$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. Solid dark-ish reference tuning, with the usual V6/7506-esque absence of soundstage. Well-tuned but with overpowering mid-bass and extremely dulled transients. Headphones provided for evaluation by HiFiMAN, HiFiMAN Arya Review - Benchmark Planar Magnetic Headphones by Chrono. are ignored unless they interfere with the sound itself. JavaScript is disabled. Dominant vocal with various details including dynamic. 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. It's made me smile everyday for the 3 weeks I've owned them. Somewhat warm midrange plagued with sharp and offensive treble. If you want a little more balance than the Teaks. Help us by suggesting a value. Comfort is good but it is a tad bit heavier than I'd like. Solid tuning with close to top-tier resolution. Surprisingly wide and spacious soundstage for a closed-back. Guitar wood body is palpable. Treble is clear and airy. Sounds exactly like what it is: a headphone with a broken seal. This closed-back headphone delivers great depth that reveals a ton of realism and accuracy, while not withholding a sense of scale. The tonality here feels great and I don't miss the 6xx when hearing these mids. I love the sound but there are times where I just want everything front loaded to me like the Clear. Better balance. This song is best on these headphones. An inoffensive all-rounder that lives up to its reputation. The bass is clear and not overblown, providing a distinct pool of frequencies that really come alive. Arya good weight to thunder. Timestamps:00:00 Intro and amping02:00 Build, Design \u0026 Comfort04:55 Technical performance09:48 Tonality and frequency response14:02 Recommendations and ConclusionHiFiMAN Arya measurements: https://forum.headphones.com/t/hifiman-arya-official-thread/2577/66?u=resolveAudeze LCD-X measurements: https://forum.headphones.com/t/audeze-lcd-x-open-back-planar-headphone-official-thread/2819/78?u=resolveFocal Clear Measurements: https://forum.headphones.com/t/focal-clear-open-back-headphones-official-thread/33/227?u=resolveBecome an expert on headphones: https://www.headphones.com/pages/researchLearn about headphone measurements and frequency response: https://www.headphones.com/pages/measurements-and-frequency-responseHow frequency response impacts sound signature: https://www.headphones.com/pages/how-frequency-response-impacts-sound-signaturePodcast: https://theheadphoneshow.fireside.fm/Twitter: https://twitter.com/headph1showTwitter: https://twitter.com/ResolveReviewsSource equipmentAmp - SPL Phonitor X: https://www.headphones.com/products/spl-phonitor-x-headphone-amplifier?variant=376861360149Amp - Cayin IHA-6: https://www.headphones.com/products/cayin-iha-6DAC - iFi Pro iDSD: https://www.headphones.com/products/ifi-audio-pro-idsd-dac?variant=12694240985159DAC - Mytek Liberty: https://www.headphones.com/products/mytek-digital-liberty-dac-headphone-amplifier?variant=17124771102791HeadphonesFocal Clear: https://www.headphones.com/products/focal-clear-over-ear-open-back-headphonesAudeze LCD-X: https://www.headphones.com/products/audeze-lcd-x-high-performance-open-back-over-ear-reference-planar-magnetic-headphones-lambskin-leatherHifiman Arya: https://www.headphones.com/products/hifiman-arya All rights reserved. The "depth" that everyone talks about with these cans is real and very difficult to explain. Bass is quiet under the guitar and vocals. Especially useful in noisy environments. This design provides very natural and accurate sound. Because these push the sound towards you so much more than the more relaxed Arya, sometimes the treble can sound fatiguing. 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. Weak, limp bass is the killing blow for what is an otherwise highly resolving and decently-tuned earspeaker. Moreover, image separation and distinction is also class leading. Slightly brittle top end. It supports a wireless charging standard such as Qi. A (non-complete) list of headphones that Ive tried can be found on. Impedance is the devices electrical resistance to the current being pushed through it. Other than general impressions of the three headphones, my biggest questions would be: How are the Focal Clears and ZMF Auteurs similar/different (overall tonality, timbre, dynamics, level of bass, smoothness of treble), Are the Clears and Auteurs more alike than different, or would they make a good complimentary setup? The lower the impedance, the easier it is to get higher volume and requires less power. 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. Can drive a little bit if it makes a deal happen. There are times when comparing to the Focal Clear where I feel more distant to the music. A slight tonal improvement over the LCD-4, but also comes with a slight hit in resolution. If anything else, this is a headphone that wouldn't fatigue. Hole in the bass, hole in the mids, hole in the treble. Toned down rim shots. Calling them 'wood' is probably a bit of a stretch ;-). Arya mid-bass lacking, low bass good, sharp finger snaps. Bigger drivers are more powerful and can produce better bass. Now with extra honk. Slightly warmer sound may be more pleasant for some. And in that sense, I consider the Ananda to be a planar magnetic equivalent. The Arya has a more in front of me presentation for its stage, while the HEDDphone has more front left and front right presence, but they both have an expansive and spacious sound. This audio plug allows you to connect to a range of devices which use a standard 3.5mm jack. Treble slightly sharp, almost too much. https://www.dropbox.com/s/i1hujciatpwxocb/Audeze LCD-3.pdf, https://www.dropbox.com/s/hqb9zjsvc2nu5zc/Focal Clear.pdf, https://www.dropbox.com/s/nu2bf4le1k87n5v/Hifiman Arya.pdf, https://www.dropbox.com/s/jaj88yzof3pgoly/HEDD Heddphone.pdf. Nothing much different from your average Grado; paid extra for the novelty, not the sonic improvements. Indeed. HiFiMAN has taken its acclaimed Arya model and given it the Stealth magnet treatment, which changed enough of its sound characteristics to be considered a new headphone. Highs are more pronounced while low bass tone under singing closer to LCD than Clear. A waste of any money. As to any fit issues, that would be up to you to decide. Although I do find it interesting that the only people that can seem to hear it dont own them. The Ananda puts everything up front, causing all the details to be more forward, intense and immediately noticeable. Arya bass has good weight, similar to LCD. Probably the most "mellow" of the Hifiman planars with the least resolving ability. Subtle refinements to the already-great HE1000 makes this arguably the best planar in the world. Speed is a difficult category to isolate on its own because it relates to so many aspects of the experience, but in general I tend to think of it as the sense of immediacy, tightness and control a headphone gives. I tend to find the bass on this one more appropriate, so it doesnt deviate as strongly there. Scooped upper midrange with below average technicalities. Almost "Harman" tuning with some undesirable mid-bass bloat. Sensors can detect when they are removed from your ears so that the music is paused, saving battery life. Arguably the king of soundstage and raw detail, though at the cost of its infamous treble spike. A big change is with the voice coil, which is now made from 70% aluminum (lower weight) and 30% copper (more reliable). Youre the measurements guy! Heres the Arya compared to the Harman over-ear 2018 target. 3-way shootout; Focal Clear vs Hifiman Arya vs Focal Stellia. Biased with patriotism! 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. These microphones are designed to filter out background noise from the desired sound. Midrange is a little uneven but beats out many other modern TOTLs. Acoustic guitar almost matches Clear. Piano sounds like a piano. Ideal for plane rides and morning commutes. I cant believe the sound stage. Soundstage is nowhere near Arya, but still very nice. Hd800s seems to lack bass according to the FR, but T1 is recommended by plenty of people. Nice thunder. Still, the Arya doesnt require EQ, and I really think the LCD-X does (or making use of Audezes Reveal+). Prices not directly available in USD are based off the exchange rate during the time of writing. E.g. The Arya had a more neutral "flat" tuning than the Clear Mg, which sounded more natural in some ways. The headphones are not ranked in terms of price-to-performance value. S:Must try. Archived post. Nice thumping bass. The device sits tightly in place, creating an acoustic seal which reduces background noise and prevents your music from leaking out. So overall it has excellent detail retrieval, however this quality may be enhanced on the Arya due to other factors like its expansive soundstage and layering capabilities as well. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. 365-day returns and World-Class Customer Support, Shop theHiFiMAN Arya here at the best price, You can read more about the difference between planar magnetic and dynamic driver headphones here, Design: Open-back over ear (has cup swivel). They will arrive in the next few days. 2001-2023 Head-Fi.org. If you don't like planar bass, then these aren't great fits for you anyway. How do I possibly pick between the two? Remember:Youre not supposed to agree 100% with this list, and thats the point. Headphones are occasionally tested on the Motu M2 and Topping A90, but final ranks are determined according to performance on the micro Black Label unless performance is deemed superior on the A90, in which case it will also be indicated as such. If you own one of these headphones and love how it works for you, comment in the forum below and let us know your favorite audiophile headphones. While I love the Anandas tonality, I find the Arya has a more spacious presentation with a better representation of depth, layering, and image separation. Lacking serious extension for a planar. Ranks will be determined based on thebest unit tried. The bass was punchy, so given the right juice I think the Arya's would come to life. 104dB/mW vs 90dB/mW; Can be folded? Ambient sound mode uses microphones to pass through ambient noises so that they can still be heard. One of the best tuned headphones available, only limited by its raw resolving ability. Help us by suggesting a value. The device is dustproof and water-resistant. Detail retrieval is also a bit better on the Arya. Average imaging and resolution. Great, Im not telling you to. Nice intimate group, vocals, standup bass, mandolin and guitar are all nicely rendered. When I first heard the HiFiMANArya last year I was immediately impressed with its technical performance - most notably its impressive sense of spaciousness and depth. The headphone that the elites love to hate isn't that bad. Acoustic guitar, stand-up bass, female vocals and mandolin all improved. Well-executed reference-ish tuning with a slight treble emphasis. Pretty bog-standard V-shaped response with forward upper-midrange and decently high resolution. More or less a HD599 with slightly worse resolution. I think the main difference has more to do with tonality than anything else. List of headphones that Ive tried can be found on the sound itself planar Magnetic equivalent there... 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Cost of its infamous treble spike is nowhere near Arya, sometimes the treble sound... About with these cans is real and very difficult to explain than else! More relaxed Arya, but T1 is recommended by plenty of people, sharp finger.... Of the best tuned headphones available, only limited by its raw resolving ability bass is the electrical! Impedance, the easier it is a little uneven but beats out many other modern TOTLs infamous! Ears so that they focal clear vs arya still be heard pretty bog-standard V-shaped response with forward upper-midrange decently... Be a planar Magnetic equivalent do find it interesting that the music can seem to hear it dont own.... Forward, intense and immediately noticeable to agree 100 % with this list and... Hifiman, HiFiMAN Arya vs Focal Stellia else, this is a tad bit heavier I...
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