I just took delivery of the Arya's yesterday. This review is on the money with how I feel, especially the bit at 17:27. That perfectly describes the soundstage and detail of the Arya's. An "experience" is the perfect way to describe it. I may no longer need another pair of headphones after these. My daily drivers were the DT1990 Pro's, and there is ZERO competition with the Arya in the room. The latter kicks the formers ass, and I loved the Pro's. For those wondering, yes, the Arya's are fantastic for gaming. I play FFXIV (MMO), and it's also changed my experience with the game. The world just seems bigger and more lively.
@@cassiecat7038 I listen to just about everything. But the recurring genres are; neo-soul, R&B, rap (eminem, J cole, Kendrick, Goldlink, and the like), jazz, orchestral scores (VGM, essentially), pop, and rock.
I finally got the Ananda's based on this review. My first pair of >$500 headphones. I test my dac/amp/headphone purchases on one piece of music to know what they can do, Peer Gynt "In the Hall of the Mountain King". The range and complexity of that piece is incredible when you hear it live. So far, I've tested headphones under 500 bucks, to include the main offerings from Sennheiser, Beyerdynamic, Hifiman (Sundara), Fostex, and a few others. In my mind, those headphones I've tested so far, over the past 15 years, rank from bad to horrible on that piece of music, with Sunara's on top by a long shot as a "bad" experience. When i put on the Ananda's today, and played that piece through my thx headphone amp, i got actual goosebumps from a headphone. I haven't had that experience in a very long time. These Anandas are actually "worthy" of that piece of music.
Alright, I've been listening to a lot more music on the Anandas, and I have an observation. I think the overall presentation of the Ananda is superior to the Sundara, and I think the general improvement is partially attributable to increased treble volume and extension. But there's a downside I'm hearing. Regarding the presentation of the treble instuments, I don't think the Ananda is actually better than the Sundara in treble detail, it's just "more" and helps improve the timbre and perception of detail in a wide variety of other instruments and vocals. It also walks the knife edge of going wrong on cymbal crashes. Sundara does a beautiful cymbal crash. Ananda walks right up to the line where the other side sounds like a metal hammer hitting a metal trash can. It doesn't cross over the line, but man does it get close in some instances. I'm thinking this is a good tradeoff, but now I need to hear Aryas.... >
Yesterday morning I found "oratory1990's list of EQ Presets". This is someone who tests the headphones on laboratory equipment and then provides an advanced EQ (filter type, frequency, gain, z-factor, and slope) to align the headphone response to the Harmon Curve. I've been listening to that for a day, switching it on and off, and I've decided that I like it. Worth giving it a try if you are experimenting.
I am Costa Rican... The nicest people of the world that I have ever met are from Quebec. They all came to party here during winter. Anyway, I love my Hifiman Deva Pro, as good as my Anandas for half the price.
You should definitely do audio review more tbh. Your production quality is top notch. Referencing other reviewers is also beneficial to the viewers in that they allow us to combine different points of view to make out the sound signature of the headphones. Not to mention the way you describe the soundstage: while it is essentially in agreement with the way others discribe it, yours is just much more vivid and easier for the audience to visualize
Even though it got a little fuzzy at points knowing which headphone you were describing, this was actually incredibly helpful. Just recently found your page and am certainly enjoying it. Cheers!
Thanks for the review. Just a comment, I noticed that you are talking about the Anandas and keep mentioning the Ayras while signaling to the Anandas. Just a few times but might be confusing. Otherwise, great informative review.
Спасибо за сравнение, хоть ты и называл Ананду Арьей, но указывал руками поэтому все понятно :) Thank you for the comparison, even though you called Ananda Arya, but you pointed with your hands so everything is clear :)
@@AdamDuffArt yes I only understand it because you're pointing at the one that you're talking about and it's pretty obvious but it's quite funny because your calling them both Arya
Adam these are greta videos but for people in my country this is WAY out of anyones price budget. Coul'D you perhaps, maybe please make video with smaller budget in mind? OR maybe in the comments here: What would you recommend for someone who cant afford these but cares about quality and comfort but has to give some of that quality away to not loose an arm and a leg to get it? Thank you.
@@AdamDuffArt Yeah those are great. I am planning on maybe gettign them upcomign year or so. Sundara's are in price range of year long wait present. So much more realistic price for me at least. But that's also kinda the reason why I'm asking. Maybe there'S another option comparable to those. Either way. THANK YOU and much appreciated :) PS: Happy Hollidays ;)
I was really confused about whether to go for the anandas or the aryas, but after watching this video I realised im actually more confused about whether I want the aryas or the aryas.
I got confused when you kept referring to both headphones as the Arya. I understood one was more limited on sound stage and I think that was the Ananda.
Awesome video dude, my pick would definitely be the Arya’s. It was very interesting when started talking about the vibrations on your face, I wonder how it would feel like when you watch movies with them... Also, I see that you are still using the MSR7B’s for monitoring, they still worth a buy in 2020? (Just for listening to music. I’m currently using a FiiO K3 with the Yamaha HPH MT8’s right now and I’m looking to upgrade) Any DAC and/or Amp recommendations to go with them?
I don’t really use my MSR7b’s now that I have more high-end headphones I actually monitor with my Arya’s now I actually love my Monoloth THX-AAA 788 with my Arya’s I’ve been testing out the RME-ADI-2 and I’m Really on the fence about which one I prefer
I have the Anandas and also the Focal MG Pro to compare it with. I think there is a pronounced sibilance with the Anandas. I'd like to try the Aryas to see if I get a better quality sound (which I get from my Focals, but they are lacking in soundstage)
Do you think this 788 is enough for the Aryas? Also, are they good all arounders? I listen to a lot of music. Metal, Psytrance and hiphop are main ones where psytrance is number 1 priority for me. Can you make an amplification video for planars or all headphones in general?
The 788 will do in a crunch but Aryas will scale with more power and better source gear. The better the sources (HiRes music, DACs, amps, etc), the better the results and the bigger the goosebumps. They are good all arounders, be sure to give them a good burn in and supply them with not overly bright amps. Transparent - yes,...bright - YMMV.
Buy an open box Ananda directly from the online Hifiman Store (they come in absolutely mint condition). The differences are worth the upgrade over the sundara, imo. I own a sundara as well.
@@jamesj5469 what's great about the hifiman store is that they don't add any tax and shipping is usually free. So you're saving money there as opposed to buying from another place like amazon. And there are usually promo codes around the holidays to knock off an extra $50. I got my open box Ananda for $550 total on black Friday weekend. Worth every penny. Trust. The Sundara is an amazing headphone. Value king for sure. But the Ananda offers that extra bit of magic (wider soundstage, more accurate imaging, deeper bass, better layering and depth, sound is taller because of the massive drivers). I'd save just a little more personally but either purchase will make you happy.
