Nango
Major Contributor
Admittedly they (might) sound different ...... But does THIS make an Ananda 3x the price of a Sundara?
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Hifiman Sundara vs Ananda
- Thread starter somy
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Admittedly they (might) sound different ...... But does THIS make an Ananda 3x the price of a Sundara?
- Thread Starter
- #62
If you ask me, no. I think sq wise they’re similar, I do even prefer Sundara a tiny bit more as it’s warmer. The advantages of Ananda are 1) easy to drive I can accept to iPad as source 2) bigger and more comfortable ear pads 3) better quality overall
Jose Hidalgo
Addicted to Fun and Learning
Well, she was easy to drive, with nice upper mids after warm-up time. I can't tell you what I used though.
Paolo Piaser
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So
I had the Sundara for some time, but the older version. To me it was lacking basses, even tho the rest was just a blissful pleasure. I switched to the Edition XX and found the right amount of basses for my ears. I assume Ananda is closer to Edition XX rather than Sundara.... but if the OP says they are even better than the Ananda, it might have changed with the new version. my 2 cents
I had the Sundara for some time, but the older version. To me it was lacking basses, even tho the rest was just a blissful pleasure. I switched to the Edition XX and found the right amount of basses for my ears. I assume Ananda is closer to Edition XX rather than Sundara.... but if the OP says they are even better than the Ananda, it might have changed with the new version. my 2 cents
raif71
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Well, she was easy to drive, with nice upper mids after warm-up time. I can't tell you what I used though.
I have both pairs of headphones in use at home.
Honestly, I often enjoy with Sundara. By tonality, I like it more than Ananda. Becouse it sound more neutral for me.
Usualy i prefer to listen classical music with Sundara. Becouse it is better for Instruments such as: a triangle, bells, xylophones and other high-frequency percussion.
Ananda is much warmer, attenuation is faster. I like when attenuation on HF is slower.
Off course it is very good headphones, it is a fact. But at the moment, if I needed to make a choice between two of it, I will choice Sundara. Especially considering the difference in price.
People usually moving from the Sundara's up. But this is all pretty arbitrary. It depends on personal sound preferences and favorite genres in music.
Sundara is a very good headphones with a neutral sound, and close to He560, which I owned for 3 years.
But you must not forget, that sundara needs a more powerful amp. Ananda even works from a portable player.
Honestly, I often enjoy with Sundara. By tonality, I like it more than Ananda. Becouse it sound more neutral for me.
Usualy i prefer to listen classical music with Sundara. Becouse it is better for Instruments such as: a triangle, bells, xylophones and other high-frequency percussion.
Ananda is much warmer, attenuation is faster. I like when attenuation on HF is slower.
Off course it is very good headphones, it is a fact. But at the moment, if I needed to make a choice between two of it, I will choice Sundara. Especially considering the difference in price.
People usually moving from the Sundara's up. But this is all pretty arbitrary. It depends on personal sound preferences and favorite genres in music.
Sundara is a very good headphones with a neutral sound, and close to He560, which I owned for 3 years.
But you must not forget, that sundara needs a more powerful amp. Ananda even works from a portable player.
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Jose Hidalgo
Addicted to Fun and Learning
Maybe change pads then ?Ananda fits my big ears while Sundara doesn’t
If so, you should take a look at the new DROP + HIFIMAN HE5XX with double-sided magnets . For this price, its a very good offer.
https://drop.com/buy/drop-hifiman-he5xx#overview
I think this should fix the problem
Although I am comfortable in both. Ananda's hold is slightly weaker, Sundara is a little stronger. But the head does not get tired at all, it is very light. No complaints at all.
BARDUKE
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I was very impressed with the Sundara when I got them. Then I got the Arya and love how big the ear cups are. Going back to the Sundara, I wonder how I ever wore them bc the cups feel so small.Ananda fits my big ears while Sundara doesn’t
Jose Hidalgo
Addicted to Fun and Learning
Which brings the question : what would be the best replacement pads for Sundara ?
I'm talking about pads that :
I'm talking about pads that :
- would give the ears more space,
- would respect Sundara's revised pads shape (thinner at the front to avoid unnecessary clamping close to the jaw).
- wouldn't affect the frequency response.
solderdude
Grand Contributor
IME all different pads lead to tonal differences ranging from small to substantial.
Best to use the newer Sundara pads and order them from Hifiman.
Best to use the newer Sundara pads and order them from Hifiman.
Jose Hidalgo
Addicted to Fun and Learning
Of course. My point should be understood as "wouldn't affect the frequency response SIGNIFICANTLY". I thought it was obvious, but thanks for clarifying.
I'm talking about replacing the newer Sundara pads with other pads with more space. AFAIK the newer pads don't give any more space than the older ones, so the question would be the same for the older pads too.
I'm talking about replacing the newer Sundara pads with other pads with more space. AFAIK the newer pads don't give any more space than the older ones, so the question would be the same for the older pads too.
solderdude
Grand Contributor
More space in depth (almost certain to change tonal balance) or size of the inside 'ear chamber' ?
Jose Hidalgo
Addicted to Fun and Learning
As far as I'm concerned, more space in height and/or width, not in depth.
solderdude
Grand Contributor
Maybe Vesper Audio has something, they also make custom pads.
Maybe some Chinese manufacturers sell pads. Pads bought from China that I tried usually change the sound substantially.
Maybe some Chinese manufacturers sell pads. Pads bought from China that I tried usually change the sound substantially.
Nango
Major Contributor
@solderdude You will know this for sure: Do (premium) phones change sound sig (even slightly) over time? Specially if one uses to listen loud and louder?
Jose Hidalgo
Addicted to Fun and Learning
If you really listen "loud and louder", chances are that your ears are changing over time, not your phone. I would start to worry.
solderdude
Grand Contributor
Dynamic drivers most likely do not change, at least I have not seen this.
Tension on membranes (planars) might change over time, might change things a bit.
Pads is a very likely 'sound changer'. Foam has a tendency to degrade over time.
This could create a better or poorer seal or change sound because of driver ear distance.
Clamping headphones on the head, thereby making the driver-ear distance shorter, can make the sound change noticeable, this is the change one can expect.
Brain-in is another aspect that should not be underestimated.
Then there is the equal loudness contours which make bass sound relatively louder at higher listening levels.
Finally there is compression of drivers at higher SPL (high odd order distortion) but this is somewhat opposite what the equal loudness contours do.
