Gelvs019
New Member
Hello ASR community!
Glad to have found this space! I'm an intermediate mixing and mastering engineer aiming to go full-time as a professional full-stack music producer. Since I travel often and work in various locations (hotels, Airbnbs, etc.), I rely on headphones for mixing and mastering instead of a treated studio space.
I’m considering upgrading to the Hifiman Ananda Nano for monitoring and pairing it with the SMSL DL200 DAC/AMP. My budget is $650, and I want to ensure my hard-earned money goes into gear that will serve me well in the long run.
Why the Upgrade?
I currently use the Sony MDR-7506 with Sonarworks SoundID Reference, but I find it dull and unreliable for translation. Instead of fully relying on Sonarworks correction, I now plan to EQ headphones closer to the Harman Target Curve for better real-world mix translation. However, in my opinion, I find better results after EQing this pair of cans to the Harman Curve.
Questions for the Pros:
1. Ananda Nano Soundstage & Imaging
Reviews from Paul Third, Joshua Valour, and The Headphone Show suggest the Ananda Nano has a narrow, center-focused soundstage.
Would NX Waves or other room simulation plugins help widen/improve spatial accuracy?
Are there better planar magnetic alternatives in the $400+ range that excel in both detail and imaging for mixing/mastering?
2. DAC/AMP - SMSL DL200
Is the SMSL DL200 sufficient to properly drive the Ananda Nano for professional use?
Would you recommend any other DAC/AMP within a $200 budget that provides a clean, accurate sound for critical listening?
I’d love to hear from anyone who has experience with this setup or has alternative recommendations. Thanks in advance for any insights—you’d be helping a fellow audio nerd make an informed decision. Cheers!
Glad to have found this space! I'm an intermediate mixing and mastering engineer aiming to go full-time as a professional full-stack music producer. Since I travel often and work in various locations (hotels, Airbnbs, etc.), I rely on headphones for mixing and mastering instead of a treated studio space.
I’m considering upgrading to the Hifiman Ananda Nano for monitoring and pairing it with the SMSL DL200 DAC/AMP. My budget is $650, and I want to ensure my hard-earned money goes into gear that will serve me well in the long run.
Why the Upgrade?
I currently use the Sony MDR-7506 with Sonarworks SoundID Reference, but I find it dull and unreliable for translation. Instead of fully relying on Sonarworks correction, I now plan to EQ headphones closer to the Harman Target Curve for better real-world mix translation. However, in my opinion, I find better results after EQing this pair of cans to the Harman Curve.
Questions for the Pros:
1. Ananda Nano Soundstage & Imaging
Reviews from Paul Third, Joshua Valour, and The Headphone Show suggest the Ananda Nano has a narrow, center-focused soundstage.
Would NX Waves or other room simulation plugins help widen/improve spatial accuracy?
Are there better planar magnetic alternatives in the $400+ range that excel in both detail and imaging for mixing/mastering?
2. DAC/AMP - SMSL DL200
Is the SMSL DL200 sufficient to properly drive the Ananda Nano for professional use?
Would you recommend any other DAC/AMP within a $200 budget that provides a clean, accurate sound for critical listening?
I’d love to hear from anyone who has experience with this setup or has alternative recommendations. Thanks in advance for any insights—you’d be helping a fellow audio nerd make an informed decision. Cheers!
