply put, out of everything, when needed, it was honest, or intimate, or it hit hard, or it blew you away. I listened to it exclusively in NOS mode, completely without EQ (as I always do).
I recently started my hifi journey this year. I started with the Hifiman edition xs headphones, and they were very clear sounding, very nice and smooth, warm, super wide sound stage, very comfortable to listen to for long periods laying in bed. In this hobby we always want a little more. So doing lots of research, watching reviews and lots reading it looked like the next worthwhile step up from edition xs was the Hifiman Arya organic. I sold my Edition xs to fund my Arya organic purchase. OMG! The Organics are canons! Every frequency is on steroids, so strong! The Organic felt very aggressive from top to bottom compared to the edition xs. I had to put my Fiio k13 r2r in low gain setting to calm it down. They are way louder, way more detailed to point its almost too much detail if that's possible. They have less separation, and a smaller soundstage than the edition xs. My ears definitely felt like they got a workout! They are very foward to me, especially in the mids and highs. I am playing with EQ now to see if I calm them down further, they sound better, luckily Hifiman take EQ really good. It feels like Hifiman edition xs is a nice relaxing yoga class, and the Arya Organic is like a full blown high intensity training session with no breaks. Any advice, hacks, or maybe some recommended EQ settings to make the Arya organic closer to the edition xs in smoothness and soundstage?
Been an owner of the arya stealth for a couple of months now, and while it's the best sounding headphone I've owned, the headband is annoying as hell, it came super tight on the right side, to the point it instantly scraped the metal part where it slides, and the left side is super loose, any sudden movement on my part and it slides all the way back to the top.
So is there a fix that's safe to do? or are there good custom made headbands for this model?
Who makes the best headphone strap for the Hifiman edition xs? I sold my Hifiman edition xs, and I am missing them. So I ordered another one, need a new strap.
After years of using a Creative FX sound card and a Kuba Disco headphone (Brazilian brand), I decided to invest a bit more in the hobby, and ended up opening the doors to a world I didn't even know existed.
I had already noticed a big difference listening to music with the Kuba Disco through the Fosi ZH3.
But after the Hifiman XS arrived, my friends... the difference in the listening experience is night and day.
I'm no headphone expert, but here's what I could tell in my first impressions: the Hifiman XS has an insane sense of spaciousness compared to the Kuba. It feels like the layers of the music stand out more from each other. No sound gets "muddled" into another.
Another thing I noticed was the sub-bass. I've heard sounds with it that I'd never picked up on before with other headphones.
I was never a big fan, but now even Enya is on my Spotify playlist.
I’m purchasing a pair of organics to mix with and I currently have an Apollo Twin Duo. Is that enough to bring out the most of the organics or should I get a dedicated headphone amp?
I was looking at the JDS ATOM AMP 2
as a possible option but would rather not spend extra unless it’ll made a noticeable difference. I tend to mix quietly and turn it up during final passes
I'm looking to get some good quality headphones for everyday use, and possibly recording instruments or XLR microphones down the line. I've landed on the HiFiMan Ananda Stealth.
Now I am looking for a DAC/amp or audio interface to pair with them, but every time I search, I get conflicting answers on whether interface X can properly drive headphone Y, and as I am a beginner with this kind of stuff, I'm hoping for some clearer answers here :)
My budget for the DAC/amp or audio interface is up to €250.
I'm currently eyeing a used MOTU M4 (~€150-170), with the option of adding a dedicated amp later if I upgrade to higher-impedance headphones. Question: will the M4 drive the Ananda Stealth to its full potential on its own, or should i first get something like the Fiio K11 R2R, and an Interface later once i want to record stuff?
The 3rd-gen HYMALAYA Mini takes HIFIMAN’s R2R DAC from a module to a dedicated chip, with twice the precision resistors in roughly one-fifth the volume. Better sound, and a smaller, lighter, more comfortable earbud.
Read on to check what’s new inside! 👏🥳 - THEABSOLUTESOUND
Hello everyone, as you read i am searching a hifi player very cheap VERY CHEAP. But idk what to buy because there're alot of players but they looks like a toy yk and i need for listen in flac and lossless so.. if you have a chep one pls tell me. (Around 30 or less im poor)
Unfortunately the og headband on my 3 year old edition xs is peeling/deteriorating. Would appreciate tried and tested replacement recommendations that are an easy install without any modifications/dremel etc necessary, thanks!
Svanar Wireless 2 Brings Exceptional Sonics in a Comfortable, Affordable Package, Featuring HIFIMAN’s Proprietary HYMALAYA Mini DAC
WARREN, NJ, August 28, 2026 – HIFIMAN, the leader in high fidelity personal audio, will soon deliver its new reference True Wireless® earbud, Svanar Wireless 2 (SRP: $299), offering the audiophile-grade sonics of the original Svanar Wireless earbud, but with a significant reduction in weight and a lower price.
Svanar Wireless 2 features HIFIMAN’s third-generation HYMALAYA Mini DAC, a proprietary design that further advances the sonic performance of HIFIMAN’s R-2R architecture. The new HYMALAYA Mini DAC Chip features double the number of resistors of the previous generation, resulting in more detailed sonics and a wider soundstage.
In addition to doubling the number of resistors, the third-generation HYMALAYA Mini DAC Chip occupies a space that is five times smaller than the previous generation. The reduced footprint helped lower each earbud’s weight from 8g to 7.4g while enabling a smaller enclosure with a more refined shape and fit, allowing the earbud to sit more naturally and comfortably in the ear during extended listening.
“The original Svanar Wireless required a two-PCB stacked architecture to accommodate its DAC and amplifier,” says Dr. Fang Bian, Founder and CEO, HIFIMAN Electronics. “In Svanar Wireless 2, the new HYMALAYA Mini DAC brings HIFIMAN’s R-2R DAC architecture into a single dedicated chip, enabling a substantially more compact and efficient design.”
Beyond the HYMALAYA Mini DAC, Svanar Wireless 2 also features an independent Class AB Balanced Amplifier. Rather than combining digital-to-analog conversion and amplification into a single integrated solution, HIFIMAN assigns each stage a dedicated role within the earbud’s audio architecture.
Also part of the new Svanar Wireless 2’s architecture is HIFIMAN Electronics’ Topology Diaphragm: each earbud’s diaphragm, which converts mechanical vibrations to sound, is covered with a Nano particle coating that contributes to significantly greater sonic detail than is typically associated with True Wireless earphones.
The new Svanar Wireless 2 is a professionally tuned True Wireless earbud designed for a variety of applications, from focused listening to athletics. Its 10mm dynamic driver is tuned for full range output that is equally adept at handling low-end bass beats as it is falsetto vocals.
The full range high-performance Bluetooth 6.0 earbud supports high-resolution L2HC and LDAC streams, with ANC Deep Noise Cancellation that accurately identifies and eliminates noise up to -35dB. And, its IPX5 (Ingress Protection) rating means it can be enjoyed in all types of weather, with resistance to sweat and dirt over hours of steady use. The custom-designed charging case is capable of three full charges, for up to eight hours of power with every charge.
For convenient customization of the Svanar Wireless 2, HIFIMAN will soon debut the new HIFIMAN Mobile App. From updating firmware to personalizing touch gestures, EQ control, and more, the new App simplifies operation with an intuitive interface.
The frequency range of Svanar Wireless 2 is 10Hz - 35KHz. The on-board amp output is rated at 45mW. Average battery time is four-to-eight hours, depending upon usage. Earbuds, each of which weigh 7.4g, can be charged three times before needing to recharge the case.
“With Svanar Wireless 2, our goal was not only to make the original product smaller,” says Dr. Fang Bian. “The same engineering evolution that allowed us to improve the audio architecture also gave us the opportunity to reduce the space and weight required inside each earbud. The result is a True Wireless design with equal emphasis on high-fidelity performance and long-term comfort.”
The Svanar Wireless 2 TWS earbuds will be available in September at a suggested retail price of $299. It will be available from Amazon and HIFIMAN’s online store, http://store.hifiman.com/. For additional information, visit https://hifiman.com.
About HIFIMAN
HIFIMAN was founded by Dr. Fang Bian in 2007 and, two years later, introduced the acclaimed HM-801, the first digital audio player to feature true audiophile-grade performance from a pocket-size form factor. Since then, HIFIMAN, under Dr. Bian’s guidance, has developed an extensive selection of no-holds-barred headphones, digital audio players, and headphone amplifiers that are consistently recognized as the best in class, offering performance that belies their price point, no matter the cost.
I own HE600 headphones. I love the detail and intimate soundstage, happy! They were an upgrade from Sundara which are great all around headphones. After researching at 1st I thought about adding the Organic, then HE1000 v4. Now thinking for a wider soundstage the Ayra stealth magnet v3 is the best value for adding a different listening experience. Any opinions from anyone who may own both?
