Synergy
Efficiency
With every year and release, HIFIMAN is raising that sensitivity level, and although the 93 dB efficiency rating doesn’t seem very high, the Ananda Unveiled can be pushed with as little as an iFi audio GO blu on the balanced side, with a maximum output of 245mW.
The Ananda Unveiled is one of the most efficient planars I have run into, but it handles power like a champ as well. I liked the results I obtained with the SMSL stack over the EF600.
For example, even though the EF600 boasts a high-current amplifier section, the SH-X has a higher current output, even though it’s op-amp-based.
I did have an instance in which I ran out of power when I used the EF400 on the single-ended side. I got this flappy and unpleasant-sounding aftereffect and had to turn it down to a more moderate level. That was my only quirky experience.
I had a great experience with the balanced output on the same EF400, meaning these are home gear headphones that, to work optimally, require some decent feed, or they won’t lay golden eggs for you.
Pairings
I did like pairing the HIFIMAN Ananda Unveiled with some of the HIFIMAN units I have, like the EF400 and the EF600, just not on the SE side. These units tend to add warmth, which is needed and welcomed with HIFIMAN headphones.
The EF600 was perceivably brighter by a hair on the Ananda Unveiled, and I used the same high gain with the non-oversampling filter and 48kHz files on both models just to be fair and even.
I did use Toppings DX5 II with the Ananda Unveiled, and if it wasn’t for the small correction I made in the PEQ in the lower bass region, the pairing would have been too clinical.
But if you do pair these two, they make a nice analytical combo with the versatility and ability to spice things up if you want to later on.
Of course, if you switch over to iFi audio’s gear equipped with their Burr-Brown warm-sounding DAC section, you get the sense of the gear and their general warm characteristics.
That means the Ananda Unveiled is a good candidate for experimentation since it reveals amplifier and DAC qualities well.
Selected Comparisons
HIFIMAN Ananda Nano
Technical
The last iteration of the Ananda was the Nano, which was treated to HIFIMAN’s Nano membrane, but it’s their first-generation Nao tech compared to the Unveiled’s second-generation membrane.
Another novelty of the Nano was the acoustically invisible stealth magnets they used, but HIFIMAN has now introduced the optimized magnets, which seem to supersede the stealth magnet structure.
The Ananda Nano drivers sit behind HIFIMAN’s window shade grill design, which, in my opinion, was not an obstruction to the Unveiled concept. It was the cloth filters all along.
Design
The Ananda Nano uses the old-style HIFIMAN “ala Sundara” metal spring and headband design. What I didn’t like was the fact that this headband is hard to replace, and I advise taking extra good care of them.
I purchased some headband covers for these on the net, which also added comfort due to the extra cushion that they provided. But the swivel aspect is lacking in this set, and it’s also lacking on the Unveiled variant.
However, that doesn’t detract from their comfort levels. The clamping force is the major factor that affects comfort here.
Other than that, both these models wear pads that are very comfortable, asymmetrical in shape, and easy to replace when needed, which will be sooner or later.
Performance
The Nano variant of the Ananda delivers a speedy performance, and it tends to sound closer to an electrostatic than a dynamic due to the lightweight Nano diaphragm. It’s also the more analytically sounding of the two.
The Nano has that bright character that’s more in line with what we know as the HIFIMAN house sound. The Unveiled veers from this by relaxing the midrange section and adding body and presence to the neutral HIFIMAN bass signature, filling in the blank, as they say.
The Nano also portrays a sharper character that can get metallic, and they can produce S sounds more pronounced, removing smoothness from the overall sonic signature. So move over Nano, there’s a new kid in town.
HIFIMAN Edition XS
Technical
The Edition XS, in my opinion, was one of HIFIMAN’s first headphones that were capable of producing an ample amount of deep bass, which was one of my favorite characteristics of the XS. The Edition XS is a cheek rattler when properly fed.
The Ananda Unveiled will certainly phase out the Edition XS if you give it a chance, and what saves the Edition XS is the price point that HIFIMAN is asking at this time.
Design
The large Edition XS asymmetrical planar driver is adorned by the HIFIMAN window shade system and wears a grey and black theme. HIFIMAN uses the headband design on the XS that was also used on budget models like the HE400SE, but also on high-tier models like the HE-R10P.
The headband is not my favorite HIFIMAN headband design, but it is workable. The comfort level is decent, but I prefer the head strap comfort over the full headband cushion, which can create a small pressure spot on top of your head.
The Ananda Unveiled uses a 6-point clip system on the pads. Meantime, another design uses nine, even though the pad is the same size. That complicates things when you want to freshen them up with new garb. The Ananda Nano uses the 9-point clip system.
But to its credit, this design supplies the user with a comfort level a step above the Ananda Unveiled due to the reduced clamping force. But then again, the strap is preferable over the cushioned headband on the Edition XS.
Performance
The bass response of the XS was perhaps my favorite aspect of the headphone, but only because up to that point, I was unaccustomed to a HIFIMAN headphone with plenty of cheek-rattling bass and found it to be novel.
The Edition XS produces more pronounced sub-bass, but the Ananda Unveiled produces tighter, faster bass that produces more slam. The XS can produce more low-end rumble.
When you listen to the rest of the spectrum, you’ll notice that the Ananda Unveiled is superior in many ways. It produces better layering within the soundstage alongside a midrange response that sounds natural and unveiled compared to the Edition XS.
The Edition XS is warmer in the midrange and is less clinical than the Ananda Unveiled, but it also lacks detail.
The XS tends to get shouty at times, and the treble is not as refined on the XS in general. The Ananda Unveiled generally produces the more natural timbre of the two.
HIFIMAN Arya Unveiled
Technical
The HIFIMAN Arya is another iconic headphone that has gone through many revisions, like the Stealth Magnet model and the Organic variant, to name a couple. The latest revision received the Unveiled treatment and is now considered the best Arya by many, including myself.
I’ve owned every version except for the Stealth variant, but I have heard it extensively. Each version has its own virtues, but there are a few cons with their build quality that shouldn’t detract if your main focus is sound quality.
Design
Sporting perhaps the most iconic HIFIMAN headband design, and the most comfortable headband design they’ve ever made, I prefer the Arya for long listening sessions. Although the Ananda Unveiled is comfortable enough, its clamping force is a tad higher.
The cup design is the same, but the HIFIMAN Arya Unveiled is dressed in a dual-color theme. Some might prefer the monotone silver best, but I like both designs and give the edge to the Arya Unveiled for supplying that visual contrast.
Performance
What do you get for the extra investment? The one area that the Arya Unveiled outperforms the Ananda Unveiled is in the high frequencies, which are generally cleaner and produced with enhanced resolution on the Arya Unveiled.
The bass response is also more accurate, tighter, and produced with better control on the Arya Unveiled. I can also say that the Arya Unveiled produces a soundstage that can reach out further and remain unstretched, sonically speaking.
What surprises me is that most other aspects of their sonic qualities are on par with each other. If it wasn’t for the conducted direct A/B comparison, I would be content with the Ananda Unveiled and would consider it, especially if my budget is not ample enough to obtain an Arya Unveiled.
My Verdict
The HIFIMAN Ananda Unveiled is a set of open-back planar headphones with the latest in the company’s innovations, including a highly resolving sound, high comfort levels, and portable-friendly sensitivity levels. It has a lot going for it.
HIFIMAN has hit paydirt with the Unveiled line, and the Ananda Unveiled is one of those headphones that I would consider a fantastic buy because it sonically performs close to some higher-tier models, even within the present HIFIMAN line.
HIFIMAN Ananda Unveiled Technical Specifications
- Frequency response: 5Hz to 55kHz
- Sensitivity: 93 dB
- Impedance: 22Ω
- Weight: 449g excluding magnetic veils and headphone cable
