HiFiMAN ANANDA-NANO Open-Back Stealth Magnets Planar Hi-Fi Headphones for Audiophiles, Home and Studio, Silver

Product Information

The Ananda Nano is positioned squarely in the middle of HIFIMAN’s current line-up. It’s more expensive than the Sundara or Edition XS but a fair bit cheaper than the Arya . Its purpose has been to present that middle option, at launch, between the Sundara and Arya, and did very well there. When I came into the hobby, it was one of the repeated recommendations I received and was told I had to try if I wanted to experience a better taste of “endgame” earlier on in my journey. High sensitivity that allows use with virtually any smartphone or portable audio device. Low distortion and amazing sound quality. But a word of caution – while the case may look sturdy, it leans more towards style than battle-hardened protection. If I only had low power sources to listen, I would have been thoroughly satisfied with Nano’s sound and performance, but then I plugged it into some higher end gear with a bit more power, and it scaled up remarkably well. The SPL Phonitor SE in particular elevated it from “solid mid-tier planar magnetic headphones” to “incredible value and performance in a planar magnetic headphone.” Comparison: HIFIMAN Ananda, HIFIMAN Edition XS

In conclusion, both the Hifiman Ananda Nano and the iBasso SR3 are exceptional headphones, each offering unique strengths. While the Ananda Nano stands out due to its superior technical capability and true-to-tonal quality rendition, the iBasso SR3’s unique strengths and versatility make it a worthy contender. Ultimately, the choice between the two will come down to personal preference, and many audiophiles will find satisfaction with either option. I long since campaigned for the coax system of the older HE4/5 series cans to be ditched and thankfully they did but the transition to 3.5mm is another running change that cable rollers will have to get used to.Voices and instruments are reproduced very naturally and the entire midrange is neither too full, which can sometimes be a problem when the bass range presses in here, nor too thin.

The soundstage is moderate-sized with a solid three-dimensional feel. There’s a good sense of width and depth, but not as much height. The imaging is strong, with a holographic feeling and a good sense of weight to instruments and voices. I invite you to read the wired Ananda review to get the full picture, but I’m going to make a recap here. From the perspective of technical ability, the Ananda BT are able to place you in a relatively wide soundstage, where they place instruments with good accuracy while offering quite good instrument separation. HIFIMAN always knew how to deliver excellent performance for the price paid with their headphones, but Ananda Nano is simply insane, it beats the Ananda and Ananda Stealth, in detail, resolution, clarity and overall precision of the sound big time, and not only that, but stays in the affordable range, being less pricey than Ananda the original was at launch, all while improving on the cable it comes with, and offering a better experience than Edition XS too. This is now a favorite of mine, and I think that with HIFIMAN selling it for 599 USD, you can get to experience flagships sounds for literally the best price I’ve seen for such a revealing and detailed sounding headphone to date. The ear pads that come with all three pairs seem identical in design. The surface that touches the sides of a listener’s head are made out of a porous nylon, while the rest of the pads’ surfaces are made from synthetic leather. The internal pad stuffing is composed of a plush, lightweight, semi-firm memory foam. They’re inoffensive, breezy, and highly unlikely to result in excess heat build up. No issues here; HiFiMAN plays the pad game well. Hifiman has consistently impressed me with its offerings, and the Ananda Nano is no exception. I’ve always held Hifiman’s planar headphones in high regard, considering them the last stop before the electrostatics. Having used the Edition XS daily for a year, I’ve had ample opportunity to experience a variety of equipment alongside it. Before delving into the Nano’s sound, I’d like to elaborate on this point. Planar headphones indeed have a unique sound, distinct from dynamic driver headphones. The sensation I first experienced with the HE-6 was replicated when I switched from a dynamic driver headphone to a Hifiman with planar drivers.ANANDA NANO weighs 14.8 oz. Frequency response is 5Hz – 55kHz, sensitivity is rated at 94dB, and impedance is 14 ohms. Featuring supernano diaphragms that are 80% thinner than previous designs, the ANANDA’s benefit acoustically. Thinner diaphragms are lighter, meaning music is faster to respond and react to differences in tempo. Lighter weight also makes for superior high-end detail and a more nuanced sound. In short, the sound is more lifelike than ever.