Short answer: the HIFIMAN Ananda Nano. It ranks #4 of 216 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 4.5/5, at $319; the Dyson Zone ranks #13, rated 4.4/5, and costs $349.99, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
Why pick the HIFIMAN Ananda Nano: A preference score of 94 puts it close to the Harman target, with bass from 60 to 200 Hz within 0.1 dB of target and the midrange within about 1 dB. Watch for: The top end is the weak spot, with the air region above 10 kHz running about 4.6 dB hot and a 10.8 dB peak near 11.9 kHz, preceded by a 4.4 dB dip near 9.6 kHz.
What the Dyson Zone does well: A preference score of 90 and a smooth 1.49 dB deviation put the tuning close to the Harman target, with sub-bass about 2 dB above target for extra rumble on kick drums and bass lines. The catch: A 3.3 dB dip near 3.4 kHz and a 2.1 dB shortfall across the presence region pull some bite and clarity out of vocals and guitars.
Buy the HIFIMAN Ananda Nano. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Dyson Zone and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| HIFIMAN Ananda Nano | Dyson Zone | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $319.00 | $349.99 |
| Ranked | #4 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #13 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 94 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 90 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 1.43 dB standard deviation | 1.49 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.14 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.34 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-4.0 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+2.1 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wireless and wired |
| Back | Open | Closed |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic | Dynamic |
| Impedance | 14 ohms | 16 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 94 dB | 94 dB |
| Weight | 0.9 lbs (420 g) | - |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 55kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 6Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Active Noise Cancelling | - | Yes |
| Battery Life | - | 50 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | - | Yes |
Related Headphone Comparisons
More top alternatives to HIFIMAN Ananda Nano:
- HIFIMAN Ananda Nano vs Sennheiser HD 560S
- HIFIMAN Ananda Nano vs Austrian Audio Hi-X60
- HIFIMAN Ananda Nano vs Beyerdynamic MMX 300
- Austrian Audio Hi-X60 vs Dyson Zone
- Beyerdynamic MMX 300 vs Dyson Zone
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Headphones In Full
HIFIMAN Ananda Nano: $319.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: A preference score of 94 puts it close to the Harman target, with bass from 60 to 200 Hz within 0.1 dB of target and the midrange within about 1 dB. Impedance of just 14 ohms makes it simple to drive from a phone or dongle, and the open planar design gives a spacious presentation. Sub-bass is only moderately light, about 2.8 dB under target.
Cons: The top end is the weak spot, with the air region above 10 kHz running about 4.6 dB hot and a 10.8 dB peak near 11.9 kHz, preceded by a 4.4 dB dip near 9.6 kHz. That can make cymbals and strings sound bright or sharp on some recordings. At 420 g it is heavy, and the open back leaks sound and gives no isolation.
Full HIFIMAN Ananda Nano review and specifications →
| Released | Aug 2023 (3 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Open |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 1.43 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 55kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 94 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 14 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 94 dB |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-4.0 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.14 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.9 lbs (420 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -3.9 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +4.1 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 1,884 Hz | +2.9 dB | 2.00 |
| Peak | 84 Hz | -2.2 dB | 1.06 |
| Peak | 343 Hz | -0.7 dB | 1.30 |
| Peak | 2,910 Hz | -1.8 dB | 3.07 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -6.5 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 969 Hz | -1.0 dB | 4.06 |
| Peak | 170 Hz | +1.0 dB | 3.86 |
| Peak | 129 Hz | -0.7 dB | 3.65 |
| Peak | 752 Hz | +0.9 dB | 5.09 |
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Dyson Zone: $349.99 Wireless Amazon eBay
Pros: A preference score of 90 and a smooth 1.49 dB deviation put the tuning close to the Harman target, with sub-bass about 2 dB above target for extra rumble on kick drums and bass lines. It is a closed, wireless design with active noise cancelling, Bluetooth 5.0, a built-in microphone and a claimed 50 hours of battery, and it also works wired. Its rating matches the Austrian Audio Hi-X60 and Sennheiser HD 600.
Cons: A 3.3 dB dip near 3.4 kHz and a 2.1 dB shortfall across the presence region pull some bite and clarity out of vocals and guitars. The treble is lifted by about 2 to 3.5 dB above 6 kHz, with a peak near 7.8 dB at 11.2 kHz that can make cymbals and sibilance sound sharp. The warm lean may feel slightly full for listeners who prefer a strictly neutral sound.
Full Dyson Zone review and specifications →
| Released | Oct 2023 (3 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Active Noise Cancelling | Yes |
| Back | Closed |
| Battery Life | 50 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Connection | Wireless and wired |
| Deviation From Target | 1.49 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 6Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 90 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 16 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 94 dB |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+2.1 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.34 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -3.4 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +4.4 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 3,632 Hz | +3.4 dB | 1.95 |
| Peak | 42 Hz | -7.0 dB | 0.53 |
| Peak | 964 Hz | +1.3 dB | 2.85 |
| Peak | 1,841 Hz | -1.3 dB | 1.77 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -5.6 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 6,856 Hz | -2.8 dB | 4.04 |
| Peak | 4,879 Hz | +2.6 dB | 4.77 |
| Peak | 1,194 Hz | +0.2 dB | 3.03 |
| Peak | 10,000 Hz | -0.8 dB | 4.50 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons