Hifiman : Susvara vs Shangri-La Senior
Today I am going to share with you my listening of two top notch systems, among the very best... 
For this review, I have been using two Viva amps :- Viva Egoista 845 powering the Hifiman Susvara (orthodynamic)
- Viva STX (300B tubes) powering the Hifiman Shangri-La Sr. (electrostatic) 
Beneath the headphones, we have the Meitner MA5. 
This one network player / dac is very convenient for me, for it's got a variable output level, so I was able to hook up the Viva 845 to the RCA outputs of the dac and the Viva STX to its XLR outputs. Was easy then, to set up the volume of both amps independently for the output volume of both headphones to be the same. The overall level was adjusted with the MA5's volume control.
Susvara : The flutes are masking the violins’s accuracy.
Flutes’s mid-range/ treble, overlap with the the upper register of the violins, and as a result, the violins accuracy is slightly altered, actually, sounds like they are acting as a slight filter on the violins's treble. Comparative listening with the Shangri-La, allows me to meet this point that I did not noticed until now. Anyway…That shows up that it is not so embarrassing !
But as soon as I switch back to the Shangri-La, The violins regain all their panache in the highest notes. it's much easier for me to distinguish the instruments from one another. I also have a more airy stage, with the Shangri-La. Its obvious.
Space between each one of the three violins is slightly larger. I have very often praised the qualities of softness, silkiness, delicacy of the Susvara.
I confirm here.
This headphone and it’s true for my ears, is really splendid. So have I often said since May 2017.
It is still right and in my opinion, Susvara keep being the best orthodynamic available so far.
But…I cannot do otherwise (since I hear it) than to note how the electrostatic technology takes the reproduction of this music beyond the limits of Susvara itself.
The silkiness of the violins is transcribed with more acuity with the Shangri-La which goes higher at the treble but mind it, its treble is always very soft, it is consistent, it is full.
Shangri-La’s treble rises up very high but it is definitively neither cold nor ethereal.
To make myself clear : I don't know any headphones so far, none, which would be able to reproduce such a pleasurable and open treble.
It radiates way beyond the note, I mean all high notes diffuse widely in space like none headphone I know ever has.
Yet god knows how many times I have praise the splendid quality of the Susvara's treble. The Shangri-La is taking it up a notch.
The harpsichord is a bit eclipsed in the background with the Susvara while the Shangri-La highlights
it better, by offering me the richness of its pinched notes.
Here, we have from Imany, a very interesting cover of "ne me quitte pas" (Original French Song) or “if you go away” is you will.
It's a very nice album. One voice and 8 cellos.
When listening to the Shangri-La Sr, the strings are plucked with more vigor. Archers, who rub cello strings do so with more firmness as well. The pace is better marked.
The Susvara is a little more nonchalant but in return, it offers a slightly more voluptuous, sensual listening that I also like a lot.
The voice stands out better from the instruments, it is a little rougher with the Shangri-La, which mirror very well the live voice of Imany, but on the other hand, Imany’s voice takes a very felted timbre at the low notes, with the Susvara.
Still with the Susvara, I have two cellos right and left which are playing outside the frame of the headphones from time to time, and that gives me the impression that they are out of the stage, meanwhile the other performers are performing in. Weard….
Although the Susvara gives me this surprising sound-stage, it does so with a little less openness, comparing with what the Shangri-La is capable of.
The transparency and awesome speed of Shangri-La better support the performance of artists breathing a multitude of sounds, colors and contrasts into their instruments.
With the Shangri-La, the timbre of the trumpets stands rougher than it is with the Susvara which actually erases slightly from their copper tone.
The sound of the trumpets at the "forte" is more open with the Shangri-La.
Both headphone goes deep down same, but the Susvara is a bit slower and a bit rounder.
The Shangri-La hits faster, it is more energetic. Aeration between the performers is superior as well with the Shangri-La, which hits with more punch actually, with more tension.
With our systems, we've all had, at one time or another , that feeling… You know… Of being in the middle of the orchestra. It has often been written, and has often been said. Well…We have to listen to the Shangri-La, for us to measure how much we can still go further than what we thought to be the best, by listening to our systems !
It's amazing, frankly. At 5.33mn the orchestra rises up loud and I hear rather smooth brass with the Susvara, once again.
They regain their bite with the Shangri-La. Here again and as with the previous music, the overall openness is greater with the Shangri-La. The drumbeats are also more straightforward.
"Forte" goes with more dynamic, punch, with the Shangri-La. The Shangri-La stands out even more clearly by the fact that it gives me the impression, thanks to its incredible acuity, that the orchestra is playing with more musicians.
So to put an end to these listening and overall : I have with the Susvara, a very nice presentation all in finesse, velvety. A relaxing and voluptuous feeling.
And yes so far, but this only on me of course, none orthodynamic headphone gives me so much music and so much pleasure.
On the other hand, The Shangri-la is the rigor at all points. It gives me a little less softness and smoothness than the Susvara, yes, but on the other hand, it is more accurate, it is more dynamic, a little more open. It produces a little more details retrieval and treble goes higher, treble absolutely remarkable in terms of openness, elegance and smoothness, even if not as smooth as the Susvara.
I often have been telling myself that I'm very lucky to do this job. In our case, note that these two systems are served by a fantastic dac, the world class MA5
These are a slightly different, that's normal, knowing that we have here two very particular technologies, brought to their highest level.
Retail prices are very high, I think we are all well aware and we agree that it would be irrelevant to speak of any price-musicality relationship , or price-quality relationship , especially as taking pleasure listening to recorded music, does not, of course, require spending such a fortune.
These systems are aimed, I believe, to experienced listeners, those who over time have been able to acquire the necessary perspective, to be able to measure their unique reproduction quality and fidelity.
If you would like all the needed information on how orthodynamic headphones work versus electrostatic headphones, feel free to ask me for an article on the topic, (in the comments section below) I will gladly do it.
Kindly forgive my poor English !
Thank you !
Pierre
Specifications
Susvava :
Type: Orthodynamic
Frequency Response: 6Hz - 75kHz
Impedance: 60 Ohms
Sensitivity: 83dB
Weight: 450g
Shangri-La Senior :
Frequency Response: : 7Hz -120kHz
Bias Voltage: : 550-650V
Weight: : 13.2oz (374g)
Viva Egoista 845 :
Dimensions w × h × d : 430×250×380 mm
Weight: 30 kg
4 source inputs and 1 Direct Input bypassing the preamp stage
2 headphone output jack 6.35mm / 2 headphones output XLR 4 pins
Zero negative feedback pure class A operation, 15 Watt/channel
Tube complement: 1x 6N1P, 1x6SN7 GTB, 2x 845, 2x EH 5U4GB
Viva STX :
Dimensions w × h × d : 410×185×410 mm
Weight: 21kg
Inputs: 4 source inputs and 1 Direct Input bypassing the preamp stage
Outputs: 2 × Five Pin Stereo Electrostatic Headphone Jack connectors
Zero negative feedback pure class A operation
Tube complement: 2 × 300B; 2 x 6C45Pi; 2 x 6H30PI
