hifiman ananda thread

Discussion in 'Headphones' started by sealand1, Jun 28, 2018.

  1. sealand1

    sealand1 Almost "Made"

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    I just see hifiman released a new model "Ananda" for $999, it seems as a replacement for HEX, does anyone has a chance to audition it?

    Thanks.
     
  2. knackedupdude

    knackedupdude New

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    I was able to audition it for just a good 10 minutes and I have to say... I really need more time with it to make full judgement of it, because my very initial impression is that its ever so slightly warmer than the Edition X V2 (and I'm hoping to hear more in to it whenever I get the chance to try it one more time).
     
  3. sealand1

    sealand1 Almost "Made"

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    Thanks, I checked hifiman website, and they said the diaphragm is very very thin so I could expect it should has better high frequency reproduce, but I'm curious about how this model compare to Sundara.
     
  4. munch

    munch Friend

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  5. dpump

    dpump New

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    Just about every time HiFiMan comes out with a new phone they say the diaphragm on the new model is thinner or even substantially thinner than the old model. They even said recently that the new diaphragm on one model-maybe the Sundara-was 80% thinner than the model it replaced. I stopped trusting HiFiMan years ago due to this type of misinformation. I mean, really, pretty soon there won't be a diaphragm, just traces suspended in air!
     
  6. maverickronin

    maverickronin Friend

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    Maybe the next diaphragm will have negative or imaginary mass instead.
     
  7. RiddleyWalker

    RiddleyWalker Friend

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    I haven’t yet heard the Ananda - it’s getting tough to keep up with all these HFM releases - but so far none of their “new” gen headphones (HE-560 onwards) have been able to surpass HE-500/HE-6 IMO. Maybe I’m just becoming a boomer but I’d love if HFM re-released HE-500/HE-6 headphones in a collab with Massdrop, with the new headband assemblies.
     
  8. sealand1

    sealand1 Almost "Made"

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    HE6 is way too expensive recently and HFM old model for me they are too heavy, I hope they can release a mid-fi model with weight less than 300 gram.
     
  9. Darren G

    Darren G Friend

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    Appears to be a re-branded HEX V2 at a lower price. Nothing wrong with that.

    The HEX V2 is the most comfortable HP I own, and the sound is indeed neutral (as noted in the article linked above). Nothing stands out, but then also nothing gets in your face and is an annoyance. Again nothing wrong with this! I forget I'm wearing the HEX V2 version and just enjoy the music. From what I can see, the specs are identical.

    As always best to hear them before buying.
     
  10. gefski

    gefski Facebook Friend

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    Spent a fair amount of time with one today on my rig with a variety of tracks and genres. Very graceful delivery of everything; piano touch, massed voices in space, Scofield bending notes, my toe tapping on everything. Felt more connected than with the HE1000 (v1) that I liked a lot
    a few months ago.
     
  11. netforce

    netforce MOT: Headphones.com

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    Recently slapped on an Audeze headband yoke kit on my HE-6, really helped out in improving the comfort, still heavy but better than before. I would be all over what I would expect to be next from Hifiman, something to update the HE1000 but was like the HE-6.

    [​IMG]

    The Edition X had always seemed to have fallen in a weird place in the HFM lineup. Wasn't all that big a price difference originally compared to the HE1000. The Ananda coming in at $1000 is for sure a lot more palatable price wise. Haven't hard it just yet but the Sundara sounds quite fine at $500.
     
  12. lm4der

    lm4der A very good sport - Friend

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    Just got the Ananda in a day ago. I don't want to say too much because it's early and I really have no business reviewing gear anyway. But simple impressions, compared to the hd650 - I hear really nice mids that seem at least as sweet as the hd650, and this is I think the 650's greatest strength. The tonality on these is great. These aren't quite as lush as the 650s, due to the hd650s mid-bass rise, but the bass is much better quality and better extended. And has that planar layering. The treble is very smooth and very neutral or maybe even a touch laid back. Better extended than the hd650 too. These seem pretty easy on the ears generally speaking, but they have plenty of energy and tactility. To me these feel like an upgrade to the hd650 in pretty much every way. I guess we still have to see if they hold up after the new toy syndrome wears off though.

    TBH, I'm surprised these don't get more attention.

    Edit: Currently running with a jot + gen 5 bifrost mb
     
  13. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    At what levels do you normally listen? Lower? Moderate? High (like 85dB average or above)?
     
  14. lm4der

    lm4der A very good sport - Friend

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    I think I listen a bit on the loud side, probably what we call high.
     
  15. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    I found the HEX to fall apart a bit at high listening levels (strained, rougher, stage fell apart, etc). Had you ever noticed this, if you listened to the HEX? And if so, does the Ananda exhibit the same trait?
     
  16. lm4der

    lm4der A very good sport - Friend

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    Unfortunately I haven't heard the hex v2, but I guess I would be surprised if there was much difference. That said I did read somewhere that the Ananda has lower distortion especially at higher volume. Kind of interesting, I'll have to track that down.

    So far, to my ears, the Ananda holds up at high volume. But I need more time with it. And I could be wrong.
     
    Last edited: Apr 3, 2019
  17. Jinxy245

    Jinxy245 Vegan Puss

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    IIRC Hifiman tried to address the distortion issue that the HEX was famous for with the HEX2....I'd hope they'd learned their lesson with the Ananda.
     
  18. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    I'm not sure how similar the Massdrop Edition XX is to the HEX V2 and Ananda, but it had similar issues. Not as extreme as the HEX V1, IIRC...

    Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed both the Edition XX and HEX V1. Just not at high listening levels.
     
  19. lm4der

    lm4der A very good sport - Friend

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    Ok, so I tracked down the review I mentioned that shows the THD of the Ananda. It's from the rtings site. Here's the quote about their distortion measurements.

    "The harmonic distortion performance is good. This is one of the areas that the Ananda have a minor improvement compared to the Edition X. The overall amount of THD produced throughout the range is low and within good limits, especially at higher volumes. The THD graph also seems less noisy compared to that of the Edition X. However, the spike around 8KHz could make the sound of that region a little harsh and impure."

    And the whole review:
    https://www.rtings.com/headphones/reviews/hifiman/ananda
     
  20. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    Ah, yes, that very well could make for a nice improvement at high volumes. Good catch!
     

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