The HiFiMan ANANDA-BT Wireless are the Bluetooth version of the HiFiMan Ananda. They support higher resolution codecs like LDAC and aptX HD alongside USB audio connectivity for high-quality audio. Their open-back design lets sound interact with your environment to create a more immersive listening experience and a more open and spacious soundstage. Unlike their wired counterpart, they also have a detachable boom microphone; it doesn't have the best performance. These headphones aren't very versatile, as they're geared towards audiophiles and aren't intended for casual use. That said, these headphones have a very well-balanced, neutral audio reproduction that's ideal for audiophiles.
Our Verdict
The HiFiMan ANANDA-BT are mediocre for mixed usage. They have an impressively neutral audio reproduction that makes them ideal for audiophiles, but they aren't very versatile. These open-back headphones are designed to allow background noise to enter the ear cups to help make audio sound more immersive, but unfortunately, it also means they have poor noise isolation and leakage performance. They aren't very portable or stable, and their bulky design isn't very suitable for use while you're on the go.
- Detachable boom microphone.
- Very comfortable.
- Neutral, well-balanced sound profile.
- Terrible noise isolation performance.
- Not stable enough for light exercise.
- Leaks a lot of noise.
The HiFiMan ANANDA-BT are impressive for neutral sound. These open-back headphones have an open and spacious soundstage that provides an immersive listening experience. Overall, they have a neutral and well-balanced audio reproduction that's suitable for most music genres. Like most open-back headphones, they lack a touch of sub-bass. Their treble range can also be a bit bright with certain tracks.
- Open and spacious soundstage.
- Neutral, well-balanced sound profile.
- Consistent performance across users.
- Lacks a bit of sub-bass.
The HiFiMan ANANDA-BT are disappointing for commute and travel. They aren't designed for outdoor use, as their open-back design means they don't isolate any background noise and they leak a lot of sound. Also, their bulky design isn't very portable, so they may not fit easily into smaller bags and purses. On the upside, these headphones are very comfortable, and their 11-hour continuous battery life should be enough for when you're on the go.
- Very comfortable.
- Terrible noise isolation performance.
- Leaks a lot of noise.
- Not very portable.
The HiFiMan ANANDA-BT are okay for sports and fitness. Though they have a comfortable fit, their large, bulky design isn't suited for use while working out, and it also means that these headphones aren't very portable. They're fairly stable and can stay on your head while you're listening to music, but they'll likely fall off your ears during even light physical activity.
- Very comfortable.
- Not stable enough for light exercise.
The HiFiMan ANANDA-BT are poor for office use. While these comfortable headphones can be worn throughout your workday without a lot of fatigue, their open-back design isn't ideal for office use. They have an awful noise isolation performance, and they also leak a lot of noise, which may be distracting for your coworkers. On the upside, their over 11-hour continuous battery life should last you throughout your workday.
- Very comfortable.
- Terrible noise isolation performance.
- Leaks a lot of noise.
The HiFiMan ANANDA-BT can only be used via Bluetooth or wired to a computer with the USB-C cable. They can't be used wirelessly with PS4 or Xbox One. While they can be used with Bluetooth-enabled PCs, their high latency makes them inadequate for wireless gaming.
The HiFiMan ANANDA-BT are decent for wired gaming. They have a very comfortable fit, so you can wear them for long gaming sessions without a lot of fatigue. You can wire these headphones to your PC, but they aren't compatible with Xbox One or PS4. Like most open-back headphones, they lack a touch of sub-bass, so they don't reproduce the thump and rumble from explosions and action-packed scenes. They also have a detachable boom microphone for communicating with your teammates, but it can make your voice sound thin, distorted, or unnatural.
- Detachable boom microphone.
- Very comfortable.
- Poor microphone recording quality.
- Lacks a bit of sub-bass.
- Not compatible with PS4 or Xbox One.
The HiFiMan ANANDA-BT are disappointing for phone calls. Their boom microphone can make your voice sound a bit thin, and it struggles to separate your voice from background noise in even moderately noisy environments. Also, because of their open-back design, these headphones don't block out a lot of background noise, which can be distracting.
- Detachable boom microphone.
- Poor microphone recording quality.
- Terrible noise isolation performance.
Changelog
- Updated Aug 07, 2024: The intro has been slightly revised to acknowledge the headphones' LDAC and USB audio connectivity, and the Bluetooth section has been updated to mention that these headphones support LDAC and HWA Bluetooth codecs.
- Updated Jan 20, 2021: We've clarified the results of the USB Audio test.
- Updated Nov 30, 2020: We have updated the USB Audio test results.
- Updated Sep 11, 2020: Verified that there isn't Virtual Surround on the app.
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Popular Headphones Comparisons
The HiFiMan ANANDA-BT are premium open-back headphones released in 2019. Unlike most open-back over-ears, these well-built headphones can be used wirelessly via Bluetooth or with a USB-C cable, and they come with a detachable boom microphone. Their well-balanced and neutral audio reproduction is ideal for audiophiles, and their open-back design helps create an open and spacious soundstage, though they aren't as immersive as the wired HiFiMan Ananda. On the downside, these bulky headphones aren't very versatile, so they're more suitable for critical listening at home. If you're looking for other headphones, see our recommendations for the best open-back headphones, the best headphones for audiophiles, and the best headphones.
The HiFiMan Ananda are better headphones for neutral sound than the HiFiMan ANANDA-BT Wireless. The wired Ananda have a more neutral sound profile out-of-the-box and a better peaks and dips performance. Their soundstage is more elevated, too, and so audio sounds more like it's coming from all around you instead of inside your head. That said, the wireless Ananda-BT are more versatile headphones. They're Bluetooth and USB audio compatible. They have a detachable boom mic, and they have on-ear controls and a carrying case, unlike the wired Ananda.
The HiFiMan Edition X are better headphones for neutral sound than the HiFiMan ANANDA-BT Wireless. The Edition X have a more neutral, better-balanced audio reproduction and a better peaks and dips performance. Their soundstage is also larger and more open than the Ananda-BT. That being said, the Ananda-BT are more versatile headphones. They can be used wirelessly via Bluetooth, they have a detachable microphone, and they come with a carrying case. The Ananda-BT also have a more stable fit on your head.
The HiFiMan ANANDA-BT Wireless for neutral sound than the Beyerdynamic Amiron Wireless. The HiFiMan have a more consistent audio delivery, and their open-back design helps create a more open and spacious soundstage. That said, the Beyerdynamic have longer battery life, and their closed-back design allows them to isolate more noise and leak less sound.
The Bose QuietComfort 35 II/QC35 II Wireless 2018 are more versatile headphones than the HiFiMan ANANDA-BT Wireless. Thanks to their closed-back design and ANC feature, the Bose are much better at noise isolation, and they leak less noise. The Bose also have longer battery life and a more comfortable, stable fit. However, the HiFiMan's open-back design gives them a more open, spacious soundstage than the Bose, which may be preferred by audiophiles.
The Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT and the HiFiMan ANANDA-BT Wireless are both Bluetooth headphones, and depending on your listening habits, you may prefer one over the other. The HiFiMan are better-built, more comfortable, open-back headphones that offer a more open and spacious soundstage and a more neutral sound profile. The HiFiMan also perform more consistently across different users. However, the Audio-Technica's closed-back design allows them to have better noise isolation and leakage performance, so they're more versatile than the HiFiMan. The Audio-Technica also have longer continuous battery life and their microphone has a better recording quality.
We've upgraded our Headphones Test Bench to 2.0! This update brings several key changes to our tests and usages, making it easier than ever to interpret our sound results based on your personal preferences. You'll also find a brand-new interactive graph tool featuring multiple targets (including our own!) for you to explore and compare.
For a full breakdown, check out our changelog, which includes detailed commentary from our test designer explaining the rationale behind our update.
We'd also love to hear your thoughts: your feedback helps us keep improving, so join us in the comments!
Test Results
The HiFiMan ANANDA-BT have a similar look and feel to the HiFiMan Ananda. These headphones have distinctive metal yokes on the outside of the ear cups. There's also a suspension strap to help distribute the weight of the headphones evenly across your head, and adjustable sliders to help you find the best possible fit. There's also a boom microphone, which you can remove for a more casual look.
The HiFiMan ANANDA-BT are very comfortable headphones. They have a bit more clamping force than the HiFiMan Ananda, but the big surface area on the pads helps to evenly distribute the force, so they don't feel tight. On the downside, they're still fairly heavy and bulky headphones, so they may not be ideal for all listeners.
The headphones have a poor control scheme. There are two, simple-to-use buttons. The multifunction button controls power on/off, play/pause, and lets you answer or end phone calls. The charge button activates charging mode when connected to a USB port. They only provide audible feedback when turning on and off. They also have an LED light that turns different colors when you make some commands but it's not immediately clear what the colors mean so you'll have to check the manual. You also can't adjust the volume, which is disappointing.
The HiFiMan ANANDA-BT aren't very portable headphones. Like most open-back over-ears, they aren't designed to be used outdoors, so they're very bulky. They come with a carrying case, but it won't comfortably fit into smaller bags.
Unlike the HiFiMan Ananda, the HiFiMan ANANDA-BT come with a hard carrying case. It's a bit bulky, but the materials feel high-end and durable. You can even attach the accessory pouch to the inside of the case using Velcro so you don't lose it.
The HiFiMan ANANDA-BT's build quality is impressive. They're made of premium materials and look very high-end. The headband and the cup hooks are made of solid metal, and the leather headband and thick padding on the ear cups help to create a comfortable fit. A metal grille on each ear cup allows for an open-back design. The wires going up through the headband are a potential weak link, as they're a bit thin and might get caught on something, but overall, these headphones feel very durable.
Like most open-back headphones, these headphones aren't designed to be stable enough for use during physical activity. They stay on your head during casual listening sessions, but they aren't suitable for sports or light physical activity.
Update 01/20/2021: We've clarified the USB audio capabilities of the USB-C to USB-C and USB-A to USB-C cables.
- HiFiMan ANANDA-BT headphones
- Carrying case
- Accessory pouch
- Detachable boom microphone
- Braided USB-C to USB-C cable (for charging and USB audio)
- Braided USB-C to USB-A cable (for charging and USB audio on PC)
- Manual
The HiFiMan ANANDA-BT have a neutral, well-balanced audio reproduction. Like many open-back headphones, they lack a bit of low-bass, and their treble range can sound bright. That said, their neutral sound profile is ideal for audiophiles.
The frequency response consistency is amazing. You should get a consistent listening experience every time you wear them.
The HiFiMan ANANDA-BT have a good bass accuracy. Like most open-back headphones, they lack a bit of low-bass, so you won't feel the deep thump from bass-heavy tracks. The rest of the bass range is well-balanced, so it can reproduce the boom and punch from your favorite songs accurately.
The HiFiMan ANANDA-BT's mid accuracy is good. It's flat and balanced across the range, so vocals and lead instruments are present in the mix. However, there's an underemphasis in the high-mid that could make vocals less clear and intense on certain tracks.
These headphones have good treble accuracy. The low and mid-treble ranges are balanced, resulting in a bright, present, and detailed mix.
These headphones have satisfactory peaks and dips performance. Most of the frequency response is flat and balanced. However, there's a dip in the high-mids that makes vocals and lead instruments sound veiled and weakened, followed by a peak in the low-treble that can make the upper harmonics of these same vocals and lead instruments harsh and painful.
The HiFiMan ANANDA-BT have an impressive imaging performance. Their weighted group delay falls entirely below the audibility threshold, ensuring a tight bass and transparent treble. The L/R drivers are well-matched in amplitude, frequency, and phase response, so objects are accurately positioned in the stereo image. This helps create a more immersive listening experience. However, these results are only valid for our test unit, and yours may perform differently.
The HiFiMan ANANDA-BT have a very good passive soundstage performance. These open-back headphones are designed to let ambient noise into the ear cups to create an open and spacious soundstage that makes audio sound like it's coming from all around you instead of from within your head. Their over-ear design allows them to interact with the pinna, or outer ear, which also helps make the soundstage sound wide and natural.
Update 09/11/2020: In our initial tests, we didn't find the companion app for these headphones. While we fixed the rest of the text upon its discovery, we forgot to update the Virtual Surround from 'No App' to 'No'.
These headphones don't have any virtual soundstage features.
These headphones have a great weighted harmonic distribution performance. There aren't any significant spikes across the range, so audio reproduction is clean and pure.
These are the settings we used to these headphones. The test results are only valid for these settings.
The HiFiMan ANANDA-BT have a terrible noise isolation performance. These open-back headphones allow sound to escape and enter to create a more immersive listening experience, so they don't provide much isolation. You can still hear voices, engines, and sharp sounds like AC units.
The HiFiMan ANANDA-BT have a poor leakage performance, but this is expected from open-back headphones. People around you can hear what you're listening to.
The HiFiMan ANANDA-BT have a detachable boom microphone.
The HiFiMan ANANDA-BT's microphone has a poor recording quality. People on the other end of the line should understand you, but your voice may sound unnatural, and there's a lot of distortion.
The microphone on these headphones has a decent noise handling performance. However, people on the other end of the line may have trouble understanding you if you're calling from a noisy environment like a busy street.
The HiFiMan ANANDA-BT have an adequate battery performance. They perform a bit better than their advertised continuous battery life of 10 hours. Overall, these headphones should last through long listening sessions, and you can still listen to audio while they're charging, which is convenient. On the downside, they don't have a power-saving feature, so you have to remember to turn them off manually to avoid draining the battery while they aren't in use.
The HiFiMan ANANDA-BT are compatible with the HIFIMAN app. This barebones app has a poor overall selection of features. It lets you play songs using the Bluetooth LHDC protocol, access playlists, and play TIDAL and Spotify through the app, though we didn't test for this. There isn't a battery indication or an EQ available, which is disappointing.
These headphones have fair Bluetooth performance. Unfortunately, they don't have multi-device or NFC pairing. They support Bluetooth 5.0 with a selection of high-quality codecs like LDAC, aptX HD, standard aptX, and LHDC (also advertised as HWA), so you can play lossless files and retain higher resolution. SBC is still available if your device doesn't support high-resolution Bluetooth codecs, as well.
They exhibit enough lag that you'll likely encounter lipsync issues when watching videos, but this isn't an issue if you're only listening to music. However, some apps compensate for lag, so your experience may vary.
These headphones can only be used wirelessly via Bluetooth.
Update 01/20/2021: Due to user feedback, we've clarified the results of this test. You can use both the USB-C to USB-C and USB-A to USB-C cables for USB audio. However, the USB-A to USB-C cable can only receive audio on PCs. The USB-C to USB-C cable has full audio and microphone compatibility on PC.
Update 11/30/2020: We've updated the USB Audio results from 'Yes' to 'USB-C' to improve clarity. These headphones can receive audio when connected to a compatible PC or a phone with a USB-C port. The scoring of this test hasn't changed.
The HiFiMan ANANDA-BT come with a USB-C to USB-A and a USB-C to USB-C cable that can be used to connect the headphones to external devices such as a PC if you want to listen to audio. However, you won't be able to use their microphone on PC if you're connected using the USB-A to USB-C cable. Both cables can also be used to recharge the headphones.
These headphones can be connected to a PC using a wired connection or via Bluetooth. To use audio and microphone on a PC, you'll have to use the USB-C to USB-C cable, since the USB-A to USB-C only provides audio. Surprisingly, the USB-A to USB-C cable doesn't seem to work on PS4 and the headset isn't recognized by the console when using this cable.