Short answer: a tie on sound quality. Both are rated 4.2/5 (#29 and #33 of 216 over-ear headphones) at nearly the same price ($8,000 vs $8,000), so choose on features and fit.
What the HIFIMAN Shangri-La Jr does well: An electrostatic driver with a preference score of 87 and an unusually even response, with every band from 60 Hz to 10 kHz within about 1.4 dB of the Harman target. The tradeoff: Sub-bass below 60 Hz is about 5 dB under target, so deep rumble is understated.
The case for the HIFIMAN Susvara Unveiled: The median of five hobbyist measurements on squig.link gives the Susvara Unveiled a preference score of 86.7, with bass, upper mids, presence and treble from 6 to 10 kHz all within about 1 dB of target. The tradeoff: Sensitivity is only 86 dB, so it needs a powerful desktop amplifier and will not reach useful volume from a phone or a weak dongle.
Buy the HIFIMAN Shangri-La Jr or the HIFIMAN Susvara Unveiled on features: they are rated the same for sound quality at close to the same price.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| HIFIMAN Shangri-La Jr | HIFIMAN Susvara Unveiled | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $8,000.00 | $8,000.00 |
| Ranked | #29 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #33 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 87 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 86 (median of 5 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 1.99 dB standard deviation | 1.99 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.14 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | +0.13 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 40 Hz (-6.6 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-5.7 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Open | Open |
| Driver Type | Electrostatic | Planar magnetic |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs (374 g) | 0.9 lbs (430 g) |
| Frequency Response | 7Hz - 120kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 6Hz - 75kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Drivers | - | 1 x planar magnetic |
| Impedance | - | 45 ohms |
| Sensitivity | - | 86 dB |
| Built-in Microphone | - | No |
Related Headphone Comparisons
How HIFIMAN Shangri-La Jr compares with other leading options:
- HIFIMAN Shangri-La Jr vs HIFIMAN Susvara
- HIFIMAN Shangri-La Jr vs Warwick Acoustics Aperio
- HIFIMAN Shangri-La Jr vs Stax SR-X9000
- HIFIMAN Susvara Unveiled vs Stax SR-X9000
- HIFIMAN Susvara Unveiled vs HIFIMAN Susvara
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Headphones In Full
HIFIMAN Shangri-La Jr: $8,000.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: An electrostatic driver with a preference score of 87 and an unusually even response, with every band from 60 Hz to 10 kHz within about 1.4 dB of the Harman target. The air region above 10 kHz runs about 1 dB above target, giving a sense of space and fine detail. Its rating sits just above the HIFIMAN Susvara and well above the Focal Utopia 2022.
Cons: Sub-bass below 60 Hz is about 5 dB under target, so deep rumble is understated. A 7 dB dip near 9.7 kHz is followed by a 5 dB peak near 11.9 kHz, which reshapes the top end into something slightly uneven. As an electrostatic design it needs a dedicated energizer, and at 374 g it is not a casual portable option.
Full HIFIMAN Shangri-La Jr review and specifications →
| Back | Open |
|---|---|
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 1.99 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Electrostatic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 7Hz - 120kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 87 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 40 Hz (-6.6 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.14 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs (374 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.1 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +6.7 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 115 Hz | -2.2 dB | 0.29 |
| Peak | 1,885 Hz | +3.2 dB | 1.89 |
| Peak | 4,399 Hz | -2.3 dB | 4.81 |
| Peak | 3,089 Hz | -2.7 dB | 4.82 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -3.8 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 9,190 Hz | +2.2 dB | 2.17 |
| Peak | 5,753 Hz | +2.3 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 76 Hz | -0.7 dB | 3.00 |
| Peak | 139 Hz | +0.5 dB | 2.04 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
HIFIMAN Susvara Unveiled: $8,000.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: The median of five hobbyist measurements on squig.link gives the Susvara Unveiled a preference score of 86.7, with bass, upper mids, presence and treble from 6 to 10 kHz all within about 1 dB of target. That makes for a neutral, open presentation where vocals and instruments keep their natural balance. It is rated slightly higher than the HIFIMAN Susvara and level with the HIFIMAN Shangri-La Jr.
Cons: Sensitivity is only 86 dB, so it needs a powerful desktop amplifier and will not reach useful volume from a phone or a weak dongle. Sub-bass falls about 4.1 dB short below 60 Hz and an 8.3 dB dip near 9.7 kHz dulls the shimmer of cymbals, while the much cheaper Warwick Acoustics Sonoma Model One carries a higher rating. The open back leaks sound freely and offers no isolation. See headphone amps and DACs with enough power to drive it.
Full HIFIMAN Susvara Unveiled review and specifications →
| Released | Jun 2024 (2 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Open |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 1.99 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic |
| Drivers | 1 x planar magnetic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 6Hz - 75kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 86 (median of 5 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 45 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 86 dB |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-5.7 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.13 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.9 lbs (430 g) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons