Edition XS replacement/upgrade for immersive gaming + competitive FPS? (€500)
Hi, recently my Hifiman Edition XS developed issues and I’m currently waiting on an RMA. While I liked the sound quality a lot, I was disappointed with the build/QC considering how careful I was with them, so I’m now considering moving to something else as my long-term daily driver.
Budget & Location:
Located in Poland, preferably ordering online. Budget is around €500, though I would prefer spending slightly less unless there’s a genuinely a worthwhile jump and not just heavy diminishing returns.
Source/Amp:
Fiio K5 Pro.
How the gear will be used:
Desktop/home use only. Open-back is preferred. Noise isolation doesn’t matter.
Main priorities are:
- immersive singleplayer gaming
- movies/anime
- music listening
- strong positional accuracy/imaging for Overwatch and other competitive shooters
I don’t want to sacrifice FPS performance for immersion or vice versa, ideally looking for something that balances both well.
Preferred tonal balance:
I’m not extremely experienced with sound signatures, but I do know I want something engaging and immersive rather than flat/clinical. I value “wow factor,” atmosphere, imaging, and good detail/separation.
Preferred music genres:
Pop, J-pop, OSTs, orchestral soundtracks, electronic.
Past gear experience:
Hifiman Edition XS - really liked the openness, detail, separation, and immersion, but they didn’t fully give me that “wow” feeling people describe. Also disappointed by the fragility/build quality.
SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless - good features/build and decent for competitive gaming, but sounded muddy/compressed compared to the Edition XS and even compared to my current IEMs.
KZ ZSX Pro IEMs - surprisingly impressed by the positional accuracy and clarity for the price, especially in games.
I’m currently considering the DT 1990 Pro because I hear great things about imaging and overall excitement/engagement, but I’m unsure whether it would actually feel like an upgrade from the Edition XS or more of a sidegrade with different strengths.
I'd consider better IEMs, but I can't use them for too long as my ears get too oily, it gets really annoying having to wipe them down every few hours.
Basically looking for something immersive, exciting, technically capable, and good enough for competitive shooters without going into extreme diminishing returns territory.