Hifiman – Jade 2

The Hifiman – Jade 2 is a technologically superior electrostatic headphone. Inspired by Dr. Fang’s groundbreaking work on the Shangri-La systems, this elegant system brings electrostatic performance to an unheard-of value price. The Jade II Headphone is based on the Shangri-La Jr. and has amazing transparency and detail. The Jade II Amplifier was custom designed from the ground up to optimally power the Jade. This system will blow your mind!

The Jade II is an open-back electrostatic headphone that looks like an updated version of the original Jade, but with more refined finishes and a distinctive iridescent blue-green diaphragm visible behind the headphones’ open-mesh anodes (or stators). The Jade II’s teardrop-shaped earcups are finished in satin black, as is its top headband frame. Beneath the frame, there is a simple but effective height-adjustable leather headband strap.

The Jade II earpads feature leather outer coverings but with comfortable fabric inner surfaces and touch surfaces capable of wicking away perspiration. Following recent design trends, the Jade II headphone frame allows its earcup to swivel in the vertical axis, but not in the horizontal axis.

Workability and performance of Hifiman – Jade 2

The Jade II epitomizes electrostatic speed and performance. A low-distortion nanotech driver measuring less than 0.001mm couples near-zero distortion with the lightning-fast response and a nano-particle coated diaphragm that provides an extreme high-frequency response. Nanoparticle-coated diaphragms provide extended high-frequency response, revealing every last detail of well-recorded music.

The combination of lightweight aluminum alloy construction, padded earcups, and a hybrid headband design ensure a comfortable fit, even for extended periods of time.

The matching Jade II amplifier boasts analog performance from an all-solid-state design. Sleek and compact, the amplifier is equally at home in a rack, on a desktop, or on a nightstand—anywhere listeners prefer to enjoy their favorite music.

Outstanding sound quality

The new Jade 2 is consistent with the sound signature of the current line of HifiMan headphones. It is a very flat-sounding headphone, very linear, very detailed, and very, very spacious. The soundstage is very large and the detail placement in the space is very precise. They have very good extension towards both ends, although not very full-bodied.

This is a headphone that needs a lively signal path, meaning a warm DAC (such as Metrum Hex or AMR DP-777),  because it could otherwise sound a bit too colorless. It has very high technical capabilities and no outstanding flaws (which means: no peaks or dips that cannot be cured), and matching can be easily achieved.

The final word on Hifiman – Jade 2

• Simply put, the Jade IIs sound great. Jade 2 is best suited for jazz, classical, light pop, and all the stuff audiophiles listen to. As long as you don’t mind being tethered to a big, heavy amp, the Jade IIs will deliver a rewarding and comfortable listening experience.