hakunamakaka
1000+ Head-Fier
The 500 has had a resurgence of interest over the past 18 months or so. Tough to find now for under $400 if its in fine or better shape w/ extras. Since I got mine - like 2.5 years it's basically been my reference. And like any open eyed booster, there are things that are wrong with it, you'll notice over time.
Sub bass - doesn't really rattle under 30 Hz, Ananda goes down to 10-12 Hz, but the timbre and attack of the 500 is more satisfying under 400 Hz.
500's departure from neutral: small bulge in lower mids (750 Hz), small dips at 3k and 5.5k - this gives a sense of midrange depth, and the serious amount of ringing it produces at 9k helps fill in the big dip at 12k, and the 3k and 5.5k - plus gives that shimmery forever cymbal decay. It seems quite neutral with no EQ, more neutral than the Ananda. But when you EQ the 500 it warms up and evens out but not in a syrupy way. I have no more to say on the Ananda until I can lay an EQ on it.
My guess on the Ananda, set it: (if you haven't handled a parametric EQ then "Q" and "narrow" won't make much sense)
55 Hz +2 db low shelf
90-200 Hz -1.5 db (so center about 145 Hz Q of about 3.5)
200-500Hz -3.5 db (so center about 320 Hz Q of about 4)
1.75 kHz +3 (narrow)
8.5 kHz -8 (a bit wider than narrow, whoa - that's a big number)
15k -2.5 db (narrow)
I've done multiple iterations on the HEX v2, and the differences in the EQ settings go a long way to explaining the diff between it and the Ananda. HEX's big issue is needing a 3.7 db boost from 2-3.5k. What strikes me is this: if you like Beyers, Grado, and many AKG's than the Ananda is your can with its massive rise centered at 8.5 kHz (the bulge is from 7k to 10k).
I don’t eq sound at all and these numbers don’t tell me much:/ My reference hp is oppo pm3 with rolled off treble, but I’m happy with it as I can enjoy music with long listening sessions.I’m interested in ananda with it’s high sensitivity and more portable use, but it scares me if it has agressive presentation and piercing highs. Bought multiple highly praised chi:fi iems and I can’t enjoy them as much and do get tired, that’s why decided to get better over ear hp