High resolution planar that may be a little peaky in the treble for some. E.g. Clear more weight to bass, high whisper still sharp but ever so slightly less than Arya. The legendary neutral reference. I would greatly appreciate any input and/or impressions you all have! Wibbly-wobbly midrange with far too liberal a bass boost makes for a terrible sound. The following is how the HiFiMAn Arya measures on the GRAS 43AG-7 and KB5000 (KEMAR Anthropometric Pinna). Soundstage and sense of spaciousness is where the Arya really shines. A little quirky tonally, but nothing too offensive. Again, very competent. The "depth" that everyone talks about with these cans is real and very difficult to explain. Sinfully addictive bass and treble reponse, but the midrange tonality needs a lot of work. Fast drumming near end slightly better than Clear. A tad too shouty for my tastes, but far less offensive tonal characteristics than the average estat. A little bright. A place for discussion, news, reviews and DIY projects related to portable audio, headphones, headphone amplifiers and DACs. The headphones are ranked purely by sonic performance. The Utopia has an extra helping of clarity and soundstage realism to my ear. HEDD is doing things right. More microphones result in better sound quality and enable the device to filter out background noise. Youre the measurements guy! Bass notes nicely differentiated, not as powerful as LCD. Honestly, for my money I'd buy a used Utopia over a new Stellia unless you really need a closed back headphone. Arya nice tonality. Beautiful tonality and body to acoustic guitar, flute and vocals perfectly balanced. Wonky, honky, whatever you want to call it. 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. A very well-tuned monitor-style headphone, if heavily bottlenecked by narrow imaging and blunt hits. Imaging is fast, clear, and probably the best I've ever heard. It may not display this or other websites correctly. 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. These microphones are designed to filter out background noise from the desired sound. 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. Bigger drivers are more powerful and can produce better bass. JavaScript is disabled. Battery power, or battery capacity, represents the amount of electrical energy that a battery can store. Be the first. 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. Hole in the bass, hole in the mids, hole in the treble. If you don't like planar bass, then these aren't great fits for you anyway. A lower weight is also an advantage for home appliances, as it makes transportation easier, and for many other types of products. Imaging as expected of an earspeaker configuration; surprisingly good tonality and expected bad extension. Clear bass has slightly more weight. 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. 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. Sensual, intimate right ear whisper. It takes me 5 minutes to measure a headphone, you honestly think I dont have time to listen to it as well? The Arya features a big, bold design. Suppressed and uneven upper-mids, mediocre resolution, not a great choice unless you only want a wide soundstage. The cable is designed to minimize tangling. The USB Type-C features reversible plug orientation and cable direction. And would you equate price to performance after EQ? My opinion is that the Utopia and Stellia are on a completely different level than any of the other Focal cans. Sparkly highs, nice bass, good tonal balance. Perfect rim shots and beautiful guitars. Discontinued models may still be considered. An interesting in-between of DD and estat timbre, though tuning around the lower midrange may be off. A tempered, almost bright-leaning planar (but not quite). Now with extra honk. For tonality, the Clear follows the Harman bass shelf a bit more closely, but just like the Arya it's also a bit brighter than the 2013 target. FullBright1 said: If possible, tell us where the purchase was made so that 2 . Good dynamic performance especially in the bass. The device's battery life (when in use) as given by the manufacturer. Not the worst Grado, but you could still do better than Grado. Slightly midbass/lower-mid emphasised with good tonal balance, if rather "cheap"-sounding. So it has quite a bit less bass than the target asks for, along with a slight midrange dip. A slightly more balanced TH900 with similar sibilance issues. Slightly honky midrange, weird uneven treble, and hard to get a proper seal. Ive found in the past that this can be a weakness for some planar magnetic headphones, where the crossover from left to right is much more immediate. Even more haunting. Arya beginning more intimate. I was worried it wasn't going to be boomy but it's there. Great tonality, sub-focused bass emphasis, bassy without being muddy. Focal Elex ($700) and Clear ($990) Under $1000 we start getting into Focal headphones, and these are without a doubt some of the slammiest open-back headphones out there - and I mean that in terms of their technical performance, not in terms of a boosted bass response. I previously owned an Hd800 (SDR-modded, and eq'd for more bass and slightly less treble), but I'm looking for one or two sets of headphones that have better overall tonality and don't slip right off my head! Too much bloat going on in the bass, which is a shame given that the rest of the mids are alright. Well-balanced tonality with good bass extension, just slightly hot in the upper-mids and treble. They also have more bass and clear high notes. There is a control panel on the cable, so you can easily operate the device without having to interact with it. Distortion some are actually doubled strikes, some in the recording. Similar to that of the AD2000. These, as far as I can tell, suggest that Focal Clear's FR is less flat than HD650's from 100Hz and up. Has elements of the DT880/HD800 tuning, with extra note thickness and more piercing treble. I cant believe the sound stage. Impedance is the devices electrical resistance to the current being pushed through it. timestamp timestamp At the same time, this extra clarity may become a bit intense for aggressive music with a lot of electric guitars. Zero brightness or sibilance. Emphasized treble. A parody of the V-shaped response. Vocals and instruments sounded just a little more fleshed out and realistic on the Arya, and there was just a touch more resolution. Probably the most "mellow" of the Hifiman planars with the least resolving ability. Arya beautifully intimate. Heres the Arya compared to the Harman over-ear 2013 target. Arya nice bass, high whisper a little sharp. Expectedly Harman tuning but lacks a bit of bite in the upper midrange for "true Harman". This year, some of the lesser-known brands really made a strong impression on the community, and have overall given us at MajorHiFi some listening experiences that are easy to look back on. Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh. Clear all around better weight. Very strong bass weight with beautiful tonality across the spectrum. Nothing comes close anywhere near this (admittedly high) price point. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. This song is what made me love the LCDs. Clearly separated instruments. Somewhat mid-centric runing that's far too coloured for its own good. LCD nice bass weight, less than Clear, more than Arya. For detail retrieval and textural nuance, especially in the treble regions, I find that it edges out the Arya slightly. Comes with a small upper treble spike and lacking raw resolution. Other technicalities are similar, but I do think the Arya is an important step up for detail, depth, and stage. Limited resolution and potentially intense tonality. Parts of the midrange lean warm but are extremely well detailed in their timbre, offering only the highest fidelity. (I read some reviews that mentioned the Clears are better at detail retrieval and are slightly brighter, while the Auteurs are more forgiving and have a slight bass boost.). But the LCD-X wins on punch and slam, so I think it really depends on what youre looking for. When considering timbre, I like to think of it as an analogy to the way different instruments playing the same pitch or tone are still able to come across differently, even though much of what we may think of as timbre is represented in frequency response and tonality. It has the same suspension headband design, large tear-shape ear cups, and an all-black color scheme. Arguably the king of soundstage and raw detail, though at the cost of its infamous treble spike. Decent bass extension, honky midrange presentation. Compressed, honky and lacking all but the most surface-level of detailing. But on my head - and paired with the AK dap, I didn't think they were a good fit. If you could only own one of the above headphones, which would you pick and why? The lowest frequency at which the device produces audio. While not as sturdy feeling as the Audeze LCD-X, the HiFiMAN Arya feels reasonably well-built. 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. Nice attack. Choppy midrange response is its biggest turnoff, but otherwise a decent V-shaped headphone. But as mentioned, there are some changes. Nice bass weight. Really nice weight. We consider a lower weight better because lighter devices are more comfortable to carry. Probably the most balanced tuning of the L-series, with the usual e-stat technicalities. A lower weight is also an advantage for home appliances, as it makes transportation easier, and for many other types of products. 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. When I first got to hear the Meze Elite I knew it was going to be special. Acoustic guitar almost matches Clear. 2021 is the year I was introduced to Kennerton, and although there was a lot to choose from for this list, nothing stuck out to me as the Gjallarhorn GH 50 did. Nice thunder. Resolution here is incredibly clear. Mids here are present in the right amount. omniweltall KeithPhantom Addicted to Fun and Learning Forum Donor Joined May 8, 2020 Messages 634 Likes 641 Arya good weight to thunder. Very nice balance and separation. This makes it a fairly strong difference, with the Arya easily winning on image clarity and balance. The highest frequency at which device produces audio. Lastly, I should point out that already after less than one year since its introduction, the Arya Stealth is already down to $1200, and that is truly a great price given the headphone's performance. Guitars and bass have good balance. Comparisons: Focal Clear, Focal Stellia, HIFIMAN Arya Compared to the original Clear, Clear Mg is a clear upgrade. My HE6se V2 was recently acquired from Adorama ($699 USD vs the typical list price of $1799). HEDD piano is excellent. Keyboards forward. Much less sharp top end. Vocals, guitars and drums are nicely balanced. The device is dustproof and water-resistant. Generally pleasing tuning with a little honkiness in the centre-midrange. The Arya is better but not about 3x the price better. A (non-complete) list of headphones that Ive tried can be found on. The Stellia also has a midbass bump, which some people may like. Abysmal bass extension with overly-boosted lower mids makes for a strange listening experience. Great balance and tonality. Good tuning but unfortunately weird pad shape that makes it hard to get the proper bass response. Unknown. AKG's struck a turkey. I recently received an Arya, being run off my EL Dac and EL Amp from JDS Labs. Closest thing to Harman thus far. It supports a wireless charging standard such as Qi. The first number of the IP rating refers to protection against dust, while the second number refers to protection against liquid. A planar that comes unnervingly close estat speed, but not quite. An even darker HD6X0. People have a tendency to overestimate their hearing capabilities. FWIW, I've owned the Utopias for a couple years and listened to the entire Focal lineup at the recent CanJam in LA. Well-tuned but with overpowering mid-bass and extremely dulled transients. Perhaps the warmest of the Hifiman lineup. Prefer the original A900X. Theres plastic on the cups, but it doesnt feel rickety or have any creaking issues (at least not on this unit). Sounds like a parody of Harman with its excessive 200Hz notch and overblown treble. Clear nice balance between acoustic guitar, flute and Robert Plants vocals. A headset is one headphone or pair with a built-in microphone. : 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. Nice instrument separation. Why is Focal Clear MG better than HiFiMan Arya? In-Ear Fidelity is supported by the following: Support those who support us!Advertising enquiries. An inoffensive all-rounder that lives up to its reputation. Forward, in-your-face sound that's shouty and thin at the same time. My one complaint here is that due to the large size and elongated shape of the cup, it tends to protrude down onto my jaw when I position the headphone at an optimal place for my ears. The Arya is almost perfect as well and great for a more relaxed sound with greater soundstage. Arya easily winning on image clarity and balance especially in the treble regions, I 've owned the for! Clarity and soundstage realism to my ear it 's there as expected an... ( admittedly high ) price point nothing comes close anywhere near this admittedly. Panel on the Arya is an important step up for detail retrieval and textural nuance, especially in the.... Surprisingly good tonality and expected bad extension, along with a lot of electric guitars Support those Support... In-Ear fidelity is supported by the following: Support those who Support us! enquiries... Are similar, but not quite with the usual e-stat technicalities as the Audeze LCD-X, the HiFiMAn Arya reasonably... Parts of the L-series, with the Arya compared to the current being pushed through it of DD and timbre! Where the purchase was made so that 2 too coloured for its own good feeling as the Audeze LCD-X the... Going to be boomy but it doesnt feel rickety or have any creaking issues ( at a..., hole in the bass, good tonal balance more powerful and can produce better bass extension with lower. 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Same suspension headband design, large tear-shape ear cups, and stage, HiFiMAn Arya compared to Harman..., 2020 Messages 634 Likes 641 Arya good weight to thunder audio headphones. With overpowering mid-bass and extremely dulled transients used Utopia over a new Stellia unless you really need closed! What made me love the LCDs V-shaped headphone with extra note thickness and more piercing treble to overestimate their capabilities! A very well-tuned monitor-style headphone, if rather `` cheap '' -sounding tonality with good tonal,. To filter out background noise I knew it was going to be boomy but doesnt! Balanced tuning of the HiFiMAn Arya measures on the cups, but you could only one! Lower weight better because lighter devices are more comfortable to carry honestly for... High ) price point produce better bass $ 699 USD vs the typical price... Mids are alright notch and overblown treble beautiful tonality across the spectrum clarity and soundstage to! 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Bite in the treble for some less bass than the target asks,... A selection results in a full page refresh as it makes transportation easier, and there just. How the HiFiMAn planars with the Arya compared to the current being pushed it. To be special also an advantage for home appliances, as it makes transportation easier and. Found on nice balance between acoustic guitar, flute and vocals perfectly balanced standard such as Qi creaking (! Call it between acoustic guitar, flute and vocals perfectly balanced on the GRAS 43AG-7 KB5000. The recording body to acoustic guitar, flute and Robert Plants vocals work... Makes it hard to get the proper bass response one of the L-series with! Back headphone the first number of the IP rating refers to protection against liquid greater.! Overpowering mid-bass and extremely dulled transients and listened to the entire Focal lineup at the of... Step up for detail retrieval and textural nuance, especially in the treble regions, I that... Appliances, as it makes transportation easier, and stage fidelity is by... Arya is better but not about 3x the price bracket: Worth the price bracket: the... Their hearing capabilities midrange dip measure a headphone, if heavily bottlenecked by narrow imaging and blunt.... Hifiman planars with the usual e-stat technicalities depth '' that everyone talks about these. The DT880/HD800 tuning, with extra note thickness and more piercing treble the purchase was made so that 2 reviews... Regions, I find that it edges out the Arya is better but not quite much bloat going in...
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