I think this is going to end up another Elex situation where the price will have to fall to boost sales. Why buy this when you can get the edition X2 used for around the same price? Who needs mid-fi open back planars that are easy to drive anyway?
HelpbotSo far I like them more than the Elex, and much more than the 6XX and HE-4XX. Given the reduced price of the Ananda recently and what the X2 can be found for used, these are an average, not spectacular deal.
robo24What do you have to run those headphones? I didn't love the Elex until I tube swapped the cth. Then I kept the 600 over the 6xx. What are some of your favorite qualities of the XX edition?
HelpbotMostly Hugo 2, but also Woo WA7 or Loxjie P20 both via SMSL SU-8. Hmm, being relatively new to the hobby I'm not great with descriptions and correct vocabulary. Only about 10-15 hours on the XX so far, but the soundstage is wonderful and seems to exceed that of my HD 820 and HD 700. They are a bit warmer than both of those, especially the HD 700. The overall sound is similar to the 6XX (which I sold to buy these so can't directly compare) but with a much more impressive soundstage. They should market these as a Super 6XX instead of the Elex, which never struck me is similar. The only other HiFiMans I've heard are the He-4XX, which always seemed to lack details or much of a wow factor, which in comparison the XX clearly has.
robo24I would say you explained your experience very well. Greater Soundstage than the hd700? Maybe this is something I need to look into after all. I've heard the Elex compared to the hd600, but I wouldn't entertain that idea either.
I've been looking for something to replace the sense of being enveloped in the music like the HD 700/800 but I dislike their sound signatures. Thank you for the write up.
They were 799 at can jam LA... fairly sure they were 50 less at Axpona... I've also seen some other sales on websites, Twitter, etc... when the bluetooth ananda came out the price for the normal dropped, at that time, a bit too... all these without tax too mind you.
zep483I get all that but where can I get them, today, for $750 as you stated? I've been waffling over the CX and HEXX but if I can get a new Ananda for as cheap as you stated, I'd be all over it.
jaydunndidditHonestly I think the CX is the superior headphone out of those three... money considered. But I have not heard the edition Xx yet... if it does what the arya does... then I'm in... the ananda in comparison is rather focused and compressed for what you get... it's no arya... but has a better FR than the arya... if the arya had the FR of the ananda I would have paid the 1279 for it at Can Jam... Arya is close to perfect. CX I think is superior to the ether c flow in my opinion... maybe not in build, but it sounds more natural to me.
HelpbotWell it's got a great soundstage for a closed back... no where near as good as like a verite or an arya, but it's better than like a 600... it has a natural, mildly narrower than neutralish soundstage... about the same as kph30i.