Planar magnetic headphones used to be the kind of thing you’d spend $500 or more to get into. The HIFIMAN Ananda changed that conversation when it launched, and at $249, it moves that conversation further still. That’s $150 off its $399 list price for a full-size open-back planar magnetic headphone that competes with options costing considerably more, and it’s the deal I’d point any serious listener toward right now.
What you’re getting
The driver technology is what sets the Ananda apart at this price. Planar magnetic drivers use a thin membrane suspended between magnetic arrays to produce sound, which results in lower distortion, faster transient response, and a more detailed presentation than conventional dynamic drivers typically offer at this price point. HIFIMAN’s Stealth Magnet design takes that further by shaping the magnets to reduce acoustic interference, giving the sound a cleaner, more open quality than earlier planar designs.
The presentation
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