I really dont like iems. I listen to music like 6 hours a day at the least so comfort is a big factor and I would prefer headphones alot more. Could moondrop dawn pro run the senheiser hd 600? I was considering the hd 560s because they are ALOT cheaper and dms had a pretty positive review of them. I use an android phone the Samsung a35 and I use Spotify as my audio source. I live in india. When I say I dont like iems im saying so because ive tried like some one plus buds and apple air pods pro and I just couldn’t use them they didn’t fit nicely and if I somehow managed to fit them they’d fall out in like 30 seconds. If not the 500 series what do you think about the fiio ft1 pro’s??
Welcome to the forum! Given that you will be listening to music for extended periods each day, would you prefer a closed-back or open-back headphone design? Closed-back headphones offer better isolation, minimal sound leakage, and typically deliver deeper, punchier bass. In contrast, open-back headphones provide a more spacious and natural sound, although they do allow sound to leak out and external noise to enter. If you intend to use the headphones while being mobile, that will likely limit your choices to a closed-back design.
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I’ve been considering open backs mostly because ill be using headphones on my desk majorly. Also the options for close backs was quickly eliminated as the only ones which I found interesting have been out of stock everywhere near me for a long time unfortunately(fiio ft1’s). At present all I care about anyways is sound quality.
I have just ordered an empyean ii, and i want to enjoy it. So far i am using topping dx5 ii, does anyone knows a good choice to upgrade my device for a better sound? my budget is under 700$, brand new or used stuffs are all ok
Don’t forget closed tend to be hotter and sweatier, and @Saturn is in India,so that may also be a factor.
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And, every closed back sounds terrible after 1 to 2 hours due to air pressure inside.
Hello, everyone, this is my first post to this forum. I’m relatively new to the hobby in general (mainly for a lack of money, not of wanting).
I’ve been looking to upgrade from my Philips X2HR and I’ve found that a used electronics and media chain in my country currently has both the Hifiman Ananda and the Edition XS available, for 160 and 140 euros respectively. They offer a five-year warranty on all items.
After doing my research, I’ve heard plenty of good things about these for music listening, such as them being quite detailed and having a spacious soundstage. I would like to have a set of planars to complement my existing dynamics and to add some variety to my collection. I’m somewhat concerned about the sibilance aspect but it’s never bothered me on my Philips, which I know some people have issues with in that range. I recently got a nice deal on a Fiio K5 Pro which I plan on keeping for a very long time (as I do whichever headphones I end up buying; I lack the funds or space for a bigger collection).
My question is, I’ve been looking at plenty of reviews and comparisons for both these headphones, and they seem to be very similar to each other, but people seem to prefer the Ananda overal because of a slightly wider soundstage and more detailed presentation - though some people instead choose the XS because of its toned-down treble. Is there anyone here who’s tried both and could offer me some advice? The price difference for my particular case is so small that it’s close to a non-factor here, unlike in every other comparison I’ve seen around (which is usually from back when there was a 200$/€ difference in price).
Thanks very much in advance to anyone who can give me their thoughts, this is perhaps my most important audio purchasing decision to date and a significant investment given my current financial situation, so I’d like to make the most informed decision I can. I really value everyone’s opinions and experiences for such a subjective topic as this one.
PS: the Sundara is 130 on this same site. The HE400SE and the Sennheiser HD560S are both 60, as a reference for other cheaper options around.
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My knee jerk reaction is to go for the higher priced option, the one that gives more bang for the buck on the used market, the Ananda. I actually came to this section to find a tasteful way of asking why no one talks about the creaky straps on the hifiman headphones. Like I can hear them creek in reviews from being handled. But no one talks about it. I have the XS and it is easily the best sounding headphone on a solid state that I have. But for me with my TMJ (uneven jaw joints so my jaw does wonkey things) it’s just far to distracting. I have been told that the capra strap will limit this issue but considering that this is a major purchase, I want you to be informed. Disclaimer: I haven’t had a great experience with a hifiman product yet, but I know that they are great headphones for some. Since they are at a store I would say try them on and clench your jaw a few times, keep them on for a few minutes and slowly look left and right, see if they click and you have any issues with them. I might try some kind of lubricant on them to see if it helps along with the capra strap because they can’t be touched for sound quality at double the price. Even the headphones I’m wearing now does this on occasion, but it’s so infrequent that I don’t care.
I have the X3 and have no sibilance issues but it takes a lot for me to experience that. They are very similar to the X2HR. Overall my recommendation, since it’s a store that you can go to and test the equipment, is to do just that. Ask them if you can bring your K5 to test them on and go with your gut. Give each of them their due diligence and don’t be afraid to spend less.
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I’m not sure that the store you refer to is a physical store, but if it is, @Klute is right. Take your Fii0 and go try them yourself with music you know spend a little time and trust your ears.
A bit of EQ can tame or enhance treble. I don’t have much experience with these I gave away a new XS for a charity auction. New in box, I didn’t listen to it. So I have some idea of the build quality. I own one HiFiman, the HE-560 v2 and like it, but the brand is known to be a bit fragile. The warranty offered is golden.
If you can’t listen to the headphones, I think I’d have a slight preference for the Ananda as it is a bit higher in the lineup. I am sorry I can’t comment on the sound of each.
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Thank you for your reply! Thanks to @pennstac as well (I’m typing just one message to reply to both). It is a chain of physical stores, but driving four to five hours to each of the two stores that has each of the headphones in stock will definitely kill the value proposition there, especially with European petrol prices. I do wish I could go try them. I can go try the Sundara, since there’s one of those in stock at my city. I could take my Fiio and/or my Sony portable player as well as my Philips to test side by side; the sound of the Sundara I imagine is far closer to the rest of the Hifimans than it’ll ever be to the Philips (the cups are round on that one, so the comfort I imagine is quite different and not really comparable to the XS/Ananda?).
I’m really not afraid to spend less (I’d love to; money isn’t something I’ve got lots of). But since the difference is small and this is the only headphone I can afford to get for quite a long time, I would like to get whichever of the two is the superior option, even if marginally.
I guess another marginal difference is that the Edition XS is marked as “open-box” while the Ananda is “lightly used”, though through my extensive experience with this chain buying phones, consoles, e-readers and a couple DAPs, “lightly used” might as well be like new in most cases. The Capra strap would cost me about 40€ to buy, ship and import to Spain so at that point I may just rather have the Ananda.
If the comfort is better and the sound is the same or even a slight tad better, the Ananda looks the most appealing. But what I don’t want to do is spend slightly more of my money on a very slightly worse sound.
PS: I was thinking to try how the Sundara runs off my small Sony DAP because, if that runs well, I won’t need to upgrade it until it dies. I’ve heard it’s somewhat harder to drive than the two I’m considering for purchase (the Sony allegedly has 35+35mW@16ohm off its single-ended, only output). In case I do need an upgrade though, I imagine 200mW@16ohm through balanced would be more than enough? I’m not a particularly loud listener.
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If it is a chain of physical stores, will they ship the units to the store closest to you? Just a thought. Yes the Sundara will sound quite a bit like them.
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For me, the Anandas were much more comfortable, but I have big ears and head. YMMV. Try on both if you can.
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So I keep going back and forth on a full on listening room, I have my old bedroom cleared out and a motorized recliner in it. I only used it once and it just sat there and I couldn’t handle my expensive dac and tube amp just sitting there. Plus my only audiophile buddy came over and wanted to hear my new pretty tube amp so I brought it back downstairs where there is seating to accommodate two people. Now it’s right back on my PC desk where I spend most of my time, listening to it now. I just have a problem with it being background noise while I click tap and watch flickering lights. At the couch I just fall asleep. So if I go back to my original plan… I need advice on how best to utilize my equipment. I don’t want to use BT as it can impact sound quality, so considering I have a dac and amp…. how would you suggest I get media to play at first? I do own a PI2AES and the dac accepts IIS. I want to be able to stream tidal though and not sure if this solution only uses local files. Any thoughts?
After trying the Sundara at the store, and a surprise HE400SE they also happened to have, I found the headband more comfortable with the former, so I’ve ordered the Ananda. Now waiting for it to show up in a few days - thank you all for your help in choosing!
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Looking for an over the year bluetooth set with a mic that has decent wind noise cancelling. I currently have Sennheiser 450, they are great, but I use them when riding my bicycle, and during phone calls the mic pics up all the wind noise and people can’t hear me. Looking for something that works better and wont break the bank.
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Do you have a budget? Many of the popular over-ear noise cancelling headphones range between $250-$450
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I do not think you will be disappointed!
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I would prefer to spend less than 150
How much did you spend on your bicycle?
This goes out to anyone who would like to tackle it, but especially Resolve:
I have a pair of Dunu Vulkan 2 iems. They sound… wrong to me. Too sharp and etched, but when I try to EQ that region, the mid range gets hollow sounding, or rather, very flat sounding, with no depth. When I try to add some bass (not a bass head here, but the V2 is lacking in bass to a serious degree, I think), the mid range gets all messed up. I’d like an EQ profile that would tame some of the heat in the upper range and add some bass without muddying the mid range and without collapsing the sound stage to a flat plane. Thanks in advance!