Thanks again. I guess I will go with the Ananda or the Elex then, as they seem to be less amp-dependant than the Aeon 2 or the LCD2 C.
With something like the Ether 2, how close are you to summit-fi/TOTL?
The least amp dependent of the bunch is the lcd2c, then followed by the ananda, then the aeon, then the elex. I actually might say the elex is the most revealing of amp choice lol
Uh I’m not exactly sure what you would mean by that, but it would be a solid step up from any of the aforementioned cans for sure, and can give you some real serious performance
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What I mean is if I get an ether 2, would there be significant upgrades afterwards (abyss AB-1266, susvara, d8000, stax etc)
Also, thanks for letting me know that the Lcd2c is pretty easy to drive. I thought it would be a nightmare because the monolith m1570 is not that easy to drive and I thought they were identical
Yes
So the lcd2c just likes decent power, it’s not as concerned about quality of power so it’s easier to fulfill (but don’t skimp on quality if you don’t have to). That being said they don’t scale as much as the other options with higher end amps, they can still appreciate nicer source gear but it isn’t as reliant in comparison
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Is ananda the most effecient out of the 4 then?
And I listen to female vocals, jazz and guitar. Do you think the ananda will be too thin for that?
If you are talking how much actual power it needs to get going, technically by sensitivity and impedance ratings, the ananda is going to be the least demanding, and then followed by the elex (which admittedly is relatively similar sensitivity but with a higher impedance), then the lcd 2 classic with a similar sensitivity but lower impedance, and then the aeon 2 actually requires the most power to get going with a much lower sensitivity (despite the low impedance)
In the real world, the ananda requires more power than it would seem at a glance, but again if you can get like a reasonable amount of power it’s going to sound solid (similar to how the lcd 2c would). The elex while pretty efficient, is very demanding on the quality of power to where it becomes very amp picky for what it sounds good with. The aeon 2 also requires a fair bit of power and current, while a decent demand on quality of power
So basically what I’m saying is that you would want to spend more on an amp for the elex and aeon than you would for a lcd2c or ananda
If you pick a warmer thicker toned amp I think you could be fine as long as tonal density isn’t your main goal
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Thanks. So I can get the Ananda for 550 new, do you think that makes it the best value?
Also, I was considering the sendy aiva as well. I read somewhere that it has recessed mids, does it affect the vocals?
That’s not bad, so I guess that would make it a compelling choice (given you don’t get good discounts on the other headphones). Personally I would say at new price the lcd2c are the worst value, and the better values per dollar new would likely be the elex and Ananda. So getting the Ananda at 550 seems pretty compelling
The midrange and vocals are recessed yes. Imo I’m not the biggest fan of that headphone, while decent detail and speed for the price, it’s tuning can leave the mids sucked out, it’s spatial recreation is too 2 dimensional imo, and timbre was poor. Also dynamically meh. Personally would feel the Ananda is a higher class.
On notes for an amp for the Ananda, the ones I mentioned for the aeon 2 also pair well with it
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I quite enjoy my Koss Porta Pro. In terms of sound signature, is the Lcd2c like it? But yeah good point at 800 dollars it’s a different ballpark to 550 for the Ananda.
In terms of other discounts, other more high end Hifiman headphones are discounted. Arya is 1250, like the Ether 2. HE1000V2 is 1750
Hmmmm. No, but both are def warmer
Honestly have you considered looking for a used lcd 2 pre fazor? You might have to go on a hunt, it’s a superior choice to 2 classic (the classic sounds and feels like a cheap imitation imo) and should be able to be had around 500-700 used depending on condition and headband
I think if you could find a used hifiman edition x v2, that would be really nice imo. A step ahead of the ananda in most ways, but with a more warm smoother and dense signature
There’s actually someone selling one on the forum right now with a good price (at least I think his is a v2)
https://forum.hifiguides.com/t/buy-sell-and-looking-for-thread/6305/1624
I’ve never bought pre-owned gear before. Are there any advantages of buying it new?
You do get something never used before, you get a reliable warranty, and I guess it can be more straightforward and accessible than buying used. That being said, when you buy used you get much better value for high end gear, and typically with higher end gear people tend to baby their gear so it’s basically like new most of the time (but you have to check of course lol). The main potential problem would be either getting an irritating or untrustworthy seller (typically not the case, but they are out there for sure), and potentially warranty problems can be more convoluted to handle or may not be something you can take advantage of. So a bit more risk in exchange for getting better value. Personally I buy almost everything I get used specifically if it’s high end (otherwise I wouldn’t be able to get a lot of this stuff lol) and over the years it’s been generally without problems, but things can happen so
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Thanks. The thread you showed me, edition X for 550 is really reasonable. Unfortunately I don’t live in the US and he ships US only.
Also, do you think the Hifiman products are dropping in quality? The Ananda is worse than the Edition X V2, Sundara probably worse than original He560, HE6se v2 worse than HE6 etc.
I don’t have a fixed budget, I would go for a more expensive headphone if it is worth it. Should I skip this ~700 dollar price range and go for endgame altogether?
At around the 1200 range, I can get the Arya, Clear MG Pro, LCD-X 2021, Aeolus, Ether 2, HD800S, HD8XX etc
Ah ok NVM then lol
Hmmm no, just moving in a different direction
Yes, but the Ananda also sells new cheaper than the edition x v2 did when it was new, so it was moreso they moved the price point lower so quality dropped a bit, and they changed the tuning/priorities
So I would personally agree if you compare the original he560 and not the cheaped out modern versions, but again remember that the 560 sold for more new than the sundara did new, so the sundara was more accessable AND also easier to drive making it a more feasible option for some imo. The sundara is a better value than the he560 was for sure
This is true, I was able to get a first run he6se and found it close enough to my later run he6 6 screw, but the current he6se and v2 models being pumped out at the lower price just aren’t good imo. There are higher end options than the he6 now though in hifimans current lineup, although the he6 is still a special headphone, it doesn’t compete with some of their upper stuff like the he1000 v2 or se, or the susvara, or Shangri la jr
No, I’d try one of these options you are already deciding on, and then move from there, because to take the next step above something like an Ananda you want to make a further jump in source gear as well, and really want to make sure your preferences are nailed down
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That’s true. And I guess upgrading is part of the pleasure you get in the hobby!
Getting more experience as a listener is also really important, you want context for each upgrade to better understand what you are paying for, and where you want to be. If you spend more time at each level and don’t skip around, you will end up developing your hearing more and the upgrades will be more meaningful each time
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Very good point! My hearing has developed so much since I started. I let my friends listen to my headphones and they don’t sound that special to an untrained person
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Actually, I think the GL2000 is within this price range too. Where does it sit in your opinion? The opinions on it range from worse than sundara to as good as arya
Prefer not to comment lol. I haven’t heard it myself, but based off of those I know who have it doesn’t sound that appealing lol. But can’t really say anything until I get my hands on it myself
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