The Hifiman Ananda Unveiled and Edition XV are full-sized planar magnetic headphones from Hifiman. Both feature the brand’s typical oval/egg-shaped cup design and a driver with dual sided magnets and the newest “Neo Supernano Gen.2” diaphragm. The Ananda Unveiled has an exposed driver, while the XV has a protective grill.
The Edition XV has very low impedance at 12 ohms and a sensitivity of 92 dB/mW. The Ananda Unveiled has slightly higher impedance at 22 ohms, along with a 93 dB/mW sensitivity.
The XV costs 399 USD, the Ananda Unveiled 549 USD.
HIFIMAN ANANDA UNVEILED SPECIFICATIONS
- Exposed/Unveiled open-back full-size headphones.
- Driver: planar magnetic with dual-sided magnets
- Diaphragm: Neo Supernano Gen.2 (<600nm)
- Impedance: 22 ohms
- Sensitivity: 93 dB/mW
- Cable connectors: 3.5mm sockets on headphone
- Cable: 1.5m black
- Cable termination: 3.5mm with 6.35mm adapter
- Headband: Gen 2 strap design
- Pads: hybrid
- Covers for storage included (magnetic veils)
- Weight: 449g (headphone only)
Current price and availability:
- Amazon: Ananda Unveiled
- AliExpress: Ananda Unveiled
HIFIMAN EDITION XV SPECIFICATIONS
- Type: full-size open-back
- Driver: planar magnetic with dual-sided magnets
- Diaphragm: Neo Supernano Gen.2 (<600nm)
- Impedance: 12 Ohms
- Sensitivity: 92 dB/mW
- Frequency response: 8Hz-50kHz
- Cable connectors: 3.5mm sockets on headphone
- Cable: 1.5m black
- Cable termination: 3.5mm with 6.35mm adapter
- Headband: Gen 2 strap design
- Pads: hybrid
- Weight: 452g
Current price and availability:
- Amazon: Hifiman XV
- AliExpress: Hifiman XV
BUILD AND DESIGN
Hifiman Ananda Unveiled and Edition XV are very similar looking headphones. They share the same diaphragm material but have slightly different drivers, although both use dual-magnet planar magnetic driver designs.
HEADBAND: They both have the Gen.2 headband that’s an arc with a headband strap. The swivel action is better than the previous iterations (Edition XS and Ananda Stealth)
CUPS AND PADS: They have the same oval/egg-shaped cup design and the same hybrid pads.
UNVEILED vs GRILL: A significant difference between them is that the Ananda Unveiled has exposed drivers while the XV has a grill that protects the driver but might give a slight distortion because of reflections. The Ananda Unveiled comes with a pair of protective magnetic shields that you are supposed to attach to the cups for protection when stored.
COMFORT: They feel the same and weigh the same.
CABLES: Both use 3.5 mm connector sockets on the headphone side, with a simple detachable cable supplied. Third-party cables that suit your needs in terms of length and termination are readily available.
LISTENING IMPRESSIONS
Associated equipment:
- Amplifier: Topping A90
- DAC/Amp: Ferrum Erco mk2
The Saint by Berke Özcan
The saxophone has a warmer, darker timbre with the XV, while it feels a bit brighter and crisper with the Ananda Unveiled. When the band enters, the XV sounds warmer, fuller, and darker, while the Ananda sounds lighter with less low-end presence.
Floating by Espen Eriksen Trio
They’re quite different here. The Ananda Unveiled is brighter and lighter, while the XV is fuller and warmer with more bass.
Worried Woman by Andrew Cyrille
The trumpet is brighter and more energetic with the Ananda Unveiled, while the XV has a darker, more laid-back timbre. This is often the main general difference, along with the XV feeling slightly more bassy. The detail level is similar.
Jambi by Tool
Time for some metal. The XV is a bit fatter and richer sounding, with more presence in the bass and midbass. The Ananda Unveiled feels lighter and airier. I prefer the XV here.
Bored by Deftones
More metal: The XV is darker and warmer, the Ananda brighter and crisper. The difference is quite significant. The Ananda Unveiled sounds more airy, the XV more laid-back. Also on this track, I prefer the tuning of the XV.
Escape Route by Boris Blank
The XV has a nice bass and generally a smooth, organic character. The Ananda Unveiled has less bass and feels a bit sharper.
It Could Be Sweet by Portishead
The difference is less significant here, but the XV is still darker and warmer.
Someday My Prince Will Come by Coryell Vitous Quartet
Both the XV and Ananda Unveiled sound excellent, and are quite similar here. Both feel nicely balanced and airy – the bass isn’t overpowering, as it can be with many headphones.
Sunrise by Norah Jones
The Ananda Unveiled sounds very open, with bright and energetic vocals. The XV is generally darker, with more polite vocals. I prefer the Ananda Unveiled here.
Rambling Man by Laura Marling
Also here I prefer the Ananda Unveiled because of its clearer and brighter vocals, along with a very open soundstage and nicely balanced delivery. The XV is darker and more laid-back.
Limit to Your Love by James Blake
First of all, they both have fantastic bass quality and are quite similar in terms of quantity. The vocals are brighter and more forward with the Ananda Unveiled in a very nice way; the XV is more laid-back and darker.
Bullet in the Head by Rage Against the Machine
The XV sounds great, tight and slightly dark. The vocals are a bit polite. The Ananda Unveiled brings the vocals much more to the front, and it also sounds tighter, crisper, and has better separation on this track – I prefer the Ananda Unveiled here.
Young Vivaldi by Modo Antiquo
The Ananda Unveiled sounds excellent: very detailed and energetic, with a bright but not overly sharp timbre. The XV is much more laid-back; it is darker and smoother. I prefer the Ananda Unveiled here.
Summer 3 Vivaldi Recomposed by Max Richter
This orchestral piece can sound a bit muffled with dark-sounding headphones. The XV sounds very nice, but the Ananda Unveiled brings everything a bit more forward. It’s brighter and crisper, with more articulate detail and texture.
WRAPPING IT UP
Sound Signature
Broadly speaking, the Ananda Unveiled and Edition XV are not too far away from each other, and both are relatively close to neutral, but they are different.
In general, the XV has a bit more bass presence, a darker but warmer midrange, and more laid-back highs.
The Ananda Unveiled is generally crisper and brighter, both in the midrange and the treble.
However, because both have some ups and downs in their frequency response curves, the perceived difference varies from track to track.
Treble
The treble is generally brighter and more airy with the Ananda Unveiled, and slightly darker and more laid-back with the Edition XV.
Midrange
The midrange tends to be crisper and more upfront with the Ananda Unveiled, and slightly darker and more laid-back with the XV. However, the degree of difference depends a bit from track to track and on which frequencies are most dominant.
Bass
Both have great bass quality, and the quantity is pretty similar. The XV is perceived as more bassy most of the time. It has a less bright tuning.
Soundstage and Imaging
The soundstage of the Ananda Unveiled feels more airy and larger, helped by the brighter tuning. The XV is slightly more intimate but still very good. Imaging is pretty much on par; it depends a bit from track to track.
Detail, Dynamics, and Timbre
The general detail level is very similar between the two. However, more often than not, I find the Ananda Unveiled to feel a bit more detailed, with more articulate textures in the midrange and treble.
In terms of general timbre, the bass is very similar. The midrange and treble are, as mentioned, darker and more laid-back with the XV and crisper and brighter with the Ananda Unveiled.
CONCLUSION
Overall, the Hifiman Ananda Unveiled and Edition XV are two excellent, closely related planar magnetic headphones that visually differ most by the “open back driver” of the Ananda Unveiled vs. the more traditional grill of the Edition XV.
The XV leans darker and warmer, with a bit more bass presence and a more laid-back midrange and treble, while the Ananda Unveiled is brighter, crisper, and airier, with a slightly larger soundstage and typically a bit more detail. Bass quality and quantity are close between the two, and comfort is identical.
Which one suits you best comes down to whether you prefer a warmer, more relaxed presentation or a brighter, more energetic one. Further, at 399 USD versus 549 USD, the XV also offers stronger value for those who favor its signature.
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