crinacle
78Crinacle ranking: grade B+, tone S-, technical B, signature: Neutral.
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Image © AmazonHiFiMAN Ananda
At a glance
- Brand
- HiFiMAN
- Type
- Over-Ear
- Fit
- -
- Connection
- Wired
- Noise cancelling
- -
- Released
- 2018
Score breakdowngreat overall
Sound8.5
Value7.9
The HearWiki takeAI-condensed
The HiFiMAN Ananda is a planar magnetic over-ear designed for neutral, critical listening, offering an impressively open and expansive soundstage. Its efficient 26-ohm driver makes it easier to drive than many older HiFiMAN models, while the lightweight 399g frame and plush pads ensure long-session comfort. With a detailed, slightly bright presentation and a balanced tone, it's a refined step-up for home listening, though its stock cable and non-foldable design may limit portability.
What works
- Excellent soundstage and imaging for an open-back
- Easy to drive for a planar, works with modest amps
- Very comfortable for extended listening sessions
- Detailed and neutral tuning with good resolution
- Detachable balanced cable for upgrade flexibility
What doesn't
- Stock cable quality is a common weak point
- Not foldable, limiting travel convenience
- Slightly bright treble may not suit sensitive ears
- Open-back design leaks sound and lacks isolation
Paraphrased from published reviews & specs - not an original hands-on test. Our AI disclosure.
Specifications
| Driver | planar magnetic |
|---|---|
| Driver type | planar |
| Drivers per side | 1 |
| Frequency response | 8 Hz - 55 kHz |
| Sound signature | neutral |
| Impedance | 26 Ω |
| Sensitivity | 93 dB/mW |
Audio
| Driver | planar magnetic |
|---|---|
| Driver type | planar |
| Drivers per side | 1 |
| Frequency response | 8 Hz - 55 kHz |
| Sound signature | neutral |
| Impedance | 26 Ω |
| Sensitivity | 93 dB/mW |
Design
| Weight | 399 g |
|---|---|
| Foldable | No |
| Detachable cable | Yes |
| USB-C | No |
| Balanced connection | Yes |
Where to buy
Retailers we matched to this exact model. Prices are periodic snapshots - the link always opens the retailer's current listing.
What the reviews said
5 source(s) feeding this product's score.
What YouTube reviewers say
Video reviews we found, each condensed to its verdict. They do feed the HearWiki score, at a measured weight below what a published written review carries.
The consensus
Positiveacross 4 videosReviewers generally agree that the HiFiMAN Ananda offers a spacious, comfortable listening experience with strong midrange and good value, especially at its reduced price.
Reviewers liked
- Spacious and open soundstage
- Comfortable and lightweight design
- Good value at current pricing
Reviewers flagged
- Build quality not up to par for original price
- Treble can be shouty on some vocals
- Included cable is poor quality
11:29HIFIMAN ANANDA - The Sundara all Grown Up.
The reviewer finds the HiFiMAN Ananda to be a very good open-back planar headphone with a spacious, grand sound and excellent midrange, but notes that its build quality is not up to par for the price and that it is less resolving in the treble than the cheaper Sundara. He concludes it is not a must-buy at $1000, recommending it mainly for enthusiasts who already own other headphones and are looking for a different sound signature.
MixedWatch on YouTube
26:02🟥HiFiMan Ananda 2021 _(Z Reviews)_ the big easy..
The reviewer finds the HiFiMan Ananda 2021 to be a remarkably relaxed and comfortable planar headphone, ideal for zoning out to music. He praises its laid-back tuning and comfort, though he criticizes the included cable as poor quality. Overall, he considers it a great value at $700, especially compared to more expensive options like the LCD-X.
PositiveWatch on YouTube
20:34HiFiMan Ananda Stealth Edition - Better than Arya now?
The reviewer finds the HiFiMan Ananda Stealth Edition a refined improvement over the original Ananda, offering better soundstage, separation, and bass quality with a smoother treble, while keeping the same price and build. It does not fully close the gap to the more expensive Arya Stealth, but it is a strong mid-tier option.
PositiveWatch on YouTube
5:59Reviewed: Hifiman Ananda headphone + music review
The reviewer finds the HiFiMAN Ananda to be a lively, fast-sounding planar magnetic headphone that is comfortable and easy to drive, offering great value at $999. He prefers it over the more expensive HE1000 V2 for rock music, though he notes the HE1000 sounds more natural for acoustic music. Overall, he likes the Ananda a lot and recommends it.
PositiveWatch on YouTube
Summaries are AI condensations of each video's own conclusion, not transcripts. Titles, thumbnails and view counts belong to their channels.
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