Is the Sennheiser HD 650 worth the upgrade from the HiFiMAN Ananda?
Verdict
Meaningful upgrade
The Sennheiser HD 650 scores 7.0 points above the HiFiMAN Ananda. That's a real improvement, though not the kind you'd notice on every track. The gains are concentrated in sound (8.0 to 9.0) and value (7.0 to 7.5). On paper: weight 399 g to 260 g. That costs $40 more, or about $6 per point of score - reasonable value for the jump. Worth doing if you're replacing anyway; harder to justify as a pure upgrade if what you have still works.
What actually changes
Sub-scores both products have, on the same 0-10 scale. Bars extend right for a gain, left for a loss.
- Sound8.09.0
- Value7.07.5
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | Ananda | HD 650 | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | 399 g | 260 g | |
| Driver | Planar | dynamic | |
| Frequency response | 8Hz-55kHz | 10Hz-41kHz |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "Ananda to HD 650". The other direction is a separate question with a different answer. Scores blend published review verdicts across over-ear and shift as new reviews land, so a marginal call today may not be one next quarter.