Your list looks pretty good. However, if I’m being honest, I would probably do the argons over the ori and save yourself some money. The ori seems nice and I would love to hear it but I think at that high of a price for a t50 mod, you’re kinda losing the price to performance quite a bit. The mods can change the overall sound but you’ll be able to find much higher quality drivers with better resolution at that price. I also think that the custom cups would be be making them too heavy, even with the comfort strap. So I’d look at the argons over the ori at less than half the price. Or I’d even put the aeons above the ori. The drivers will be much more capable and they’ll be one of the most comfortable headphones you’ll own.
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So I hadn’t really looked at them too much. Just saw that they are now $700. Watched a bunch of reviews specifically looking for comparisons with the Elex and the Sundaras. There’s quite a few comparisons with the Elex that I found. Seems to be a toss up whether someone likes one over the other. It also seems to be just different enough to be worth keeping the Sundaras, but similar enough that what I liked about the Sundaras isn’t completely going away. Am so fucking tempted to pull the trigger (even though I was planning to wait a month). I think what I keep reading that entices me is just being more ‘grand’ sounding and more detailed than most of the other options in the range.
The only thing that I haven’t heard is how well it pairs with an Archel 2.5 Pro. However, given the ease of driving it (and how much I like this amp), it seems like it should be fine.
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Which ones are you talking about? The aeons?
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Oh the Anandas right? I’ve personally considered them myself to be honest so I’m sure if you like the sundaras, you’d like them. And yeah I don’t think they’d make the sundaras obsolete but you’d obviously find yourself pulling for those more often I’m sure lol.
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I have your same amp/dac with the Elex and it pairs really well imo so I would recommend it. Unfortunately I haven’t tried the Sundara for a comparison. From what I’ve read the Ananda would have slightly less detail and less dynamics but it has a bigger soundstage. If you rather go on the direct upgrade route then maybe consider a used Arya.
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I would try the Edition XX over the Anandas
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The Arya is the best. its fantastic actually. I got mine used for 1100$ and thats a good price. But i find im liking my Auteur more lately. But the Big drivers the Arya have are marvelous. especially for detail. The other night i was listening to B52’s “Girl from Ipanema” Theres a lot going on in that song and maybe its the mastering, but it gets a little muddy in the Auteur. But in my Arya. i could hear everything no problem. There was a LOT of space between the sounds.
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Haha, yes. I’ve been browsing the higher end headphones, and the Arya is at the top of the list. My big issue however, is spending more than a $1000 on a singular pair of headphones 
. In addition, I feel like I need to hear them first if I’m gonna shell out that much cash. Lastly, there seems to be a lot more viable options with a lot fewer noticeable flaws than at the lower price bracket (<$1000), so it makes it an even harder choice.
If I could find the Arya’s for $1100, that’d probably be the play.
I keep hearing about driver clipping issues :/. Also, the detail thing seems to be a tossup. There’s comparisons throwing the advantage to both. The dynamics seems to be fully on the Elex’s side however.
Hmm. Looking. I hate that headband though. Hate might be a strong word. I’d say I feel distinctly uncomfortable with the longevity and build quality of that design (is still comfortable af). Especially compared to the Sundaras (same as Anandas). It looks like the same one on the 4xx?
Yea. Especially if it is what it looks like and the Sundaras would be better for gaming and the Anandas just better for most other things. Or just use the Sundaras for commuting and work and Anandas for home. Same thing would happen with the Elex’s most likely.
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You have to really be pushing it hard in the bass to get them to clip, it’s not a common event, and most people shouldn’t encounter it unless they are trying to boost bass a ton or drive it really hard
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Yeah i didnt lol. My thing is to do research and go around and watch all the reviews on it. even then i dont buy them but when i hear a lot about it like its headphone of the year then i will go ahead and buy. i havnt been dissapointed with that strategy yet. If i dont like something i can usually send it back anyway or sell it.I wanted to go to canjam this year but with corona doesnt look like thats gonna happen.
The Elex is a amazing headphone. ive heard clipping but only when i turn it up crazy loud. dont think its gonna be a problem. and detail is excellent on them, dont worry about that. The Elex imo are the best headphones you can buy under 600$ and under. maybe even 1000$ and under
Yeah it doesnt have a suspention band. Which helps with comfort. but if its hard on your head you can put a headband cover on it. I tell something it does have though. TILT AND SWIVEL! every headphone at this price range should have it. hear that BIG EXPENSIVE HEADPHONE COMPANIES! >.<
Anyway this headphone is not for sale at Drop anymore. but you can find it still on Amazon
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Hahaha, yea. The only thing is, The Sundaras feel absolutely perfect on my head. If the Anandas have the same headband and better earcups, I should have zero issue with them
Yea, I went looking for it. From what I read, the Ananda has the upper hand in everything except potential head size adjustments and boomy bass.
In regards to the Elex, I want to, but I even with the fact that it might have some advantages over the Ananda, I still can’t bring myself to get it 
. As far as I can tell it has some real flaws, even if they are uncommon or brought up in rare situations. Even though Hifiman’s qc is shite, it seems like Massdrop/Focal’s has some issues too. Since it seems like the Ananda’s characteristics are more up my alley, and the risk of a dud is similar it looks like I’ll be grabbing the Anandas first.
The headphone of the year thing sounds reasonable 
. I kinda want to be a rebel though. The Anandas seem like the forgotten headphone. Also, I’ve already decided on the next amp purchase, but that’s gonna be a long ways away (Tor Audio Balanced). Am attracted to the fact that I haven’t really heard anything bad about the Anandas or the Tor Amps, just very minor nitpicks in comparison to other products in the same price range. If I’m wrong about the Anandas, I can always return, sell, or trade em, so I’m not too worried (also asurion 3 year insurance is probably worth grabbing anyways cause potential duds or defects).
Thank you all for all your input, help, and understanding
Aw thats a shame. The Elex really sounds great. and is a reference headphone i think. I had the Ananda and just too much treble and a what i perceived as a lack of midrange. i really didnt like it. I haven’t heard the Edition XX but i hear its great. And the only way imo to get those wonderful massive drivers hifiman have been doing. dont underestimate bass. its a big deal for headphones. one of my favorite headphones is the Fostex Ebony. that bass is so nice lol. but yeah it doesnt have a suspension headbands, those are pretty comfortable.
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