Sensitivity: : 94dB
Impedance: : 14Ω
Weight: : 419.6g
Total Score
Introduction
Greetings to everyone from mid-September. Today I’m here with a review that is actually a bit late, but I think it’s just the right time because of the constant discounts. With the price-performance king Ananda Nano from Hifiman, the lord of the over-ear community.
Let’s see how Ananda Nano is to buy these days with its current price?
I bought the product myself with the purpose of writing an independent review. After listening to it for about 150 hours, I started writing my review.
Design & Build
Very plain and simple standard Hifiman box. But this time there is a difference. Instead of a foam stand, a carrying case comes out of the box. I like this very much, it will be easy to take it to meetings 🙂
The Hifiman Ananda Nano has a different headband design than the Ayras, which are unique to the Ananda series. I, who has a medium-sized head, found it comfortable, but a friend of mine with a very large head (he claims that his brain is also very big) found the Ananda Nano uncomfortable compared to the Arya series. Apart from that, I like the comfort and build quality of the Ananda Nano, but the fact that the cups don’t rotate left and right is a minus point.
The Hifiman Ananda Nano comes with a boring-looking but highly functional 3m cable. I like it because my desk and bed are so close, I can sit back and enjoy the music.
Synergy
I think Hifiman headphones deserve to be paired with the best sources, so I paired the Hifiman Ananda Nano with the best sources I had at hand, the Hiby RS8 and Astell Kern KANN ULTRA.
The Ananda Nano is relatively easier to drive than the Arya series. It gets along better with DAPs. Tonally it’s almost completely neutral, so you’re actually listening to the sound of the source.
Hifiman Ananda Nano With Hiby RS8
I’m listening with the Hiby RS8 at 44/100 volumes at H gain. Turbo is on. The RS8 has plenty of power. I’m listening at full performance. The turbo on or off affects the sound a lot, so I’m going to write the comments you’re about to read taking the turbo on into account.
I immediately felt that a bit of midbass was added to the sound and that the RS8 warmed the sound very slightly. Overall I hear a sound where instruments and vocals are in a similar order. There is a lot of dynamism in the sound and at the same time comfort. This match produces a result that is both full and analytical. The RS8 unlocks the full technical potential of the Hifiman Ananda Nano while adding a sweet color. This color creates a little thrust at the junction of the mid-upper parts and adds a little body to the lower frequencies. The sound is still very close to neutral, and the RS8 is not a DAP that is very far from neutral. I like the resulting sound. My score for this pairing is 9.5/10. Of course, this is an unusual and imbalanced (prices) pairing, but it’s not always fun to do the ordinary 😉
Hifiman Ananda Nano With Astell Kern KANN ULTRA
First of all, let me say that I usually recommend a desktop source for headphones no matter what. But in this pairing, the Astell Kern KANN ULTRA drives the Nano 100%. very comfortably. The 88/150 volume level is more than enough in H gain. With super gain mode on, I listen at 80.
How’s the sound? It’s just like the KANN Ultra, powerful and neutral-midcentric. I put on Alchemy by Dire Straits and enjoyed the drums and guitars throughout the whole album. For some of you, the warmth and body may not be enough, but I really enjoyed this sound as it is. My rating is 8/10.
Sound
The Hifiman Ananda Nano is first and foremost a headphone where you get pure sound for your money. Just like other Hifiman products. We’ve previously reviewed Edition XS, Arya Stealth, Arya Organic on this site, and what these products, including the Ananda Nano, have in common is a goal of pure sound. Hifiman Ananda Nano carries this vision very successfully. What it offers you is nothing compared to its price.
Tonally it’s very, very close to neutral, with a very slight midbass and upper treble coloration, but almost completely neutral. The general habit is to lie down in the heat, so this headset may even feel a little cold to some of you. But never dry or unpleasant in any way. I found the sound very delightful with a source that was even the tiniest bit hot.
Bass
Open back and planar. Yes, don’t look for the density of dynamic drivers. But it has a great extension for a planar driver. And it’s very fast and very good in terms of texture. The note weight and body saves the day with light midbass coloration.
Mid
This place is exquisite. The Hifiman Ananda Nano has very well layered and very transparent mids. It has plenty of space in this range and offers a very relaxed listening experience. It can deliver multi-instruments without losing nuances. The vocal-instrument balance is very well calibrated. It’s as if they are all in the same order, but standing back and forth and back and forth. What I’m trying to say is that in this range the sound is not like a paper, there is great separation and positioning.
Treble
The highs are the breaking point of this headphone. If they were a bit more extended they would be annoying, but they are in a very sweet spot. They provide just the right amount of excitement and then they retreat. Moreover, they add refreshment to the overall sound with slightly increased air frequencies. The Hifiman Ananda Nano has energetic trebles that border on neutral, and that’s why I say almost neutral, but there’s no sibilance or hiss, it’s caressing.
There’s a lot of microdetail feedback in this space and it’s quite fast. That must be the gift of the thin diaphragm.
Technique
The resolution is too high. It’s too high for this price. The sound is very detailed. Layering, separation and positioning are great across the entire spectrum. The Hifiman Ananda Nano has incredible imaging capabilities even in 2025. However, the sound it produces is realistic and natural. Very natural? No, but natural nonetheless.
Last Words
The Hifiman Ananda Nano is available for $369 on Hifiman’s official sales page. Honestly, this price is nothing compared to what the Ananda Nano offers you. I think this headset is being sold too cheap. If you’re not someone who has already found your endgame and listens to high-end equipment, don’t even hesitate to buy it. Goodbye until the next review.
