HiFiMAN Arya Full-size Over Ear Planar Magnetic Audiophile Adjustable Headphone

Product Information

One thing I did note about the pressure strap is a subtle ribbed cushioning which is not on the Ananda version. The older strap was just a flat piece of faux leather whereas this one has a bit more cushioning. The Arya Stealth retains the original Arya’s 1.5m single crystalline copper cable which is a wire material HIFIMAN has been using since the original HE1000. I have no complaints about its performance sonically but the design feels more in tune with a portable headphone than a desktop or home use design. The Arya Stealth’s bass tuning, particularly sub-100Hz has a strong 50-60Hz dB elevation and less of a roll-off compared to the likes of the Ananda. The important parts of the headphone support system are made of metal, and the rest is made of high-quality plastic, making Arya a proper flagship that’s going to survive heavy usage, but their really open nature dictates that you’re unlikely to take them in any environment that would naturally damage them.

HiFiMAN’s top-of-the-line headphones are all quite similar in terms of design, once we exclude the Susvara: they’re all drop-shaped and quite large, so that they can house larger diaphragms. The Arya make no exception to this and feature large earcups with a suspended headband design. Midrange sounds to me to be perfectly balanced between the low and high frequencies. It is neither too forward nor recessed and seems to have enough depth to feel full without compromise. The midrange comes forward prominently when featured in the mix, and the highs do not lose accent or clarity at the expense of bass or midrange bleed. The treble may be the only aspect of the Arya’s sound that is likely to create debate. TrebleHIFIMAN Arya is a flagship headphone from HIFIMAN, a headphone with a unique signature that will literally blow your mind, but in a very specific way. It has a pretty good price point of 1600 USD, and its main competitors will be HIFIMAN HE6SE, Kennerton Thror, and Crosszone CZ-1 Headphones. All of them are amazing, so the battle will be fierce.

Dynamics is definitely the one area where the Arya–like other headphones with this elongated cup design–seriously falters. I reached out to Hifiman for out of warranty repair, and they replied saying that the ARIA V2 (non stealth) is discontinued, so no service is possible. They will provide a replacement stealth model for 80K and the old headphones. Treble is quite extended and this gives it a distinct sense of air and openness – it sounds light, almost delicate, and it counterbalances the otherwise massive bass presence well. Although it is a bit prominent in the lower region, it’s never fatiguing, or harsh, or excessive, though it does contribute to the hissing and sibilance of the mids. It offer a lot of small details that pop out clearly and are effortlessly heard. Just like in the other two sections, speed is very good here as well. Treble is not so much sparkly as it is shimmering: it is quietly giving you a good balance of energy and liveliness on one side and of politeness on the other. HiFiMAN Arya Comparisons I often see the HD800S and Arya compared, and of course Andrew famously called the Arya the “planar magnetic HD800S”. I can understand why, they have some very obvious things in common. Both are just slightly on the bright side of neutral, both are wide open, and both are excellent at soundstage, imaging, & detail. But in my opinion, that’s where their similarities end. I find them more different than they are the same.The product is returned in original condition (with brand’s/manufacturer's box, MRP tag intact, user Years of research into planar driver optimization led HiFiMAN to utilize an asymmetrical design with smaller magnets on the ear-facing side. This reduces interference in sound wave transmissions from the diaphragm. Metal and High-Grade Plastic Construction

It's the recording that dictates the amount of soundstage on the Arya V3, as opposed to an application presented by the limitations of the headphone like the V2. That may sound harsh, but I'm trying to objectively state what I'm hearing (which admittedly is a subjective process). I think this is ideal, as songs sound more like the way they were meant to be heard... If I want effects, personally, I'll go to a DSP. For those with the Edition XS thinking is it worth the upgrade then yes, it is on a different level. They share the same broad house tuning but you hear a lot more information and delicate cues with the Arya Stealth driver. HiFiMAN Arya vs HiFiMAN HE-560: the Arya and the HE-560 are quite close in terms of frequency response. The Arya have a somewhat leaner bass which is a tad more more controlled, more detailed and deeper (as it’s more concentrated in the lowest region) but less physical. On the other hand, the HE-560 have warmer mids: although they, too, have quite a bit of brightness, the overall balance is more neutral and therefore a bit warmer; the Arya are more detailed and better at separating instruments. Treble is where the most differences are: although the HE-560 offer plenty of detail, the Arya are a step above in that regard, although their treble is also more emphasised. Soundstage is wider on the Arya but deeper on the HE-560, while imaging is comparable and instrument separation is better on the Arya. You’re an owner of an earlier generation of Arya, wondering if you should replace it with this new Stealth Magnet version It also has a tighter level of control on the bass, improved layering, and more headroom. The Arya Stealth also has a faster driver and one that sounds more resolving. It is on another level and rightly so.Certain high-end elements lose some of their airier properties but retain a great amount of shine. Their timbre seems a bit less delicate this time around, and instead covers the sound signature in a layer of subtle brightness. They never felt fatiguing, but certain frequencies had a lot more piercing elements for a much hotter treble overall. Summary Any critiques I share below are at a truly minor scale and intended to help you decide if the Arya will appeal to you. HIFIMAN’s Stealth Magnet technology is acoustically transparent, dramatically reducing wave diffraction turbulence that degrades the sound waves’ integrity, maximizing accuracy. The output goal is transparent sonics, exposing every recording detail without extraneous noise. New “Stealth Magnets” reside in the asymmetric oval cups. Anyway, I’ve rambled on long enough. Do I love the Arya? Yes, I think I do. Do I still love the HD800S? Yes, I think I still do. Do I think they are redundant in a collection? No, absolutely not. Will I be keeping both? Undecided. I think so, but I’m going to live with both for a few weeks and see if I consistently favor one over the other.