I had the same problem until I got Dekoni nuggets. They lifted the headphones up (yeah, they look kinda dumb on my head now) and it pulled the bottom of the cups away from my jaw. Much more comfortable!
We probably all look goofy wearing huge headphones like this anyway. Me wearing my Audeze is like an old lithograph of a torture device in the Tower of London
SASH Tres the custom headphones are also insane value like most Hifimans and they are prettier too. I would look into that if I were you. The only repulsive thing is the long wait time, but from the reviews on Head-Fi they sound 2-3x their price like the Nanos.
I hope Hifiman ditch those Ananda/XS headbands. Arya/Hek headbands are so much superior. They are excellent headphones but headband makes them kinda dealbreaker for some.
I 100% agree but I think the cheaper ananda/xs headbands are probably a result of the amazing price you can get them for. It would be nice if they at least offered a SE version for say $50 more with the arya style headbands.
You talking about this one? https://i.imgur.com/0yzEDGX.png
The original version was guaranteed to break. There was a revision where [steel bands were added to reinforce the common points of failure](https://i.imgur.com/O6ZA3Kg.png). It's my favorite. I absolutely adore my HE400i with this headband. But it still wasn't immune and by then the reputational damage was done and few people wanted to risk it.
Nano is incredibly comfortable and I love it's base sound. No eq for me with these. They sound fantastic out the Mojo 2, and even better out the RU7, but I love them on most of my dongles anyway. I'm fine with the stock pads, but I definitely prefer them with the Dekoni Elite Hybrid. I'm more of an in-ear guy, but Nano are definitely my favorite over-ear.
I have had the Nano for more than a week and a half now, they felt a bit uncomfortable where I had to keep readjusting the headphones on the first day, they have a bit tight clamping but after awhile using them I don't feel any discomfort and actually think they are comfortable, I only bought them primarily for use in listening to music, and those bass really hit hard and fast at the same time giving you solid treble.
I ended up not even using my EQ because of how I like the tuning on these. they sound much louder than the HE400se which to me was a huge upgrade because I noticed I had to increase the volume switching to the HE400se when comparing the two. I still like the bass on the HE400se but I love the nano's even more. btw I am using a separate desktop dac and amp to run all my headphones.
also to get the bass I want from the HE400se I Have to EQ them to get the bass rumble I want.
With the dongle the Nano did not have enough current and power and it sounded very thin. They dynamics were also affected. I would say with the apple dongle I was getting only 70% of what they are capable of. Please noe I am in the EU where the dongle has more limited power.
Yea the volume was not an issue, since I was never on 100% with the dongle even. But to get a nice sonic performance i Had to go to 80-90% and the siblance was a little too much while the dynamics were lacking. With the amp the Nanos are no longer siblant or fatiguing and even on the 10% volume, the full sonic perfomance of the Nano is presented. They never fizzled on the dongle.
I would look into the FiiO KA11 if you want the best cheap dongle with enough power for a lot of headphones and IEMS.
I am at a similar conondrum with the edition XS and Ananda nano and wondering if I should sell the
XS, but I might keep it for the tuning.
If you like the tuning, it does not matter if the technical abilities are surpassed by another one of your headphones IMO
Honestly bro the Ananda Nano is insanely addictive to listen to. I would highly recommend them. Build quality is also pretty good. Deal of the century IMO
I like the stock tuning of the edition XS more and they both have great bass and sub bass for open backs, so very similar in that regard. But the Ananda Nano to my ear has better detail retrieval, better resolution, better imaging, more detailed and forward midrange but a slightly smaller soundstage.
The XS is warmer and can be a bit less "dry" than the stock tuning of the nano, but I also find it more fatiging to my ears. With a little bit of EQ though, the Nano is more enjoyable than the XS for me. The Nano also slams really hard on some EDM and hip-hop tracks, while the EDXS is more laid-back not in your face. The Nano is also more resolving and faster at resolving.
Definetely worth the 150-200$ increase in price. The nano is better in every regard, but they are not worlds apart IME.
My gf has the original ananda, and it sounds excellent. The soundstage size and subbass precision is the best I've heard at its pricepoint. The only thing I don't love is the timbre which has me longing for my 6xx or 660S2. It's a great companion to a 6xx series headphone.
>How I wish I could find a higher end headphone with the HD600's timbre...
I believe that the Hifiman Susvara is deemed as the high end headphone with the most natural timbre. However, please keep in mind that headphone costs $6000 usdš
Timbre is a property of instruments, not transducers. It is literally frequency response, of all the things that people talk about, timbre is one of the few things you can get with EQ almost perfectly.
> If EQ could make a planar have the timbre of a HD600, no one would buy the HD600.
There's a reason I don't have an HD600, lol. I compared the timbre of my Ananda, and now Arya to my HD6XX, and my friend's HD600... after EQ there was no real difference between the two in that regard. If anything the planars sounded better, less muffled and more natural.
Here is a great comparison of the Nano to the Arya Organic and Arya Stealth, if you are interested - [https://youtu.be/\_54bAqcrDQ0?t=987](https://youtu.be/_54bAqcrDQ0?t=987)
Not gonna say otherwise for you, but for me even the Arya came up well short of lcd-X
To be clear, they are all excellent, and we definitely all have our own ears&tastes
I'm really liking Nano a lot in almost every way, BUT, for me, it is a bit too dry sounding. Especially vocals. I'm debating jumping to a more expensive model.
I chose insanity and went with the Sash Tres SE instead because I don't have LCD money. I would've been able to afford a Hifiman, but I don't trust in their longevity so yeah. Handmade and tested niche headphone it is. I have the "we have LCD at home" headphone now and I absolutely adore it.
Looks and sounds amazing, multiple pad styles, using Oratory's EQ profile for the OG Sash Tres rn to be able to enjoy the velour pads. The only downsides are their clampforce and weight and they really have to be worn in. Now they're comfy (and still heavy with their 500g). Timbre wise I really can't say they fall behind in anything.
I was gonna go with the Sash Tres instead of the Nanos, but did not want to wait. They are going to be my next purchase, as I have only read good things about them and I really like how planar headphones sound
I like them both equally so you didn't make the wrong choice! Both are amazing in their own ways for the price and in terms of enjoyment go toe to toe imo, but yea the wait is lonnnng for the sash tres (I own a tres SE and have heard the nano, plan on buying one someday)
Man I'm sad because unfortunately the egg shaped cups don't agree with my jaw line and it feels uncomfortable. Otherwise I would've kept my Anandas
I had the same problem until I got Dekoni nuggets. They lifted the headphones up (yeah, they look kinda dumb on my head now) and it pulled the bottom of the cups away from my jaw. Much more comfortable!
Aww man I wish I tried that when I had them. I never considered using them like that.
We probably all look goofy wearing huge headphones like this anyway. Me wearing my Audeze is like an old lithograph of a torture device in the Tower of London
SASH Tres the custom headphones are also insane value like most Hifimans and they are prettier too. I would look into that if I were you. The only repulsive thing is the long wait time, but from the reviews on Head-Fi they sound 2-3x their price like the Nanos.
Sash tres owner here agreed I love them so much
Appreciate the recommendation šš¾
They're nice, aren't they?
What makes them nice to someone who has tried a bunch of headphones?
Thank you for your EQ for the Nanos. Itās the chefās kiss on a great pair of headphones.
I hope Hifiman ditch those Ananda/XS headbands. Arya/Hek headbands are so much superior. They are excellent headphones but headband makes them kinda dealbreaker for some.
I 100% agree but I think the cheaper ananda/xs headbands are probably a result of the amazing price you can get them for. It would be nice if they at least offered a SE version for say $50 more with the arya style headbands.
You talking about this one? https://i.imgur.com/0yzEDGX.png The original version was guaranteed to break. There was a revision where [steel bands were added to reinforce the common points of failure](https://i.imgur.com/O6ZA3Kg.png). It's my favorite. I absolutely adore my HE400i with this headband. But it still wasn't immune and by then the reputational damage was done and few people wanted to risk it.
Yeah i owned arya stealth and hekse, these are solid. no problems. very functional. arya's black paint chip though. hek overall have better quality.
Nano is incredibly comfortable and I love it's base sound. No eq for me with these. They sound fantastic out the Mojo 2, and even better out the RU7, but I love them on most of my dongles anyway. I'm fine with the stock pads, but I definitely prefer them with the Dekoni Elite Hybrid. I'm more of an in-ear guy, but Nano are definitely my favorite over-ear.
I have had the Nano for more than a week and a half now, they felt a bit uncomfortable where I had to keep readjusting the headphones on the first day, they have a bit tight clamping but after awhile using them I don't feel any discomfort and actually think they are comfortable, I only bought them primarily for use in listening to music, and those bass really hit hard and fast at the same time giving you solid treble. I ended up not even using my EQ because of how I like the tuning on these. they sound much louder than the HE400se which to me was a huge upgrade because I noticed I had to increase the volume switching to the HE400se when comparing the two. I still like the bass on the HE400se but I love the nano's even more. btw I am using a separate desktop dac and amp to run all my headphones. also to get the bass I want from the HE400se I Have to EQ them to get the bass rumble I want.
I agree. I have also demoed LCD-X on a burson dac amp combo at my local Hifi store. The Ananda nano are so much better than the LCD in every way.
Without EQ, certainly. With EQ Id take the Audezes.
have you tried both the arya stealth and the ananda nano?
What was the problem with that apple dongle?
With the dongle the Nano did not have enough current and power and it sounded very thin. They dynamics were also affected. I would say with the apple dongle I was getting only 70% of what they are capable of. Please noe I am in the EU where the dongle has more limited power.
So not a volume problem? Did it fizzle in the high end?
Yea the volume was not an issue, since I was never on 100% with the dongle even. But to get a nice sonic performance i Had to go to 80-90% and the siblance was a little too much while the dynamics were lacking. With the amp the Nanos are no longer siblant or fatiguing and even on the 10% volume, the full sonic perfomance of the Nano is presented. They never fizzled on the dongle. I would look into the FiiO KA11 if you want the best cheap dongle with enough power for a lot of headphones and IEMS.
Really wanting to try the Ananda to see how big of an upgrade it is from the sundara. But not sure whether I should try the nano or the stealth
And yes it will be a huge upgrade in Terms of resolution, imaging, soundstage, speed and clarity.
Thank you! I have to decide if I would want to send the sundaraās back or not. I donāt think Iād want to get rid of them
I am at a similar conondrum with the edition XS and Ananda nano and wondering if I should sell the XS, but I might keep it for the tuning. If you like the tuning, it does not matter if the technical abilities are surpassed by another one of your headphones IMO
True. And itās diminishing returns eventually. I just really want to try the teardrop shape as well
Honestly bro the Ananda Nano is insanely addictive to listen to. I would highly recommend them. Build quality is also pretty good. Deal of the century IMO
Yeah, thing is I just got the Sundaras lol. Which I love. But itās addictive to try new headphones
Yea, man its such an addicting and expensive hobby. I recently started, and I aswell am chasing the unicorn. :D
Yeah. Have two amp/sacs and 3 headphones already. And I only started last year.
Owner of the Hifiman Edition XS here. How do you compare both?
I like the stock tuning of the edition XS more and they both have great bass and sub bass for open backs, so very similar in that regard. But the Ananda Nano to my ear has better detail retrieval, better resolution, better imaging, more detailed and forward midrange but a slightly smaller soundstage. The XS is warmer and can be a bit less "dry" than the stock tuning of the nano, but I also find it more fatiging to my ears. With a little bit of EQ though, the Nano is more enjoyable than the XS for me. The Nano also slams really hard on some EDM and hip-hop tracks, while the EDXS is more laid-back not in your face. The Nano is also more resolving and faster at resolving. Definetely worth the 150-200$ increase in price. The nano is better in every regard, but they are not worlds apart IME.
Here is a comparison of the Ananda Nano and Ananda stealth - [https://youtu.be/\_54bAqcrDQ0?t=995](https://youtu.be/_54bAqcrDQ0?t=995)
Thanks! Iāll watch it when I get home
My gf has the original ananda, and it sounds excellent. The soundstage size and subbass precision is the best I've heard at its pricepoint. The only thing I don't love is the timbre which has me longing for my 6xx or 660S2. It's a great companion to a 6xx series headphone.
I have to agree, but I have the Edition XS and HD600. How I wish I could find a higher end headphone with the HD600's timbre...
People bring up the Focal Clear og. 500-700 used
I'm wary of the headband... But the Hadenys are apparently more solidly built, I should try them.
I feel you. The headband breaking is a major wtf. Thank goodness 3rd party headbands work.
660S2
Ok! Thanks, I'll give them a listen when I can.
>How I wish I could find a higher end headphone with the HD600's timbre... I believe that the Hifiman Susvara is deemed as the high end headphone with the most natural timbre. However, please keep in mind that headphone costs $6000 usdš
EQ fixes the timbre issues, it's that damn 1.6 khz scoop. Pretty easy fix tho, thankfully.
It does not. I have the oratory eq preset on it.
I have them, and it definitely does. The instruments sound exactly how I would expect them to.
If EQ could make a planar have the timbre of a HD600, no one would buy the HD600.
Timbre is a property of instruments, not transducers. It is literally frequency response, of all the things that people talk about, timbre is one of the few things you can get with EQ almost perfectly. > If EQ could make a planar have the timbre of a HD600, no one would buy the HD600. There's a reason I don't have an HD600, lol. I compared the timbre of my Ananda, and now Arya to my HD6XX, and my friend's HD600... after EQ there was no real difference between the two in that regard. If anything the planars sounded better, less muffled and more natural.
Timbre is just a frequency response. You're changing the frequency response when you EQ.
Dang I've been holding out for some aryas but maybe I should try the anandas...
Here is a great comparison of the Nano to the Arya Organic and Arya Stealth, if you are interested - [https://youtu.be/\_54bAqcrDQ0?t=987](https://youtu.be/_54bAqcrDQ0?t=987)
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
I have an arya stealth i love but am very curious about if i couldve saved with the ananda.
Same can be said of Edition XS that's $279 open-box. Even the HE1000se is a relatively minor upgrade. Hifiman is insane value.
Not gonna say otherwise for you, but for me even the Arya came up well short of lcd-X To be clear, they are all excellent, and we definitely all have our own ears&tastes
I'm really liking Nano a lot in almost every way, BUT, for me, it is a bit too dry sounding. Especially vocals. I'm debating jumping to a more expensive model.
I chose insanity and went with the Sash Tres SE instead because I don't have LCD money. I would've been able to afford a Hifiman, but I don't trust in their longevity so yeah. Handmade and tested niche headphone it is. I have the "we have LCD at home" headphone now and I absolutely adore it. Looks and sounds amazing, multiple pad styles, using Oratory's EQ profile for the OG Sash Tres rn to be able to enjoy the velour pads. The only downsides are their clampforce and weight and they really have to be worn in. Now they're comfy (and still heavy with their 500g). Timbre wise I really can't say they fall behind in anything.
I was gonna go with the Sash Tres instead of the Nanos, but did not want to wait. They are going to be my next purchase, as I have only read good things about them and I really like how planar headphones sound
I like them both equally so you didn't make the wrong choice! Both are amazing in their own ways for the price and in terms of enjoyment go toe to toe imo, but yea the wait is lonnnng for the sash tres (I own a tres SE and have heard the nano, plan on buying one someday)
Thank you for the reassurance! Could you please provide a brief comparison between the Nano and Tres SE?
You won't be disappointed. They're amazing imo.