If you have a bit more room (and money) and want to try a R2R DAC then I can assure that a Audio-Gd R2R 11 2019 sound great with the Ananda 
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Been listening for an hour or so since i received these today. Paired with the el amp/ el dac combo these sound pretty nice. I was worried by reading comments that it may have too much treble but i am just not hearing it. These sound pretty nice so far.
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Nice! Iām still enjoying mine even though itās no longer main go to headphones, I still appreciate the tall and unique sound presentation. When reading those conflicting comments, try to get the full context like the DAC, AMP in the chain and also type of music theyāre listening to get the whole picture. Each component can have a huge impact on the sound profile.
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Couple days in. These are definitely my new dd. Replacing my Elex / M1570 as daily headphones. More comfortable then either. Sound great on my el stack. I find i prefer to run the zen dac with them though to take advantage of that true bass boost. Makes these things in to super clean sounding bass cannons. These things reach down to the core of the earth for low end. These are a little more laid back then the m1570 but the sound isnt too different from the other. The ananda have less sound stage but smoother treble and more impact on the bass.
Ugh cant wait for my liquid platinum. Its killing me! Wonder how much of a difference it will make.
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Theyāre now 700$ USD, even via the official hifiman eBay store.
Iāve had these for only a couple of days and they have become my favorite headphone and I have quite a few good headphones at the moment. The Ananda has such good clarity and detail a long with a very good soundstage and some of the best separation Iāve heard. I also love the highs which are crisp and very detailed but not harsh though they have come close once or twice but never went over the top. For $700 these are a no brainier if you like a balance natural sound. I kind of wish I didnāt buy the Sundara a few months ago because these are almost like a better version of those.
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Yeah these have benched all my other headphones since they arrived. Back to back with the elex tonight just reconfirmed my preference for the Ananda.
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I tried the Ananda with a few of the Dacs I have and found the D50s along with my SMSL SP200 amp to sound very good. They also sound pretty good just from my M11 but they have a much better soundstage and separation on my desktop setup of course. I canāt get over just how good the separation is on them. I know people always say how they are hearing things in the music they never heard before and thatās true but Iām hearing everything Iāve heard before itās just so much clearer and cleaner now.
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Would you mind comparing the Ananda to the Elex a little more thoroughly?
I canāt get the Elex since Iām from Europe and the Ananda pop up when looking at that price range
What genres do you usually listen to? Which ones handle poorly recorded tracks better? Do the Anandas clip?
I need something thatās flawless with vocals. Like somewhere around 5:20 in this video, on some headphones the vocals get drowned in the sound of the band, on others itās too shouty
Sorry for all the questions, any input at all is much appreciated 
I will have a sit down when Iām done work and a/b and take some notes.
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Iāve been using my Ananda today and saw your post/link. Ananda doesnāt have any problem reproducing her voice and the band at the same time. The source/recording may not be the best but I could still easily tell them apart. I never listen to Elex but for for what itās for, Anandaās plannar drivers shouldnāt have any problem reproducing a complex/busy passage in mucsic due to its inherent plannarās speed.
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This forum got me thinking that the Elex is god, itās kinda new seeing someone who actually has the Elex but doesnāt prefer them
So what would you say are the Amandaās weakest points then? Based on your own listening experience, of course
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This is easy 
- Build quality
- Included cables
- Soundstage (This is top priority for me personally)
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I donāt know if i will be able to find the right words for the comparison. To me it seems like the Elex are thinner in the body of the sound but have larger sound stage. The Ananda have this huge presence. They both sound fantastic but i find the Elex fatiguing. Its a tough call. If you want huge sound with a bit warmer of a tilt i think the Ananda are the way to go. They have such authority on the lower end. Fun fun fun headphones.
I think the vocals are a bit more forward on the Elex, especially in that youtube video you posted. Neither of them have the singer blend into the music but the Elex better separates them. I prefer the vocal tone / rasp of the singer with the Ananda but her volume is closer matched to everything else for sure.
The stock cables with the Ananda are absolute shit. The focal ones are very usable but a little thick and the side by side build of the wires makes them have a bit of a mind of their own.
The Ananda have better headband comfort for my head size. (huge) Higher clamp force but a larger surface area to spread it out on so its a non issue for me. For long listening sessions i cant really do the Elex. It bothers the top of my head.
Honestly if you can try them both i would suggest it. They are both great headphones so i donāt think you can go wrong either way. Different yet absolutely great experiences either way. If one is significantly easier to get then the other maybe just lean that route. 
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thank you both, the juryās still out. actually really want that elex - the soundstage is the key here - but nobodyās selling to Europe
Iāll probably end up with the DT1990 or the Neumanns because I can get them where I live for a very good price
The Anandas were and option up until a minute ago when I found out that the cheaper open-box set ($600) they sell on the HifiMan website is reserved for US and Canada. (
) Donāt think Iād wanna spend $700
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I have both the Elex and Ananda. I have had both of them for about 7 months. I find them to be more complimentary then occupying the same space. The Ananda has a larger sound stage and are more detailed. The Elex is more intimate, has more dymanics in itās smaller sound stage, and the base is punchier. The Elex is like being in the center of a band that is playing around you, while the Ananda is like like setting a few rows from the front in a concert hall. The Elex do have a clipping issue, but that is only with music with loud low base like Hans Zimmer. The Elex is built better and will be more comfortable for more people. The Ananda is quite big and I had to use a ZMF pilot pad to make it fit. Basically they are both great and I would get one then other down the line.
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With the equipment I have I think Iāve found the perfect setup for my Ananda and thatās with of course the SMSL SP200 THX amp and my Modi Multibit which I got back out just for the Ananda. I donāt know why but I thought the Ananda might work well with the Mimby and I was right. The thing about the Mimby is that you need to use well recorded and mastered tracks or it will sound almost distorted at times. Unlike my EL Dac and D50s the Mimby really accentuates the flaws in the recordings more than the other 2 does.
So anyone with a Multibit Dac and you didnāt or donāt like it make sure you use quality recordings or it will sound bad at times. When using a headphone like the Ananda with it and good tracks it can sound wonderful.
Have you ever used the Sundaraās? If so, how would you compare them against the Anandaās? I really enjoy my Sundara/Elex combo and was wondering if the Ananda is worth the upgrade.
Thanks.
Sorry, I havenāt heard the Sundara.