This and That:
Comes with no pouch/case, which is a shame, although still just okay for the price. Surprisingly, a cleaning brush is included.
Bundled silicone tips looks like those known as "Sony Hybrid".
3D-printed shells. Cool design. The shell design is open (just for the looks; it doesn't really have any other purpose) but the BA driver is fully sealed, so it's pretty much like a closed in-ear. The nozzles and especially nozzle screens look rather cheap to me.
The cable is at most merely okay. Reasonable strain relief implementation but low flexibility. Lacks a chin-slider. Cable intended to be worn down; high microphonics. Cable can still be guided around ears (also eliminates microphonics).
Sound:
I've only used the largest included silicone tips. Solely low impedance sources were used.
Tonality:
The Anora heads into a more neutral direction but isn’t as flat as an Etymotic ER-4S/ER4SR or ER3SE, but more comparable to the ER4XR/ER3XR with added upper treble energy.
And indeed, in the lows the Anora appears quite comparable to the ER3XR, sporting ca. 5-6 dB more in quantity compared to the ER-4S/ER4SR that is tuned for a diffuse-field flat bass, although the Anora has got a slightly fuller lower midrange in comparison to the ER3XR and slightly less true sub-bass levels. On the whole, the Anora’s bass response and implementation is also quite comparable to that of my InEar StageDiver SD-2 or HiFiMan RE400i.
Mids are neither forward nor recessed and have got good balance and sound realistic. Lower mids are slightly lifted so that the Anora doesn’t sound thin but doesn’t lack a pinch of warmth either, and due to a very slight 3 kHz lift, higher voices and their overtones aren’t lacking in the mix either and are reproduced mostly neutral.
High female vocals are slightly more nasal due to the 3 kHz lift, but it’s nothing dramatic.
Around 5 kHz, the Anora showcases a wider dip that creates a quite easy-going listening experience and generates headroom for an emphasis that is located around 8.5 kHz and highlights cymbals a bit without adding any sibilance or making them appear unrealistic – they just gain a bit more presence in the mix.
Super treble extension past 10 kHz is surprisingly good and the Anora passes 14 kHz without any issues but is audibly quieter around 15 kHz (which isn’t relevant anymore anyway).
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So all in all, one could say that the Anora takes on a slightly v-shaped approach of neutrality with a pinch of warmth.
Resolution:
Resolution is pretty good for a single-BA in-ear but overall I would characterise the Anora as 2nd-tier and put it behind the likes of Etymotic’s ER3-/ER4-line or some other single-BA in-ears that come very close to that.
Speech intelligibility and midrange details are, not all that much surprisingly, on a high level and rendered quite easily but also 2nd-tier.
Bass speed and tightness are, which is no real surprise either, on a high level as well, and noticeably higher than what most dynamic driver in-ears are capable of. For BA standards, the lows are however still just a tad on the softer side, without any control issues. Tightness is therefore slightly behind that of my ER-4S while the Anora also avoids my SD-2’s softness.
The sub-bass appears to have a bit less definition than the midbass although it is slightly superior to the EARNiNE EN120’s sub-bass quality.
Highs are separated well, however they appear a little less detailed than the rest and a bit grainy in comparison.
Soundstage:
The Anora has got a soundstage that is quite average, if not even a little on the smaller side, but circular with similar width as well as depth to my ears. Separation and layering appear good albeit a bit behind Etymotic-tier.
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In Comparison with other Single-BA In-Ears:
SoundMAGIC PL50:
Neither has a great cable but at least the SoundMAGIC’s has got a chin-slider. While the Anora doesn’t come with any storage solution, at least a pleather bag is included with my PL50.
Both in-ears have got a quite similar bass implementation with the Anora being just slightly more forward by ca. 1 dB.
Mids are a bit louder in the mix on the PL50 and generally slightly on the darker side whereas the Anora features upper mids that are slightly on the accentuated side.
Both in-ears are more on the relaxed side around 5 kHz, the PL50 probably even a tad more.
Where they really differ is the upper treble where the Anora is brighter and more vivid compared to my SoundMAGIC that is heading into a darker direction in the highs.
Resolution is quite comparable – the Anora features the minimally tighter bass attack while decay and control are quite comparable.
Midrange details are ultimately a draw with just a slightly different tonal approach (slightly dark vs slightly bright).
Treble details are where the PL50 is a bit ahead compared to the Anora that appears somewhat grainy here.
The PL50’s spatial presentation is larger and more spacious, especially with more width while the depth appears to be similar. Thanks to the greater width though, the SoundMAGIC has got an advantage when it comes to separation.
Brainwavz B150:
The Brainwavz’ cable doesn’t lack a chin-slider, as opposed to the Anora’s. And the B150 comes with a proper carrying case whereas HeayGears’ in-ear doesn’t.
The Brainwavz is an in-ear that is tuned for a fuller and warmer sound in the lows and root and has therefore got more punch and fullness than the Anora. However, the B150 rolls off stronger towards the real sub-bass, so it provides more of a midbassy presentation whereas the HeyGears has got a more even bass distribution.
Lower mids on the Brainwavz are more present and fuller than on the Anora but without appearing unrealistic. Upper mids on the Anora have got a little more brightness. Mids in general have got equal presence in the mix on both in-ears though.
The Anora is tuned for a brighter, more vivid upper treble response compared to the B150 that is on the slightly darker side here.
Bass attack appears slightly tighter and faster on the Anora while decay is quite similar, which also goes for the control. However, while the B150 has got less sub-bass quantity, it shows more definition here.
Although the Anora is tuned for a less warm and brighter midrange compared to the Brainwavz, which also goes for the treble, it is actually the B150 that appears to be a bit more resolving in general, which is also noticeable in the treble that has some grain on the Anora.
The B150’s stage showcases a bit more width and depth than the Anora’s, along with the slightly cleaner instrument separation.
Conclusion:
It's a decent in-ear with a mildly v-shaped approach to neutral. Resolution and soundstage are decent but mot remarkable; rather 2nd-tier. The cable is at most merely okay. All in all, it's an average in-ear with a quite decent tuning.