I've been using the XS w the EX5 (neutral ss amp) and the Mt 604 ( hybrid tube ) and I totally agree w your take on amplification, the XS feels more alive and dynamic on the 604 than on the EX5, It really likes tubes.

@Shared Good that we agree on this, thanks!

Do you guys think this would be an upgrade to an HE-560 (the old model, wood) ?

Planars move a lot of air and usually have great slam (to my ear), why do you say planars don't have good slam?

@tiaocunha in my opinion definitely

@szore dynamic headphones usually offer more kick and slam, but that's about it when were talking dynamic vs Planar IMO

How long did you burn them in for? I'm sitting here now listening to my 2C's...I got slam, baby,...but to be honest I do not have experience with DD headphones, i'm a planar guy...

What do you think would be the better buy, a used Ananda or a new Edition XS? I like to use EQ on my headphones - if that would sway it either way.

@szore I've used majority of headphones released in the last 15 years, its not the case with just this model

Yeah, if you'll listen to some good DD headphones you'll know what Im talking about, they got a different slam. But other than that, Im 100% j to Planars

@anjaudiofile I'd probably go for the new XS sińce you'll have the warranty. If you plan to EQ you can get them both to sound extremely close to each other, so close that they could be basically the same

Can you recommend to me a good open back DD headphone? around $1K?

@szore get a used Focal Clear OG, the gray one...its brilliant

Hated it. I hate Focal. I reviewed the Celestee, wouldn't give you $250 for it. Don't mean to be hard, just saying.

Just some fact-checking:
- Sundara's do have Stealth magnets.
- Earcups I believe are Alu. I have looked inside. The cups to me are metal, with a plastic sub-chassis glued to the metal on the inside . Sundara is same.
- The back grill is also metal, however, sadly no attempt has gone into adressing its ringing effect. Just pluck one of the bars with your finger nail (like a guitar) and hear them ring, all 11 of them to more or less degree. I am convinced the treble Hotness is partly due to this reonance. I modified mine slightly and the hotness is almost gone.
- Stealth magnets look nothing like the advertised pictures. The magnet bars if not protected can rust easily, so HFM gives them a coating-like black skin that not only protects them but also rounds off the sharp edges - Hey presto! - stealth magnets are born. They are effective. (look at HE560's magnets for comparison)

Great review. I have an Ananda and like it a lot, but am always thinking about the next best thing. Pretty much all your gear is on my list. Is there a good jump in performance from the Ananda to Arya? Arya to HEKSE? HEKSE to D8000? Where do the big diminishing returns start to you, if at all?

@227qed thank you!

Yeah, I think that Arya is a good jump in performance to the Ananda, and the HEKSE to the Arya. Also, the HEKSE is technically more capable than the D8000, and regarding the D8000Pro...I will publish a Battle Of The Flagships type of article on March, so wont spoil too much

@szore you tried the Celeste or Clear? I didnt like the Celeste as well

@Kentajalli you are a yet another person that states that Sundara has Stealth Magnets, but as far as Ive checked, researched and actually asked a Hifiman REP...no, they dont. Stealth Revision is NOT a Stealth Magnets revision.


Do you have any link that would confirm that the Sundara has the Stealth Magnets? I've looked for it and never found a thing