HiFiMan Ananda Unveiled Planar Headphones

Nothing Between the Driver and Your Ear

The HiFiMan Ananda Unveiled is an open-back planar magnetic headphone that removes the protective grille most headphones place over their drivers entirely, a design HiFiMan calls Unveiled, brought down from its flagship SUSVARA Unveiled into the Ananda line.

A second-generation NEO Supernano Diaphragm, roughly 60% thinner than the diaphragm in the previous Ananda, sits behind that open driver, paired with enhanced rare-earth-free magnets engineered to match traditional magnet performance.

At 22 ohms and 93dB sensitivity, the Ananda Unveiled produces sound from a phone or laptop, though every reviewer who's tested it recommends a dedicated headphone amplifier to hear what the driver can really do.

Where the Unveiled Design Earns Its Keep

No Grille, No Reflected Sound Waves

A conventional grille protects the driver but also reflects some sound waves back into the diaphragm, subtly coloring the result. Removing it entirely, as HiFiMan's own Unveiled design does, lets the driver move without that interference.

Because the driver sits fully exposed, HiFiMan includes a pair of magnetic protective veils that snap on when the headphones aren't in use, keeping dust and small metal objects away from the open magnets.

A Thinner Diaphragm, Built for Speed

The second-generation NEO Supernano Diaphragm is roughly 60% thinner than the diaphragm in the previous Ananda, and less mass for the magnets to move means faster response to complex, layered recordings.

A redesigned composite headband with a suspended strap and rotatable hinges keeps the 449-gram headphone stable and comfortable, with several reviewers noting reduced clamping force compared to earlier Ananda models.

What Reviewers Are Saying

Major HiFi praised the soundstage as matching HiFiMan's much more expensive HE1000 Unveiled and Arya Unveiled, calling it one of the best options for spatial imaging at its price.

Headfonics found the midrange and vocal presentation "beautifully rendered," calling the Ananda Unveiled a "fantastic buy" that performs close to higher-tier HiFiMan models.

Not every reviewer agreed on the treble: Headphones.com's Resolve flagged a sharp peak in the 7-9kHz range as fatiguing over long sessions, noting HiFiMan's pricier Unveiled models tune it more smoothly.

Who Is the Ananda Unveiled Best For?

• You want HiFiMan's grille-less design without the flagship price: Unveiled technology debuted on the SUSVARA and now reaches the Ananda tier
• You value a wide, spacious soundstage: reviewers compared it favorably against far pricier Unveiled models on this specific point
• You already own (or plan to add) a headphone amplifier: reviewers consistently found it rewards better source gear
• You have a quiet listening space: the open-back, grille-less design leaks sound in both directions and needs careful handling
• You're sensitive to bright treble: some reviewers flagged a 7-9kHz peak as fatiguing, so an audition is worth the trip before buying

How Does It Connect to Your System?

A detachable 1.5-meter crystalline copper cable connects via dual 3.5mm plugs at the earcups and terminates in a 3.5mm right-angle plug, with a 6.35mm adapter included for desktop headphone amplifiers.

The standard 3.5mm earcup connectors accept aftermarket balanced cables (4.4mm or 4-pin XLR) if your amplifier supports a balanced connection, the same upgrade path used across most of HiFiMan's lineup.

Pairs Well With

What finishes the system around an Ananda Unveiled:

• Headphone amplifiers — every review of this driver points to a real, audible benefit from good amplification
• Digital-to-analog converters — a clean digital source feeding your amp matters as much as the amp itself
• Headphone cables — a balanced upgrade cable is a simple drop-in with the standard 3.5mm connectors
• Music streamers — a dedicated streamer feeds your amp with better source material than a phone

Frequently Asked Questions

What does "Unveiled" actually mean?

HiFiMan removed the grille that normally covers the driver. Without it, sound waves don't reflect back into the diaphragm, which reduces a subtle source of distortion and coloration.

Do I need the magnetic veils?

HiFiMan recommends it. With no grille protecting the exposed magnets, small metal objects like paper clips can be drawn in — the included veils snap on for storage between sessions.

Do I need a headphone amplifier?

You can get sound from a phone at 22 ohms and 93dB sensitivity, but reviewers consistently recommend a dedicated amplifier or DAC/amp combo to reach the Ananda Unveiled's full potential.

How does this compare to the Arya Unveiled or HE1000 Unveiled?

The Ananda Unveiled is HiFiMan's most affordable Unveiled model. Reviewers found its soundstage comes remarkably close to those pricier models, though the Arya and HE1000 Unveiled tune their treble more smoothly.

Is the treble too bright?

Opinions genuinely differ. Some reviewers describe it as sparkly but controlled; others flagged a specific 7-9kHz peak as fatiguing on long sessions. Trying a pair yourself is the only way to know for your ears.

Are these suitable for commuting?

They aren't. Open-back headphones leak sound freely both ways, and the exposed driver is more delicate than a typical closed-back design — reserve these for home or studio use.

See It in Action

The Headphone Show presents HiFiMAN Ananda Unveiled Tested With In-Ear Mics!.

The Headphone Show presents Testing ALL Hifiman's new Headphones! - HE600, Edition XV, Ananda Unveiled & Audivina LE.

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