Thank you so much for this review wave. Love you man!!! This channel is criminally underrated. You deserve waaaaay more subscribers then you have. Can't wait to hear the review on the ef400
I think this may be the best review I've seen for the Ananda. It is like you really do use and listen to headphones, some of the points you touch on and experiences shared are so real-life
Thank you for the great review! The Head-Fi forum led me to you. Even now, there are only a few reviews for these great headphones. I don't understand why people don't review them?!.. Hifiman changed their packaging for all the latest products - you will receive the same cheap box for the XS or Arya if you buy them now. Once again, thank you very much. I'll continue to check out your content.
Thanks for the complete review. It made my decision to buy the Ananda Stealth easy when it dropped to $400. Your description of it is pretty much the same as what I have experienced.
@@StarWarsinMinutenIt's because they are crap. They have always been crap from the beginning, but Hifiman found the right people on RU-vid to "review" it. One of the worst headphones I've owned.
Great review! I'm not complitetly sure about the comparison though: according to the Hifiman store page, the Ananda Stealth version is actually heavier than the Edition XS (440g vs 405g). They both seem to have also the same new NsD (Neo supernano diaphgram).
thank you for review and also thank you for making exception and showing box, it is all good, makes your review more thorough. I got anandas stealth a couple of months ago but was suspicious about different boxing than the anandas i have been watching all over internet. Exactly, this box is, lets say, simpler than previous anandas boxing. the included stand that comes inside is made from same cheap packaging marterials, has a plastic base to add a minimum weight but still so light is almost useless. i would rather had mine come inside the velvet looking package and nice booklet previous versions came with. About headphones themselves, got a better, blanced 4.4mm cable and I am loving them so far.
I would be careful if these reviewers with their affiliate links and products that they didn't have to pay for. I own this Ananda headphone and I also have the Sundara. The Sundara sounds better.
This is one of the crappiest headphones I ever owned. The Arya Stealth is a lot better but best of all is the Aune AR5000. Incredible value and shows how much hifiman is taking the Mickey out of us with their overpriced crap.
Great in-freaking-depth review. You even went full multi-meter to prove a point. I respect that. I literally just uploaded my own review of the Ananda, albeit the non-SM. A different approach, however I'd love to see whether you agree with my thoughts too. Couldn't agree more with your "sligth v-shape" description. the voices never goo too far.
The Ananda has consistently been "sale" priced at $699 for several years. Despite the new version, I'd be surprised if they raised it. (I'd bet the price cut on the Arya for the past few months is likely permanent as well.)
Don't fall for this. The Ananda is rubbish. Much worse than $100 headphones I've owned. The Arya is much better but still not as good as Aune AR5000 which is a lot cheaper too.
Been waiting for this one !!!! I love wave reviews 🥰🥰 I hope you can get your hands on a audeze mm-500. Need your review on that one for sure !!! Comparison to the lcd 5 and lcdx for the mm-500 would help a ton
Hello, great in-depth review, thanks... I just ordered the Ananda Stealth v3, waiting for delivery... I was just wondering if you any specific recommendation of cable? What brands/models should i look at? Best bang for buck option? Cheers!
The headband fit preference seems to be quite dependent on your head shape. If the Ananda stealth headband is anything like the Sundaras then I wouldn't consider it a comfortable headband for me, it was far too hot under the large headband and caused a lot of pressure on the top of my head. The edition Xs on the other hand is the most comfortable headphone I've ever tried because of how loose and non-clamping it is
From someone that listens and makes music with headphones from demos I've heard of the xs they sound like they struggle to hold dynamic range unlike the ananda v3 or nanos which deliver all ranges with ease and stable I've not heard the nanos with edm styles but I kno2 the ananda v3 sound great.
Thanks for the great reviews. You mention a good price comparison stating at $699 it is definitely worth the $200 over the Edition XS. In that same scenario is the Arya (at $1299) worth almost twice the price of the Ananda?
I didn't hear them right next to each other but odds are good that the Arya is a significant upgrade. I think Arya Stealth is the current best all arounder in the $1200-1800 category (I have a big roundup video of that group) and $1300 really tips the value factor in its favor too. I've also thought Hifiman has done a really good job scaling performance with price.
@@wavetheorysound I was seriously thinking about getting the he6se v 2. After your excellent in-depth review. However, I'd need to buy the mark II AMPLIFIER AT $350. SO $500 FOR the he6se v 2. And $350 for the mk II AMP. SO about $900. After this review of the ananda stealth magnet, would you say the sound is as good or very close that I can just be extremely happy with ananda stealth? And forget about the he6se v2?
I was dead set on the xs but as of May 2023 these are only $50 more... If I didn't need that sub bass for cathedral sized pipe organs I might go for them over the xs. Maybe I still should? Hoping the xs' headband is comfortable and things crash symbols don't sound like harsh pshhhh noises. Also hoping its detail performance and separation is at least approaching what the Ananda does. This will be my first "hifi" (to me anyway, I know some consider this midfi) headset. I never loved my HD560S, the treble (at least a portion of it) was harsh and shouty and gave me fatigue. I'm looking to get blown away and lose myself in the music, that's my goal. I was planning on getting the topping dx3 pro+ to begin with and eventually upgrade if I decide to stay in headphones.
I am like you. I want something that make lose yourself and make you feel you are inside the music. Until now I don't know whats the audio gear that will do thet 😪
Trust me on this. What you both want is the Aune AR5000, and this shoddy reviewer is never going to tell you that. The AR5000 is better than the rubbish Ananda and many other headphones costing way more.
for a layman( or just me) the appeal of unboxing is having a point of reference for a couple of things. since nowadays everything are bought online it helps to see someone holding it the product, especially if you have a particular youtuber as the anchor. if its too big or too small for the youtuber then you know its just right for you (depending). also you product page in online stores usually don't tell you want, what you get in the box. you want to know if cable is up to your standard or better or just buy a better cable and time it right so they both arrive on the same day for example. all of these things are why i like unboxing anyway. should go without saying that i dont watch unboxing of things i'm not in the market for.
Good job ! Very good review. I bought Arya’s for 1200$ and I came in the same packaging which for me is totally unacceptable and almost a deal breaker. For over a 1K I expect a total experience and packaging is a big part of that. You’re buying a luxury item at that point. Keep up the good work.
Thanks. I decided to hold off until the Audeze MM100 reviews start coming out. Maybe the Edition XS will get a price cut also. Are the Anandas too bright? The XS is supposedly a little warmer sounding.@@Audimotorsportfreak
just pulled the trigger and its being driven bij my ifi zen signature stack. Just enjoying it atm, sounds great. wide sounstage, very "clear" focals, much more details then with my meze 99 classics. I am not a basshead an must say that so far im digging the planar magnetic sound. 😃
So you didn't have a problem with your gravedigger cable on the Ananda Stealth ? I notice that they do offer a BT compatible version of Ananda and by your previous video on Deva and another BT compatible can, you cautioned against using a gravedigger with its TS configured 3.5mm connectors. I hope there is not a problem with the cable on the Ananda Stealth cause I ordered one AND the cans ! ... only later saw your video on the potential problem with BT compliant HiFiMan headphones. Say it isn't so Joe, say it isn't so ... ? I'll be using the Gravedigger balanced XLR into a Jotunheim 2 and a Bifrost 2/64. Am I in good shape ?
The lack of swivel function and terrible clamping force made them press hard on my jaws and was impossible to live with for me, so they unfortunately had to go back to Amazon, but in terms of sound they were absolutely fantastic.
Yuck. Sorry to hear that. They do clamp pretty hard out of the box, but I think that will loosen in time. However, I have no idea how long that takes, so I get that you sent them back.
thanks for this detailed review. I need help for distinguishing ananda first version and stealth magnet edition online before buying. some source states that it is 41 gram heavier than original but amazon says it is 399 grams on its site. therefore it is the v1 version, right?
Low and mid levels need a bit of glamour added to the experience. Higher levels sell by themselves. :-) And no, good cables don't sound better but they make you feel better for other reasons. :-)
Great reviews! Since you have reviewed both the Ananda an Arya Stealth additions I would appreciate your opinion. I am looking to upgrade from the Sundara and willing to invest enough to get the Arya Stealth which I can use with my JDS Elements 2 or Hidiz S9 Pro. My question is, would I be better off going with the Arya or get the Ananda Stealth and use the left over funds from the price difference to purchase a better DAC amp?
On your current gear the Arya will sound only marginally better. However, down the road when you're ready to upgrade your source gear you'll he glad you sprung for Arya. I'd go that route.
Nice review man, i'm about to buy this but i have several question before purchasing since i can't find any demo unit around. How about vocal presentation, is it more forward or laidback and is it on full bodied side or lean side?
I'd say the vocal range is not forward, but I don't know if I call it laidback either. I think its in-line with the rest of the presentation. I think the timbre, including vocals, is pretty strong on this headphone, especially at $700.
Hello. Is it the cables themselves or also the interconnects that increase the sibilance? I would like to know if I can buy the Hart cable and then connect it to a generic adapter (4.4mm to 3.5mm), or if that will ruin the chain and waste my money. Thank you, and nice full review.
Whether it's the fault of the connectors or the cables themselves, Hifiman stock cables are sibilant and the Hart modular system sounds much smoother to me.
Does anybody own the OG Ananda (Version 2021) and the new Ananda V2? I am wonderung, if the new Stealth Magnets affect the width of the Soundstage? With the Arya Stealth the Soundstage has gotten a little smaller, as far as I know. But if the Soundstage is as wide as with the old model, but the tuning and sound signature is improved, then it seems like an adequate upgrade from the Edition XS.
Hart Audio Cables HC-1 with custom paracord cover. The stock options are red or "touch of gray" but you can spec order other covers for small fee and couple extra days of wait time.
Thank you you this amazing review.😍 Questions: 1. how ist the soundstage -width compared with the Byerdynamic DT880/600 2. after burn-in ,is the grain on mids from the Ananda completely gone?
Ananda soundstage is far wider than dt880, it's good depth too. Next stepup for ultra wide soundstage would be the Arya and hd800s. They don't have much grain in the mids and burn in is basically a myth at least mostly.
@@soraflame66 Thank you very much for the Information.😍 My thought was, some reviewers said the Stealth Version of the Ananda has a much smaller stage and less spaceious presentation as the original
@@Hakku1403 you're thinking of the Arya probably that's generally said about the Arya stealth vs the v2. I'm not sure if Ananda stealth has a smaller stage yet we need to see some more reviews and testing first.
Ananda stealth have wider soundstage than DT880. Ananda stealth have more details than Ananda so it sounds like less space same as Arya. But !!! It very easy to drive.
Now Ananda SM open box 599 vs XS OB 449..also changing pads , Dekoni Z reviews, or litle EQ, make it closer to Arya..XS is not so versatile, neither with pads or EQ and difficult to drive..
Hi there great review! I have an Edition X stealth and I would like to buy a different cable, a 4pin XLR to 3,5mm dual ended (R+L). Can you please indicate a budget friendly cable, since I just invested 500 euros in this headphone? I find the Edition X stealth a little bit loose in my head. Does the Ananda go a bit smaller compared with Edition X? I find the Edition x stealth a bit bright in the highs, Is this something that a decent cable would fix? Or should I swap this for an Ananda or is this a brand signature sound? Thank you for your time and for your amazing reviews. Best regards!
Hmmm, here in the US I would say Hart or Audiophile Ninja. I think they do international shipping but don't know how much that adds. In EU you can check out Forza, tho I'm not sure what their entry level prices are.
I was going to say no, but then it occured to me that I don't think there ever was an Ananda V2 (there was for the Arya), so you could call this the Ananda V2 if you wanted. But kidding aside, IIRC, there have only been two versions of Ananda: the OG Ananda (now discontinued) and the Stealth Magnet edition.
Do not for one moment buy the comment about the "comfort upgrade". The Edition XS is much more comfortable than the Ananda. It does depend on the size & shape of your head though. Some people claim the Edition XS is too loose. I find it too tight. And the Ananda is even tighter, and furthermore has no swivel. The Edition XS at least has swivel and so is way more comfortable.
@@soraflame66 To my ear both the Ananda and Arya Stealth Magnet versions do everything better than the non SM version's. Especially in the Bass Dept. But it's all subjective and your mileage may vary
@@akarint1 Yeah maybe. I just prefer headphones that are very detailed. Anyone looking for Soundstage and Space as a top priority should probably just get an HD 800s.
I'm listening to both xs and ananda, I'd say the xs has low end rumble and ananda has hard kick drum thud. Eg. Xs works well with r&b/rap bass and ananda with techno/house/edm bass.
Is this the V2? I am still confused with hifiman Ananda, Ananda V2 and Ananda stealth magnet. Can some explain it to me. I am quite new to Hifiman brand.
IIRC there was only 1 Ananda prior to the stealth magnet edition. Thus v2=stealth. Community please correct this if wrong. It is confusing with hifiman as they do silent revisions sometimes. I don't think this is one of those times.
I think the Ananda is still in the price range where a simple solution like a Hart cable makes the most sense. I only used the fancy Grave Digger because I already had it.
@@bradhuskers I never heard the OG HE6 but I know many rave about it. I have a powerful amp setup that drives the HE6SE V2 great and I like them a lot for hard rock and aggressive music. Like having speakers attached to your head. I love most of these Stealth Magnet Hifiman headphones over the OG one's
Get a audiophile ninja cable balanced in termination of your choice for 75.00 DO NOT BUY PERIAPT CABLES THEY ARE JUNK!!! AND THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE IS NON EXISTING!!!
