We must have the exact same taste in audio. I bought the Edition X V2 after watching your review and I loved them. Eventually my curiosity got the better of me and I sold them. I just received my Arya’s today. And they’re the best sounding Hifiman headphone I’ve ever heard. I think they’re even better than the HE1000 V2 because they have tighter bass and smoother treble. They’re definitely better than the Edition X V2 because as good as those are, the Arya fix the only weakness they have; which is the midrange. The Edition X V2’s have a slightly recessed midrange while the Arya have a much more linear/neutral midrange. It makes vocals come through more clearly. The HEX V2’s sometimes make the lead singer sound “behind” the band and the instruments are more present and forward. But the Arya’s place the vocalists front and center and the instruments drop into place around them and beside them but not in front of them. I also hear them as having an even larger soundstage, as you said in your review. I no longer own the 800S, but I’d say the Arya is right there with them in terms of soundstage and resolution. Anyway, I love your reviews! Keep up the good work!
I bought the Ananda, and almost immediately traded up to the Arya. The upper mid/lower treble was too forward on the Ananda, making classic rock and such sound piercing. The Arya is slightly recessed is that same area, and is much more even and smooth. The bass is deeper and more visceral on the Arya as well - in fact, it's the only open planar I've heard to date with truly satisfying bass. The driver on the Ananda is 80 X 50 mm. On the Edition X-V2, it's 90 X 55 mm. The drivers on the Arya, HE1000, HE1000-V2 and the HE1000se are all the same size - 100 X 65 mm. I asked Mark at HiFiMan for details on the drivers in the Arya, and he said that they "owe a lot" to the drivers in the HE1000. I suspect that the drivers in all four of these headphones is essentially the same, with only slight differences in tuning and magnet structure. An argument can be made that the Arya is the HE1000-V4. Mark also told me that trading up to anything less than the HE1000se from the Arya would be a waste of money. I have not heard the HE1000se, but I suspect the extra cost has more to do with the fancy stainless steel, wood trim, and extra cables than anything else. I would love to hear from others who have heard both the Arya and the HE1000se.
Hello, Sir,I just couldn't finish to post my answer to Mr.Gilbert because i don't see this comment to be visible when i switch off my account. Yesterday i have the chance to post this and it remained present all times. But today i have edited and enlarged my text and suddenly after the last saving it's no more the case. But now i have already understood the true reason of this problem: i must type myself the comment text every time instead of ctrl c- ctrl v operations. In some cases there is also a certain limit of number of text lines to be written.This situation can seem strange indeed to many RUclips users. So i will try to answer Mr.Gilbert using all the experience i have acquired and you will no more remark this kind of behavior in the comments from my side.
Great information - Thanks for sharing! I've owned the HE-500's for about 2 years, and love them more than anything else I've heard. I'm afraid to spend more because I don't believe it will sound better, but it must... right? I'm considering something in the $1,000 - $2,000 range, and am guessing that these will be where I'l go, but I figured I'd ask around to see if anyone has any experience with the HE-500's, in comparison to the Edition X / HE-1000's.
It is quite surprising to hear that Hifiman Ananda can present some important issues with the quality of upper mid/low treble presentation. Do you think the sound of this headphone can become more even and pleasing to appreciate if switching it to another audio source/Dac and/or headphone amp? It's true that Ananda has the overall tonal balance with less prominent low and center mid-range than Hifiman Edition X V2. Therefore its sound focus tends to increase slightly in the upper mids and low treble area, but the difference doesn't result in the appearance of listening discomfort (you can find this confirmation in some Ananda reviews posted on sites for interested audiophile like Head-Fi, MajorHifi, Headfonics, rtings.com and so on). Regarding now Hifiman Arya, Edition X V2 and He1000se price tag comparison, in my opinion this big lift correlates directly with their warrantly period duration. After Hifiman own words the He1000se also has increased sensitivity (96 db instead of 90 for He1000 V2 and Arya), more distortion free, harmonious and pure musical sound. Unfortunately i haven't yet the chance to do a personal sonic and technical performance comparison between the Hifiman He1000se and Arya so i can't really told you confidently about other stronger points that this higher priced model can possess. I invite you to express your own thoughts on my statement after viewing some information concerning the warrantly period in the following links (2 last pages of the docs): down.hifiman.com/manual/Arya.pdf down.hifiman.com/manual/160908-hifiman-EditionXV2-manual.pdf down.hifiman.com/manual/HE1000se.pdf I thank you for the manifested interest and comprehension.
It's worth mentioning that the HE-1000se's driver is different. It uses a different kind of magnet material and also a different kind of magnet structure/layout. The so-called Stealth Magnets. This is similar to what is used in Susvara. And this would be the primary source of cost and sound difference.
Just found your channel as my next target is the arya v3 aka stealth, its just 900$ now, crazy how cheaper these headphones got over time. Good vid, i think i have to pull the trigger :)
Got V2 w/o EQ just with way better cable than stock (XLR) its hard to point any flaws. Depending on amp I think it could play anything with precision. Only complaint is cheap build quality for the price, but we buy it for sound
I now own the hifiman arya I agree it does sound even better then my old edition x.I'm glad I bought these over the audeze lcd-x thanks because of your opinion.These are my favorite headphones now that I heard.I'm using on high gain on my burson soloist sl mk11 and it sounds awesome!
As there's a Sonarworks True-Fi profile for the HD800S but not for the Arya, I'd be interested in HD800S+True-Fi vs Arya without any EQ. It would especially be interesting as it would correct HD800S' major weakness, tonal balance. (yes, it's bright but that can so easily be changed).
You seem to have the most similar hearing to mine of any RUclipsr. I got a used he1000 V1 a few months back and it is absolutely amazing. Crazy how fun they are when gaming. Keep up the good work bro, you will get bigger. Don't you go MIA on me again...
I own the HD 800 LCD-x 2020 Revision and had the Arya. Imo get the hd800 with tube pre-amp and analoge EQ and you have the Soundsignaturen of the Arya including subbas. You need a powerful amp and a balanced cable for both anyways! Lcd-x's really sound muffeld in the highs. But that mids and bas!! When you look at fr qraphs you know why. Same solution as with hd800. Analog eq and pre-amp. I like soviet military tubes for both. There are tube rolling Guides for little dot. Cheaper pre-amps work the same way. Lcd-x will still be very dark but so very very accurate in resolution and delivers a punch and bas like the Arya could never dream off! Think of hd650 with real subbas and less veil in the highs! Hd800s are impressive as well but 2 expensive comparerd to pre-amp and tubes... I recommend hd800 used for ~700 and lcd-x 2020 used for ~700 balanced copper or copper and silver plated cable for hd800 ~100 a Tube pre-amp with tubes ~50 and any dac balance + rca and amp (Like drop 789) Combo that has enough Power. Excluding the dac you have a complete Setup and 2 of the best headphones for the price of the Arya. And both HPs are better than the Arya for their respective forte and music...
@@tdfmike3915 interesting. What amp and analog eq are you using with your HD800? Do you manage to get the body/ meat people say they lack from that solution? Thanks
@@TombstoneTube Hey, Im using the toping A90 as I found my AAA789 way to bright for hd800 without tube pre-amp. As pre-amp I have the suca audio T1. (Josh valour did a vid about that) Im using matched vokshod Tubes for soundstage and detail but the Jans are nice too. The T1 gives you the option for a top(less highs) and bottom (way more bas &subbas) shelf eq. I also played around with the filter options of my dac to find something neutral with least distortions... Unbelievable what you can hear with hd800.... In a nutshell: Balanced output with pre-amp and analoge EQ gives you body like any real tube amp and maybe more. My little dot mk3 never sees any action nowadays 😉 (hd800 were still fatuiging and balanced gives you almost the same soundstage as SE on tubes) There are a lot of pairing videos for the hd800. My setup is designed to switch between musical and ultra detail for classical/Orchestra and gaming. Edit: Im using hd800. Not the newer hd800s. Alegedly the s have more distortions in the bas. Hd800 only clip in bas when it gets uncomfortably loud
I would love to hear lcd x but picked up Arya, probably what it has better but just a bit is bass, I got lcd 2c and kind of know Audeze bass is top notch
man, just want to say your reviews are so refreshing, having a young and seemingly smart person talk on Audiophile gear is great because you not only cut through the crap but also seem much more able to seriously assess the kit. Also it seems that you actually bother to listen to them for long enough to provide a robust critique, which is honestly more than what it seems can be said for others. Cheers!
The difference between a 1000, 1600 and 3500 is scalability. The Ananda doesn’t scale as much as the more expensive models. With good source and amplification the HE1000 series is quite a lot better than Ananda.
Micro BL , HDVD800 even HDV820 is not nearly enough for hifiman HEK Family ( HE1000 V1 , V2 , SE ) , plug it to the something very very serious something like Chord Dave , Hugo 2 , hugo tt 2 , IFI Pro iDSD + Pro iCAN , mcintosh mha100.... , in that time you start begin realise why there are huge price diffrences between these models , HIFIMAN must mentioned in their website that these headphones needs Very serious source otherwise buy Edition X V2 , Ananda or Arya , Don't even think to approach to susvara or HEK and then using micro black or similar source becouse it will be very disappointing. PEOPLE : Serious source is very important , majorhifi also did the same thing for 1000SE and tested with micro bl , but its completely wrong , i don't care if those headphone relativity needs high end or mid-entry electronics , this is the game if you want to play then you need to prepar your wallet
Russell I listened to the hek v2 with my micro idsd bl and other various amps which were 3k and I gotta say it’s hate to say there is a huge difference besides warmth.
@@gcb2101 First, the weight, the Arya felt heavier. The Price, for $700 in savings, I prefer the Ananda, I couldn't tell the difference sonically to be honest. Easier to drive.......
This video was informative and entertaining. I bought the Arya based on your feedback and I couldn’t be happier. I’d be curious to hear your thoughts on the Elex as that is my current sub $1000 cans. Keep up the good work.
Hi I have watched many of your videos about Hifiman headphones recently, because of the launch of Edition XX just days ago. In China there are deals where the Ananda is about US$673, while the Arya is $1300. Do you think the Arya is worth nearly twice the price of the Ananda? For $73 more I think Ananda is a better choice over the Edition XX, but I'm not sure about Ananda vs Arya
Another very good headphones comparison review, what is your take on the new Massdrop x HIFIMAN Edition XX Headphones? It looks like a cross breed between the HE 4xx / V2 / 1000 SE but it would be very interesting on how it sounds
@@Jayiyagi Actually, Todd from TTVJ confirm that they are anything but: "The Edition XX is a specific lower cost headphone made for Massdrop. The magnet structure is older material and design as is the head bank and cups. The headphones do not have the frequency extension of the Ananda or the openness and quick response. Listening to the two and you can easily hear the difference. The Edition XX is a good headphone in its price range as is the Ananda in its price range." www.head-fi.org/threads/hifimans-new-ananda-in-stock-and-loaner-program.882901/page-2#post-14594224
That is disturbing to hear. I have the Hifiman 400Is I got 1.5 years ago now, I haven't had anything fall apart on them, thus far. But I've heard of some build issues with various Hifimans. They need to get on top of their build quality.
Does everyone understand why this headphones sounds exactly like 1000 SE?this was going to be a drop exclusive called the 1000x. It's basically the same headphone but black. Something fell through between the two companies and they decided to produce it on their own
Watching this review really makes wonder why Hifiman couldn't just give the Arya the same metal build the HE1000 series does. If the much, much cheaper Sundara has a higher quality metal construction than the Arya, there's no excuse beyond plain corporate greed.
After trying the same exact headphones I really agree with all of this. The HD 800 is I can say something sharp? But not bothersome to me. I don't know but have you ever played any FPS games with the HD 800(s) and Ananda/Arya/He1000se? I feel like I'm not testing the soundstage well enough with just music. After hearing the arya/ananda/HE1000se the HD 800(s) soundstage wasn't as impressive anymore but maybe that could be because I was so tired after testing about 30+ headphones in the past 2 days.
Next Best Thing Studio thanks for the quick response! I can buy the Ananda’s for $720 USD brand new. Would you say the Arya’s at full price or even used is worth the money difference?
Your review is quite cool and enjoyable. I am planning to give a shot to Arya. My budget is limited and it is difficult to afford expensive amp. I already have if xDSD and chord Mojo. Do you think they are enough to drive Arya? I know this review is old and so it may get unnoticed to you and it is OK. Yet, if you read it and answer me, I will be obliged.
I had the edition x v1 and miss them am thinking about rather with the hifiman arya a step up or the audeze lcd-x I own the audeze lcd-2c which do you think sound better in your opinion the arya or LCD-x I'm stuck
Jay weird vast majority of comparisons I have seen say SE and Arya sound very different. SE more detailed, arya smoother with more bass. Wonder why they sound same to you.
@@valterspelar If you listen at high SPL they can make noise anyway, those big planar drivers powered good can really imitate ground shaking bass, to replace my headphones and be satisfied by stereo speakers costs could be huge
i have an arya.... its phenominal... but im sorry the he1000se is better. sound stage wider. Deeper layering, rounded of and smoother but at the same time having muuuuch more data retrieval
i noticed every reviewer talking about sound but none mentioned how to fit it. do you wear it with the ear dead center, touching the back, touching the top, or touching the bottom?
Hi can you compare Sennheiser HD800 (old) with Hifiman Arya ,which has better transients, seed, detail soundstage imaging and neturality ? i mean you talked about soundstage but what hp more holographich lifelike 3d soundstage like speakers?
a mr. ;that has both the arya and the zmf auter; I confirm that your zmf gives you more details and better overall sound than your Arya; What did you consider is this possible?
May be I am missing something here. So, far I have not heard anyone say that they hate the tonal balance of HD800/HD800S except the spike in the treble region. A lot of people seem to prefer Arya due to its taller soundscape (800 is wider), planar bass and more musical and less analytical sound and lastly comparatively smoother treble. So, unless you mean to say that Sonarworks magically changes the sound of HD800 or its S sibling to match /exceed the Arya sound, I fail to see your point.
@@Zelldinchtjr well, since then I have owned both focal clear and hifiman arya. But before buying any of those, I had to go through a lot of reviews (user feedbacks, headfi reviews, YT reviews and some website based ones) as I had no scope to demo either one of those. I have come across quite a few reviews that had comparison among Arya, Clear, HD800s and LCD X. In most of those comparison reviews, either Arya or the Clear came up on top (mostly arya on top) while HD800s being the 3rd or 4th. He could say HD800S has undoubtedly the best sound stage, or could say LCD X has the best bass under 1600$ but saying things like ''HD800(S) is way better is sad when it has much weaker bass than Arya which already had poor bass quantity and slam compared to lots of other hps from audeze, meze, dan clark audio, focal etc.
@@Jayiyagi That is great! I just got a Naim Audio Uniti Star Amp and it has a little 3.5mm headphone jack these will work since you don't need a monster amp to drive them. Just need a 3.5 mm adapter. I am building a new music system this year just ordered the speakers...Going with Monitor Gold 200 with their new trickle down drivers from the platinum line. EPIC good for the money way better than a lot of 10k speakers I heard!
@@Jayiyagi Wow thanks for the fast reply bro !!! So would you say 1500 CAD is a good deal on a barely used Arya ? Given all that is out there right now ?
@@Jayiyagi Last question and I promise to leave you alone ! I found the HD800S thin sounding, even with very good amps, like Taurus, BHA-1, Iifi ican pro, HDVA600, Liquid Platinum, ETC!!!!!!! If and only if you found the HD800S thin sunding like me, would you say the Ayra has more body, is less thin sounding ? Sorry and thanks !
@@Jayiyagi Man thank you so much ! That's it I can't wait. I've had it with the HD800 line, that's it !!! I don't care for a bit less soundstage and details, I just can't take the brightness and tninness anymore !!!! Thanks a lot and keep up the good job !
I'm looking for a good headphone pairing for music like lindsey stirling. Do you have a good suggestion? Price isn't an issue. I was leaning towards lcd2c or lcd3. I was thinking a planar since I've never owned one. I already own hd800S/hd700/hd650/fostex th-x00. Thanks!
@@jonberg469 I feel that, the more power you give, the more musical arya gets but with that being said, the bifrost should be fine in terms of volume and pairing
@@Jayiyagi awesome! Thr lyr 3 can power my hd800S to ear peircing levels easy on low gain. So seems like there is plenty of power on tap. Thanks for all the replies!
It was the same on both my he1000v2 and its replacement unit. The hinge is either too tight (creaks), or too loose (it will start sticking out over time). I just went to demo the HEXv2 at a store today, same story
I own both; no comparison. Arya has (to my ears) something that the Pro's dont, and that's sub bass. Depending on what song you're listening to (i listen to a lot of hiphop and neosoul), the bass in the Pro's may even sound slightly bloated. The Arya's produce bass in a way that it rumbles in your ears. It's incredibly cool, and pleasant.
@@kugelschreiber5678 thats planar driver bass, compared to my focal clear it is way more controlled, like you said dynamic drivers compared to planar in aspect of bass can sound a bit bloated
The HD800 are ear-bleeders. Too bright. The "S" fixed that. I'd never own the HD800. I have some planars on the way and I will compare. ON PAPER the planars are more accurate. We shall see.
no comparison there very different headphones, if I must pick one (own both) it would be Arya but thats like giving up on your best lover for the sake of wife 😂
We must have the exact same taste in audio. I bought the Edition X V2 after watching your review and I loved them. Eventually my curiosity got the better of me and I sold them. I just received my Arya’s today. And they’re the best sounding Hifiman headphone I’ve ever heard. I think they’re even better than the HE1000 V2 because they have tighter bass and smoother treble.
They’re definitely better than the Edition X V2 because as good as those are, the Arya fix the only weakness they have; which is the midrange. The Edition X V2’s have a slightly recessed midrange while the Arya have a much more linear/neutral midrange. It makes vocals come through more clearly. The HEX V2’s sometimes make the lead singer sound “behind” the band and the instruments are more present and forward. But the Arya’s place the vocalists front and center and the instruments drop into place around them and beside them but not in front of them.
I also hear them as having an even larger soundstage, as you said in your review. I no longer own the 800S, but I’d say the Arya is right there with them in terms of soundstage and resolution.
Anyway, I love your reviews! Keep up the good work!
I bought the Ananda, and almost immediately traded up to the Arya. The upper mid/lower treble was too forward on the Ananda, making classic rock and such sound piercing. The Arya is slightly recessed is that same area, and is much more even and smooth. The bass is deeper and more visceral on the Arya as well - in fact, it's the only open planar I've heard to date with truly satisfying bass.
The driver on the Ananda is 80 X 50 mm. On the Edition X-V2, it's 90 X 55 mm. The drivers on the Arya, HE1000, HE1000-V2 and the HE1000se are all the same size - 100 X 65 mm. I asked Mark at HiFiMan for details on the drivers in the Arya, and he said that they "owe a lot" to the drivers in the HE1000. I suspect that the drivers in all four of these headphones is essentially the same, with only slight differences in tuning and magnet structure. An argument can be made that the Arya is the HE1000-V4.
Mark also told me that trading up to anything less than the HE1000se from the Arya would be a waste of money. I have not heard the HE1000se, but I suspect the extra cost has more to do with the fancy stainless steel, wood trim, and extra cables than anything else. I would love to hear from others who have heard both the Arya and the HE1000se.
Hello, Sir,I just couldn't finish to post my answer to Mr.Gilbert because i don't see this comment to be visible when i switch off my account. Yesterday i have the chance to post this and it remained present all times. But today i have edited and enlarged my text and suddenly after the last saving it's no more the case.
But now i have already understood the true reason of this problem: i must type myself the comment text every time instead of ctrl c- ctrl v operations. In some cases there is also a certain limit of number of text lines to be written.This situation can seem strange indeed to many RUclips users.
So i will try to answer Mr.Gilbert using all the experience i have acquired and you will no more remark this kind of behavior in the comments from my side.
Great information - Thanks for sharing!
I've owned the HE-500's for about 2 years, and love them more than anything else I've heard. I'm afraid to spend more because I don't believe it will sound better, but it must... right?
I'm considering something in the $1,000 - $2,000 range, and am guessing that these will be where I'l go, but I figured I'd ask around to see if anyone has any experience with the HE-500's, in comparison to the Edition X / HE-1000's.
It is quite surprising to hear that Hifiman Ananda can present some important issues with the quality of upper mid/low treble presentation.
Do you think the sound of this headphone can become more even and pleasing to appreciate if switching it to another audio source/Dac and/or headphone amp? It's true that Ananda has the overall tonal balance with less prominent low and center mid-range than Hifiman Edition X V2.
Therefore its sound focus tends to increase slightly in the upper mids and low treble area, but the difference doesn't result in the appearance of listening discomfort (you can find this confirmation in some Ananda reviews posted on sites for interested audiophile like Head-Fi, MajorHifi, Headfonics, rtings.com and so on).
Regarding now Hifiman Arya, Edition X V2 and He1000se price tag comparison, in my opinion this big lift correlates directly with their warrantly period duration. After Hifiman own words the He1000se also has increased sensitivity (96 db instead of 90 for He1000 V2 and Arya), more distortion free, harmonious and pure musical sound.
Unfortunately i haven't yet the chance to do a personal sonic and technical performance comparison between the Hifiman He1000se and Arya so i can't really told you confidently about other stronger points that this higher priced model can possess.
I invite you to express your own thoughts on my statement after viewing some information concerning the warrantly period in the following links (2 last pages of the docs):
down.hifiman.com/manual/Arya.pdf
down.hifiman.com/manual/160908-hifiman-EditionXV2-manual.pdf
down.hifiman.com/manual/HE1000se.pdf
I thank you for the manifested interest and comprehension.
It's worth mentioning that the HE-1000se's driver is different. It uses a different kind of magnet material and also a different kind of magnet structure/layout. The so-called Stealth Magnets. This is similar to what is used in Susvara. And this would be the primary source of cost and sound difference.
Just found your channel as my next target is the arya v3 aka stealth, its just 900$ now, crazy how cheaper these headphones got over time. Good vid, i think i have to pull the trigger :)
I've had Arya for over one year now. Still loving every second of listening. I realized it is best with no EQ. High bitrate tracks sound incredible.
Got V2 w/o EQ just with way better cable than stock (XLR) its hard to point any flaws. Depending on amp I think it could play anything with precision. Only complaint is cheap build quality for the price, but we buy it for sound
I now own the hifiman arya I agree it does sound even better then my old edition x.I'm glad I bought these over the audeze lcd-x thanks because of your opinion.These are my favorite headphones now that I heard.I'm using on high gain on my burson soloist sl mk11 and it sounds awesome!
how does these compare to LCDMX4 ?
As there's a Sonarworks True-Fi profile for the HD800S but not for the Arya, I'd be interested in HD800S+True-Fi vs Arya without any EQ. It would especially be interesting as it would correct HD800S' major weakness, tonal balance. (yes, it's bright but that can so easily be changed).
You seem to have the most similar hearing to mine of any RUclipsr. I got a used he1000 V1 a few months back and it is absolutely amazing. Crazy how fun they are when gaming.
Keep up the good work bro, you will get bigger. Don't you go MIA on me again...
Can you compare Arya with Audeze LCD-X or LCD-XC ?
i would like to know that too, also vs Focal Clear
I own the HD 800 LCD-x 2020 Revision and had the Arya.
Imo get the hd800 with tube pre-amp and analoge EQ and you have the Soundsignaturen of the Arya including subbas. You need a powerful amp and a balanced cable for both anyways!
Lcd-x's really sound muffeld in the highs. But that mids and bas!!
When you look at fr qraphs you know why.
Same solution as with hd800.
Analog eq and pre-amp. I like soviet military tubes for both. There are tube rolling Guides for little dot. Cheaper pre-amps work the same way.
Lcd-x will still be very dark but so very very accurate in resolution and delivers a punch and bas like the Arya could never dream off! Think of hd650 with real subbas and less veil in the highs!
Hd800s are impressive as well but 2 expensive comparerd to pre-amp and tubes...
I recommend hd800 used for ~700 and lcd-x 2020 used for ~700 balanced copper or copper and silver plated cable for hd800 ~100 a Tube pre-amp with tubes ~50 and any dac balance + rca and amp (Like drop 789) Combo that has enough Power.
Excluding the dac you have a complete Setup and 2 of the best headphones for the price of the Arya. And both HPs are better than the Arya for their respective forte and music...
@@tdfmike3915 interesting. What amp and analog eq are you using with your HD800? Do you manage to get the body/ meat people say they lack from that solution? Thanks
@@TombstoneTube Hey,
Im using the toping A90 as I found my AAA789 way to bright for hd800 without tube pre-amp.
As pre-amp I have the suca audio T1. (Josh valour did a vid about that)
Im using matched vokshod Tubes for soundstage and detail but the Jans are nice too.
The T1 gives you the option for a top(less highs) and bottom (way more bas &subbas) shelf eq. I also played around with the filter options of my dac to find something neutral with least distortions... Unbelievable what you can hear with hd800....
In a nutshell:
Balanced output with pre-amp and analoge EQ gives you body like any real tube amp and maybe more.
My little dot mk3 never sees any action nowadays 😉 (hd800 were still fatuiging and balanced gives you almost the same soundstage as SE on tubes)
There are a lot of pairing videos for the hd800.
My setup is designed to switch between musical and ultra detail for classical/Orchestra and gaming.
Edit:
Im using hd800. Not the newer hd800s.
Alegedly the s have more distortions in the bas.
Hd800 only clip in bas when it gets uncomfortably loud
@@tdfmike3915 I'll definitely look into it. Thanks for the details!
can you compare the arya to the lcd-x. I agree with your assessment of the hd 800s. I also own the lcd-x and considering purchasing the arya.
Did you ever get the Arya? I'm very curious about the comparison between the Arya and LCD-X as well.
Thanks!
i am also needing a comparison between the Arya and the LCD-X.
I would love to hear lcd x but picked up Arya, probably what it has better but just a bit is bass, I got lcd 2c and kind of know Audeze bass is top notch
man, just want to say your reviews are so refreshing, having a young and seemingly smart person talk on Audiophile gear is great because you not only cut through the crap but also seem much more able to seriously assess the kit. Also it seems that you actually bother to listen to them for long enough to provide a robust critique, which is honestly more than what it seems can be said for others. Cheers!
The difference between a 1000, 1600 and 3500 is scalability. The Ananda doesn’t scale as much as the more expensive models. With good source and amplification the HE1000 series is quite a lot better than Ananda.
Micro BL , HDVD800 even HDV820 is not nearly enough for hifiman HEK Family ( HE1000 V1 , V2 , SE ) , plug it to the something very very serious something like Chord Dave , Hugo 2 , hugo tt 2 , IFI Pro iDSD + Pro iCAN , mcintosh mha100.... , in that time you start begin realise why there are huge price diffrences between these models , HIFIMAN must mentioned in their website that these headphones needs Very serious source otherwise buy Edition X V2 , Ananda or Arya , Don't even think to approach to susvara or HEK and then using micro black or similar source becouse it will be very disappointing. PEOPLE : Serious source is very important , majorhifi also did the same thing for 1000SE and tested with micro bl , but its completely wrong , i don't care if those headphone relativity needs high end or mid-entry electronics , this is the game if you want to play then you need to prepar your wallet
Russell I listened to the hek v2 with my micro idsd bl and other various amps which were 3k and I gotta say it’s hate to say there is a huge difference besides warmth.
I completely agree, if I was to go back and do it over I would go straight to the best amp possible.
Currawong nicely talks about amps too re considering amps on his hek v2 review vs the hex.
I'm eyeing these and hoping to get them by the end of the year
I had the Ananda and Arya next to one another and I prefer the Ananda. For the slight difference I'd rather get 50 Records for the price difference.
Hi David, could you elaborate on the differences and why you like the Ananda more? Thanks!
@@gcb2101 First, the weight, the Arya felt heavier. The Price, for $700 in savings, I prefer the Ananda, I couldn't tell the difference sonically to be honest. Easier to drive.......
David Marte ok well you said nothing
It is usually said that you need very high power amplification to know the true potential of Arya....
Hi there, the Susvara is King! The most beautiful sounding headphones I ever heard. That’s it, my last hp!
Try raal sr1a 😉
This video was informative and entertaining. I bought the Arya based on your feedback and I couldn’t be happier. I’d be curious to hear your thoughts on the Elex as that is my current sub $1000 cans. Keep up the good work.
Will these fare well with chord mojo. Strongly considering it. Likes your review man.Subbed
Hi I have watched many of your videos about Hifiman headphones recently, because of the launch of Edition XX just days ago. In China there are deals where the Ananda is about US$673, while the Arya is $1300. Do you think the Arya is worth nearly twice the price of the Ananda? For $73 more I think Ananda is a better choice over the Edition XX, but I'm not sure about Ananda vs Arya
Another very good headphones comparison review, what is your take on the new Massdrop x HIFIMAN Edition XX Headphones?
It looks like a cross breed between the HE 4xx / V2 / 1000 SE but it would be very interesting on how it sounds
@@Jayiyagi Actually, Todd from TTVJ confirm that they are anything but:
"The Edition XX is a specific lower cost headphone made for Massdrop. The magnet structure is older material and design as is the head bank and cups. The headphones do not have the frequency extension of the Ananda or the openness and quick response. Listening to the two and you can easily hear the difference. The Edition XX is a good headphone in its price range as is the Ananda in its price range."
www.head-fi.org/threads/hifimans-new-ananda-in-stock-and-loaner-program.882901/page-2#post-14594224
Does that mean a forthcoming theoretical Susvara V2 should be around $3500? Or... will Fang go deeper in the rabbit hole of greed?
I listened to that section. Sounds like there's clipping there. Doesn't murder my ears but comes close. I'm using the HD800S.
hopefully it doesn't fall apart like the 3 hifiman headphones ive owned , crappy build quality and crappy ear pads
That is disturbing to hear. I have the Hifiman 400Is I got 1.5 years ago now, I haven't had anything fall apart on them, thus far. But I've heard of some build issues with
various Hifimans. They need to get on top of their build quality.
I have an 8 year old pair of He500 and they are still fine
not true with my hifiman headphones
not true...... just respect your things....
Does everyone understand why this headphones sounds exactly like 1000 SE?this was going to be a drop exclusive called the 1000x. It's basically the same headphone but black. Something fell through between the two companies and they decided to produce it on their own
Watching this review really makes wonder why Hifiman couldn't just give the Arya the same metal build the HE1000 series does. If the much, much cheaper Sundara has a higher quality metal construction than the Arya, there's no excuse beyond plain corporate greed.
greedy bastards give us cheap build for ton of money
After trying the same exact headphones I really agree with all of this. The HD 800 is I can say something sharp? But not bothersome to me. I don't know but have you ever played any FPS games with the HD 800(s) and Ananda/Arya/He1000se? I feel like I'm not testing the soundstage well enough with just music. After hearing the arya/ananda/HE1000se the HD 800(s) soundstage wasn't as impressive anymore but maybe that could be because I was so tired after testing about 30+ headphones in the past 2 days.
I think you get used to the larger soundstage. I remmember being amazed with hd598 soundstage. Now im like meh
@@Jayiyagi I was impressed by K712 pro, now my Arya got cable worth more than K712 and I would never look back, performance is outstanding
Thank you for these honest reviews! Keep up the great work! In terms of sound quality, what is the percentage difference between the Ananda and Arya?
Next Best Thing Studio thanks for the quick response! I can buy the Ananda’s for $720 USD brand new. Would you say the Arya’s at full price or even used is worth the money difference?
Next Best Thing Studio in Canada they’re selling for that much for Boxing Day, kind of like Black Friday.
Next Best Thing Studio $720 USD. The cheapest I’ve found the Arya is only $30 USD off.
Next Best Thing Studio yes
Your review is quite cool and enjoyable. I am planning to give a shot to Arya. My budget is limited and it is difficult to afford expensive amp. I already have if xDSD and chord Mojo. Do you think they are enough to drive Arya?
I know this review is old and so it may get unnoticed to you and it is OK. Yet, if you read it and answer me, I will be obliged.
Would be Nice to see if the mojo is good enough to start with, or not..
@@valterspelar my thx 887 with balanced connection got power enough to blow up Arya haha :)
Very handy review :D
All those headphones in your possession are worth more than my 2004 used car.
How does this compare with an LCD-X?
Dekoni Audio EPZ-HD800 Elite Hybrid Ear Pads for Sennheiser HD800 Headphones
Fixes the 6k
I had the edition x v1 and miss them am thinking about rather with the hifiman arya a step up or the audeze lcd-x I own the audeze lcd-2c which do you think sound better in your opinion the arya or LCD-x I'm stuck
I would say the arya
Arya eat the X in all aspects. And the X, was my favorite set of all sets
Can you please compare it with ZMF Aeolus or Auteur?
I want to upgrade from HE4xx. I am looking at Edition XX, HifiMan Edition X v2, Ananda, Arya and Aeolus. I can afford any one of them right now.
Any update on this already? I am on the fence of buying either one of these headphones. Great review!
Jay weird vast majority of comparisons I have seen say SE and Arya sound very different. SE more detailed, arya smoother with more bass. Wonder why they sound same to you.
You should try out the Focal Elex
Hi. What should i choose Arya or some Kef Ls50w? Do you think some headphones can sound better than speakers?
Got 705s2 and wonder the same. If it can be a good replacement/ for night listning.
@@valterspelar If you listen at high SPL they can make noise anyway, those big planar drivers powered good can really imitate ground shaking bass, to replace my headphones and be satisfied by stereo speakers costs could be huge
i have an arya.... its phenominal... but im sorry the he1000se is better. sound stage wider. Deeper layering, rounded of and smoother but at the same time having muuuuch more data retrieval
HE6/6SE when?
i noticed every reviewer talking about sound but none mentioned how to fit it. do you wear it with the ear dead center, touching the back, touching the top, or touching the bottom?
probably dead center, driver is not angled so...
Can you compare the Arya with the LCD4z? I'd be very interested in hearing your opinion on this.
Should be great if you could compare them with Audeze LCD2C
@@Jayiyagi Thank you! So overall, the Arya are better. And how they are comparing to LCD-X? I have LCD2C and thinking about next step up.
Hi. is this the hifiman arya v1, v2 or stealth magnets version ? Thanks
Hi can you compare Sennheiser HD800 (old) with Hifiman Arya ,which has better transients, seed, detail soundstage imaging and neturality ? i mean you talked about soundstage but what hp more holographich lifelike 3d soundstage like speakers?
What is with the whistling background music ? Seems like music for a child's toy review video?
Is the Arya more detailed that the Edition X V2?
I ve heard that the HIFIMAN HE6se sounds better than the ARYA (when driven by a good amp/dac). Is this true?
a mr. ;that has both the arya and the zmf auter; I confirm that your zmf gives you more details and better overall sound than your Arya; What did you consider is this possible?
The HD800(S) is way better than all these headphones if you simply use Sonarworks true-fi to correct its tonal balance.
It must be true just Because you said so lol
May be I am missing something here. So, far I have not heard anyone say that they hate the tonal balance of HD800/HD800S except the spike in the treble region. A lot of people seem to prefer Arya due to its taller soundscape (800 is wider), planar bass and more musical and less analytical sound and lastly comparatively smoother treble. So, unless you mean to say that Sonarworks magically changes the sound of HD800 or its S sibling to match /exceed the Arya sound, I fail to see your point.
@@damienriot Well, isn't it fair to say that anyone with anecdotal evidence is just as easily convincing?
@@Zelldinchtjr well, since then I have owned both focal clear and hifiman arya. But before buying any of those, I had to go through a lot of reviews (user feedbacks, headfi reviews, YT reviews and some website based ones) as I had no scope to demo either one of those. I have come across quite a few reviews that had comparison among Arya, Clear, HD800s and LCD X. In most of those comparison reviews, either Arya or the Clear came up on top (mostly arya on top) while HD800s being the 3rd or 4th. He could say HD800S has undoubtedly the best sound stage, or could say LCD X has the best bass under 1600$ but saying things like ''HD800(S) is way better is sad when it has much weaker bass than Arya which already had poor bass quantity and slam compared to lots of other hps from audeze, meze, dan clark audio, focal etc.
Thumbs up on House of Rising Sun. Great song. Also used in a good TV show.
Which ones have the best bass extension?
wheres the sound demo?
like this more than the Audeze LCD-X ?
Yes. It better suites my personal taste. Even lcd 2 suites me better. But thats just me
@@Jayiyagi That is great! I just got a Naim Audio Uniti Star Amp and it has a little 3.5mm headphone jack these will work since you don't need a monster amp to drive them. Just need a 3.5 mm adapter. I am building a new music system this year just ordered the speakers...Going with Monitor Gold 200 with their new trickle down drivers from the platinum line. EPIC good for the money way better than a lot of 10k speakers I heard!
May I know how does this compare to the HE1000 V2?
You were able to pair the Arya with your phone??? It provides enough power to it without distortion???
no
How does Arya compare to the LCD-MX4? :)
What about new release of Arya?
Is the Arya's stock cable good enough?
@@Jayiyagi So how big of a difference would you describe in percentage between Arya and HE1000SE?
@@Jayiyagi LMAO 2% for 2000$, thanks much now I made my choice.
@@Jayiyagi aye lmao good looks affect people psychologically everywhere.
@@Jayiyagi Thanks for the video! Is it the build quality or the audio quality of the cable that's not good? And what would you look for in an upgrade?
Damn fine review my friend, great job!
Are you sure you hear an upgrade in sound from the Edition x v.2 ?
@@Jayiyagi Wow thanks for the fast reply bro !!! So would you say 1500 CAD is a good deal on a barely used Arya ? Given all that is out there right now ?
@@Jayiyagi Last question and I promise to leave you alone ! I found the HD800S thin sounding, even with very good amps, like Taurus, BHA-1, Iifi ican pro, HDVA600, Liquid Platinum, ETC!!!!!!! If and only if you found the HD800S thin sunding like me, would you say the Ayra has more body, is less thin sounding ? Sorry and thanks !
@@Jayiyagi Man thank you so much ! That's it I can't wait. I've had it with the HD800 line, that's it !!! I don't care for a bit less soundstage and details, I just can't take the brightness and tninness anymore !!!! Thanks a lot and keep up the good job !
I'm looking for a good headphone pairing for music like lindsey stirling. Do you have a good suggestion? Price isn't an issue. I was leaning towards lcd2c or lcd3. I was thinking a planar since I've never owned one. I already own hd800S/hd700/hd650/fostex th-x00. Thanks!
If price isnt an issue, get the abyss ! If not Arya is a good choice too !
My amp dac combo is a schiit lyr 3 and bifrost 4490. Is there any reason to upgrade this. Or is this enough to drive the arya well? Thanks!
@@jonberg469 I feel that, the more power you give, the more musical arya gets but with that being said, the bifrost should be fine in terms of volume and pairing
@@Jayiyagi awesome! Thr lyr 3 can power my hd800S to ear peircing levels easy on low gain. So seems like there is plenty of power on tap. Thanks for all the replies!
lcd 2c is not great choice for that, Arya is much better for that
I tried the Hifiman Arya today, I didn't like it, too little impulse and dynamics.
maybe you must buy something with dynamic driver, you know they dont name it without a reason 🤣
I would love to see audeze lcd 4 vs arya
On my pair of Arya, the hinges where the headband meets the cups creak when the cups rotate. Does your pair do the same?
@@Jayiyagi Does this happen on HE1000SE?
Just like a rubber toy.
It was the same on both my he1000v2 and its replacement unit. The hinge is either too tight (creaks), or too loose (it will start sticking out over time). I just went to demo the HEXv2 at a store today, same story
Andrew See fuck!!! Will it creak while on your head listening music ?
bernamej it can but it rarely happens. For me, I cannot justify buying an expensive headphone that I am not confident selling due to its build.
Nice video. You should check out this track by 'The Animals'- 'house of the rising sun'.
Arya OR FOCAL CLEAR?
How does this compare to the DT 1990 especially the bass?
I own both; no comparison. Arya has (to my ears) something that the Pro's dont, and that's sub bass. Depending on what song you're listening to (i listen to a lot of hiphop and neosoul), the bass in the Pro's may even sound slightly bloated. The Arya's produce bass in a way that it rumbles in your ears. It's incredibly cool, and pleasant.
@@kugelschreiber5678 thats planar driver bass, compared to my focal clear it is way more controlled, like you said dynamic drivers compared to planar in aspect of bass can sound a bit bloated
Now hifiman only has to solve his quality issues
The HD800 are ear-bleeders. Too bright. The "S" fixed that. I'd never own the HD800. I have some planars on the way and I will compare. ON PAPER the planars are more accurate. We shall see.
He1000se aka the $3500 headphone
Can my IPhone drive any of these cans.
How they compare to the focal clear?
no comparison there very different headphones, if I must pick one (own both) it would be Arya but thats like giving up on your best lover for the sake of wife 😂
you might regret ananda, its a bit sharp in treble.
7 mins in and only just talking about the Arya sound..!?! 🤖
I am tired of the names of Hifiman headphones and how fast they were given birth.
3500 USD headphone.... what a joke.... :-) People have more money then brain.
There are the susvara ;)
Hi, I have the focal clear og worth upgrading to hifiman Arya?
it would not be upgrade more like totally different experience, I own both