Hifiman XS or Hifiman Ananda stealth

[flame_sa]

Hello guys, my head is about to explode trying to find a clear comparison between the two

Most comparisons are between the Ananda and XS but not the Ananda stealth

And I'm not well informed on both

They both have the exact price to even the same buck in my region which makes choosing a bit harder

I don't really know what to pick and I don't have the luxury to try before buying

Do I go for comfort ( stealth ) and assume both sound similar? I'm afraid of losing some bass since of what I could find the XS have more bass? Idk

please help me understand the differences between the two and if one is better than the other

any help is much appreciated

 

[solderdude]

Bass is seal dependent. Because of the large egg shaped pads and differences in head shapes/hair, glasses etc. all the mentioned models are prone to have some leakage.
The good news is that it may even result in a bit more bass.

IMO the differences between all the mentioned models are small. There are some differences mostly in the treble.
Which one you may prefer may differ from what others prefer, which is kind of bad news as someone else's opinion may not be valid to you.

If possible audition them side by side or try to order 2 models where you can send one back.

There are differences in comfort (headband, clamping force, the way they sit on the head) and sensitivity (how loud they go at the same volume setting).
Best not to believe everything Hifiman states or other say (sadly enough). The differences between the mentioned models in reality is not as big as most make it out to be.

 

[flame_sa]

Bass is seal dependent. Because of the large egg shaped pads and differences in head shapes/hair, glasses etc. all the mentioned models are prone to have some leakage.
The good news is that it may even result in a bit more bass.

IMO the differences between all the mentioned models are small. There are some differences mostly in the treble.
Which one you may prefer may differ from what others prefer, which is kind of bad news as someone else's opinion may not be valid to you.

If possible audition them side by side or try to order 2 models where you can send one back.

There are differences in comfort (headband, clamping force, the way they sit on the head) and sensitivity (how loud they go at the same volume setting).
Best not to believe everything Hifiman states or other say (sadly enough). The differences between the mentioned models in reality is not as big as most make it out to be.

Yes, you are 100% right, I want something to make my experience fun and that is subjective
I thought about ordering the two models but I'm afraid of the return policies in my region. they sometimes tend to be jerks about it
the stealth looks comfier, and everyone almost agree on that
taking the bass concerns out of the equation helps
I saw someone saying the XS resolution isn't up to bar, and I honestly don't care that much about numbers and want something fun to enjoy
If you were to pick one, what would you recommend? Is the build quality the same between the two?
Thanks a lot!

 

[solderdude]

If I were to pick one my reasons may not be the same as yours.
I actually heard/measured the XS and 1st Ananda (which was expensive) but not this version.

Personally I prefer the Ananda headband but have no idea what headband would work best on your head so is irrelevant.
The thing is you can EQ them to the same target but comfort is what it is.
It is mainly why I usually don't want to recommend something. Only when I feel something is crappy I would recommend not to buy something but people, in the end, always end up buying what they originally thought they would. People just look for confirmation in general and when 2 or 3 say exactly what they want to hear they go for it.

Just trust your guts .... the only substantial difference between the headphones is the comfort, the rest is EQable.

 

[Dunring]

I've had both at the same time for the business. The XS has a little more bass out of the box, but the Ananda Stealth sounded better but needed equalization to get there. Even with a mild amplifier I'd go with the Ananda if your willing to equalize. The XL is fun out of the box, just doesn't sound as detailed with a really good source. If buying new, take a few days of wearing them, the foam is a little stiff, but fits a lot better after a few days wearing them.

 

[flame_sa]

If I were to pick one my reasons may not be the same as yours.
I actually heard/measured the XS and 1st Ananda (which was expensive) but not this version.

Personally I prefer the Ananda headband but have no idea what headband would work best on your head so is irrelevant.
The thing is you can EQ them to the same target but comfort is what it is.
It is mainly why I usually don't want to recommend something. Only when I feel something is crappy I would recommend not to buy something but people, in the end, always end up buying what they originally thought they would. People just look for confirmation in general and when 2 or 3 say exactly what they want to hear they go for it.

Just trust your guts .... the only substantial difference between the headphones is the comfort, the rest is EQable.

I've had both at the same time for the business. The XS has a little more bass out of the box, but the Ananda Stealth sounded better but needed equalization to get there. Even with a mild amplifier I'd go with the Ananda if your willing to equalize. The XL is fun out of the box, just doesn't sound as detailed with a really good source. If buying new, take a few days of wearing them, the foam is a little stiff, but fits a lot better after a few days wearing them.

Hahaha you are right sometimes you need the confirmation to feel good about your choice
I think Ill go for the stealth, I prefer comfort since I wear my headphones for 8+hrs
since you both advise me to EQ
I'm a total noob when it comes to EQing
Where do I find the measurement for said headphones?
Ill find my way around apo equalizer and how to use it but I don't know where to get the measurements from and is there a reliable source for such things? or is it based on taste?
I'm sorry for this basic question
you are helping me a lot
much love

 

[Dunring]

If it's the V2 then Amir already did measurements on it and review with EQ settings here:

Hifiman Ananda Stealth V2 Headphone Review

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. It is typical Hifiman large cup configuration that seems to assume you ear are twice as long as they really are! :) If find...

www.audiosciencereview.com

For Musicbee I posted how to add a parametric EQ to it, and of course APO/Peace has everything too.

How to easily install a free parametric equalizer in Musicbee

Here's how to install a free parametric equalizer in Musicbee. APO and Peace are excellent, but if you just want it in a player on not the whole system, this will do the job. First, download Musicbee at https://www.getmusicbee.com/downloads/ Close Musicbee before installing these. Then...

www.audiosciencereview.com

If it's the new V3 version then the settings will be different, it's got different tuning.

 

[flame_sa]

If it's the V2 then Amir already did measurements on it and review with EQ settings here:

Hifiman Ananda Stealth V2 Headphone Review

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. It is typical Hifiman large cup configuration that seems to assume you ear are twice as long as they really are! :) If find...

www.audiosciencereview.com

For Musicbee I posted how to add a parametric EQ to it, and of course APO/Peace has everything too.

How to easily install a free parametric equalizer in Musicbee

Here's how to install a free parametric equalizer in Musicbee. APO and Peace are excellent, but if you just want it in a player on not the whole system, this will do the job. First, download Musicbee at https://www.getmusicbee.com/downloads/ Close Musicbee before installing these. Then...

www.audiosciencereview.com

If it's the new V3 version then the settings will be different, it's got different tuning.

Thanks a lot!!