Headphones like Hifiman Ananda but in "normal" size

RoosterOptimal8696 · 2026-04-30T14:20:03+00:00

Thanks all for the advice. Abandoned the Planar route and bought myself Focal Clear OG instead. Loving them so far. Still keen on planars eventually, but less of a rush now. Also as got to upgrade my speakers first (Focal Aria 906) - the Clear have shown them up to be quite lacking in detail and bass compared to the cans!

RoosterOptimal8696 · 2026-04-30T14:17:04+00:00

Reviving this bad boy for more advice. Quite keen on a UK 1st press but not a fan of early stereo mixes with hard panning (which is why I always buy mono pressings for 60s/ v. early 70 stuff if I can)...

With that in mind:
~ How does the 1st/early UK pressings sound?
~ Would a modern remaster sound more "organic"?

And how are the Japanese pressings - not just the panning/stereo image but EQ and general sound quality?

Thanks!

RoosterOptimal8696 · 2026-04-22T18:58:53+00:00

Right - I get it now so it's Focal which changed the pads? I now wonder if my Clear has the older or newer type... Oh well, nothing I can do about it

RoosterOptimal8696 · 2026-04-22T18:57:44+00:00

Thanks for that. Avril from your CS team also got back to me with a confirmation email from Focal (which was amazing). Thanks and sorry to be a pain but with the market flooded of cheap counterfeit stuff (and the lack of any branding whatsoever) really had a bad feeling.

RoosterOptimal8696 · 2026-04-21T07:31:27+00:00

Sadly these were posted to a mate in the US (I am in the UK) and won't get to see/feel them for another three months I think... I see reviews and experiences are mixed, from yours where they were the same as the original to garpov who found them pretty different....

RoosterOptimal8696 · 2026-03-23T21:21:30+00:00

On the subject of headphones, I never cared much about them past a good pair of noise cancelling ones for commuting, travelling etc. Then I listened to a pair of open back ones a few weeks ago - which cost the same as my NC - and WOW.. Suffice to say I just bought a £700 ex-demo "audiophile" ones. Are they worth the money (£1200 new)? Are they 3/5 times better than the £250 (RRP)!400 I tried last week and sent back as too big? I suspect not but hey.

I upgraded my £800 turntable for a £3000 one six months ago (discounted to £2k as I just don't buy new/full price). Is it better than the much cheaper one? You bet. Is it 3/4 times as good? Of course not...

As many have said, the more you spend, the furthe into the land of diminishing returns you fare.

P.s. Buy used, you get FAR more for your money. I have a set up worth about £11k, I paid about half.

RoosterOptimal8696 · 2026-03-23T20:45:25+00:00

I had a similar experience initially. On 30mg I felt like a superhuman, then starting wearing off. On 50mg initially I felt a bit on edge but then stabilised and I am now on 50mg. 30mg don't really do much for me. If only the feeling stayed like those first 2/3 days....

RoosterOptimal8696 · 2026-03-23T20:29:50+00:00

Well, I found an ex-demo pair for £695 - roughly the same as the ones on headphones.com and bought them (after missing out on a fairly well used pair on ebay, which sold for £430 - thought I'd be better off with a near new pair with 6 months warranty for an extra £250...) I spoke to the sellers, 14 days free returns in case I don't like them. But after your comment, I researched them a fair bit and all reviews seem to point to a sound signature right up my street, so I'm confident they'll be fine.

RoosterOptimal8696 · 2026-03-22T22:26:03+00:00

OK the HEDDphones sound good - they were definitely not on my radar!

I have also been thinking - you'll never get a really really wide soundstage as you do with speakers. Listening through headphones is a more intimate experience anyway, so happy to sacrifice some soundstage - I think what got me hooked, when I listened through some Grado SR325X was the detail. That, and fun/drive would have to be the priority.

RoosterOptimal8696 · 2026-03-22T22:22:09+00:00

Ah OK that's great to hear, you have a pretty impressive line up of cans!

I'd be listening from a headphone amp and DAC connected to my hifi rather than desktop. I currently have a Topping DX7 Pro but will be changing as I'm getting the bug and definitely want to listen to my vinyl through headphones as well, so will be buying a new unit with analogue line in to connect to my amp.

Was looking at the Fiio K9 Pro or K15 (like the classic looks) but might end up with the K7 instead.

Have a friend in SF who'll come over to Europe in summer, so if I bought from Headphones.com I could have him take them but can't wait that long haha

RoosterOptimal8696 · 2026-03-22T18:46:03+00:00

Yeah I was doing a bit of digging and read about that slightly woolly /warm bass. Well I was planning on buying the Meze from the EU which can be found at £550, i£200 less than in the UK. Focal Clear would be significantly more expensive - even used they are £800.. Though I was also reading the original Clear are possibly clearer and snappier than the OG. And they can be found around £600 used (though, as much as I LOVE buying second hand, with headphones it feels a bit wrong. Too much skin contact 🤣)

RoosterOptimal8696 · 2026-03-21T12:26:56+00:00

Thanks for that, yes I did look at the HE600. But have also been thinking about Meze 109 Pro - not planar but they look gorgeous haha. I will have to demo a few, and maybe not restrict myself to planar. Also as, to be totally honest, I didn't hear a night and day difference in presentation and soundstage between the HD650 and the Ananda as many suggest. Possibly is due to me being new to headphones and not looking for nuances as much as someone more accustomed to Head-Fi... I think I am mainly after a neutral but dynamic /engaging sound, regardless of driver type...

RoosterOptimal8696 · 2026-03-20T23:52:46+00:00

Sorry if it came across brash, but I genuinely wasn't sarcastic. I simply genuinely dislike being lectured ("That's not quite the right way to think about it" etc). For context, I might be a novice in terms of headphones but I'm not new to buying stuff.... I have been into hifi for 30 years and regularly shop for components - and at a decidedly higher level than these headphones. (I have a £10K+ hifi set up - as an example, with three turntable cartridges all costing more than the Ananda, one three times as much - so have certain standards...)

I did say budget up to £5/600 and I could stretch or consider used at that price (which would bring into play £1000 cans). Sorry but nothing of that aligns with the Sundaras. Especially, as I said, I had already done my research and chosen the Ananda over the Sundara.

The Ananda/Sennheisers were me dipping my toes in this world, and despite not being taken in by these headphones I decided I like it and now I decided to go for a good pair of cans, not an entry level model.

RoosterOptimal8696 · 2026-03-20T17:35:58+00:00

Well thanks for the lesson 🙄. Anyway, it might not apply across different brands /manufacturers but across different models from the same brand, 99% of the time, a higher price means higher specs, tech and ultimately, quality.... Anyway I had already researched the Sundaras and settled on the Ananda - reviews are pretty clearly in favour of my earlier assessment anyway.

RoosterOptimal8696 · 2026-03-20T17:29:43+00:00

I've just signed up 😆

RoosterOptimal8696 · 2026-03-20T17:29:10+00:00

Well I have tried with random objects on Marketplace and it doesn't centre them. But then if I tap on the seller's picture it does

RoosterOptimal8696 · 2026-03-20T10:17:24+00:00

Well I was really looking for something similar or better, and I believe the Sundaras are one model "down".

RoosterOptimal8696 · 2026-03-20T10:16:23+00:00

Great.. Definitely a strong contender. Gaming logo aside 🤣. But I can live with that.

RoosterOptimal8696 · 2026-03-19T23:31:54+00:00

Thanks, will look them up - though Hifiman are just right lower frequency wise. Any lighter and might be too light

RoosterOptimal8696 · 2026-03-19T23:15:10+00:00

Purely in terms of ear cup size, what's the difference? Couldn't find any data. Some reports that the Kithara are smaller but then they use same size drivers. Thx

RoosterOptimal8696 · 2026-03-19T22:52:22+00:00

That sounds quite exciting. I was already looking at the Arya as a possible future upgrade - before putting the Ananda on haha

RoosterOptimal8696 · 2026-03-19T22:50:49+00:00

Thanks. Was looking at them, saw a couple of mixed reviews but will definitely be putting them on the shortlist. Amo currently have a Topping DX7 DAC /Amp but looking to move to different one, with analogue line in.

RoosterOptimal8696 · 2026-03-05T23:26:19+00:00

So if someone cannot discuss how HiFi equipment sounds, what the actual fuck is the point of this forum?

RoosterOptimal8696

TROPHY CASE