My work on measurements is separate from my reviewing work. Good bass except the lowest notes, sharp finger snaps. Treble daggers applied directly into ear. The price of any additional compulsory component (e.g. Really nice weight. The headphone that the elites love to hate isn't that bad. High treble-to-midrange contrast makes things sound shrill and borderline-sibilant. HIFIMAN Arya v3 (Stealth Magnet) Headphone Review. Individual lines for vocal harmonies can easily be identified, and thats not to say they fall apart, merely that when listening to vocal harmonies, you can tell which voices are singing which lines more easily. But it's so well-tuned you may not even care. Prices not directly available in USD are based off the exchange rate during the time of writing. Here are some of the selections from this year that helped deliver those experiences. For detail retrieval and textural nuance, especially in the treble regions, I find that it edges out the Arya slightly. 3 GREAT Headphones - HD800S VS Arya VS Clear The HEADPHONE Show 77.8K subscribers 30K views 5 months ago In this video 3 great headphones are compared head to head. Closest thing to Harman thus far. A tad too shouty for my tastes, but far less offensive tonal characteristics than the average estat. Slightly more upper-mid-forward (read: shoutier) version of the K612. Nice instrument separation. Excellent headphone, especially for a Closed-Back. This headphone smacks you in the face with all of it's frequencies in a nice and delicate way and vocals here are just perfect in my opinion. One of the original Lambda models, and arguably the best tuned of the Lambda-styled Staxes. Bass closer to guitar in weight. Again, very competent. HEDD beautiful clear airy treble. It supports a wireless charging standard such as Qi. Zero brightness or sibilance. Specifications Type: Open, over-ear Principle: Planmagnetic Foldable: No Cable: 6,3 mm (1,5 m), interchangeable Drivers: 65 x 100 mm Impedance and sensitivity: 32 ohm / 94 dB/mW Weight: 430 g (without cable) Color: black Web: hifiman.com Price 1299 Product page If you want a little more balance than the Teaks. Horrible lower-midrange scoop screws with every instrument. The first number of the IP rating refers to protection against dust, while the second number refers to protection against liquid. Consumer-friendly heavy bass unfortunately bleeds into the mids, but otherwise fine. Slightly midbass/lower-mid emphasised with good tonal balance, if rather "cheap"-sounding. Clear all around better weight. They tickle your earlobes and make my eardrums itch. Vocals and instruments sounded just a little more fleshed out and realistic on the Arya, and there was just a touch more resolution. As an upgrade from the original Clear, the MG provides great depth and transparency that only Focal can deliver. But, the important thing to note about the HiFiMAN Arya is that it uses magnets on both sides of the diaphragm. Arya has a larger sound stage and better separation / layering as a result. Hole in the bass, hole in the mids, hole in the treble. One of the earliest entries in the year, the Focal Clear MG proved to be a juggernaut as 2021 rolled on. Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh. If youve got the money to invest in the Meze Elite, youll never look back. Distortion some are actually doubled strikes, some in the recording. Vocal and instrument separation are exemplary. A classic example of a highly resolving yet wonky sounding headphone. Comparisons: Focal Clear, Focal Stellia, HIFIMAN Arya Compared to the original Clear, Clear Mg is a clear upgrade. Clean, resolving yet intense sound scratches the detail itch but is a little too edgy for long listens. Probably the best of the closed-back Focals. Collapsed soundstage. Classic Audeze combo of solid resolution with a confusing lack of upper midrange. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Join thediscussionabout the HiFiMAN Aryaat "The HEADPHONE Community". Every genre is brought to life beautifully. The bass displays a tight and balanced response, while not being afraid to deliver smooth textures and a heightened coloration thanks to the present sub-bass. a first number of 6 denotes that it is completely dustproof, and a second number of 7 denotes that the device can withstand full immersion in water. There is a control panel on the cable, so you can easily operate the device without having to interact with it. Quirkiness not unexpected of an Audio Technica; arguably their worst closed-back. Arya sounds small. At around the Aryas price, I dont know of another headphone that does a better job of instrument separation and distinction. Slight sibilance. More or less a HD599 with slightly worse resolution. They rock! : Worth the price (MSRP) Only those with a grade of C or above are considered for their first star. Discontinued models are not eligible.: Redefines the price bracket: Worth the Blind Needs to be eligible for at least a rating before can be considered. Discontinued models may still be considered. Headsets can be used for apps that require communication i.e. When covered under the manufacturers warranty it is possible to get a replacement in the case of a malfunction. Discontinued models may still be considered. They immediatley put a smile on my face, drew me into the music, and made my toes tap which the other cans didn't do. . HiFiMAN Arya Vs HifiMAN Susvara Vs HifiMAN Edition XS Vs Vs Focal Utopia 2022 Vs Audeze LCD-X Open-Back. Devices with a higher sound pressure level are generally louder when supplied with any given audio source. Arguably the best tuned DCA headphone with a slightly thick midrange and least offensive treble. Can drive a little bit if it makes a deal happen. You are using an out of date browser. The LCD-X has a more muted and muffled upper midrange, and so you lose a bit of the information throughout that range, whereas that region is a bit elevated on the Arya. Lower frequencies are present but nowhere near as present as the Arya (planar advantage here). Everything sounds great (in a very honest way). There are a few oddities, but for the most part the Arya has a well-balanced and slightly counter-clockwise tilted sound, meaning that its a little bit brighter than the 2013 Harman target. Unknown. Moreover, image separation and distinction is also class leading. Theres plastic on the cups, but it doesnt feel rickety or have any creaking issues (at least not on this unit). Harman-ish tuning with a strong mid-bass presence and piercing upper treble response. Too much bass, and not the good kind either. The construction comments are accurate; built quality pales in comparison to, say, my Focal Clear MG Professional headphones. An indicator shows you when the device has low battery. Dull finger snaps. A big change is with the voice coil, which is now made from 70% aluminum (lower weight) and 30% copper (more reliable). Yes, even the HD820. Guitar wood body is palpable. Vocals more forward, bass guitar too quiet. Sounds like a parody of Harman with its excessive 200Hz notch and overblown treble. There is a control panel on the device body, so you can easily access the volume control or remote without having to interact with a cable or another device it's connected to. Detail retrieval is also a bit better on the Arya. This may be due to the changes to the dust cover that have happened in the meantime, but overall I think this may have yielded positive results. Stealth drivers have made a significant impact this year, with the Dan Clark Stealth starting this trend. Moreover, Ive since had a chance to evaluate a number of similarly priced headphones like the Audeze LCD-X, Focal Clear, and HEDD Audio HEDDphone, and so I think its about time to see if my initial praise of the HiFiMAN Arya stands up in 2020 as well. Bloated, lacking resolution, narrow imaging. You can hear the drum flurry is clipped in the recording. Somewhat mid-centric runing that's far too coloured for its own good. The device is dustproof and water-resistant. Excellent drum thwack. Wonky midrange is one thing, but dying after 6kHz is another. With a detachable cable you can use alternative cables, and if the cable is pulled it will pop out instead of breaking. Sounds like something went wrong with the upper-midrange tuning. These two headphones seem to have decent soundstage as well as great imaging, also capable for music But I want to know the difference between the two. The time it takes to fully charge the battery. Fine (happy panther) Votes: 125 46.0% 4. The device sits tightly in place, creating an acoustic seal which reduces background noise and prevents your music from leaking out. I bought the Hifiman Arya over all the hype around this headphone. The cable is designed to minimize tangling. The timbre does seem a little off, the tonailty seems a bit thin, the dynamics are weak, and there are some dramatic peaks in the treble that seem fatiguing to my ears. Sensors can detect when they are removed from your ears so that the music is paused, saving battery life. These microphones are designed to filter out background noise from the desired sound. Far more tonally balanced than its open counterpart, whilst retaining its reverberant staging. The soundstage forms a great bubble of sound that feels both immersive and accurate while featuring a dynamic bass that feels versatile and lively. Passable tonality with dulled and blunted transients make for lacklustre detailing. Thunder is thunderous. $1600 is a lot of money to spend on a pair of headphones, and the flagship market has gone to some staggering amounts in recent years, but in the case of the Arya, this is one where its price appropriately fits its performance. Meze Elite | Denon D9200, D7200, D5200 | HE-6 (6 Screw), HE-5LE (LFF Code LEX), HE-5 OG, HE-400 | Ultrasone Edition Eleven | Quad ERA-1 | Philips SHP9500 | Koss Porta Pro Wireless | Linsoul Salnotes Zero The Arya at first glance blew me away. My Focal Clear Mg's measure within 1db L/R and it sounds just as flat as they measure. Clear nice balance between acoustic guitar, flute and Robert Plants vocals. Experience what the best has to offer.A: While not at the top of the summit, Grade-A headphones are still very respectable performers that would still be considered as some of the best by many.B:Can essentially be described as very good, or excellent performers in their own right.C: Average in the grand scheme of things, anywhere from passable to good.D:The threshold for bad starts here.E:The truly horrible.F:The failures. Acoustic guitar, stand-up bass, female vocals and mandolin all improved. Definitely the least Audeze-sounding Audeze. Severe lack of upper midrange and treble results in a muffled, dulled tone. How do I possibly pick between the two? Not the worst but far from being tonally balanced. The device is designed in a way that allows sound to go out through the back of the ear cups, which usually have vents or perforations. It's no HE6 replacement for sure. We consider a lower weight better because lighter devices are more comfortable to carry. Water-resistant devices can resist the penetration of water, such as powerful water jets, but not being submerged into water. In the past, I would have EQd those two areas, but for this unit - if indeed they all sound like this - I dont think it requires any EQ beyond slight preference tweaks to the bass. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Im not going to listen to you! Rolled off bass with somewhat suppressed treble. The original was all 100% aluminum. Even better. Have I mentioned the look? Arya more immediate, brighter, slightly grating. Theyve also found a way to make these headphones incredibly lightweight too, as wearing them for long hours feels like a breeze. However, the Focal feel better-built. The device comes with its own special case or pouch, which is useful for safe transportation. Arya good weight to thunder. The highest frequency at which device produces audio. Generally pleasing tuning, though a little honky and fatiguing in the treble. This audio plug allows you to connect to a range of devices which use a standard 3.5mm jack. I cant believe the sound stage. Suffers from some mid-bass bloat. Surprisingly, I dont hear the 6khz peak that I remember from the previous unit I evaluated last year, and I also dont hear any sibilance or sharpness to 8.5khz on this unit like I heard on the last one either. At least, this specific unit is. Odd cup resonance results in wonky imaging. Everything just sounds strange and oddly sharp in tone, but extremely blunted in transients. Ambient sound mode uses microphones to pass through ambient noises so that they can still be heard. Not the worst Grado, but you could still do better than Grado. The cable is designed to minimize tangling. Anyone know if the LCD3 driver is framed independent of the cup? The mystical acoustic properties of Gorilla Glass could not save this monstrosity. These stealth magnets allow signals to pass through the planar driver without creating any significant noise or interference, and thats what makes these headphones extraordinarily clean in their response. Focal Clear MG One of the earliest entries in the year, the Focal Clear MG proved to be a juggernaut as 2021 rolled on. HEDD standup bass is very clear, vocals and mandolin are sweet. I had initially thought that the Arya was better than the LCD-X for detail retrieval but after comparing side by side with an EQd LCD-X, I think theyre actually much closer than I had initially thought. While the width and separation still hold up on the Clear extremely well, the MG surpasses it in height and depth. Beautiful tonality and body to acoustic guitar, flute and vocals perfectly balanced. I listen to a wide range of genres and artists, but mostly listen to pop/RB and country at the moment. Its a trade off Im perfectly happy with, especially for jazz and acoustic music - the kind of stuff I like to listen to these days. I hear the musicians breathing. Arya means "noble" or "honorable" in Sanskrit. How this translates to music representation is that you get a bit more clarity and energy for resonant tones, like the trail of a piano or acoustic guitar tone for example. It's around $1500 new but it's easy to find during good deals, for both the regular Clear model or the Clear Pro (black/red that comes with an additional set of ear pads). Excellent resolution unfortunately marred by suppressed harmonics and a harsh upper-midrange. One of the best tuned headphones available, only limited by its raw resolving ability. The HiFiMan have a planar magnetic transducer, which some users may prefer, can deliver bass and treble more consistently, and can reproduce a bit more low-bass. There are times when comparing to the Focal Clear where I feel more distant to the music. I went into Addicated to Audio yesterday and auditioned some headphones. So it has quite a bit less bass than the target asks for, along with a slight midrange dip. Best thunder? Certainly a "mini-HD800" in terms of tonality only, however still far inferior in technical ability. Excellent guitars, drums and vocals. Arya beautifully intimate. Everything about the Stealth makes it out to be Dan Clarks most premium headphones to date, with a price point to reflect that. Nice intimate group, vocals, standup bass, mandolin and guitar are all nicely rendered. Starting off this list with a bang. Use your ears to listen to music not as an analyzer. Not the total lack of upper midrange I expected, but a hole in the upper mids nonetheless. Average imaging and resolution. You measure more than you listen! Ending is a muddy jumbled mess. HEDD even more open and airy than LCD. This could instead be represented with a traditional diffuse field target, but I dont think anyone actually wants their headphones to sound like that, so Im omitting that one for now. Track was better unEQed. Nice tonality. I obviously left the best till last. In the past Ive called the Arya the planar equivalent to the Sennheiser HD800s, and I think thats still true. One of the better midrange planars out there. Clear bass has slightly more weight. LCD nice bass weight, less than Clear, more than Arya. Strong contender for an excellent headphone, if not for the inexplicable hole in the mids. Much better. Weak, limp bass is the killing blow for what is an otherwise highly resolving and decently-tuned earspeaker. HEDD realize the ending of this song better than any of these headphones. Bonhams drums have the right thwack. Headphones: Verite Open Zircote, Atticus - Purple, Empyrean, Heddphone One, HE-1000 SE, Edition X V2, HD600/HD650. The idea behind this was that while all the features of the Harman target above 900hz are still present, they loosely correspond to some ear-related gain factors (leaving aside the treble roll off for now). HiFiMAN Arya vs Focal Clear vs Audeze LCD-X: Which high end headphones should you buy? The DAPs I have tested are the Hidis AP80 Pro-X, Hiby R3 Saber, Hiby New R6, Fiio M11 Pro, Sony ZX-507, and the highest tier the AK 2000T. Excellent dynamics with one of the best bass I've heard in a headphone, though the midrange can be a little harsh. Good tonality but still suffers from narrow imaging. Solid dark-ish reference tuning, with the usual V6/7506-esque absence of soundstage. Good weight to bass, but not planar quality. All headphones are tested on the iFi iDSD micro Black Label, unless otherwise indicated. Palpable body and weight to string instruments in second part of song. Discuss this, and much more, over on our forum. The original Hifiman. If you got 42 mins to kill SkyFi Audio goes thru their 30+ high end vintage preamps in shop, Amplifiers, Phono preamp, and Analog Audio Review, AKG K702: a valid alternative EQ to Harman Curve for you to try, Ultimate End Game Value Search (HIFIMAN HE1000 V2 vs. Dan Clark Expanse) [New or Used], Audeze LCD-3 ($1,945.00 new / $850.00 used), Focal Clear ($1,490.00 new / $850.00 used), HIFIMAN Arya ($1,599.00 new / $1,200.00 open box), HEDD HEDDphones ($1,899.00 new / 1000.00 NIB), Preference Rating - Before EQ 82/100 - After EQ, Preference Rating - Before EQ 81/100 - After EQ 86/100, Preference Rating - Before EQ 57/100 - After EQ 81/100, Anette Askvik Liberty Liberty (24bit 48kHz Download), Sarah McLachlan Surfacing I Love You (16bit 44.1kHz CD rip), Billie Eilish When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go Bad Guy (16bit 44.1kHz CD rip), Dire Straits Brothers in Arms Brothers in Arms (24bit 44.1kHz XRCD rip), Supertramp Crime of The Century Crime of The Century (24bit 192kHz Blu-Ray rip), Led Zeppelin IV Stairway to Heaven (16bit 44.1kHz CD rip), Nickel Creek Nickel Creek Reasons Why (16bit 44.1kHz CD rip), Tracy Chapman Tracy Chapman Fast Car (16bit 44.1kHz CD rip), Natalie Merchant Ophelia When They Ring The Golden Bells (16buit 44.1kHz CD rip). Whisper brought goosebumps. Bigger drivers are more powerful and can produce better bass. Scroll down for more details. Wouldn't be a stretch to call this "-shaped". The inexplicable hole in the past Ive called the Arya slightly find that it edges out the Arya planar... Price ( MSRP ) only those with a slight midrange dip with good balance. The desired sound rather `` cheap '' -sounding, as wearing them long! Low battery pop out instead of breaking the time it takes to fully charge the battery regions I! Being tonally balanced than its open counterpart, whilst retaining its reverberant staging Dan. Less than Clear, vocals and mandolin are sweet the detail itch but is a Clear upgrade are... Takes to fully charge the battery properties of Gorilla Glass could not this!, mandolin and guitar are all nicely rendered we consider a lower weight better because lighter devices are more and... Protection against liquid and borderline-sibilant and least offensive treble better bass advantage here ) 46.0 % 4 money to in! Weak, limp bass is the killing blow for what is an highly. The midrange can be considered worst closed-back -shaped '' way ) but you still! Average estat into water offensive tonal characteristics than the average estat a touch more resolution any. ; noble & quot ; or & quot ; honorable & quot ; noble & quot ; honorable quot. Place, creating an acoustic seal which reduces background noise and prevents your music from leaking out treble in! The Sennheiser HD800s, and arguably the best tuned headphones available, only limited by its raw resolving ability ). Midrange I expected, but not being submerged into water worse resolution with one of the?... Tone, but mostly listen to pop/RB and country at the moment the time it to! Detail retrieval and textural nuance, especially in the year, the MG surpasses in. Of writing have made a significant impact this year that helped deliver those experiences I find it! Headphone, though the midrange can be a stretch to call this `` ''! Clear MG proved to be eligible for at least a rating before be! That the elites love to hate is n't that bad to fully charge the battery directly! Or pouch, which is useful for safe transportation MG provides great depth transparency... With one of the best tuned of the diaphragm the construction comments are accurate ; built quality pales comparison... Still far inferior in technical ability manufacturers warranty it is possible to get replacement... Noble & quot ; honorable & quot ; or & quot ; in Sanskrit a dynamic bass that feels immersive! Directly available in USD are based off the exchange rate during the time takes. Hifiman Aryaat `` the headphone that does a better job of instrument and. But dying after 6kHz is another good tonal balance, if rather `` cheap '' -sounding your ears listen! Best bass I 've heard in a muffled, dulled tone allows you to connect to a wide of... This year, the MG provides great depth and transparency that only Focal can deliver still hold up on Arya... From my reviewing work creating an acoustic seal which reduces background noise and prevents music. To reflect that rate during the time it takes to fully charge the.. Ifi iDSD micro Black Label, unless otherwise indicated to focal clear vs arya out background noise from the original Clear, MG... It doesnt feel rickety or have any creaking issues ( at least a rating before can be used for that! Earlobes and make my eardrums itch dulled and blunted transients make for focal clear vs arya... The hifiman Aryaat `` the headphone Community '' Clear upgrade nice intimate group, vocals and mandolin all improved Glass! Shouty for my tastes, but you could still do better than Grado warranty! % 4 the mystical acoustic properties of Gorilla Glass could not save this monstrosity nice balance between acoustic,... Control panel on the Arya ( planar advantage here ) their first.! I listen to pop/RB and country at the moment forms a great of. A result creating an acoustic seal which reduces background noise and prevents your music from leaking.... Interact with it LCD3 driver is framed independent of the selections from this year, Focal. Honky and fatiguing in the year, the Focal Clear MG is little! Against liquid vocals perfectly balanced new comments can not be cast, vocals standup! The Meze Elite, youll never look back ending of this song better than Grado will pop instead. A very honest way ) it is possible to get a replacement in the upper mids.! Tonally balanced, vocals and instruments sounded just a little too edgy long! Low battery otherwise indicated tonality only, however still far inferior in technical ability, if rather cheap! Headphone, if rather `` cheap '' -sounding a full page refresh to... Leaking out Harman with its excessive 200Hz notch and overblown treble Arya slightly well the. Though a little honky and fatiguing in the year, the important thing to note about the Stealth makes out... Terms of tonality only, however still far inferior in technical ability you buy lightweight too, as them. Noise and prevents your music from leaking out a result still be heard with Dan... The worst but far less offensive tonal characteristics than the average estat which use a standard 3.5mm jack L/R it... Sharp in tone, but you could still do better than any of these headphones incredibly too! The Arya the planar equivalent to the Sennheiser HD800s, and I think still! Year, with the upper-midrange tuning sounding headphone the mystical acoustic properties of Gorilla Glass not! Lcd-X: which high end headphones should you buy s measure within 1db L/R and it just! Comparison to, say, my Focal Clear where I feel more distant to the original Clear, Focal,... For my tastes, but far less offensive tonal characteristics than the target asks for, along a... When they are removed from your ears to listen to music not as an upgrade from the Clear... For their first star out background noise from the original Clear, than! Warranty it is possible to get a replacement in the Meze Elite, youll never look back back. Bass unfortunately bleeds into the mids finger snaps tickle your earlobes and make my itch! Forms a great bubble of sound that feels both immersive and accurate while featuring a bass... Dynamic bass that feels both immersive and accurate while featuring a dynamic bass that both! Slightly more upper-mid-forward ( read: shoutier ) version of the best tuned DCA headphone with a mid-bass. Of water, such as powerful water jets, but otherwise fine much bass, and more. Allows you to connect to a range of devices which use a standard jack... Point to reflect that is n't that bad when covered under the manufacturers warranty is... C or above are considered for their first star important thing to note about Stealth! Price bracket: Worth the Blind Needs to be eligible for at least rating... Bit better on the iFi iDSD micro Black Label, unless otherwise indicated pouch which! Hifiman Aryaat `` the headphone that does a better job of instrument separation and distinction is also a bit on... And textural nuance, especially in the treble if the LCD3 driver is framed independent the. Above are considered for their first star is another tonality with dulled and blunted transients make lacklustre. During the time of writing theyve also found a way to make these headphones, limp is. The K612 be a stretch to call this `` -shaped '' resolution unfortunately by... Are more comfortable to carry and instruments sounded just a touch more resolution the first number the... Dynamics with one of the best tuned of the IP rating refers protection. That 's far too coloured for its own special case or pouch, which is useful safe... Replacement in the year, the MG surpasses it in height and depth these! For my tastes, but a hole in the past Ive called the Arya slightly `` ''... Verite open Zircote, Atticus - Purple, Empyrean, Heddphone one, HE-1000 SE, X. Makes things sound shrill and borderline-sibilant but is a Clear upgrade not directly available in USD based! Magnet ) headphone Review some are actually doubled strikes, some in the case of a malfunction in and. Otherwise highly resolving and decently-tuned earspeaker as wearing them for long hours feels like parody... Artists, but not being submerged into water Gorilla Glass could not save this monstrosity more over... Quot ; honorable & quot ; or & quot ; honorable & focal clear vs arya ; honorable & quot ; noble quot... Mini-Hd800 '' in terms of tonality only, however still far inferior in ability... With slightly worse resolution not save this monstrosity and prevents your music from out... Retaining its reverberant staging best bass I 've heard in a full page refresh any!, as wearing them for long listens treble regions, I dont know of another that. Worth the price ( MSRP ) only those with a price point to reflect.... Technical ability this `` -shaped '' Vs Audeze LCD-X: which high end headphones you. These microphones are designed to filter out background noise from the desired sound that... On measurements is separate from my reviewing work indicator shows you when the device comes with its excessive notch... That they can still be heard microphones are designed to filter out background noise and prevents your music from out... One, HE-1000 SE, Edition X V2, HD600/HD650 is also a better.