In the present day, James evaluations the HIFIMAN ANANDA-BT R2R, a pair of wi-fi BT5.1 open-back planar headphones with built-in R2R amplification. They’re priced at $799
Disclaimer: This pattern was despatched to me in alternate for my sincere opinion. Headfonics is an impartial web site with no affiliate hyperlinks or standing. I thank the staff at HIFIMAN for his or her assist.
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This text follows our present scoring guidelines which you’ll learn in additional element right here.
The HIFIMAN ANANDA-BT R2R is a second-generation model of the 2020 wi-fi, open-back ANANDA BT Planar headphones. It comes with HIFIMAN’s upgraded proprietary Hymalaya R2R decoding module.
The ANANDA-BT R2R options a number of different enhancements over its predecessor, together with a built-in microphone, boosted playback time from 8 to 10 hours, and the flexibleness to make use of it wirelessly or wired over USB-C cabling.
Most significantly, it’s priced considerably decrease than the unique model at $799. I don’t suppose there are lots of choices for an R2R open-back planar headset at this value level until you need to go wired or drop right down to the DEVA Pro, making this probably the most effective wire-free experiences out there in the present day!
Options
HIFIMAN has integrated their FPGA-based Hymalaya R2R DAC module and a Bluetooth 5.1 module supporting LDAC, aptX, and aptX HD for a wi-fi connection that may decode as much as 24Bit/96kHz.
The cable offered additionally helps a USB-C connection. You may immediately plug it right into a PC or a cellphone that helps USB audio output, and the ANANDA-BT R2R will mechanically be put into USB decoding mode.
The ANANDA-BT R2R planar driver is supplied with Stealth Magnets to suppress interference and forestall sound degradation, which is as much as par with the remainder of the model’s lineup. In the event you take away the foams, you’ll discover their iconic waveguides designed to boost the accuracy of the sonic output.
To boost effectivity, the design contains extremely skinny diaphragms measuring simply 1 to 2 microns in thickness, complementing the planar design to supply even sooner response speeds.
The ANANDA-BT R2R is rated at 25Ω and 103 dB/mW in sensitivity, which isn’t too demanding and might be fairly effectively pushed by the inbuilt R2R module.
It is usually environment friendly sufficient to elongate the playback time by 2 hours in comparison with the predecessor from 2019.
Design
The traditional look of the ANANDA-BT R2R model carefully resembles the unique mannequin launched in 2019. It additionally options the enduring stripes on a darkish framework, a sturdy hybrid headband, and a cushty asymmetrical ear cup design.
The joint could also be barely stiff while you first use it, however it will get higher after a number of makes use of, or you may apply a little bit of lubrication if you would like it to slip smoother.
HIFIMAN has made important enhancements by integrating two microphones into the housing in comparison with the one, plugged-in microphone of the 2019 model.
This twin microphone system contains cVc 8.0 noise discount know-how, successfully filtering out reverberations and ambient noises throughout convention calls or cellphone conversations whereas on the transfer.
The battery of the ANANDA-BT R2R model fees in below 3 hours and maintains its punchy and highly effective sound high quality even after 8-9 hours of playback, making it appropriate for each day use.
You may cost the ANANDA-BT R2R by way of USB-C when linked over Bluetooth however when utilizing a wired connection it doesn’t cost the headphones throughout playback.
Consolation & Isolation
The ANANDA-BT R2R incorporates a comparatively giant ear-cup design with sufficient clamping pressure, guaranteeing a safe match across the ears.
The stress is excellent for transferring round with out the necessity to readjust it even after an hour of listening whereas doing family chores.
This steady and comparatively light-weight construct offers a cushty expertise, permitting listeners to detach from the desktop setup and stay barely conscious of ambient sounds.
Controls
On the underside of the earcups, you’ll discover an On/Off button and a Perform Button. You press the ability button twice to enter the headphones pairing mode.
The On/Off button additionally doubles because the play/pause button, you can even press it as soon as when a name is available in or while you need to finish a name or to carry it for two seconds to reject it.
Though HIFIMAN has an app for updating the firmware on Bluetooth units and helps native media administration with TIDAL and Spotify built-in, it doesn’t appear to be the ANANDA-BT R2R is supported but.
I do hope HIFIMAN considers strengthening the App options with DSP/EQ assist and permitting some management over the Codecs which might improve the person expertise.
Bluetooth Stability & Vary
The ANANDA-BT R2R connects flawlessly over 5m throughout the lounge with a barely stronger sign energy than my MacBook Air.
The connection energy is adequate when streaming from the laptop computer and for the person to roam round. Even when streaming over LDAC from my cellphone the connection stays steady throughout a number of meters with no intermittent sign drop.
Packaging & Equipment
The packaging of the ANANDA-BT R2R follows the identical design language seen on their latest headphone releases such because the Mini Shangri-La.
Person directions are printed on the packaging, and upon opening it, you’ll uncover the ANANDA-BT R2R enclosed in a protecting case, together with two USB cables in a small pouch – a USB-A to USB-C cable and a USB-C to USB-C cable for connection to USB sources.
Sound Impressions
I gave the ANANDA-BT R2R greater than 50 hours of break-in time earlier than placing down the under impressions. I used the ANANDA-BT R2R in wi-fi mode linked to my MacBook and my cellphone with an LDAC connection.
Abstract
I solely personal the ANANDA NANO and never the last-generation ANANDA BT, but I’ve had the chance to demo it twice. I preferred the tuning and energy, however at the moment, I believed it will be nicer to boost the element retrieval energy within the mids and provides the treble a bit extra air, which may assist pump up the dynamics.
The ANANDA-BT R2R improves on these areas, delivering well-separated mids, richer texture, and a W-shaped tuning that emphasizes the dynamics and richness of the mid-lows.
The R2R implementation additionally thickens the vocal notes, elaborating harmonics with stronger texture and meatiness, and rendering the treble extra natural-sounding. There’s a good stage of separation and pace that aligns with my expectations for a Planar-based design.
Just like my expertise with another units that concurrently assist Bluetooth and USB connection, you may hear USB decoding producing higher output high quality.
Particularly, the treble sounds extra refined and managed. Subsequently, it’s endorsed to plug it in whereas sitting in entrance of the PC and unplug the cable when it’s important to roam round.
Bass
I used to be frightened {that a} wi-fi, open-back setup wouldn’t have adequate energy to drive the planar drivers, particularly with R2R tech that will typically sound softer on weaker energy sources.
Nonetheless, the skinny NSD membrane will be very effectively pushed by the R2R module to ship strong assaults as if listening to a wired setup.
A refined rumble will be heard, and the higher bass has a slight elevation, offering adequate however not extreme vitality when listening indoors, notably with pop music and streaming content material.
Testing with Classical music that has consecutive, highly effective bass assaults, the ANANDA-BT R2R is sort of responsive, managing to take care of its pace properly, sounding clear and textured whereas delivering the bass with good energy.
When switching to pop and EDM tracks, the ANANDA-BT R2R also can sustain properly in pace whereas delivering the decrease bass with passable richness and layering with none battle. The higher bass is barely dipped to permit the vocal to chop by way of clearly with out letting the bass bleed over.
The bass packs good punching energy and sounds fairly expansive. In the event you use it outside it might be useful to spice up the bass stage by a number of dB as that is an open design.
Mids
The midrange efficiency is the spotlight of this design, doubtless due to the newly applied R2R module that colours the vocal vary extra vividly and the tuning boosts the vocal vary barely for readability.
Acoustic devices and the vocal are well-empowered, sounding energetic and fairly intimate in positioning, with a small increase within the higher mids that strengthens its presence and penetration energy, favoring guitars and different string devices on the similar time.
The tuning additionally provides a stronger sense of separation because the vocals stand out fairly a bit from the backing devices.
There’s a good sense of texture and weight in comparison with the ANANDA NANO powered by solid-state amplifiers, which sounds extra impartial.
In the event you join the ANANDA-BT R2R utilizing USB-C outputs, you may really feel the vocal physique or devices throughout the mid-bass holding collectively a denser picture. The layering and positioning is additional enhanced.
Treble
When linked wirelessly the ANANDA-BT R2R is barely shy in treble energy regardless of the higher mids area being boosted so as to add to the vocal penetration energy.
That is most likely the limitation with a wi-fi design although HIFIMAN tunes it properly to sound rounded however not curtained. With an open-back design, there’s adequate air and openness, whereas there’s additionally good roundness so voices, strings, and woodwinds will not be too sharp.
Violins and flutes sound fairly forwarded on the ANANDA-BT R2R with a small increase within the 7-8kHz space. With sharper-sounding or extra breathy vocals, particularly reside recordings it sounds naturally delivered with out being overly compressed, additionally capturing good air.
Once more, when utilizing a USB-C connection, the treble sounds extra swiftly delivered and it’s much more noticeable at the next quantity or when the tempo is quick with EDM tracks or bigger assemblies.
Staging & Dynamics
As I’ve emphasised, there’s respectable separation energy. When testing Opera, Pop, and Jazz recordings, you may hear the virtuoso imaged carefully, with the backing devices stretched round fairly intimately as properly.
The expertise is akin to standing proper in entrance of the stage. Different devices are additionally exactly positioned because of the marginally boosted treble frequencies, and the quick bass response provides a way of accuracy to their placement.
The ANANDA-BT R2R presents a large, oval stage, with passable depth and good width on the x-axis. This enables panning drum units to be clearly outlined, creating an open really feel for reside recordings with particulars within the ambiance properly captured.
Wired Audio Efficiency
Evaluating the wired and wi-fi efficiency on my MacBook Air which doesn’t function LDAC and utilizing the inventory USB-C cables provided, the ANANDA-BT R2R sounds extra opened up within the treble with wired connection.
The treble additionally appears barely extra pronounced with higher readability and separation for the mids. When linked in wi-fi mode, the bass sounds barely fuller which is right for out of doors listening.
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