This all started several weeks ago when a set of trusty earbuds broke on me. When I thought about it, there were things I didn’t love about them (Cambridge Audio ones), so I got some Pixel Buds Pro as I liked the functionality. I was under no illusions about sound quality. They would sound good enough.

Then I started researching.

Then I kept going. And going. Now I’m sitting here with a Mojo Chord 2 DAC and some Sennheiser HD 6XX and Grado SR80s.

I’m now waiting on some Hifiman Anandas arriving today.

Can someone please tell me to stop, because now I’m browsing Aryas. And the Anandas haven’t even arrived.

I know that I get addicted to deep dives on tech. And this is swallowing me.

I’m fully aware of diminishing returns, and I can tell from how you guys talk about listening to music that I don’t have nearly the same sophistication or vocabulary. That said, I hear a clear difference between my Grados and 6XXs.

I expect I’ll hear *some* difference between Ananda and Arya.

But should I spend a few extra hundred to get there? Will Anandas get me a solid upgrade from the HD 6XX (which I like fine). I can’t help chasing better. Or am I just chasing different at this point?

  • EscaOfficial@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    As someone who has heard bother the Ananda, Arya and 6XX (along with many other headphones). The Arya is not an objective improvement over the Ananda, its just different (but not that different).

    Above this price point you start hitting huge diminishing returns and esoteric tunings. Just stick with Ananda. If you don’t like them, sell them and get something else. Owning the Ananda and Arya is like owning two identical cars with slightly different trims.