I found the HEXv2 good enough from the source I had that I was content and done with the search.
How long did you have your HEXv2 for and what was the failure? My Sundara seems to be holding up pretty well, but maybe I just got lucky. I'm hoping my XS lasts atleast a couple years...
Driver failure. I was the 3rd owner (although the first two didn't keep it for long), and I used it daily for 3-4-ish years, so it had some serious use, make no mistake. The paint on the magnets began flecking off in their last year and I suspect either the right magnet may have corroded too much or the diaphragm was damaged in some way from exposure to stuff bouncing around in the chamber.
Yeah, Focal build quality is much better but I'm not into their sound at all. I think you'll like ananda. It's a wonderful headphone.
K5 Pro was measured at 990mw at 32 ohm, DX3 Pro+ is 1500mw. So not sure where you're getting that.
Ananda is more transparent (or thinner if you like - very thin to me) than the HEX v2. Both have very similar bass, soundstage. HEX v2 is darker. Also even if you use nuggets, EQ, proper head position, a potent amp on the HEX compared to the Ananda it is lacking detail from sopranos up (thicker membrane). But the HEX is more palpable, more coherent, more enveloping. Part of Anandas detail is a more pronounced (too much actually) mid treble.
I also learned last night that source may matter as much or more as amp power. I have danced between an iFi hip-dac portable and JDS Labs Atom+ stack with my Edition XS, and they do sound better with the additional power of the Atom stack.
Thanks. Yep, I've had that disabled since the get-go.
Your posts were the main thing that made me reluctant. Ultimately the Ananda is well-vetted. The XS is not. I could get it and discover there's a nosebleed inducing ring (Something the XX had which nobody mentioned in the early months) Until I see the cascade chart and a few more reviews from people I trust I figure I'll wait on it.
I just switched to Qobuz as well and I was sold in 30 seconds. I've canceled spotify already. I went from a Hel 2 to Jotunheim and that jump was about as impressive as a higher quality source. Completely noticeable
As its been pointed out I haven't heard the XS but a picture is emerging. I recently hooked up with two speaker audiophiles that I hung out with in the 80's - and we drifted apart. They had similar tastes to mine back then, and both have gone into headphone in the past few years - one has an Ananda - but likes his LCD-4 much more (me too). They react to the Ananda the same as I do. I think its the background in live music and analogue - because the younger more digital oriented folks line up the other way. OTOH, they tried to pour holy water on me for using EQ - but admitted it helped.
1.5 watt at 32 ohms load and 1.65 watt at 16 ohm load from fiio website but maybe ASR measurements say other wise?
