Long time audiophile headphone maker HiFiMAN recently announced they will be taking a leap into wireless connectivity with the release of a bluetooth-enabled version of their popular Ananda headphone.
The wireless ‘phone takes full advantage of the planar magnetic driver technology that helped establish HiFiMAN in the market, but includes wireless bluetooth built right into the same form factor. Tech specs for the headphone boast rates of 24/96 via high resolution options on that front, and 24/192 when digitally wired with a USB-C cable. BT options include SBC (Subband Codec), LHDC (Low Latency and High Definition Audio Codec), aptX HD – some of the newest alternatives to come to market. Playback time from the internal battery is rated at 13.5 hours. The new wireless Ananda will retail for $1,199 when it becomes available in late March.
As an added bonus, HiFiMAN also is prepping the release of a bluetooth speaker for the masses. Retailing for $599, the BA1000 will pack most of the same bleeding edge wireless tech as the Ananda (up to 24/96 wirelessly). The internal amplifier clocks in at 30 watts and a rated frequency response down to 65Hz. The internal battery boasts 72 hours of continuous playback on single charge.
The rising tide of wireless tech is slowing bleeding into the usually niche hobby of personal audio, and its invasion into the product line was of course, inevitable. Its inclusion here seems right at home, attached to a solid performing headphone with little aesthetic compromise or severe changes to appeal to the general consumer market. It’s easy to assume this won’t be the last movement off-center for hardwire options we see targeted at hifi, interesting times ahead!
More info: https://hifiman.com/