Is the HiFiMAN Ananda worth the upgrade from the Sony WH-1000XM4?
Verdict
Downgrade
The HiFiMAN Ananda actually scores 10.0 points below the Sony WH-1000XM4, so on aggregate review consensus this is a step backwards. It loses ground on sound (9.0 to 8.0) and value (8.0 to 7.0). Worth checking: active noise cancelling goes Yes to No and weight goes 254 g to 399 g. And it costs $40 more for a lower score, which is hard to justify on the data alone. Only worth it if a specific feature above matters more to you than overall quality does.
What actually changes
Sub-scores both products have, on the same 0-10 scale. Bars extend right for a gain, left for a loss.
- Sound9.08.0
- Value8.07.0
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | WH-1000XM4 | Ananda | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active noise cancelling | Yes | No | |
| Weight | 254 g | 399 g | |
| USB-C | Yes | No | |
| Driver | dynamic | Planar | |
| Frequency response | 4 Hz - 40,000 Hz | 8Hz-55kHz |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "WH-1000XM4 to Ananda". 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.