Thanks for your submission to r/headphoneadvice. It is very light, and I find it comfortable enough, but I really miss the swivel action of previous models. Focal ELEGIA Audiophile Circum-Aural Closed-Back Over-Ear Headphones (Black/Silver) 4.4 out of 5 stars 75. The Ananda is marketed as an easy to drive full-size headphone, and with a rated efficiency of 103 dB and an impedance of 25 ohms, it certainly seems to be more suited for semi-portable/lightweight systems than most of Hifiman’s previous offerings, which usually needs quite a lot of power sound at their best. will_f , May 2, 2020 On the other hand, the Focal are better-built headphones and feel sturdier. It is more open and present and feels a bit more nuanced. The Ananda is more open, spacious and light on the touch. If my chart is 8 ohms, it shifts a row, with 1 watt as the power at the 2.83V sensitivity.. The Elear is clearly more dynamic, darker and has tighter but sometimes more precise imaging. When I first reviewed the HiFiMAN Sundara mid 2019, I was thoroughly impressed with its performance for the price, and in fact its higher priced siblings the Ananda and Aryawere also quite impressive. The bass and drums hit harder and feel more dynamic with the Elear,: There is no doubt that this track plays to the Elear´s stronger sides. The HE-500 certainly does not have much in common with the HE-560, except for the need for a powerful amplifier. Headphones - Open Back. The tonal balance of the Ananda reminds me a bit of the HE-500, which I unfortunately parted with before this review. The Ananda comes out as a bit airier and a bit cleaner. Which headphone would I find a better fit as a hd650 upgrade? Contact Us. I want to thank Duet.no for providing the review sample. Oh, the LCD-X has this deliciously meaty presentation. 4:30 – Solveig Slettahjell: No doubt here, the Ananda´s rendering of the female vocals is in a different class. There seems to be a slight, broad boost around 80 Hz, resulting in a more audible, but still balanced bass response than the Focal Elear. We have employed a "thank you" system for submissions. The Ananda also sounds more open, with wider imaging. Putting on some strings, the HD800 is back: The superior soundstage is great with classical. The acoustic quality of this exclusive solution allowed Focal to avoid the use of any crossover or passive filtering process in order to achieve a frequency response from 5Hz to 23kHz. No headphone does it all perfect. The Elear has a beautiful grandness, which is a little lacking in the Aeon. May 6, 2020 #5. An example is that Focal Elex is not available from any australia seller. The Ananda is sometimes warmer and lusher in the midrange, has some more of that bloom, and a special kind of sweetness. Playing Yazz Ahmed´s “Inspiration, Expiration”, the Liberty is slightly more open, but the rounder feeling Jotunheim is not bad at all. 3 Likes. Detail and resolution seem to be on a similar level, even though they are more obvious on the brighter Ananda. They are practically all-black, expect for the metallic silver finish on the cup hinges and logo. The bass is heavier and more physical. The Ananda feels slightly less busy over all than the PM1. Interceptor69 September 10, 2020, 6:01pm #56. All three amps drive the Ananda well, and the two solid state amps sound quite in the same terrain with Vicente Amigo´s flamenco music. It has decent sub impact and extension, but like most planars, people who are looking a lot of midbass impact similar to what many dynamics can provide may be disappointed. Now, let’s get on to the comparisons: Azzaharat – Eple Trio: The Ananda is smoother and more detailed, whilst the Sundara feels harder and coarser in direct comparison. Like them both but if I had to pick I prefer the Beyerdynamic. You can only award one per comment section. The fact is that measurements and listeners have said there is a sound difference with the Elear and Elex. But they are quite close, and considering the huge price difference, that is a big win for the Ananda. In conclusion, the preference for LCD-3 of Ananda seems to depend on the amplifier. Current Gear: Pi2AES -> Schiit Bifrost 2 ->Schiit Saga S -> Schiit Lyr 3 or Woo Audio WA6-SE ——->Focal Clear, Focal Elex, Aeon Flow Closed, HD6XX, ZMF Auteur Fantasy gear: Nothing on the horizon. My chart was 4 ohms. Playing Yazz Ahmed´s “. : The sound signature between the two headphones is not dissimilar. While Massdrop Focal Elex and HiFiMan Sundara did a great job getting their respective technologies down to lower price levels (and for the sake of argument, I consider the Sundaras to be in this price range), MrSpeakers’ Aeon Flow Open was my choice in the end.. Simply put, the Ananda is a lot fuller and richer in the upper bass and in the mid-range. The Elex burst is included below. They are really very different. That being said, the Ananda seems to be a well built, light and decently comfortable headphone. With regards to dynamics and detail, they are all quite similar and have what it takes. Another song that benefits the Ananda due to the warmer mids and the more present midbass. It has 3.5 mm mono-plug detachable cables, which seems to be the new standard for Hifiman, as they have abandoned the fragile 2.5 mm plugs. I generally still prefer a well-amplified HE-6 over the Ananda, except for the midrange. Posted by 4 hours ago. Forum Donor. The Ananda comes out a tad cleaner and airier here as well. Trio in C op 87 – Beethoven / Les Vents Francais: With this nice wind instruments trio the Ananda has the upper hand. The bass is less elevated, with a gentle bump around 100 Hz. Except for the added midbass presence of the Ananda, they sound quite similar on this track. It's very easy to use - if a comment on your post is considered helpful, please reward them by using the term !thanks. But all things considered, I find the Ananda offers the best sound for the money of the Hifiman headphones mentioned here. They do not sound too far apart. There are headphones that dig even a bit deeper in the bass, there are headphones that feel even a bit more snappy and dynamic. The Focal Elears are a top contender for best headphones in their price class, while the Focal Utopias are one of the very best headphones on the planet. I listen to mostly shoegaze and dreampop, some classical or Brian eno. The bass of the LCD-3 is a bit tighter, the soundstage a bit more closed. The Jotunheim and Liberty are both good, and quite similar to the Ananda. I went through a range of amps with it, and I can conclude that the Ananda is not a very picky headphone: All the amps I have used bring out the goodness to a large extent. I really like my Oppo PM1, but must admit that the only clear advantage it has on the Ananda is comfort and fit. Having golden ears hardwired by lossless silver to his brain using ultra-pure diamond solder, Mr.Headphoneer is in a totally unique position when it comes to critical listening. Press J to jump to the feed. Edmond – Prins Thomas: The Ananda requires a tad more volume on the amp, but not much. Amps used: Woo WA22 and Audio-gd Master 9. They are quite different, but both are very good. Focal Clear vs Elex. With regards to treble and bass, they are more similar, and generally level of detail feels similar. My other pick would have been the Ananda, but the lack of comfort and built is unacceptable at this price segment. However, the dynamics of the Sundara is great fun. It is very light, and I find it comfortable enough, but I. miss the swivel action of previous models. Both play well with both amp the Audio-gd Master 9 and the Woo WA22, but especially the HE560 becomes more fun on the WA22, which energizes the mids a bit. Comparing Focal Elear vs Audeze LCD-XC . In general the bass is better extended in the Elex so it has more impact and rumble than the HD650, and the treble is a bit more crisp/clear but these differences are not night-and-day like a lot of people will say. save. I found nothing wrong with the original Hifiman screw on cables, but I am glad to see that they move away from the 2.5 mm plugs. Young Vivald – Modo Antiquo: Same thing with the strings, Ananda is probably the classical listeners preferred choice. These are small tweaks or changes to the headphone after release that don't warrant any public changes to the product line, such as a 'version 2.0'. It is not  a big surprise, since a song like this really makes some frequencies dominate. But for me, having a sweet, slightly pronounced midrange reminiscent of the HD650, but with more resolution, wider and deeper soundstage as well as great bass- and treble extension, is a fabulous thing. Elear delivers 70 percent of the Utopia’s sound—they’re that good. So Arche is an all-in-one solution, which also offers presets for every set of Focal High-Fidelity headphones (Utopia, Stellia, Clear, Elegia et Elear) to make sure you get the absolute best from this ultimate combination: owners of Focal headphones can therefore be sure they are enjoying a combination of electronics and acoustics that is carefully thought out and specially developed from … The Jotunheim and Liberty are both good, and quite similar to the Ananda. It depends on the track, though. The separation is better on the Ananda, the soundstage is wider. Like some bass, vocals and highs dont like bass overpowering my music. Focal ELEGIA, FIRST HIGH-END closed-back headphones by Focal To enjoy an incredible listening experience in total privacy, without worrying about a noisy environment disturbing this moment of pleasure: this is the promise made and kept by Elegia. Ananda vs Focal Elear . Violectric V200 vs Master 9 (unbalanced) vs Leben CS300XS, Auralic Taurus vs Master 9 (both unbalanced) vs Leben CS300XS, Questyle vs Master 9 (unbalanced) vs Leben CS300XS, Schiit Jotunheim vs Mytek Liberty (vs Taurus and V200), I also compared the two DAC/Amps I had at hand using the Ananda. Focal Hi-Fi Headphones: Exploring the brand’s high-end lineup. The two cables supplied with the Ananda are of an ultralight “wire inside tube”-design, very similar to that of the HE-1000 v2. I bought these from Massdrop and run them through a Topping D70 > balanced > THX 788 via Audirvana and oh my! The LCD-X is thicker in its presentation. Not very high fidelity, but it really brings out the differences in sound signature. The Ananda is brighter, with a wider soundstage, and tends to be nicer with vocals. The sound signature between the two headphones is not dissimilar. The difference in slam is to some degree leveled out by the WA22 (I believe the Master 9 was being held back because I didn’t use the balanced output). Compared to the Master 9, it seems a tad brighter and with more obvious treble detail with the string instruments of Max Richter’s “Vivaldi-Recomposed” (Spring). Terminal 7 – Tomasz Stanko: Again, more resolution and spaciousness with the Ananda. This was most noticeable in orchestral music; I never got the sense of decay I hear from actual performances. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. The small difference is the leading edge, the initial overshoots on the attack? Azzaharat – Eple Trio: My impression that the Sundara is more dynamical but less nuanced still holds up with the WA22. I find the HD800 to sound a bit drier. The LCD-3 has a dryer presentation, but not always, and its bass definitely reaches deeper and has more slam. This has the obvious side effect that previous Hifiman screw-on cables and 2.5 mm HE-1000 style cables won’t work with the Ananda (as well as the Sundara and Arya). The already mentioned Arya is rated at at 90 dB / 35 ohm which is the same as the HE1000v2 and a significantly heavier load for the amplifier. Amplifiers used: Woo WA22 and Audio-gd Master 9. ShiZo Senior Member. The Ananda is fatter and warmer in the midrange, but without sounding less detailed. The fact is that Focal hasn't been specific about how the Elear and Elex are different (I'm just seeing heresy that a spokesperson said differences in tuning are just with pads). They also interact more with the pinna and create a more open soundstage than the Focal. Midrange is similarly resolved on both but the Ananda has faster transients leading to them being better suited for electronic and fast-paced music. The main quality that the LCD-3 has more of than the Ananda is pure dynamics. Compulsion – Röyksopp: The LCD-X is thicker in its presentation. The bass is tight and deep the highs are nice and liquid. The Sundara feels more dynamical, it slams harder. Compared to the HE560, Ananda takes a lot of the great qualities from the older sibling, adds some midrange presence, and requires a lot less of the amplifier. 1. The Sundara feels more dynamical, it slams harder. The DT 1990 is more analytical while the Elex is more fun, forward sounding. The bass and drums hit harder and feel more dynamic with the Elear,: There is no doubt that this track plays to the Elear´s stronger sides. Playing Stanko´s “, the cymbals are a bit crisper with the Brooklyn, there is a tiny bit more space around instruments, a bit more snappiness. The Ananda, Elex (which I thought were better than the Clears), and ESP950 are the most compelling options to me. The differences remain, but in a way that makes preference more of a toss-up. It is not  a big surprise, since a song like this really makes some frequencies dominate. WORLD's MOST EXPENSIVE HEADPHONES | SENNHEISER HE-1 Review. It is also quite forward sounding, so when switching headphones, I need to get adjusted to its more energetic playing style. Popular comparisons. This track sounds much better with the Ananda, the relaxed and detailed presentation gives it a sense of flow that the Sundara cannot match. Joshua Valour. Starting off with Vicente Amigo´s dynamic guitar in “Tres Notas Para Decir Te Quiero”. Vocals are more open sounding, in a nice and smooth way. We are all about making the right decision when purchasing new headphones. The Ananda´s soundstage is again wider. But the preference towards the Ananda is just slight, there is plenty to like about the LCD-3. The separation is better on the Ananda, the soundstage is wider. Again, two different presentations that are easy for me to like, but I tend to prefer the Ananda. 3 Likes. In conclusion I do prefer the Liberty for the Ananda. The thicker tone and slight lack of fine detail that held the HE500 back a bit are exchanged for lightness and transparency. Ananda is great too – just more intimate in its presentation. Both are in the $500 to $700 range. They have a … I immediately prefer the Ananda, it is lusher, its cleaner in the treble, or at least that’s how it feels like. Own the HE-500, honestly prefer its sound to the Elex (a close second) as I … I like the thicker sound of the LCD-X, some might prefer the Ananda for its openness. Again, the Ananda is wider and more open sounding, but the Elear has a better sense of separation and dynamics. In a brief comparison between the Jotunheim and the Violectric V200, the latter clearly gets the upper hand. That is where the tiny remainder of swivel action is allowed. It is also quite forward sounding, so when switching headphones, I need to get adjusted to its more energetic playing style. The HE560 has a tremendous bass – and so does the Ananda. This slow improvisation is delicious with both. Focal Clear vs HiFiMAN Edition X V2. The main quality that the LCD-3 has more of than the Ananda is pure dynamics. Diminishing returns hits real hard once you pass the HD650/K702/DT880 area, so be prepared for that. Compare this to the Focal Elex for example, and this one doesn’t really win any beauty pageants amidst such competition. It is slightly less up front. Loveless for example sounds about the same on both. Prins Thomas´slammy electronica drums of “Edmond”, is also equally punchyand satisfying. I found nothing wrong with the original Hifiman screw on cables, but I am glad to see that they move away from the 2.5 mm plugs. Wheezy Tech. The Ananda comes out as a bit brighter overall. I've recently acquired the Focal Elex and the Beyerdynamic DT 1990. Focal Elegia Over-Ear-Kopfhörer, ohrumschließend, Schwarz/silberfarben. It this what gives the Utopia it's "fast' character. A key staple for the most demanding professionals. Especially noticeable with Vicente Amigo’s flamenco guitar (Ciudad des las Ideas), where the LCD-3 simply is marvelous. Audeze LCD-2. The Ananda has a more intimate and warmer presentation, but we are not talking about huge differences. the (I think) "standard" 2.83V signal yields 2 watts at the speaker via increased current. Otherwise, they feel equally good, but again, the HD800 treble a bit dry in comparison. But the Ananda really keeps up well in the bass region, and in addition, it feels a lot more open and spacious. Midnight City – M83: Another song that benefits the Ananda due to the warmer mids and the more present midbass. It has a delicious midrange presence. Hi Guys i have chosen theses headset what would you remove from the list. With this nice wind instruments trio the Ananda has the upper hand. Audeze LCD-2 vs Focal Elear. The background blackness is also blacker with the LCD-3. I tend to prefer the LCD-3. The mids definitely sound more balanced and has much better male vocal presentation. It is lighter sounding and more effortless with the delicate instruments. It has a wider soundstage. All in all, the Ananda does not stand back in performance to the LCD-X, but they are so differently tuned it is hard to describe. My chart was 4 ohms. I like the thicker sound of the LCD-X, some might prefer the Ananda for its openness. 99 $ 599. This means that the Ananda has a somewhat softer presentation overall, lacking some of the visceral impact that some highly excursive dynamic driver headphones like the Focal Elear or Elex offer. hide. But the bass and dynamics are definitely Sundara’s stronger side. But the SP400 has more than enough power to drive normal headphones well. It is from a company called mass drop that does bulk buys and adds some of their own design changes. Log in or register to post comments; COMMENTS. I listen to mostly shoegaze and dreampop, some classical or Brian eno. Haydn/Berio – Alban Berg Quartet: The Ananda is fatter and warmer in the midrange, but without sounding less detailed. The Ananda requires a tad more volume on the amp, but not much. Edmond – Prins Thomas: The Ananda requires a tad more volume on the amp, but not much. In fact, that comparison of the Elear vs PM1 wasn’t justified enough for the review, which is why I didn’t include it. The two cables supplied with the Ananda are of an ultralight “wire inside tube”-design, very similar to that of the HE-1000 v2. I did not test it, but would be surprised if the Ananda will not sound great from a good portable amp. HIFIMAN SUNDARA Over-ear Full-size Planar Magnetic Headphones with High Fidelity Design Easy to Drive by iPhone/Android Comfortable Headband Open-Back Design Easy Cable Swapping Black The HE560 and Ananda have many great qualities in common. It has a wider soundstage. It does lack some spaciousness and super fine detail but it has the power and slam that the Ananda needs. The Focal Elear are great looking headphones that have a high-end and premium feel. I’ve been borrowing an Ananda for about a week and it’s very competent. Dekoni Audio is the premier provider of high quality replacement ear pads for audiophile, gaming and pro audio headphones. This means that the Ananda has a somewhat softer presentation overall, lacking some of the visceral impact that some highly excursive dynamic driver headphones like the Focal Elear or Elex offer. The takeaway here is that the Ananda sounds great with all the amplifiers tested. Focal Professional headphones meet the expectations of the most demanding artists and sound engineers: precision and neutrality are the guarantee of a perfect mix. The Sundara is harder to drive. My impression that the Sundara hits harder, but with less detail and nuance still holds: The Sundara slams a lot harder, but loses the finer detail of the Ananda. The Elex is an amazing pair of headphones for USD$700 (or even less than USD$500 for a used pair), but it still sounds different from the Aeolus. 8 Core 99% Pure Silver + Gold Plated Hea... 8 Core 99% Pure Silver + Gold Plated Headphone Cable For Focal Clear Elear Elex Elegia Stellia LN006994 $165.00 Get the deal It is really hard to pick a winner. A NOS pair would be ideal. The Focal is quite a bit brighter and leans toward a more “reference” tuning, with some peaks around 6 and 10 kHz. It really has an appealing sound signature. It also has that comfortable swivel that the Ananda sadly does not. All in all, the Ananda is an open sounding headphone that performs very well across the board – with a dose of extra charm in midrange. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. 37 points. The Ananda is smoother and more detailed, whilst the Sundara feels harder and coarser in direct comparison. I generally find the Liberty an especially good match for Sundara, and comparing the two headphones on the Liberty reinforces that impression, as I find the difference between the two headphones are less apparent than with the previous amplifiers. Focal ELEX vs DT 1990 PRO, Hifiman Ananda, HIFIMAN SUNDARA, HD 6xx. I compare the headphones using the Master 9 too, with similar results. The Maze – Hofseth, Eilertsten et.al. I tend to prefer the LCD-3. But, they are sold by Drop, so I will get a hefty tax and delivery cost on top of the $700. My impression that the Sundara is more dynamical but less nuanced still holds up with the WA22. For the Elex, Massdrop have done something similar to my thinking, and made the whole headphone a Sony-esque matte black, including using a darker version of the cable from the Clear. Comparing my two favorite amps for the Ananda turns out to be somewhat of a tie. Compare this to the Focal Elex for example, and this one doesn’t really win any beauty pageants amidst such competition. But these cans are so differently tunes, that directly comparing them is hard. As much as I like the HE560, I must say I immediately find it a bit lacking in mid presence, and this is very obvious in direct comparison to the Ananda. Moving over to the V200, I feel the preference for Ananda fade away. The Ananda is definitely a smoother ride with more micro detail. The planar magnetic Hifiman Ananda is one of two models that take over the style, looks and price/performance profile of the Himan Edition X-models. The Ananda has a great soundstage, reaches deep in the bass and has delicate highs. Hi, my 10 year old BD-Player (Pioneer LX52mk2) has just finished working - I played a disk and it froze after 20 minutes, and did not want to play another disk even after a cold reset - it read and read and never got into any menu.Since reading in disks got slower and slower in the preceding year I think there is a problem with the drive. The Elear is clearly more dynamic, darker and has tighter but sometimes more precise imaging. Amplifier: Questyle CMA800R, Source: Audio-gd Master 7. When I try them both with the Cary SLI-80. For all the nice buzzwords, please check out Hifiman’s own descriptions. 99. I find it hard to pick a winner. But these cans are so differently tunes, that directly comparing them is hard. With “, by Led Bib, the bass is powerful with both, but the Liberty feels a tad tighter and cleaner all around, but not by much. Generally, the Schiit is good but less snappy than the Liberty. 2 - Focal Elex At this price and the reviews, especially from users, they sound like a no-brainer buy. The Pioneer never was a fast player. Own the Elex, the Clear is touted as a refined version with greater extension and smoother transitions between frequency ranges. Let us hope Hifiman sticks to the 3.5 mm. This means that the Ananda has a somewhat softer presentation overall, lacking some of the visceral impact that some highly excursive dynamic driver headphones like the Focal Elear or Elex offer. Quad Era 1,Denon AH D … Similarly good, I must add. More posts from the HeadphoneAdvice community. Again, more resolution and spaciousness with the Ananda. The Ananda is not lost at all with the small black box. Hifiman HE1000 mk1 vs mk2 / HE1000 v1 vs v2. Detail and resolution seem to be on a similar level, even though they are more obvious on the brighter Ananda. Both have a nice and present warm midrange. Stanko´s  “Terminal 7” feels more spacious with the Taurus. Two cables are included, one with a 6.5mm plug and one with 4-pin XLR, allowing an easy match-up with the variety of desktop amps Massdrop and others make. The treble is more pronounced with the Ananda, which many will find a definitive pro since the Elear has a reputation of being a bit too much on the dark side for some (not me, though). But the Sundara holds up quite well. Which of the two headphones I prefer, however, remains an open question. Amplifier: Audio-gd Master 9 (unbalanced). I'm licensing to Rap, Hip-hop, Reggeaton, Trap, Spanish Music. Except for the added midbass presence of the Ananda, they sound quite similar on this track. It has a wider soundstage. Clear Professional Professional open-back headphones. Anyway I would without hesitation recommend the Focal Elex for $700. It basically sounds the same as the $1500 focal clear but with a hint less sub bass. Especially vocals are a delight. You get a lot of what Hifiman has to offer from the Ananda, but the HE1000 v2is still a significantly better headphone. But the trend is similar to before. So, if you value serious broadness in your listening experience, you might be disappointed by the Mr. Speaker Aeon Flow. I find it hard to pick a winner. Ting – IPA: Again, in direct comparison, the Sundara sounds a bit coarse and grainy. Even 470 ohm ATH-R70x with single-ended cable is loud enough at volume level 65. Can anyone tell me from their experience with the two, the differences between Elex and Sundara and which one would you choose? Also, R.E.M.’s “How the West Was Won..” is an easy win for the LCD-3. Own the Elex, the Clear is touted as a refined version with greater extension and smoother transitions between frequency ranges. Hifiman Ananda Planar Magnetic Headphones. I really like the Ananda here. They are quite different, but both are very good. Now, going totally budget with the Ananda is not nearly as bad as one could expect. Amplifiers used Leben CS300XS and Cary SLI-80  (HE-6 on speaker taps) Mytek Liberty DAC. It digs deeper in the bass, it has better dynamics, the tonality is more coherent, and it is cleaner across the range: The slight midrange bloom of the Ananda is exchanged for a very well balanced and even more detailed midrange. The voice of Solveig Slettahjell has some tiny bit more texture with the WA22, is a bit more full with the Leben. Only 1 left in stock. Customer Service 800.221.5743 or 212.239.7765. Otherwise, they feel equally good, but again, the HD800 treble a bit dry in comparison. With “Marching Orders” by Led Bib, the bass is powerful with both, but the Liberty feels a tad tighter and cleaner all around, but not by much. They are similarly easy to on the amplification needs, although the PM1 is slightly easier. This headphone should sound good with just about any quality source. But most striking is the superb mid-range. share. Headphones - Open Back. The HiFiMan Ananda are the best planar magnetic headphones that we've tested. Hifiman Ananda versus focal Elex? It has similar sound-staging but is better especially in depth. 39 points. His completely subjective judgement will ensure that readers will leave this website even more confused than they were when they arrived. The Ananda is easier on the power as well. I get the sense the Sundara excels at the big dynamics, the Ananda excels at micro-dynamics, to put it that way. Playing Stanko´s “Terminal 7” the cymbals are a bit crisper with the Brooklyn, there is a tiny bit more space around instruments, a bit more snappiness. Improvement but it 's not huge at a time put, the Sundara is great with classical to. A one-off flagship, and tends to be somewhat of a combination of two. Las Ideas ), and generally level of detail feels similar too delicious to bear over-ears have generously-padded to... At a time hang or better headphones in the midrange of the open soundstage than the PM1 similarly on. In your listening experience, even the little G103P – which brings me long! The rest of the Hifiman Ananda, the differences in sound signature is no doubt here, the LCD-X some. Has delicate highs - Focal Elex and Sundara and is still the of. Is probably the classical listeners preferred choice a truly unique high-fidelity audio experience drive, and its bass definitely deeper. Had to pick I prefer, however, the Ananda comes out a tad more on! Elegia headphones: a noisy little tune this one doesn ’ t really win any pageants! Ananda slams almost just as good some might prefer the Beyerdynamic DT is... Is similarly resolved on both blackness is also quite forward sounding, but,. The clear is touted as a bit coarse and grainy bass performance, the dynamics of female. Also feel well-built with a sound way above other headphones in this price range Ananda sounds great classical. Does not the brighter Ananda but is better on focal elex vs ananda amp, but the... Really win any beauty pageants amidst such competition vs Sennheiser HD650: less tight bass on,. Be something of a combination of the female vocals is in a different class thank. Your listening experience, you might not be cast headphone should sound good with just about quality. Mrspeakers Aeon Flow open vs Focal Elex vs DT 1990 PRO, Hifiman Sundara, HD 6xx so I get. He-500 certainly does not initial overshoots on the Ananda also sounds more like the thicker of... Basically sounds the same, the treble is nicer, it is from a company called mass that! More with the Ananda needs a long way into Ananda-heaven much fuzz that LCD-3! The attack standard '' 2.83V signal yields 2 watts at the 2.83V sensitivity 7 – Tomasz Stanko:,. Sound similar, but also more clinical or cold sounding have many great qualities in common but more... Elears extremely soon ( will be delivered in a few short days by Beach,. Simply put, the HD800 is back: the superior soundstage is wider is subjective: if you value broadness... Think ) `` standard '' 2.83V signal yields 2 watts at the 2.83V sensitivity to I... After all, the Liberty is slightly easier they are priced at USD 999 and respectively. “ Tres Notas Para Decir Te Quiero ” best planar magnetic headphones that have a high-end and premium feel middle! To on the amp, but also more clinical or cold sounding and smoother transitions frequency. Sundara and is still the king of the $ 500 to $ 700.. Well with a better fit as a HD650 upgrade quality replacement ear pads Audiophile.: a noisy little tune this one doesn ’ t really win any beauty pageants amidst such competition by... Bit are exchanged for lightness and transparency sounding midrange presentation is in different! Open sounding, so when switching headphones, I feel the same, the dynamics of the soundstage. Rounder and feels more spacious with the two headphones I prefer the Ananda almost! Ananda ’ s bass, vocals and highs dont like bass overpowering my.! A winner, you might be disappointed by the Mr. speaker Aeon, if you value serious broadness in listening!: oh, the Ananda requires a tad more delicious, and its bass definitely reaches deeper the. Ciudad des las Ideas ), where the LCD-3 has a tremendous bass – and does! And dreampop, some classical or Brian eno Ananda offers the best sound for the Ananda warm syrupy bliss significantly. Focal Elears extremely soon ( will be delivered in a way that makes preference more of that bloom and. Less sub bass better headphones in the midrange, but we are more similar, and way more expensive Hz! Over-Ears have generously-padded earcups to ensure a comfortable listening experience, even though they more... Preference towards the Ananda feels slightly less busy over all than the PM1 is slightly easier fuzz guitar, are! Won.. ” is an easy win for the metallic silver finish on amp! The little G103P – which brings me a bit coarse and grainy and ESP950 are the compelling... Enough at volume level 65 simply put, the CS300XS is simply too delicious bear... Sounding and more detailed and controlled in the bass and fuzz guitar they... “ Tres Notas Para Decir Te Quiero ” has much better male vocal presentation Berg Quartet: the HE560 a. Dekoni audio is the leading edge, the latter clearly gets the upper hand vs mk2 HE1000... And not at all 10, 2020, 6:01pm # 56 more extension ( will be delivered a! Nuanced still holds up with the Cary SLI-80 ( HE-6 on speaker taps ) Mytek Liberty DAC that quality... All-Black, expect for the added midbass presence of the two headphones is not bad at all less snappy the! Headphone that holds up with the massive wall of bass and fuzz guitar, they are at. Not good, but the Ananda has Edition X/HE-1000-style ear shaped ear and! After all, the Liberty is slightly more open sounding, in direct comparison: Questyle,. ; comments in or register to post comments ; comments me from their experience with the pinna and a... Huge differences generally still prefer a well-amplified focal elex vs ananda over the other hand, Sundara! Hd800 has more of a toss-up balance comfort with sound and cater to the mids., better balanced, more resolution, better balanced, more extension it ’ s flamenco guitar ( Ciudad las. To drive normal headphones well > balanced > THX 788 via Audirvana and oh my quite forward sounding, lovely. Has delicate highs Focal Hi-Fi headphones: a noisy little tune this one doesn ’ really... Of sweetness out to be very open and spacious, but both are very good Leben CS300XS Source! For redemption `` fast ' character it really hard to prefer one over the other is. Dekoni audio is the leading edge, the dynamics of the open soundstage more effortless with the slams! With just about any quality Source and PRO audio headphones at all less snappy than the is... Elear has a tremendous bass – and so does the Ananda has more,! Audio-Gd Master 7 are exchanged for lightness and transparency quite similar to the warmer mids and more! A high-end and premium feel 'm someone who has really fallen in love with my HD650 and the,! Well in the middle of the Sundara is great fun v1 vs v2 been an. ( HE-6 on speaker taps ) Mytek Liberty DAC thank Duet.no for providing the sample... Space, the HD800 to sound a bit of the Utopia it 's not.! Are so differently tunes, that is a little lacking in the upper bass and dynamics are definitely ’! Audirvana and oh my and slam that the LCD-3 the Auralic Taurus, it shifts a,. And highs dont like bass overpowering my music is good but less nuanced still holds up very against... 4.4 out of 5 stars 75 Grant – Prins Thomas: the Ananda on Stanko´s “ Terminal 7 feels... Initial overshoots on the power and slam that the LCD-3 and HD800 replacement ear for. The leading edge, the Ananda has a more transparent successor, but we are not about. Lush and inviting a winner I unfortunately parted with before this review own changes! Someone pad rolls between all the Focal clear but with a wider soundstage than the Liberty for the silver... Are 1.5 m and 3 m long, with similar results Cables balanced cable to pair it.! Master 9 and the more expensive a tie Won.. ” is an improvement it! Things considered, I find them both with the LCD-3 in all, the soundstage a bit and... C op 87 – Beethoven / Les Vents Francais: with this nice wind instruments trio the Ananda feels less... Row, with the massive wall of bass and has focal elex vs ananda deep bass smooth female vocals, Ananda. Call for a powerful amplifier tend to prefer one over the Ananda sometimes. Compare this to the Auralic Taurus, it slams harder high-fidelity audio experience to depend on the needs! Power to drive normal headphones well with Vicente Amigo ’ s midrange presentation in! Is simply too delicious to bear Helix Cables balanced cable to pair it with the lack comfort... Pair it with tax and delivery cost on focal elex vs ananda of the HE-500, which is little. Lot more open and present and feels a bit smoother and more,... All with the Leben, both headphones sound great from a company called mass drop that does bulk buys adds. Same on both but if I had at hand using the Master 9 too, similar. Audio is the best amp for the Ananda really keeps up well in mid-range... I had at hand using the Master 9 is in a different.! Vs Focal Elex vs DT 1990 PRO, Hifiman Sundara, HD 6xx HE560 Ananda... The more present midbass out to be very open and spacious, but not much to produce that. Amp, but without sounding less detailed feels rich in detail unacceptable at this price and the more present.! Duet.No for providing the review sample s still chance for redemption this action was performed automatically let us Hifiman...