Hifiman Ananda Stealth V2 Headphone Review

[Alice of Old Vincennes]

Please why? Would be good to understand why, so I may learn from your experience, opinions. What do you listen to now?

No bass and narrow dispersion. Revel Concerta.

 

[shaafmasood]

My acclimatisation to the Ananda (2020 version) took about two months, mainly because my previous headphones (Denon AH-D7200) had a very different tonality. As for where the sound image is formed listening with headphones, here is some interesting information:

How do you hear headphone 'soundstage'

This poll is born out of a 'soundstage / imaging' discussion. I am just curious how people hear headphone 'soundstage'. Note this is with 'normal' recordings so NO binaural recordings and without any processing/plug-ins like crossfeed, stereo enhancers and 3D emulators. Just a plain...

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Can you compare ananda to denon d7200?
In details, bass quality, mids, highs, timbre, imaging, etc

 

[Ahmonge]

Can you compare ananda to denon d7200?
In details, bass quality, mids, highs, timbre, imaging, etc

The truth is that, being comfortable and well-designed headphones, the Denons have a frequency response that, for me, invalidates them for listening to classical music, where tonal balance and neutral response are essential. The loss that occurs between 1 and 3 kHz makes orchestral music sound veiled, as if behind a curtain, and with an unrealistic timbre. Since this is the genre of music I listen to most, the switch to the Anandas, much more correct in this respect, made me forget the Denons.

In other musical genres, and especially with recordings with excessive energy in the treble, the Denons, sometimes, perform better. They stand out for their low distortion, very present bass (obviously) but vocals are also affected by the drop from 1 kHz. Of course, the sibilance is almost non-existent in the Denons.

The soundstage plays in favor of the Ananda, logically as they are open. They also have their shortcomings: in particular a response from 3 kHz more accentuated than normal (my reference for a frequency-neutral response is the Harman curve with the low frequencies flat below 200 Hz), also a little more distortion is noticed than in the Denons, especially in high mids and reble. As for the timbre, the excess of treble detracts from the realism, but much less than with the Denons.

In the end, it's all about reaching the best possible compromise, and in my case the Anandas work better (or I tolerate their shortcomings better) than the Denons).

 

[shaafmasood]

The truth is that, being comfortable and well-designed headphones, the Denons have a frequency response that, for me, invalidates them for listening to classical music, where tonal balance and neutral response are essential. The loss that occurs between 1 and 3 kHz makes orchestral music sound veiled, as if behind a curtain, and with an unrealistic timbre. Since this is the genre of music I listen to most, the switch to the Anandas, much more correct in this respect, made me forget the Denons.

In other musical genres, and especially with recordings with excessive energy in the treble, the Denons, sometimes, perform better. They stand out for their low distortion, very present bass (obviously) but vocals are also affected by the drop from 1 kHz. Of course, the sibilance is almost non-existent in the Denons.

The soundstage plays in favor of the Ananda, logically as they are open. They also have their shortcomings: in particular a response from 3 kHz more accentuated than normal (my reference for a frequency-neutral response is the Harman curve with the low frequencies flat below 200 Hz), also a little more distortion is noticed than in the Denons, especially in high mids and reble. As for the timbre, the excess of treble detracts from the realism, but much less than with the Denons.

In the end, it's all about reaching the best possible compromise, and in my case the Anandas work better (or I tolerate their shortcomings better) than the Denons).

Can you also compare denons to dca aeon closed in your profile pic?

 

[Ahmonge]

Can you also compare denons to dca aeon closed in your profile pic?

this picture is of my Aeon Noire, not Aeon Closed. The Noire is on another league compared to the D7200, probably the only closed one I had that get close to a neutral, Harman-like frequency, unless the bass bump around 200 Hz, but far less problematic than the lack of high-mids and treble thet the D7200 shows. Perfect for any non-classical music, and quite all-right for classical, where only a small soundstage and the bass bump is sometimes bothering me.

 

[shaafmasood]

this picture is of my Aeon Noire, not Aeon Closed. The Noire is on another league compared to the D7200, probably the only closed one I had that get close to a neutral, Harman-like frequency, unless the bass bump around 200 Hz, but far less problematic than the lack of high-mids and treble thet the D7200 shows. Perfect for any non-classical music, and quite all-right for classical, where only a small soundstage and the bass bump is sometimes bothering me.

Thanks bro for the comparisons
I think you will like sony mdr z1r
It got the biggest closed back sound stage, sparkling highs, great bass and natural mids

 

[chatnever]

FYI, the Ananda Stealth V3 is now available at 219 USD on Ali (discounted + promo code).

I've order one, still waiting for impression, hope it would be a significant upgrade from my Sundara 2020.

 

[Maiky76]

@Cyberagent

Here is simplified version of the EQ using only 5 Biquads:

Score no EQ: 77.9
Score Amirm: 75.3
Score with EQ 8BQ: 78.5
Score with EQ 5BQ: 78.5

All are peak/dip type

Hifiman Ananda  EQ 5 BQ Flat 96000Hz
June042025-234331

Preamp: -5.3 dB

Filter 1: ON PK Fc 22.7 Hz Gain 6.36 dB Q 0.34
Filter 2: ON PK Fc 1901.22 Hz Gain 4.94 dB Q 1.02
Filter 3: ON PK Fc 3134.06 Hz Gain -3.68 dB Q 2.65
Filter 4: ON PK Fc 5392.25 Hz Gain 7.95 dB Q 3.95
Filter 5: ON PK Fc 6300.32 Hz Gain -5.06 dB Q 3.39

 

[Cyberagent]

Absolutely brilliant! Thank you so much!

 

[Cyberagent]

I'd agree with this, to me the Ananda Stealth and the Edition XS sound virtually identical but the Ananda has a much better headband.

I think if you buy the Ananda Stealth now, you will get the V3 rather than the V2. I have the V3. According to the spec impedance is lowered to 16Ω and sensitivity on their marketing images is 93dB... but if you actually get the box, it's 92dB, with a label stuck over whatever was there before. Edition XS spec is 18Ω/92dB, but both yourself and RAA measured the Edition XS impedance at 14Ω. So these specs now look incredibly close, to the point I'd wonder if they are the exact same cups with a different headband. I don't think I could tell them apart in a blind test, other than the feel of the headband, they sound identical to me.

View attachment 341157
View attachment 341159

I'm a little confused. I already have the Ananda with stealth magnets. However, according to the box, my specifications don't match either the Ananda V1 or the Ananda V2. See photo from Blorg

Which version do I have?

It can't be the original Ananda; it didn't have stealth magnets.

 

[Maiky76]

@Cyberagent

Review: Hifiman Ananda Stealth​

EDIT 06/03/23: there seems to be a new revision of the Ananda Stealth where the sensitivity, impedance and weight all changed. The unit tested here is the earlier batch of the Ananda Stealth (V2) 2…

unheardlab.com

HIFIMAN Ananda (2022 Stealth Magnets) Planar Headphones Review​

HIFIMAN updates its popular Ananda open-back planar magnetic set to include stealth magnet technology, also overhauling the unboxing experience. The new Ananda Stealth goes for a neutral-bright tuning and offers a comfortable, enjoyable listening experience for fans of jazz and classical music...

www.techpowerup.com


Looking at the data, the relative difference between the models look minimal so I would start with the existing EQ from post #128.
You can also give this one a try but I can't guarantee the accuracy since
1. The data was scanned from the graph
2. The response looks far from the ASR data which is suspicious. It might be caused by measurement conditions including fixture.
I can't do better than that, you'll have to experiment.

The scores are NOT comparable because of the two points i listed above.

Stleath magnet EQ 5 BQ Flat 96000Hz
June102025-103840

Preamp: -8.4 dB

Filter 1: ON PK Fc 26.02 Hz Gain 4.41 dB Q 0.54
Filter 2: ON PK Fc 1951.85 Hz Gain 7.89 dB Q 1.12
Filter 3: ON PK Fc 2950.45 Hz Gain -3.51 dB Q 3.08
Filter 4: ON PK Fc 6370.69 Hz Gain 6.91 dB Q 2.42
Filter 5: ON PK Fc 6541.18 Hz Gain -7.15 dB Q 4.08

 

[Blorg]

I'm a little confused. I already have the Ananda with stealth magnets. However, according to the box, my specifications don't match either the Ananda V1 or the Ananda V2. See photo from Blorg

Which version do I have?

It can't be the original Ananda; it didn't have stealth magnets.

It looks like they went back to the V2 spec. 440g and 27Ω and 26Ω are close enough it's probably the same thing. Sensitivity is very different but Ananda sensitivity numbers from Hifiman have never been very consistent anyway. Or possibly, it is genuinely an actually V4 headphone. They do mix this stuff up often enough.

I have two Anandas, an original, supposedly 32Ω 103dB sensitivity, and my Stealth which is 16Ω 92dB sensitivity, on the box.

It's not specified whether the sensitivity is /V or /mW so we don't even know what it's meant to mean.

I just plugged them both in and played a sine wave at 80dB (as measured by a handheld SPL meter) on the Stealth. Then checked the original- 79.8dB. Supposedly, these two headphones have 11dB difference in sensitivity, but play a fixed voltage into both of them and they are effectively identical in terms of sensitivity, by voltage at least.

If the sensitivity is /mW and you halve the impedance, while the sensitivity is the same /V, the sensitivity /mW will drop by 3dB. But this means they aren't any different by more than 3dB, not 11dB. Most likely- the original was never actually 103dB, it was probably more like 98dB/mW (which is what @solderdude measured them at) and the Stealth is actually the exact same sensitivity by voltage which would be ~95dB by power if it's half the impedance.

These spec numbers from Hifiman are meaningless, the differences in the numbers on the box don't correlate to differences in the headphones. They may indicate some sort of batch variation.

If you have two headphones that play at the same loudness for a given voltage, the higher impedance one is preferable as it will draw less power and be less likely to distort out of marginal mobile sources.

 

[Cyberagent]

@Maiky76/Blorg​

I would like to thank you for your help!

​

 

[czAudiophile]

Wow, folks is any way to differentiate version of Ananda headphones?
I do not have orginal box. So how heck now I can quess what model I have.
Or this is at all not possible

 

[heyjames]

This is a review, listening tests, EQ and detailed measurements of the Hifiman Ananda Stealth V2 open back headphone. It is on kind loan from a member and costs US $399.
View attachment 338437
It is typical Hifiman large cup configuration that seems to assume you ear are twice as long as they really are! If find the headphone attractive and comfortable to wear.

Let's measure its response using GRAS 45CA driving by Audio Precision APx555 analyzer. If you are new to my headphone measurements, I highly recommend that you watch my video tutorial on headphone measurements.

Hifiman Ananda Stealth V2 Measurements
Let's start with our headphone frequency response measurements in the context of most preferred target response:
View attachment 338438
It is clear to see the bass deficiency. Response also gets wavy from 500 Hz to 1 kHz and then we have some short fall in lower treble. Response then becomes cyclical with peaks that exceed our target. Net results is likely a flat and slightly bright sound signature. Subtracting the two curves gives us the areas we need to correct with equalization:
View attachment 338439

The relative distortion graph has a lot of fuzziness:
View attachment 338441

The peak around 6 kHz seems like a clear design issue. But the roughness between 500 Hz and 3 kHz is odd and made me wonder if there is some room reflections. I rotated my fixture but it made no difference even though that made a substantial difference as far as reflections. I swapped the cups the other way around the distortions tracked the left channel so not a room issue. I then checked the other channel and surprisingly, was much cleaner:
View attachment 338442
Notice how at 94 dBSPL (blue), there is essentially no distortion from 500 Hz to 4 kHz. This says there is some serious quality control issue here. Even beyond that, we have bass distortion that goes out of control at 114 dBSPL and again, around 6 kHz. Latter which likely is a series of resonances, should have been found and fixed during development as it has such a clear signature.

Edit: forgot to include the absolute distortion level graph:

View attachment 338458

Group delay is messy, no doubt due to the distortions we saw above:
View attachment 338443

Impedance is flat and low as planar magnetic drivers are usually so:

View attachment 338444

I zoomed way in (inset) and we clearly see impedance changing due to resonance around 6.2 kHz. There are other peaks in there as well. So you don't even need the distortion test to know there is something here to be fixed.

Good news is that this is a fairly sensitive headphone which combined with low impedance should make it relatively easy to drive:
View attachment 338446

Hifiman Ananda Stealth V2 Listening Tests and Equalization
First impression was "OK" with glassy, flat sound with a tinge of brightness. That impression grew more negative once I developed the full set of filters and performed AB tests:

View attachment 338448
The bass correction which took two filters to shape it as inverse of headphone response was a given. This added warm and by itself made a good improvement. I then dialed in the filters up to 5 and sound was much improved but still needed some work. I am loathe normally in making corrections above those frequencies but here, I found it quite useful to remove some grittiness from the high frequencies.

Once the complex filter recipe was in place, the improvements were dramatic. Sub-bass response was excellent (a surprised due to high level of distortion). High frequencies were now much cleaner and balanced. And spatial qualities improved as well which is a strong feature of these large cups.

Conclusions
Objective measurements clearly show design issues and decisions. Even if you accept the tonality as is, there is no excuse for high levels of distortion at focused energies which indicate resonances. This is topped with one channel distorting much more than the other in critical area of our hearing. So by any measure, pun intended, this is a flawed headphone. Fortunately the out of box response is not annoying and with EQ, you get a nice transformation to something resembling highly performant headphone.

I can only recommend the Hifiman Ananda Stealth V2 with equalization.

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As always, questions, comments, recommendations, etc. are welcome.

Any donations are much appreciated using: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/how-to-support-audio-science-review.8150/

I mean these are getting cheaper though, certainly worth noting. I bought this pair for $200usd on marketplace. Not bad! Just needs EQ