Firstly I would like to thank HiFiMAN for sending me the Deva for review.
*disclaimer: This sample was provided for the purpose of writing a review, no incentive was given to write a favourable review. All opinions expressed are my own subjective findings
Gear Used:
Pixel 3a > Deva (bluemini)
PC > JDS Labs Element II > Deva (wired)
Tech Specs:
Frequency Response : 20-20kHz
Impedance : 18Ω
Sensitivity : 93.5dB
Weight : 360g
Socket : TRRS 3.5mm
Bluemini Battery Life : 7-10 Hours (Bluetooth); 4-5 Hours (USB DAC no charging)
Bluemini Codecs : LDAC, aptX-HD, aptX, AAC, SBC
Bluemini Weight : 25g
https://hifiman.com/products/detail/302
Packaging, Build Quality and Accessories:
The Deva comes in your typical HiFiMAN style box with an etching of the model on the front (with product name etc…) and some information about the Deva on the back. It stands out and looks great, open the box and you’ll find the manual along with the headphones which are held in a fabric covered foam insert. This is quite common across HiFiMAN products now, and it’s a good looking product presentation without being excessive.
Build quality on the whole feels good, with the typical half fabric, half leatherette pads that clip into the cups. The cups are plastic, the grills are metal, the headband has metal arms that both extend and have a certain degree of swivel which is great. The top of the headband is leatherette and there is a single TRRS 3.5mm female socket on the left side. Whilst they don’t feel quite as industrial as the Sundara, and I do prefer headband with straps over just a single headband, the Deva definitely looks a bit better. It has more of a lifestyle product appeal to it with the chosen colour scheme. Luckily they sport some love planar drivers inside and HiFiMAN have not forgotten why people buy their products.
Accessory wise you get the standard 3.5mm cable for them, and if you opt for the bluetooth version you also get the Bluemini accessory along with the USB-C charging cable. These are full size headphones for $299, they don’t come with a fancy case or anything, and they don’t need to.
Features:
The bluetooth version come with the Bluemini dongle, which fits nicely onto the Deva and turns them in to a high quality bluetooth headphone. The Bluemini dongle supports the best bluetooth codecs out there luckily (LDAC / Aptx HD / AAC) and provides 7-10 hours of playback. The Bluemini also works as a DAC/amp so you can use the Deva via USB into a PC/Laptop via the USB-C port on the Bluemini. Some quite interesting features for sure, along with the traditional analogue wired mode.
Sound:
Wired:
Bass: Being a planar driver you can normally expect a tight and flat low end response, and the Deva definitely deliver that. They have good impact when it’s called for, and there is great extension down in to the sub-bass too. They are not an overly warm headphone, but they have the foundation there to make sure the sound isn’t boring. It’s agile enough to keep up with complex mixes, yet has enough body to be thoroughly enjoyable with more up-beat tracks. It’s tactile and articulate, with double bass sounding superb through the Deva but also always in line with the rest of the frequency response. They don’t quite reach the physical impact of the old HE-500 or the HE-6, and are a little more in line with the Sundara in terms of quantity.
Midrange: Due to the superb low end control you get a well separate and clean sounding midrange, both male and female vocals cut through with excellent detail retrieval and separation. Again resolution wise these are excellent for the price, but on a more technical note they don’t quite have the detail retrieval or note decay of the older HE-500 which sound a little more organic. The Deva don’t sound unnatural but there is a cleanliness to the sound that means they won’t necessarily suit those looking for a more coloured sound. The midrange isn’t peaky, there are no sibilance problems I can detect, they are just clean and well presented within the mix.
Treble: There is a little peak in the lower treble that brings out a little bit of extra energy, but it isn’t problematic or fatiguing to my ears at least. There is lots of energy and sparkle, but I wouldn’t say they have the airiest of treble extension, it does fall a bit flat when getting right into the upper octaves. However these are a lot of fun when listening to metal mixes, the energy and responsiveness of the drivers really do make a world of a difference and you can hear every tap and crash of cymbals, all well placed within the soundstage. There is a good amount of detail on display in the treble, but it isn’t presented in too forward a manner, and doesn’t reach the refinement levels of higher end models.
The soundstaging isn’t necessarily huge, but there is good separation and stereo imaging, everything sits in the right place and it’s easy to pick apart mixes.
The sound of the Deva to me is snappy and clean when driven with the JDS Labs Element II, they are very controlled and detailed with a good overall balance. They are not the most refined or detailed headphones, and the tonality might be ever so slightly lean, rather than organic, but they are so energetic and responsive that they are just a joy to listen to. I listen to a lot of heavier rock music and the Deva really brings this genre to life with a clean delivery and excellent speed and attack.
Bluemini:
With the Bluemini the Deva retain their core signature which is really impressive, Bluetooth is advancing to the point where it really does sound great without too many drawbacks. If you listen closely, yes the top end isn’t quite as airy, and there is a slight lose of micro-detail the Deva are really enjoyable in their wireless configuration. It’s especially handy if you have things to do about the house and don’t want to be tethered to an amp for example, the slight loss in fidelity is negligible compared to the convenience here.
And even when critically listening with the Bluemini/Deva combo, the Deva offer up a very precise and clean sound, however there is a slight warmth over using them out of something like the Element II. This slight warmth actually contributes to making you think less about what you are listening to, and allows you to enjoy it.
Conclusion:
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I first got the Deva, but from first listen the captivated me and are going to be a regularly used headphone. The sound is addictive, not as clinical as the Sundara, but on the other hand they are also not overly warm or smooth. They have the technical ability to pick apart complex mixes, yet the overall sound is balanced and coherent. You even get the added convenience of using them wireless if you get the version with the Bluemini dongle, which allows you to enjoy the core sound of the Deva with a bluetooth device. There is still excellent detail and depth to the sound when used wirelessly, only the sound is ever so slightly more compressed.
Anyone wanting an excellent all rounder with great flexibility for home use should consider the Deva, it’s great value for just under £300. They give you a taste of the higher end HiFiMAN models, in a comfortable and relatively easy to drive package.
Sound Perfection Rating: 9/10 (Natural, easy to listen to, flexible and enjoyable)
