Dynamics are compressed, with little macrodynamic punch and non-existent microdynamic shifts (subtle gradations) in volume. Speed is above-average for the price range, and busy passages could have better instrument separation. The Deva Pro are unique, but the tuning is far from ideal. Comparisons Yes, the new Bluetooth module for the Deva Pro uses an R2R architecture for improved sonic quality and very impressive, low energy consumption. Just look at this graph: What I mean by that is the unsighted touch control is much easier to find and lower down so less stretching. The buttons on the Bluemini are also further out whereas the Ananda BT ones are quite flush to the housing. You can run your finger across the base of the Bluemini and find the main multi-touch control button much easier. Despite not having aptX LL I thought the latency for general media use such as movie files and YouTube to be very good. I did not detect any lag using a Windows 10 VLC platform.

HIFIMAN Deva Pro Review — Headfonics

Not basshead kind of bass response, but overall very fun sounding kind of bass with sufficient quantity and good quality An interesting thing for those using the Deva wirelessly was the effect on the upper mids and treble experience when switching from LDAC to aptX. With the LDAC turned on the Deva sounded far more ‘dynamic’, particularly with its mids and treble presence. It’s like it gives a lift to an already lifted area. Cannot see any wires connecting the drivers? That is another new feature of this design. If you tilt the cups and have a look underneath the gimbals you will see a small groove where the wire is housed all the way up into the headband. So, what improvements can you expect with the mod? Firstly, wider staging and better bass extension. Bass slam is also slightly improved and most noticeably the treble peakiness subsides.The biggest difference is that the Ananda might sound too analytical and sterile for some people, while the Deva Pro is everything but this. Providing a more fun, punchy and romantic sound performance while still being wireless is a surprising outcome even for me. Or, you can just EQ these headphones. Unless you are increasing the sub-bass or upper-treble a lot, the HE400se can take a healthy amount of equalization. Comparisons

HiFiMAN Deva review: less wires, more fun - Soundphile Review

There is a strange volume limit and you can't get the full available range as you can do when it is connected to a PC or in Bluetooth mode. The Deva Pro also gets the new Bluemini R2R wireless module which works in a similar manner to the original’s 2nd Gen Bluemini but with the new updated Himalaya DAC chipset inside. The extension of the treble is good, with enough air for my personal taste, although I do again feel that the HE400se is slightly better in this regard. I am not complaining about the extension or sense of air, it is far better than many competitors, but in comparison to other Hifiman products, it does fall slightly behind. The Deva has an excellent balance to it despite the 360g weight. It is not the lightest headphone in the world but the copious amounts of memory foam wrapped in that tan pleather on the headband combined with matching deep-set wide opening pleather earpads make it very comfortable to wear.

In theory the Bluemini should be able to output 1,125 mW of power, but in reality it’s limited to 230 mW. That’s still quite a lot of power for a device this small! It’s more than enough to drive the Deva to deafening levels, so I usually kept it to about 15% volume and it was plenty enough.

Hifiman Deva – In-Ear Fidelity Hifiman Deva – In-Ear Fidelity

Most devices that can transmit HWA-LHDC have to be activated via software platforms such as FiiO’s Music Player. The Deva works on a similar premise with its own Hifiman app that will activate the HWA-LHDC codec. This is HIFIMAN’s standard headphone box with zero quirks or decorative garnishes save for a satin overlay on the memory foam inside and a foam layer on the lid to protect the headphones during transit. It is simple but effective, and to be honest, on par with most competing headphones at this price point.

Comparisons​

Since the Bluemini module is sort of like a companion accessory for the Deva Pro, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the module will be able to push it to its optimum performance

Hifiman Deva Pro • Ear Fidelity Hifiman Deva Pro • Ear Fidelity

Aside from top-end decoding capability you also get the usual standards of aptX, aptX-HD, right down to AAC and SBC where applicable. The Deva Pro are the first product to be born with the new so-called “stealth magnets”, which are magnets arranged in a way that should preserve the sound produced by the diaphragm better than previous models, thanks to a reduction in refractions and diffractions. According to HiFiMAN, this causes less distortion which, in turn, creates better sound. The low-end is more mid-bass emphasized with a minor sub-bass roll-off. Compared to the Ananda BT it is not as physical on the low-end but perhaps a bit warmer than the Sundara bass tuning. The treble is mostly even and not emphasized near the lower-treble. Upper-treble has some strong emphasis near 11kHz (to my ears) that adds “tizziness” to the sound, resulting in sharp snare hits and occasional glare. either you got a bad pair of cans”– nope, not bad. It sounds as it sound. As for me being a bad judge of headphones, well, I don’t think so.

Unfortunately I don’t have the first-generation Deva any more, but from what I remember (and from my description in the review) it was much brighter than the Pro version. I won’t make any further comment as memory is fallible and not reliable enough (echoic memory lasting only a few seconds etc). Final Thoughts The stealth magnet assembly has magnets with rounded edges, which apparently reduces the turbulence as sound-waves pass through them. This apparently makes the magnet array almost “acoustically transparent” and reduces distortion. Launched towards the tail end of 2021, the ‘new’ Deva Pro is a bit of a spin on the original Deva from early 2020. The Deva, in turn, was the second evolution of the company’s initial foray into wireless headphones, the first being the rather more expensive Ananda BT.