Hifiman Edition XS vs Ananda Nano vs Arya Stealth review from a musician - best open back under $500

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 ส.ค. 2024
  • Hifiman Arya Stealth: store.hifiman....
    Hifiman Ananda Nano: store.hifiman....
    Hifiman Edition XS: store.hifiman....
    Ear pads on my XS now: Voarmaks Polyester Fenestrated Memory Foam
    www.amazon.com...
    Preamp/Amp I use: Syba Sonic w/3 band EQ www.amazon.com...
    (not mentioned in the video, but a super convenient micro size alternative to larger headphone amps)
    For those interested in trying Dekoni aftermarket ear pads:
    “Big ups to dekoni for creating 4 different pads for the Hifiman headphone, and providing frequency response graphs for each one - such a huge help in the research phase!! Like many other reviewers, I wasn't quite satisfied with the comfort of my Edition XS headphones and based on the graph of this reviewer (usercontent.on...) I first opted for the elite sheepskin since it supposedly brought the frequency response of the XS closer to the harman curve. While it definitely did bump up the mids a little, I was dismayed to find pretty much all the upper mids and most of the highs to be gone, as well as some of the sub bass as well. I then tried the Elite Velour (both of these from Z's youtube reviews) and while it was definitely closer to stock than the sheepskin, it still removed too much high end for my tastes. Finally I tried the Fenestrated Sheepskin and was pleasantly surprised with the results - incredibly comfortable with only just a slight reduction of the upper mids with most of the highs intact!! If I were to nitpick I would vote for the whole line to not carve out quite as much of the upper mids, however, these were made for the Arya which is supposedly brighter and more analytical than the XS. Regardless, overall well done Dekoni!! I do feel like the price is a little steep for what you get, especially considering the fit is not consistent. Both pairs of the sheepskin and velour were relatively easy to install and remove, however the fenestrated pads sadly didn't quite fit right (were a little too tight) and were extremely difficult to remove without breaking the mounting tabs, such a bummer because they were honestly the most comfortable out of all the pads I tried!"

ความคิดเห็น • 22

  • @chrisasmith75
    @chrisasmith75 21 วันที่ผ่านมา

    I regret selling my Edition XS and buying the Ananda Nano for the reasons you stated. I'm going to buy the Edition XS again.

  • @Prashanth12344
    @Prashanth12344 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +6

    Very informative, I was debating returning the XS and getting the Nano for better detail retrieval, but I love the very neutral tuning of the XS and I'm worried the nano will sound too bright and sterile compared to the XS. I think your video just confirmed it for me.

    • @alexaxy3328
      @alexaxy3328 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Can't you just eq it?

    • @nickapalooza861
      @nickapalooza861 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Sterile is exactly how I would describe XS

    • @kevinkeybasswong534
      @kevinkeybasswong534  หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@nickapalooza861 that's with the stock pads - throw on a pair of the Dekoni Fenestrated and I guarantee your opinion will change.

  • @gordonosterhage2439
    @gordonosterhage2439 5 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    thanks for this video. I have the edition xs for mixing mastering and was wondering if i should return them and upgrade to the nano. You cleared my conscious, thank you

  • @b.z9940
    @b.z9940 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    quick little update after 9 Months? Are u still happy with them?

    • @kevinkeybasswong534
      @kevinkeybasswong534  หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      Yes! I've been meaning to do an update video - I am happier than ever with them and still use them every day. I have actually added a few more key mods to them that have helped dial in the frequency response to better match my ear, the 1st being switching from the stock cable to the NewFantasia 6N OCC Copper Silver Plated cable (which I highly recommend) which opened up the top end of the treble in a subtle but magical way. I also added a pair of dekoni nuggets at the lowest point of the headband on each side which really increased the clarify and overall fidelity of the sound (at least for me, maybe my head isn't big enough for the original design). I also ended up switching from the Voarmaks to the Dekoni Fenestrated Pads which are extremely comfortable but also darken the sound signature quite a bit, hence the need to then brighten it back up with the silver cables and dekoni nuggets.
      Not sure if you would want to go this far, but actually I'm now running a Tirstrup pure silver cable which adds a lot more sparkle to the top end (not subtle) to the point where when I A/B compare it with the stock cable it's like night and day.
      www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07J2J3MCW/
      www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0C6KFPGGX/

    • @b.z9940
      @b.z9940 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@kevinkeybasswong534 Yep, I think you really need a HUGE head to get the right fit with the Edition XS
      . Instead of the Dekoni Nuggets, I installed the Capra Audio headstrap, absolutely fantastic, highly recommend it. I also learned the hard way about the need for a good cable to ensure better signal. Thanks for the recommendations, very helpful, looking forward to the update video if you decide to make another one :)

  • @kineticdyslexic3093
    @kineticdyslexic3093 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    i have heard the ananda stealth is pretty much the same as the xs, but a better headband.

    • @huneyknuckles
      @huneyknuckles 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +4

      It’s similar yes but has a slightly different tuning, if you like midrange oriented tuning like the sennheiser HD600 series it’s a bit more detailed in that department however the XS has the edge in sub bass and upper treble sparkle IMHO

    • @Jootn2kx
      @Jootn2kx 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      @@huneyknuckles I agree here too, I kept the editon XS and send back the Arya last year. Arya is maybe 3% better in resolution but you pay up double price. Also I feel the edition XS was a bit a wider soundstage and bigger sound which was for me the main reason I kept the XS. This headphone is hard to beat man, I listen from electronic music to classical music and metal, it does it all and it Annihilates every other headphone I tried in it's price range and twice it's price range lol

    • @mateuszprygon9551
      @mateuszprygon9551 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      I would buy Edition XS, I like this headband, but Stealth is almost the same price now and for me it sounds better (on YT comparisons), has more precised, clearer bass and great mids...

    • @nickapalooza861
      @nickapalooza861 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Nah, Ananda Stealth is more pleasantly tuned, musical, better soundstage and balanced. XS to me anyway was too dry and technical, no musicality at all too me

    • @CoffeeGameMovie
      @CoffeeGameMovie 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      @@Jootn2kx From what source u heard them? I cant imagine that a properly drived Arya is not better just about in everything than the XS.

  • @Barncore
    @Barncore 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    What were you powering the headphones with? Is it possible than the Nano and the Arya weren't going through a good enough amp? They are more power hungry than the XS i think

    • @huneyknuckles
      @huneyknuckles 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      At the time I was powering them all with an Universal Audio Volt 476p running through a Syba Sonic SD-DAC63106 preamp/headphone amp. They were all loud enough, however i have no doubt a dedicated headphone amp could have made them sound even better

    • @Barnsey87
      @Barnsey87 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Nanos have 14ohms so using an amp is not needed. Anything can power them perfectly fine.

    • @CoffeeGameMovie
      @CoffeeGameMovie 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      @@Barnsey87 Its not true, they easy to drive yes, BUT if u dont drive them from a proper amp u will NOT hear what these HPs can really achieve!

    • @henryfeige8596
      @henryfeige8596 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@CoffeeGameMovie Yeah, most Hifiman stuff needs a lot of power to wake up. Most of them just sound shallow without a powerful dac and amp.

  • @wrinkleneckbass
    @wrinkleneckbass 27 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    Now that the Edition XS is selling for $269, I think it's time for me to try them out and compare them to my planar IEMs.