Hi,
Why did Hifiman release Ananda stealth version which is very similar to the earlier Edition XS, similar stealth magnet, similar NEO Supernano Diaphragm, similar ear cups and similar price level? Are there any essential differences?
That answer makes no sense.Because with Hifiman, you seem to be paying for QC and build quality vs. real world performance.
That answer makes no sense.
@blanc The Ananda Stealth is $1000 Msrp, The XS is $500. I doubt they're all that similar when looking closely.
Sean Olive's "Statistical model that predicts listeners' preference ratings" is extremely volatile and useless beyond some very approximate comparisons.Sundara has higher score both after and pre eq than xs, even susvara
I fail to see your point.Sean Olive's "Statistical model that predicts listeners' preference ratings" is extremely volatile and useless beyond some very approximate comparisons.
Ranking Headphones based on a few points difference is therefore very misguided.
For example, there are fourteen points between these two HD600 samples: Link
The algorithm also ranks the 800S one point out of 100 worse than the Stealth:
View attachment 240261 View attachment 240262
Furthermore, you can make the post EQ preference score whatever you want, so when you say that one headphone has a better post EQ score than the other, then you're rating the EQ design, not the headphone.
Evidently.I fail to see your point.
I have a chance to either get the Edition XS or the Arya Stealth for around 20% off. Which do you think is the one worth getting? Is the build better on the Arya? Is the Arya harsher/more difficult to listen to at times? How big is the difference between them in SQ? Sorry for so many questions at once, but I'm very curious.I own the Edition XS, the Arya Stealth and the HEKse, although I also auditioned the HEKV2 (non Stealth version), the Ananda Stealth, the Sundaras and the Susvara for a couple of weeks.
I had zero build issues with any of them—I think this is a problem from the past that has been largely rectified, at least for their products in these price points. The oval pad line runs circles around their round pad options—not only in comfort but in performance and tuning.
The Sundaras and Susvaras were the easiest to send back. The Edition XS trampled the Sundaras in soundstage, detail retrieval and tuning, for only $100 more. The Susvaras were surgically precise but with so much bass roll off they were zero fun to listen to, and they are near impossible to drive.
The Anandas went back next. Again the Edition XS had a wider soundstage and far more bass slam, and cost $200 less—although the Ananda has the ski band that some folks might find more comfortable. I don’t mind the headband on the Edition XS at all, and I think it’s the best headphone out there under $500. I decided to keep it as my portable option.
The Arya Stealth is terrific—I loved the tuning right out of the box, it has zero fatigue factor, has a very premium build, huge soundstage and is tons of fun. I kept it as my “workhorse” daily headphone.
Both the HEKV2 and HEKse are extraordinary. Impeccable build, fantastic design, amazing elasticity in their fit and as comfortable as any headphone I’ve ever tried. They both have their respective strengths—the HEKV2 has a bit wider soundstage, a formidable sub bass and smooth highs with zero fatigue factor. Crinacle ranks them in the top three for good reason—they’re damn near perfect, although they are marginally outdone by the HEKse and Susvara in detail retrieval.
The HEKse is perhaps the fastest and most detailed headphone I’ve ever heard. Imaging is jaw dropping. So is timbre. They’re so resolving that I had the cliche of hearing things in the mix I’d never heard before in songs I’ve listened to a million times. They have more emphasis in the mid bass than the HEKV2, which provides a bit more warmth and fullness, but with just a shade less slam than the HEKV2. They’re also a bit easier to drive with their sensitivity of 96 (vs 90 for the V2).
But they have a hump in the 5-8,000 hz range, which likely contributes to their detail but can be a bit bright and fatiguing on some tracks, which is not the case for the HEKV2s at all.
I chose to keep the HEKse because their performance was so unparalleled for critical listening and I felt the V2 was not worth the extra cash since I was already keeping the Arya Stealth. However, at the time I wished that a Stealth version existed for the HEKV2, because if it brought the detail anywhere near the level of the HEKse it would be my fantasy headphone without question.
Well, ironically that came true last week—the HEKV2 Stealth is now available only in Germany and Poland for the time being. I have until February 1st to return my HEKse, and I’m hoping I have the chance to audition this new V2 before it runs out. But even if I miss it, I’m totally won over to this brand—and I think it may be time to revisit the build quality issue. The ones I have had my hands on recently are flawless.
I fail to see your point.
Everything is in the FR. this is what the research has shown and what the subjective tests have been showing.
If a headphone can be equed to get a better score that means something especially if the other headphone costs more than 10x
The same is shown here with Amir’s measurements from expensive dacs to cables to amplifiers
If you spent 5k on a headphone you persuade yourself that is vastly better than a 350€ one.
Research suggests otherwise than what you claim
Then we would judge by taste… the fr of an expensive headphone is as inaccurate as that of a cheapYou are missing a part of the picture.
Yes, everything IS in frequency response, however, there is a big problem; our measurements are not detailed enough to work with to actually account for everything. We can't even get accurate measurements above 10 khz.
Not only that, but we don't know WHAT part of frequency response is responsible for every single aspect of sound.
If we ever get to the point where our measurements get granular enough and we know exactly what part of the frequency response corresponds/interacts correctly with what with more good research, then yeah, if we use a driver with low enough distortion, we could use convolution filters to accomplish whatever we like.
Until then, we're kinda stuck with expensive headphones to sound really good. I dunno about 5K USD headphones, but at least into the kilobuck range, at least from my experience.
Sorry for the delayed response! The build quality is equally fine on both, but the Arya Stealth is more premium in appearance and comfortable in the fit. If you can afford the extra cash, I would go with the Arya Stealth without hesitation. They’re both great headphones but the Arya is an improvement commensurate with its higher price point.I have a chance to either get the Edition XS or the Arya Stealth for around 20% off. Which do you think is the one worth getting? Is the build better on the Arya? Is the Arya harsher/more difficult to listen to at times? How big is the difference between them in SQ? Sorry for so many questions at once, but I'm very curious.
Well, I kind of jumped the gun and got the Arya Stealth. It's as near-perfect as I can imagine anything in audio atm. It's certainly bright-leaning (but not edgy like my HD 560s), dynamics are so intense that it's a bit painful on some tracks and there's a wide, deep and very tall soundstage. Detail and clarity are something else, and I can feel that characteristic of oval-shaped Hifiman's that others mention where every part of a track feels kind of diffuse, like things that normally sound very close and in-your-face are distanced and wispy. It's an effect that I personally like a lot, and complements my HD 6XX exactly. The ONLY criticism I can levy is that if you're listening to the wrong thing, some of those air frequencies can intrude a bit too much.Sorry for the delayed response! The build quality is equally fine on both, but the Arya Stealth is more premium in appearance and comfortable in the fit. If you can afford the extra cash, I would go with the Arya Stealth without hesitation. They’re both great headphones but the Arya is an improvement commensurate with its higher price point.
They’re probably a draw on tuning, soundstage and bass slam, but the Arya SE has better materials, more refined design and substantially better imaging and detail retrieval. There is nothing fatiguing about either of your options at all (unlike the HE1000se).
I think the next step up from the Arya SE will likely be the new HE1000 V2 Stealth, as the TOTL in this segment of their oval pad product line, while the HE1000SE will remain in its own category altogether, along with the Susvara. The Edition XS, Arya Stealth and HE1000 V2 all share very similar, smooth as butter tuning, while the HE1000se and Susvara both have vastly different tuning from these three, and in my view, both inferior for different reasons—the HE1000se overdoing the highs, and the Susvaras omitting the bass altogether.
I’m personally holding out for the HE1000 V2 Stealth, which will retail at $2,399 when it reaches the US. But if this helps you at all, if was forced to part ways with my HE1000se and “only” have my Arya Stealth, I’d be perfectly happy—honest! It’s a spectacular headphone for any genre. Give it a try through Amazon and return it if you’re not convinced—but I bet you’ll keep it! —Steve
That’s terrific! I’m glad to hear that your experiences thus far mirror my own, and it’s particularly great that you got the 20% discount. I think the Arya Stealth is the greatest all-rounder “audiophile” headphone currently on the market, and especially for the rock genres I prefer, it’s also the most fun.Well, I kind of jumped the gun and got the Arya Stealth. It's as near-perfect as I can imagine anything in audio atm. It's certainly bright-leaning (but not edgy like my HD 560s), dynamics are so intense that it's a bit painful on some tracks and there's a wide, deep and very tall soundstage. Detail and clarity are something else, and I can feel that characteristic of oval-shaped Hifiman's that others mention where every part of a track feels kind of diffuse, like things that normally sound very close and in-your-face are distanced and wispy. It's an effect that I personally like a lot, and complements my HD 6XX exactly. The ONLY criticism I can levy is that if you're listening to the wrong thing, some of those air frequencies can intrude a bit too much.