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Before we get into the HIFIMAN Ananda vs. Sundara comparison, grab a snack, kick back and relax cuzzo..
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HIFIMAN Sundara
Price: Check Apos Audio! | Check Amazon! | Check eBay!
Specifications
- Type: Open Back.
- Driver: Planar Magnetic.
- Fit: Circumaural.
- Impedance: 37 Ohm. What is Headphone Impedance?
- Sensitivity: 94dB/mW. What is Sensitivity in Headphones?
- Frequency Response: 6Hz – 75kHz.
- Color: Black
- Weight: 379g.
HIFIMAN Ananda
Price: Check Apos Audio! | Check Amazon!
Specifications
- Type: Planar Magnetic, Open Back.
- Fit: Circumaural
- Frequency Response: 8Hz – 55kHz
- Impedance: 25 Ohm. What is Headphone Impedance?
- Sensitivity: 103dB/mW. What is Sensitivity in Headphones?
- Weight: 14.07 Oz. (399g)
Build
Right off the bat, you’ll notice that the build quality of both the Ananda and Sundara is an almost monumental improvement from that of the original Edition X, 400i, and 400S.
The original production run 400i’s were made really well, but the newer batches had faulty headband yokes and thus broke down over time.
I’ve never had any issues with the older models over at Audio Advice, but fortunately, we won’t have to worry about that today.
Both of these are very rugged, and use different materials from their predecessors.
No longer do we have the plastic adjustments on the piece that connects to the headband pad.
They are now longer in length, made of anodized aluminum, and feel solid to the touch.
Another difference is that both headbands are rounded this time, vs. the more extra-terrestrial looking, somewhat deformed shape of the older ones.
This lends itself to a more streamlined look, as I don’t feel like I’m in an episode of the Flintstones.
I feel more comfortable holding both the Ananda and Sundara in my hand.
The Ananda has a deceptively strong build.
As a lightweight Planar Magnetic headphone (an oxymoron of sorts), it doesn’t feel cheap in the slightest and shouldn’t be for its price tag.
However, it’s a perfect weight for almost any job you’ll task it with: On the go, in-studio, with your phone, paired up to an Amp, etc.
It doesn’t matter. The Ananda is up for the challenge.
Similarly, the Sundara is as well.
It’s definitely smaller and more compact looking than an Ananda, but also feels very rugged.
While the Sundara sports an ox-like lattice design (a deviation from the original 400S and 400i’s honeycomb configuration), the Ananda utilizes a window shade grill and looks rather ugly to some people.
I am not one of those folks, however. I happen to enjoy its somewhat unique-looking design.
You’ll notice that Ananda’s ear cups are rather large and mimic the shape of an ear quite nicely.
If you’ve got big a** Dumbo sized ears like me, you’re in luck homie!
The Ananda’s got you covered.
I’m pretty sure this headphone could double as a football helmet under the right circumstances.
Like if you were high you might mistake it for something E.T. would wear on his way back to wherever the crap he came from.
I wouldn’t go outside with these to walk your dog though; you may get some strange looks (from females in particular).
They don’t understand audiophiles, it’s fine.
Ok, I’m done, lol.
While the Ananda’s cups are large and in charge, the Sundara’s are smaller and rounded.
I find that my ears fit inside, but just barely.
With the Ananda, there’s a ton of room inside and you’ll never find your ear hitting any part of the cup.
As far as the Sundara goes, depending on the size of your ear, you may or may not find your ears touching.
It just depends.
Outside of those cosmetic differences, both headphones are built roughly the same.
Both have velour padding with a soft protein leather outer shell. It’s a strange design to try and describe.
Both are built from the same materials, with a streamlined, elegant, updated look over the original Edition X and 400i/400S.
- Both have dual entry 3.5mm terminations into each ear cup.
- Both have the same thin headband “pad” if you can call it that. Fortunately, neither is going to dig into your dome piece so the arrangement works quite well.
Comfort
Comfort does vary a little with each of these, but you might be surprised to find that both are comfortable in different ways.
When you put on an Ananda, it kind of feels like you’re wearing air, but still has excellent clamp pressure.
It’s neither too loose nor tight and kind of sits in the middle.
With the Sundara, it’s more of the same, but I would say the headphone clamps a bit harder and feels a tad snugger on your melon.
You’ll look a bit less like an idiot wearing a Sundara, so if aesthetics are of priority, the Sundara is your boy.
As good as the Ananda is comfort-wise, I had a small issue with pressure under the back of my ear where that bone runs down (next to your hairline).
The headphone did start to dig after about an hour or 2, but the discomfort was minor.
With the Sundara, I also had a small but separate issue. I find that the headphone tends to slide down onto the tops of my earlobes at times.
Outside of those 2 minor nitpicks, both headphones are supremely comfortable and you’ll find yourself able to wear them for long periods of time with minimal adjustment.
Sound
The sound of these 2 headphones is markedly different in my mind.
The Sundara has a warmer, more relaxed, and laid-back vibe. It’s immensely detailed but definitely sounds lusher.
The Ananda is the opposite; it’s got a cooler, more analytical sound and portrays a much more open soundscape.
There’s more air surrounding the instruments as well. It provides greater width and depth to the image.
I frequently found myself hearing sounds coming from directly behind me and pretty far away!
It made for an incredibly enjoyable and immersive listening experience.
The Ananda also makes it possible to pick out smaller detail and subtle track nuance a bit easier than a Sundara.
The Ananda has a snappy, crisp sound signature, not unlike a heaping bowl of Rice Krispies in the morning.
Imagine chewing Winterfresh gum while skiing down a mountain in January.
That’s what it feels like listening to an Ananda.
Even despite possessing a “cooler” signature, I never feel like the Ananda is trying too hard to impress me.
It presents to you this liquidy cool smoothness but never sounds cold if that makes sense.
In the analogy above, it’s winter, it’s cold, and you’re skiing. But you’re not butt naked.
You feel the cool air, but your twig and berries aren’t icicles.
That’s the main takeaway: Cool and crisp, but not cold and clinical.
The Sundara by contrast sounds warmer and more laid back, similar to something like a Sennheiser HD650.
One of the main reasons for the warmer tilt on the Sundara has to do with its mid-range.
There’s a long, almost drawn-out roll-off after 1k that causes the sound to sometimes lack certain energy and many people have come back to me reinforcing this notion.
Ananda’s response is a bit quicker in its decision-making with regard to peaks and roll-offs. It’s “snappier” a term I got from Tyll that fits well here.
If I felt like the dip on the Sundara moving into 2kHz was a bit drastic, the Ananda doesn’t feel nearly as pushed back.
The other main difference lies in treble response, another contributor to Sundara’s more laid-back vibe.
It definitely has a darker tilt, but still sounds immensely detailed.
The Ananda’s treble by contrast is definitely brighter.
In fact, in my opinion, it can sometimes sound ever so slightly hot around 9-10k and above.
I wouldn’t call it harsh, sibilant, grainy, or artificial.
It’s simply a tad bright, but still a very minor nitpick on an otherwise fantastic headphone.
Bass
Lastly, the bass on both is roughly similar, but you will notice a smidgen more roll-off on the Sundara.
If you’re a bass head, the Ananda is just about the perfect headphone for Hip-Hop music.
Every hit of the kick drum is rendered with almost mind-blowing clarity and impact.
I’ve never heard bass this good on a headphone, save for something from the Audeze LCD line.
- Recommended: 8 Audeze Headphones Ranked Worst To First
You’ll start to hear the texture and detail of the kick, but there’s this incredible sense of weight and presence without it feeling overdone like your mom’s meatloaf.
While the Sundara will work for most applications and genres, I think the Ananda takes a step forward in that regard.
Genre and Application
I would feel comfortable using these headphones in almost any situation:
- Mixing down a track
- Listening to any genre (and I mean any)
- Paired with my phone
- Chilling on my desktop hooked up to an amp
- Tracking vocals or guitar
- Gaming on my console
- Watching movies on Netflix, etc.
It also does rather well for Jazz or Classical, and it does need quite a bit more power from an Amp to reach acceptable volume levels.
As for the Sundara, the Soundstage is simply not good enough to work as your primary gaming headphone but still isn’t bad at all.
The Ananda simply outclasses in this regard.
Amplification
As touched on above, the Sundara is going to require more power from an amp at roughly 94dB/mW Sensitivity.
It’s just not that efficient and much less so than the 103dB/mW of the Ananda.
The impedance between the 2 is almost negligible @ 37 Ohm for the Sundara vs. 25 for the Ananda.
Neither will resist power much, but you’ll find yourself turning up the volume considerably on a Sundara straight out of a phone just to hear anything.
Helpful Articles:
The Ananda by contrast doesn’t need much power from an amp and will work better straight out of a phone.
Some Options
JDS ATOM
A good all-around desktop solution for both would be my current favorite, the JDS ATOM.
The Atom comes power-packed with features and also doubles as a preamp via its RCA Analog outputs.
It’s also got a pair of RCA ins, a 3.5mm input that can be paired with virtually any DAC that has a line out, and a gain button just in case you needed even more power (Spoiler alert: the Atom has a mind-numbing amount).
FiiO K5 Pro
Price: Check Amazon! | Check B&H! | Check Apos Audio! | Official Review: Here!
Note: You can also check out the newer K7 here.
The K5 Pro is still one of my absolute best recommendations for people starting out as it’s super versatile, sounds great, and comes with plenty of power.
A huge benefit is that it’s going to work with nearly all headphones and you’ll love having one around as a sort of multi-tool device.
In other words,
you can hook it up to pretty much anything but it’s great for audiophile headphones in particular.
Outside of these (ATOM/K5), I wouldn’t get too carried away in trying to decide on an Amp.
Out of the 60+ that I’ve heard, most sound roughly the same.
There are slight variances in certain ones, but by and large, I would recommend figuring out how much power your headphones need and choosing based on that.
Discerning actual sound differences almost becomes an exercise in futility and the differences are very subtle.
Video Comparison
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Final Word
If budget is more of a concern, the Sundara is fine but it’s overpriced in today’s market. Why spend $300-350 when you can get the same sound signature for around $109?
That’s right, the 400se is a fantastic deal and something I’d consider first.
Learn More:
I’ve described the Ananda as a true step up from the mid-fi category, and I still stand behind that statement wholeheartedly.
It’s an upgrade in every sense of the word with regard to overall sound quality, imaging capabilities, versatility, comfort, and build.
That said, there’s an even better deal on the horizon.
Learn More:
Well, that’s about it for today my friend! I hope you’ve gotten some valuable information out of this HIFIMAN Ananda vs. Sundara Comparison & Discussion.
Does the Ananda seem like a true upgrade to you? Be sure to let me know!!
Questions? Comments? Requests? Did I miss the mark on something? Please let me know down below or Contact me!!
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I very much look forward to speaking with you…
All the best and God bless,
-Stu
2 comments
There are two versions of Ananda , Stealth magnets and non-Stealth Magnets, which one have you reviewed
Hey Dave!
This one was the original. I’m really trying to get a stealth here to compare with the Stealth Arya. Thanks for stopping by and I will keep you posted!