When we talk about audiophile headphones, Hifiman is a brand that comes to mind almost immediately. Their flagship headphones impress music enjoyers everywhere, and they’ve recently come out with a few new models to entice their ever-growing consumer audience. The popular Ananda gets an upgrade to the Ananda BT R2R, an open-back planar magnetic headphone with capabilities to take your music on the go. Retailing for $799, the Ananda BT R2R is sure to turn some heads. Let’s dive into the details!

What Comes In The Box

• Ananda-BT R2R Headphones
• USB-C to USB-Cable
• USB-C to USB-C Cable
• Travel Case
• HIFIMAN Warranty

Aesthetics and Functionality

At face value, the Ananda BT R2R looks like any other Hifiman headphone. The ergonomic ear cup shape paired with the metallic grills makes these fit right in line with the Arya, HE1000, and even some of the Shangri-La series. When I actually wore them, I found that I was a bit let down. The ear cup is no different in size than the other HIFIMAN headphones, but I realized that my head was just a bit too small to get a proper fit. Even on the smallest setting, the adjustable headband did nothing to help the headphones sit correctly on my head. It was a very loose fit that I feared would fall off if I moved my head around too much. Even when it sat correctly over my ears, the bottom of the earcup didn’t seal properly against my head and let some of the sound bleed out. This I could chalk up to a very personal problem where my head shape is not ideal for this pair of cans. Still, it is worth considering when you take a look at these for the first time. 

In terms of functionality, the Ananda BT is extremely simple to set up.  is not for the everyday listener that needs music on the go. Pairing was quite easy with the click of a button, and I was listening shortly after. The headphones come with two cables, a USB-C to USB-A and a double sided USB-C cable. Wired listening and charging is made more accessible with these cables, instead of the 3.5mm or 6.35mm termination that often comes with some headphones that would need adapters. 

Tech Specs

• Frequency Range: 8Hz – 55kHz
• Impedance: 25Ω
• Sensitivity: 103dB
• Weight: 469g
• Full Charging Time: 2.7 hours
• Playback Time: 10 hours

The headphones come with a battery life of 10 hours, which is plenty of time for all day hi-fi listening. At first, I thought this was too short of time compared to other Bluetooth headphones like the Noble FoKus Apollo or the Focal Bathys. However, with this high quality type of sound, the 10-hour battery life is ample time to enjoy the full extent of these headphones. 

Listening Review

Soundstage

For people who know the first Ananda, they will find a similar sound in the Ananda BT. An expansive soundstage paired with very accurate stereo imaging makes listening an immersive experience. The sound signature is smooth across all the frequencies, which will be familiar to those who have the wired version. Going from wired listening to Bluetooth listening, you don’t get too much difference. You’ll get slightly more detail in your sound with the wired option, but the Bluetooth is still incredibly accurate and gives you plenty of color. 

With Bluetooth headphones, something that always gets talked about is the active noise cancelation. In the Ananda BT, you don’t get that active noise cancellation or much sound isolation due to the open-back design. However, since these headphones have a lot of power in them, raising the volume almost immediately gets rid of a lot of your ambient environment and immerses you in your listening. 

Low Frequencies

The low end is powerful but still relaxed to not become overwhelming. The smooth sound enhances any track and allows it to come alive with detail and clarity. In rock and pop, the low bass was still punchy and driving but mellowed out in slower ballads. Rock music was a favorite of mine with these headphones, and “Shut Up and Let Me Go” by the Ting Tings showed off some powerful low end. Kick drums and rhythm guitars got substantial body and warmth to drive the rest of the instruments forward. 

Mid-Range Frequencies

The mid range shows off some incredible detail and clarity. The layers in tracks across different instruments gets a lot of attention, and the expansive soundstage allows them all to live harmoniously without one overpowering another. I like the texture and color you can get out of these headphones, and the way it comes across with Bluetooth is really incredible. Listening to “Cherry” by FLETCHER and Hayley Kiyoko, you could hear all the different post-production elements fall perfectly in the stereo field. The color coming from the unique blend of their vocals was particularly enjoyable to listen to. 

High Frequencies

The high end was particularly memorable with these headphones. The Ananda gives you an airy and bright array of high frequencies that are open and natural. They dissipate naturally in the field, allowing for music reproduction to sound exceptional without becoming too heavy. The color on this upper register is quite entertaining, and kept me locked into my music for extended listening time. This range comes as an excellent balance to a punchy low end, making the entire range very dynamic but still balanced out to give a rounded listening experience. 

Summary

Hifiman has definitely created an interesting product. While it may not be checking the comfort box in my book, the Ananda BT R2R certainly delivers on sound. The quality of the even frequency range, paired with natural sound reproduction and exceptional clarity gives you that same audiophile sound without the need of a wire. Even for those who prefer wired listening, you still have a few cables to use to make listening easier and more accessible across devices. For the price point, it's an excellent addition to any headphone collection. I highly suggest giving these a listen and seeing the sound quality for yourself. 

The Ananda BT R2R is available today at Audio46.