HIFIMAN has introduced a slimmed-down version of its flagship Shangri-La electrostatic headphone and tube-driven amplifier system that maintains the predecessor’s wide, natural soundstage in a leaner and lighter package.
The appropriately named Shangri-La Jr. (SRP: $8,000) is centered by four 300B tubes that were custom-designed and custom-made in-house by HIFIMAN. The tube works as the direct-driving stage, with neither capacitors nor transformers between the 300B tubes and the headphone.
“The Shangri-La is the ultimate representation of our personal audio design capabilities, with a price that reflects our no-holds-barred approach to the end result,” said Dr. Fang Bian, founder and CEO, HIFIMAN. “But, we knew from the start that we should also create a version that is within reach of a larger group of music lovers who will appreciate the sonic benefits of electrostatic performance at real-world prices.”
The compact Shangri-La Jr. amplifier measures 400 x 265 x 108 mm (15.7 x 10.4 x 4.2 inches) and weighs 24 lbs.
When used with the Shangri-La Jr. amplifier, the matching electrostatic headphone the headphone’s sonics cover a frequency range of 7Hz-120kHz. Though it includes large 97mm drivers, the headphone is a comfortable 374 grams (13.2 oz.)
“The cumulative effect of experiencing well-recorded music over the Shangri-La Jr. system puts the listener in a 10 row center seat in an acoustically accurate concert hall,” Bian said. “Every element of the Shangri-La Jr.’s design is an integral ingredient in what we believe is the best personal listening system under $10,000.”
The Shangri-La Jr. electrostatic headphone and tube-driven amplifier system is available from HIFIMAN dealers and the company’s online store: http://store.hifiman.com/.
