See if you can curb the excess 5khz a bit. I did actually try to do this with a specific paper insert but the cups are so large it was difficult to get it to stay in the right spot. I imagine it's doable though!
this is probably the most sophisticated and mature format of headphone reviewing IMO. informative, comprehensive and reliable. just one thing to note... I think channel imbalance shown on measurements in upper midrange is significant enough to at least mention it in the review. it actually is evident on all Unveiled Line up. these are expensive products to have such problems.
For me, the best part of the Organic and the Unveiled is that they reduced prices on the Stealth. I got the Arya Stealth, this past Black Friday for 525 €. It's not my preferred sound signature. I like something more relaxed and warm, because I mainly listen to music at night, to relax... but I can't deny that they sound fantastic. Nothing sounds bad on them, only bad produced music.
@Sam-l8m8l I like the Audeze LCD2C and the Modhouse Argon MkIII. They more like a comfortable berlina, while the Arya are more like a sports car... Sometimes you don't need the hard, precise but uncomfortable suspension...
@@gatobakunianoI have AO(890, nov sale) and they’re actually pretty relaxed (I’m told more so than the AS), great for night listening with relaxed genres, especially when used with warmer EQ profile/ source chain. Reduce some brightness, and they’re great for relaxing. Tbh though, mine came with damaged pads, so I ended up grabbing 3rd party pads. They definitely reduce the brightness a bit.
@ that’s very interesting , I think that’s the sound I’m going for especially since I probably lean towards closed backs , I noticed the Argons have a lot of bass , on a planar correct ? My only point of reference is 99 noir (which I like the bass on )and Edition xs , which is my first experience with planars. I’d be super curious to have a listen to the Argons.
I’m so glad to hear both of you extolling the virtues of EQ. I personally EQ my music to my taste rather than trying to correct a perceived problem with a specific headphone. I’ve found that the difference in recordings has a much larger effect on my enjoyment of the music than what headphones I’m using or what tuning choices were made in their production. I actually have an old Equalizer/Spectrum Analyzer in line between my DAC and my Amp. It allows me to make minor adjustments on the fly to suit my tastes. These can be had on eBay for around $200-300 and will change the way you think about the music you love. I hope everyone tries EQ.
This is why i have always loved hifiman. They often have a combination of head to head consistency and upper treble accuracy that make them as good a platform for EQ as you can get. With this model, they've made it even easier to EQ the treble, so I can see why resolve loves them so much
@FabioGrenkh Haven't tried it so i can't say. But I didn't find the Arya v1 or stealth too hard to EQ. Same goes for the old he1000v2. The way i fix bass bloat is usually to cut the boost off at a lower frequency. It can help to use 2 or 3 filters to get the shape just right. Could also have something to do with a lack of seal on the pads, but idk.
Good discussion. I particularly appreciated Golden"s sobering approach to and articulation of challenges to EQ-ing headphones as well as the limitations of reviewing EQ-ed headphones, given vagaries of HRTF! Kudos. Andrew is fun as always to listen to.
Great review! I love the comparison with the Susvara! I do hope you all get to listen to the last he1000se Hifiman made. I bought one during black Friday and it's become my favorite headphone, even more so than the Tungsten DS.
@@radissimo1 No, you are mistaken. The he100se was the one that most of them haven't heard or wasn't sure they have heard. They ranked the he1000v2 & he1000 Stealth. Plus there are like 3 silent revisions of the he 1000se and one them was really bad, but the last one Hifiman was great. That last revision is the one I own.
@land_walker Really, I did not know about that. which silent reinvisions are there, and each year they did it? Because I had one and at the beginning march 2024. There the best.
@@RaKnows I have owned both (and other hifiman), it's not necessarily an upgrade. Overall, I think Stealth might be slightly better, honestly. HE1000 Stealth is a better version of the Organic (better treble with similar low-end IMO).
One of my favorite things about audio is the fact that so many things could be highly subjective. When that’s the case, it leads to an industry full of products with a vast amount of variation, which keeps things exciting and competitive.
Great review and thanks for the discussion on EQ. I am with you and over time have realized I have three EQ "tools". Bass shelf, slight treble shelf and a 2.5k recess to increase spaciousness when I feel lacking and/or too intimate. If a headphone needs anything else I don't want it. I have sold all but four over headphones that have distinct flavors and I sometimes use one/some of the three EQ tools depending on music, mood and amp used. For years I was against EQ but it's just too good when used properly and as you point out, not to FIX but rather to fine tune. FYI my four overhear headphones are D8000 Pro LE, HE1000se, HEDDPhone2 and alas my HD800S that doesn't get much use but I can't get myself to let them go. EQ4ALL!!
Tried the Arya Unveiled in November. Good headphone, but didn't blow me away. Still prefer the HE1000 Stealth and HEKse which at times give a "Wow" factor with certain music genres. Try to demo the Arya Unveiled before pulling the trigger and taking a leap of faith. It's a bit over hyped imo
I used to own the HE1000 Stealth and HEKse, eventually upgraded to the Susvara OG. The Sus is the least "flawed" headphone of them all, but I had a lot of fun switching between the HEK Stealth and HEKse - the former more for the macro, speaker-like effect, the latter for details and very airy treble. The Susvara has satisfied my audio OCD, so to speak, but there are times when I am missing how those headphones made me feel...
I have the HeU and I think what makes the he1000 line good is music only (not songs). For songs, I think a bit of EQ is needed. I guess the Arya is a better all rounder because its trebles tammed even more than on the HeU.
@@RaKnows The more i think about It the more i like the Arya stealth more than the Aria Organic. The organic for me was way too bright. I was listening to some EDM music, and I was just like, nope. And got the HE1000se which was just perfect. Then I heard the HE1000 unveiled, And I loved it more then my HE1000se... it never stops... I would love to hear the Arya unveiled. The problem was Can Jam SoCal ended and a few weeks later, they're announced it, and I was very excited and mad they announced it's so late after it.
Great video! I wonder how can we learn to identify the problematic regions in a headphone? Sometimes is obvious but sometimes it is not (at least for me). A video about that would be amazing!
Very interesting. Anything about the bass since OG Arya for me was bad EQ'd to Harman and HE1000se was a bit mid as well and I'd take an Ananda Nano over both because of that.
I have the ananda Nano and was thinking of upgrading to the HE1000 stealth or HE1000se ... I quite like the bass in Ananda Nano. Maybe I should keep the Nano...
I upgraded from Nano to Unveiled. Unveiled does actually appear to be a Nano but better ie no treble peakiness and bass hits surprisingly hard. Is the Unveiled 3x better than Nano - No but I'm happy and this is now my endgame headphone. Nano is stunning value for money especially at its current price.
@@alexandrevasconcelos1623 Yeah, at least I would say HE1000se is way worse for bass when it comes to metal, EDM etc. It's detailed and very nice for acoustic etc, but I never really felt my pulse rise with the bass while Nano did it easily. Not sure about the other HE1000 models and have seen mentions of better bass.
One more comment; I don’t mind the plastic at all. Seems high quality and keeps them light. I have a smaller head , and as a woman, fit is often an issue. I review headphones for an online magazine, and maybe I have the opposite issue as Cameron…
Right now the Arya Unveiled and the HE1000 Stealth are not too distant in price. Which would be the choice there? I’m wanting to move on from the Arya Stealth and I was headed to the HE1000 Stealth before this review. The challenge for me is that I am more bass-focused. My genres are mainly dance/pop/house/electronic. I like detail but I can find brightness abrasive. So, sometimes I feel I have to take some reviews with a pinch of salt for my taste. My test tracks are things like “Replay” by Lady Gaga, which I think spans the full human audible range but its star of the show is the big bass for the choruses. Even Lady Gaga’s newer effort, “Disease”, also seems determined to showcase what’s possible in terms of range in single pop song. So, I want to hear the detail but I still wanna have that banger in the imaginary-club-in-my-head moment. I finally saw a reviewer choosing the HE1000 Stealth for my genres over the HE1000se and that brought some clarity there… but now this review has me questioning whether I need to stay with the Arya range and seriously consider the Unveiled. I only discount it a little because I’m not sure our music preferences are align-able. I also did not like how adjusting the Arya Stealth resulted in the black paint being scratched off the headband on day one and every time there after. So, I was hoping the quality improvement would make the HE1000 Stealth the right choice for my budget just now.
I completely understand the advocacy for EQ -- when listening to files, streaming servers, etc. And I try it from time to time. If you're listening to vinyl, though, how do you do it? Tone controls? They're cool, but they don't have anything like the precision that you need to tweak 5k, for example.
Great review! Enjoyed as usual. You guys really get me thinking about going into EQ. I have roon EQ but don’t know where to start. Can u show me the rope?
I wonder the same… Have watched countless EQ videos, but still have no clue. Especially when people talk about fixing headphones with EQ by finding their „personal peaks and dips“. Like, how the hell am I supposed to do that?
Just look at a Frequency Response graph showing where all the peaks and dips are, find that on the EQ range, then play with the sliders until it sounds good to you. It takes a bit of trial and error, but I think it's fun. I've always been a bit of a tinkerer, so I suppose it depends on your ability to figure things out.
I bough a Arya Stealth about 2 and a half years ago, based on how much they've been discounted since I can wait for these to be similarly discounted. Or for HE1000SE to come down a little further. I'm a fan of the spaciousness, on occasion though about trying to get a pre stealth Arya as their said to be even more spacious.
You bought it 2 and a half years ago, and are still using that same Arya Stealth? Curious to know because I am looking at buying one, but am worried they won't last very long.
@HeebieGenie I have owned a OG Ananda for about two years before that and HE400i for about 3 years before that. They all still work just as well as when I first got them. I've personally never experienced QC issues with Hifiman.
Resolve gets my OG Susvara when I die whether he wants them or not but meanwhile it is important to remember that insect season is only a few months away and the Unveiled series is susceptible to being pierced by mosquito bites, not to mention what larger bugs might do should they fly into the cups.
@@listener-reviews better you know than not. You might think you were listening to Yosi Horikowa when in fact your headphones are under attack by a squadron of angry hornets. BTW: Shere is Resolve’s new playlist posted?
Although I am very careful with my headphones (and gear generally) I still don't fancy the 'unveiled' concept as sods law will dictate something will go through the driver. Plus I really feel the benefit (if any) must be so miniscule over a well designed grill as to not worth the risks.
They pretty much mention it, the issue with the HE1000 unveiled is the issues above 6k. Basically, above 6k is when these headphones start to vary on different ears and the Arya has a more ideal response OVER 6k, hence why it is the better option with EQ. Basically, harder to correct with EQ in the treble vs the mids and bass.
Nice review thanks chaps. The EQ’d Arya Unveiled sounds like it might be just what I’m looking for. I’m new to Headphone equalisation. My primary source is Tidal on my IPad or iPhone including downloaded albums. How would one EQ on iOS, particularly with Tidal DRM’d downloaded content? Is there a system wide EQ app? (update - I did a quick google prior to posing this question, and more thorough one since and it appears there's a few iOS apps like Amarra and 'Bass Booster & Equalizer' that can stream Tidal and do EQ but none support offline Tidal playback).
A slightly unrelated question: I'm using the Arya Stealth with the headphone output from my Yamaha R-N2000A integrated. (I usually have to cut the treble and boost the bass.) I get extremely good detail but not as much body as I'd like. How much would I likely gain from using a good amp? (Unfortunately can't go for the Zahl right now.) Thanks again!
hey everyone! can't decide saving up for these or simply purchasing the HiFiMAN Ananda Nano... even tho it plays in a different lower league. I would use it for mixing and mastering alongside audeze maxwell and Sennheiser HD600. i am looking for one who lets me judje the LOW END. i know a lot of people who swear to the low end of Ananda Nano which is perfect for kick/bass separation. is the low end on the new Arya even better? any help is highly appreciated.
BUT DOES IT SLAM? But srsly, the unveiled headphones are disqualified for me because I’ll break them in no time. Half serious on the slam though. Would be nice to have good hifi headphones that shake your skull if the track demands it.
whats with the lids. id have them lying around/ loose very soon. Maybe if there was some sort of functional or fx or enhancement or mellow or whatever with them, they could last a couple weeks or so before they went under a rug
About to dump $2,000 on some headphones and I need a suggestion between these and the Mod House Tungsten. Actually bought an amp powerful enough for the Tungsten in advance, but since then I ended up grabbing some Edition XS, and absolutely love how open they sound (even more open than my HD800s and DT1990s) with my Realiser A16 for movies. Timbre isn't really an issue because the A16 already does a headphone EQ by default, so it's more the physical characteristics that separate them that will determine how open they sound compared to one another. The Edition XS just sound a lot more "speaker like" in that regard, but I've not heard the Tungsten yet, but also wanted a headphone that sounds good for music without the need to EQ.
See the price of your tall heads, is that someone like me wearing the same headband, will look like a Teletubbie or Cyberman with that big antennae arc going over the head - so I very much miss the original HE500 style headbands...
I can’t even fit through doors wearing my Organics. Turns out you look far more like a Cyberman when doing a full on limbo trying to get through a 7ft+ doorway, especially if you have a lit up mojo2+poly on your belt.
I have the Arya stealth, but my favourite is the HE6 (six screw), because it’s such a rude boy. What’s the slam on these, compared to the Arya stealth (with PEQ)?
@resolve, you spoke abiut not liking the amts system on the noire x for the treble, it seems it's a bit sharp for me as well, do you have an eq profile that helps that headphone?? Please god haha I'm waiting to return it to see if I can fix it my self but I just feel like it stays sharp even when dropping the whole treble area.
imo, as clear as any review could get for all we currently know about HPs, HRTFs, HPTF, and EQ and its general and specific effects when applied to a discussion of the Arya unveiled's merits for the wider audience. I feel that the onus of comprehension would lie more on anyone criticising the information in this video than on how said info was delivered. that being said, there are many parallels to be drawn regarding people's opinions on the subjective experience of audio and life in general, especially considering the varying duality of arrogance & ignorance and how those scales tip.
So, I’ve been EQ’ing Arya Stealth all month and tonight I thought I’m gonna see how my old pals the FiiO FH19 IEM’s are doin’… do you know what!?! Screw over-ear headphones. These things sound fkn perfect to me. Not one ounce of EQ is needed. Gaga’s new song “Abracadabra” reproduced exactly as it should be. As is her last one “Disease” and “Replay” from 5 years ago. Why am I even going down this over-ear road??? I must be crazy. I’d loved to know what these guys think of the FH19’s.
"Formally, a single Head-Related Transfer Function (HRTF) is defined to be a specific individual's left or right ear far-field frequency response, as measured from a specific point in the free field to a specific point in the ear canal." tldr ears are shaped differently and are basically, along with the HP, the room for the listening experience. So anyone's experience with a HP could vary significantly from one another.
People don't EQ because they don't know how to. You can make all sorts of changes to the FR, but without being able to decide if it's better, worse, or just different. The other thing is that due to HpTF variations, there is no EQ profile made by someone else with a measurement rig that I can adopt with more than a 50% success rate. I also bet that blind EQ (without measurements) would lead to all sorts of unexpected variations. It might even reveal that even at the individual level, there isn't a single FR profile to rule them all.
@En_Joshi-Godrez It's even worse if you didn't make it, you are basically insulting the chef. At informal BBQs yes it's fine, but fine dining or sit-down places, very frowned upon at best
@@miscwork-qb7pd If the dish doesn't have enough salt, then it is an insult to the customer who bought it. The analogy still works. I know your type. You're over 50. Have a very antiquated ridged view on etiquette. Must be polite even if YOU were the one that bought it. That doesn't work in a modern context, and rightfully so.
No doubt. The ease with which HFM planars can be EQed is their most underappreciated feature. So much so that, with just a few filters, my HE6se v2 obviate the need to upgrade to other, “better” HFM planars.
I have watched several videos on EQing, but still can’t get it right for some reason. Could you maybe elaborate on the easy to EQ HFM planars? I have an Arya Organic, and especially in the bass, I can’t seem to EQ it right, since it gets bloated fast
@Togoths I’m constantly switching around and trying out different things, but it should be something like this currently: FILTER; dB; Gain; Q PEAK; 80; -2.0; 0.600 LSHELF; 205; 5.0; 0.710 PEAK; 205; 4.0; 3.000 PEAK; 1050; -1.0; 4.000 PEAK; 1900; 4.5; 1.414 PEAK; 3000; -3.0; 2.000 HSHELF; 7000; -4.0; 0.710 That way I currently don’t have much bloat, if any at all, but I’d like more bass sometimes and then it gets critical
@FabioGrenkh if an EQ profile is sounding “bloated” in the bass my guess is that 1) you need to apply negative pre-amp gain (equal and opposite to the highest EQ peak) and 2) you need an amp powerful enough to compensate for whatever negative gain you apply. Glancing at your settings, you’ll need to apply about -5dB of pre-amp gain. But in general, EQ takes a lot of practice, learning, and experience to get right. If it’s new to you, I wouldn’t expect to get it right for a while. In the meantime, I’d refer you to a resource like oratory1990’s presets, and to Resolve’s videos on how to get started with EQ. But know that it does take a lot of time and practice to get good with EQ.
I could never understand the people that are so hell bent on not EQ'ing. I would diverge from saying you can just EQ it to make it an Susvara. There is still more to a headphone than just a FR curve. I've demoed them both, you could say the 8k price point is too much. And quite frankly I would agree. But it is still marginally better. And in the audiophile world, there are people willing to pay large amounts of money for very little gain. I'd rather just have the OG Sus and call it a day for 2k less and sounds super similar. And for my ear gain, I don't need to EQ it. Which is a nice little plus.
@En_Joshi-Godrez Tell me you didn't watch the video without telling me. Not only did he essentially say that, but also said after some EQ it was better. He even warned us that it would be a hot take. You obviously didn't watch it.
@@johnrus7661 "can just eq it to make it a susvara". He never made that claim at any point in the video. I was right to make that correction. Next time, learn some basic English literacy before commentating. Just my advice.
But, many headphones are a bit lacking in fit and need one more notch or click to snug up the fit properly. HIFIMAN’s headphones have always fit me. I asked Dr. Bian if he takes women into account when designing, and he says he always asks women from the office to try the headphones on as part of the design process.
It feels strange that arya Stealth has a better tone than arya Unveiled. by the channel. Headphoneshow and goldensound and most importantly arya stealth price 599 dollars
Wow! It’s always fun when you two confirm my experience. I love these headphones, and those covers work; they are light and quiet when setting them down. I think the magnets will do a good job protecting them. A note of caution…avoid setting them magnet side down on a surface that can attract them.I have a desk lamp that has a square base that sticks out, and is big enough to lay a headphone on. While listening, I took them off for a moment, and carelessly set them “face” down. I couldn’t lift them back up. They were stuck, and I had to slide them off. Yikes. So, my question; I've never EQ’d, and I don’t know how to. Where in the chain is that done? Apple Music has EQ, but I mostly listen to Qobuz, and they don’t have that feature. I go from MacBook Pro, USB to DAC. Seeing Andrew almost blush was adorable…
29:20 you're missing out if you don't use EQ. Absolutely. When you get good at EQ it's so much fun. If you don't use EQ you might as well give up trying to be an audiophile.
@@djhmax09 I went through all those avenues, kilobuck tube amps, kilobuck DACs, Chord, HQ Player, upsampling up to 768khz with million tap filters, you name it... then the JDS Labs Element IV with it's user friendly PEQ changed everything for me. :D
For folks wanting the EQ settings, I'll be adding them to the measurement post linked in the description tomorrow when I get a chance.
Thank you!
EQ profile has been added to the post.
ty fam! 🖤
Now that we have eq talk
RESOLVE BRING US THE FORBIDDEN VIDEO FORMAT:
THE EQED HEADPHONE TIERLIST
But it's forbidden... how could I?
YES PLEASE
@@ResolveReviewsWith EQ as a factor, ergonomics and comfort become much more important. An EQd HD 490 Pro is a serious contender, for example.
@ Agreed... I was joking about it being forbidden.
pls mr just this once
Guys, it's high time you took the HE1000 Stealth (aka v2 Stealth) for a ride and shared your impressions!
I have just ordered a pair ... Can't wait to have a play
See if you can curb the excess 5khz a bit. I did actually try to do this with a specific paper insert but the cups are so large it was difficult to get it to stay in the right spot. I imagine it's doable though!
@@ResolveReviews I will certainly try to design some magnetic protective mesh grills for when you are not feeling brave while listening ;)
this is probably the most sophisticated and mature format of headphone reviewing IMO. informative, comprehensive and reliable. just one thing to note... I think channel imbalance shown on measurements in upper midrange is significant enough to at least mention it in the review. it actually is evident on all Unveiled Line up. these are expensive products to have such problems.
For me, the best part of the Organic and the Unveiled is that they reduced prices on the Stealth.
I got the Arya Stealth, this past Black Friday for 525 €.
It's not my preferred sound signature. I like something more relaxed and warm, because I mainly listen to music at night, to relax... but I can't deny that they sound fantastic. Nothing sounds bad on them, only bad produced music.
What headphone do you prefer for night time relaxation ?
@Sam-l8m8l I like the Audeze LCD2C and the Modhouse Argon MkIII.
They more like a comfortable berlina, while the Arya are more like a sports car... Sometimes you don't need the hard, precise but uncomfortable suspension...
@@gatobakunianoI have AO(890, nov sale) and they’re actually pretty relaxed (I’m told more so than the AS), great for night listening with relaxed genres, especially when used with warmer EQ profile/ source chain. Reduce some brightness, and they’re great for relaxing. Tbh though, mine came with damaged pads, so I ended up grabbing 3rd party pads. They definitely reduce the brightness a bit.
@ that’s very interesting , I think that’s the sound I’m going for especially since I probably lean towards closed backs , I noticed the Argons have a lot of bass , on a planar correct ? My only point of reference is 99 noir (which I like the bass on )and Edition xs , which is my first experience with planars. I’d be super curious to have a listen to the Argons.
I got the Arya Stealth like-new open box for $1200 and thought I was getting a great deal. it was almost 2 years ago.
I’m so glad to hear both of you extolling the virtues of EQ. I personally EQ my music to my taste rather than trying to correct a perceived problem with a specific headphone. I’ve found that the difference in recordings has a much larger effect on my enjoyment of the music than what headphones I’m using or what tuning choices were made in their production. I actually have an old Equalizer/Spectrum Analyzer in line between my DAC and my Amp. It allows me to make minor adjustments on the fly to suit my tastes. These can be had on eBay for around $200-300 and will change the way you think about the music you love. I hope everyone tries EQ.
This is why i have always loved hifiman. They often have a combination of head to head consistency and upper treble accuracy that make them as good a platform for EQ as you can get. With this model, they've made it even easier to EQ the treble, so I can see why resolve loves them so much
They have no such thing in the Susvara
Does that apply to the Arya Organic too? I really have trouble EQing it, especially in the bass, it gets bloated fast.
@FabioGrenkh Haven't tried it so i can't say. But I didn't find the Arya v1 or stealth too hard to EQ. Same goes for the old he1000v2. The way i fix bass bloat is usually to cut the boost off at a lower frequency. It can help to use 2 or 3 filters to get the shape just right. Could also have something to do with a lack of seal on the pads, but idk.
@@SkeledroMan Hmm I see, thanks for the reply. Guess I’ll play around with it a bit more
Good discussion. I particularly appreciated Golden"s sobering approach to and articulation of challenges to EQ-ing headphones as well as the limitations of reviewing EQ-ed headphones, given vagaries of HRTF! Kudos. Andrew is fun as always to listen to.
Great review! I love the comparison with the Susvara!
I do hope you all get to listen to the last he1000se Hifiman made. I bought one during black Friday and it's become my favorite headphone, even more so than the Tungsten DS.
100%
in their Tier list it fared very unfavorably , (to my bemusement)
@@radissimo1 No, you are mistaken. The he100se was the one that most of them haven't heard or wasn't sure they have heard. They ranked the he1000v2 & he1000 Stealth. Plus there are like 3 silent revisions of the he 1000se and one them was really bad, but the last one Hifiman was great. That last revision is the one I own.
@land_walker Really, I did not know about that. which silent reinvisions are there, and each year they did it? Because I had one and at the beginning march 2024. There the best.
As long as the Arya Stealth is being sold for $599.00 Hifiman can keep the Unveiled.
I have the Stealth, waiting for the inevitable huge Organic price drop in a year or two then I'll upgrade to that.
@@RaKnows the organic might not even be an upgrade compared to the stealth. might as well wait for unveiled.
@@RaKnows I have owned both (and other hifiman), it's not necessarily an upgrade. Overall, I think Stealth might be slightly better, honestly. HE1000 Stealth is a better version of the Organic (better treble with similar low-end IMO).
How do you know even without testing out the Unveiled?
Stealth for 600 is an unbelievable value. Organic just too v shape for me
One of my favorite things about audio is the fact that so many things could be highly subjective. When that’s the case, it leads to an industry full of products with a vast amount of variation, which keeps things exciting and competitive.
There is no "anything goes". We all have human anatomy.
Resolve getting them gains 💪, nice review boys
Great review and thanks for the discussion on EQ. I am with you and over time have realized I have three EQ "tools". Bass shelf, slight treble shelf and a 2.5k recess to increase spaciousness when I feel lacking and/or too intimate. If a headphone needs anything else I don't want it. I have sold all but four over headphones that have distinct flavors and I sometimes use one/some of the three EQ tools depending on music, mood and amp used. For years I was against EQ but it's just too good when used properly and as you point out, not to FIX but rather to fine tune. FYI my four overhear headphones are D8000 Pro LE, HE1000se, HEDDPhone2 and alas my HD800S that doesn't get much use but I can't get myself to let them go. EQ4ALL!!
Tried the Arya Unveiled in November. Good headphone, but didn't blow me away. Still prefer the HE1000 Stealth and HEKse which at times give a "Wow" factor with certain music genres. Try to demo the Arya Unveiled before pulling the trigger and taking a leap of faith. It's a bit over hyped imo
I used to own the HE1000 Stealth and HEKse, eventually upgraded to the Susvara OG. The Sus is the least "flawed" headphone of them all, but I had a lot of fun switching between the HEK Stealth and HEKse - the former more for the macro, speaker-like effect, the latter for details and very airy treble. The Susvara has satisfied my audio OCD, so to speak, but there are times when I am missing how those headphones made me feel...
I have the HeU and I think what makes the he1000 line good is music only (not songs). For songs, I think a bit of EQ is needed. I guess the Arya is a better all rounder because its trebles tammed even more than on the HeU.
I'm glad Resolve mentioned how resolving it is. I find that information to resolve any hesitation I was having issues resolving.
Interesting. The Arya Organics have been my subjective favourite from the entire line. Might well have to give these a try. Great review as always!
How many Arya versions have you heard? I had the V2 and now Stealth.
@@RaKnows The more i think about It the more i like the Arya stealth more than the Aria Organic. The organic for me was way too bright. I was listening to some EDM music, and I was just like, nope. And got the HE1000se which was just perfect. Then I heard the HE1000 unveiled, And I loved it more then my HE1000se... it never stops... I would love to hear the Arya unveiled. The problem was Can Jam SoCal ended and a few weeks later, they're announced it, and I was very excited and mad they announced it's so late after it.
Great video! I wonder how can we learn to identify the problematic regions in a headphone? Sometimes is obvious but sometimes it is not (at least for me). A video about that would be amazing!
I’m looking forward to seeing you guys at CanJam NYC in a couple of weeks
Watching these on my ksc75s, waiting for my Fiio FT1s! Thanks for the guidance!
Very interesting. Anything about the bass since OG Arya for me was bad EQ'd to Harman and HE1000se was a bit mid as well and I'd take an Ananda Nano over both because of that.
I have the ananda Nano and was thinking of upgrading to the HE1000 stealth or HE1000se ... I quite like the bass in Ananda Nano. Maybe I should keep the Nano...
I upgraded from Nano to Unveiled. Unveiled does actually appear to be a Nano but better ie no treble peakiness and bass hits surprisingly hard. Is the Unveiled 3x better than Nano - No but I'm happy and this is now my endgame headphone. Nano is stunning value for money especially at its current price.
@@alexandrevasconcelos1623 Yeah, at least I would say HE1000se is way worse for bass when it comes to metal, EDM etc. It's detailed and very nice for acoustic etc, but I never really felt my pulse rise with the bass while Nano did it easily. Not sure about the other HE1000 models and have seen mentions of better bass.
One more comment; I don’t mind the plastic at all. Seems high quality and keeps them light. I have a smaller head , and as a woman, fit is often an issue. I review headphones for an online magazine, and maybe I have the opposite issue as Cameron…
Right now the Arya Unveiled and the HE1000 Stealth are not too distant in price. Which would be the choice there? I’m wanting to move on from the Arya Stealth and I was headed to the HE1000 Stealth before this review.
The challenge for me is that I am more bass-focused. My genres are mainly dance/pop/house/electronic. I like detail but I can find brightness abrasive. So, sometimes I feel I have to take some reviews with a pinch of salt for my taste. My test tracks are things like “Replay” by Lady Gaga, which I think spans the full human audible range but its star of the show is the big bass for the choruses. Even Lady Gaga’s newer effort, “Disease”, also seems determined to showcase what’s possible in terms of range in single pop song. So, I want to hear the detail but I still wanna have that banger in the imaginary-club-in-my-head moment.
I finally saw a reviewer choosing the HE1000 Stealth for my genres over the HE1000se and that brought some clarity there… but now this review has me questioning whether I need to stay with the Arya range and seriously consider the Unveiled. I only discount it a little because I’m not sure our music preferences are align-able.
I also did not like how adjusting the Arya Stealth resulted in the black paint being scratched off the headband on day one and every time there after. So, I was hoping the quality improvement would make the HE1000 Stealth the right choice for my budget just now.
He1000 or he1000se.
That HPTF variation is actually nuts.
Please add the EQ profile to the description (as was mentioned), thank you. Guessing it's something like -3DB with 3Q at 5Khz + Desired Bass Shelf.
What does everyone use for EQ? Hardware? Or software? And what kind?
I completely understand the advocacy for EQ -- when listening to files, streaming servers, etc. And I try it from time to time. If you're listening to vinyl, though, how do you do it? Tone controls? They're cool, but they don't have anything like the precision that you need to tweak 5k, for example.
Great review! Enjoyed as usual. You guys really get me thinking about going into EQ. I have roon EQ but don’t know where to start. Can u show me the rope?
I wonder the same… Have watched countless EQ videos, but still have no clue. Especially when people talk about fixing headphones with EQ by finding their „personal peaks and dips“. Like, how the hell am I supposed to do that?
Just look at a Frequency Response graph showing where all the peaks and dips are, find that on the EQ range, then play with the sliders until it sounds good to you. It takes a bit of trial and error, but I think it's fun. I've always been a bit of a tinkerer, so I suppose it depends on your ability to figure things out.
Also, Roon has presets for a lot of headphones as well, so you might find something to your liking there.
I bough a Arya Stealth about 2 and a half years ago, based on how much they've been discounted since I can wait for these to be similarly discounted. Or for HE1000SE to come down a little further. I'm a fan of the spaciousness, on occasion though about trying to get a pre stealth Arya as their said to be even more spacious.
Also with Equalizer APO no longer needing a reboot after connecting or disconnecting a dac, it makes EQ'ing a lot less painful.
You bought it 2 and a half years ago, and are still using that same Arya Stealth? Curious to know because I am looking at buying one, but am worried they won't last very long.
@HeebieGenie I have owned a OG Ananda for about two years before that and HE400i for about 3 years before that. They all still work just as well as when I first got them. I've personally never experienced QC issues with Hifiman.
Please repeat which amp you're using that has tone controls - thanks
That's the Zahl HM1
@@TheHEADPHONEShow lol
Resolve gets my OG Susvara when I die whether he wants them or not but meanwhile it is important to remember that insect season is only a few months away and the Unveiled series is susceptible to being pierced by mosquito bites, not to mention what larger bugs might do should they fly into the cups.
Don’t listen to them outside :)
Thank you for telling me this.
@@listener-reviews better you know than not. You might think you were listening to Yosi Horikowa when in fact your headphones are under attack by a squadron of angry hornets. BTW: Shere is Resolve’s new playlist posted?
Just bought a pair of the Arya Stealth, still on sale for $599.
Although I am very careful with my headphones (and gear generally) I still don't fancy the 'unveiled' concept as sods law will dictate something will go through the driver. Plus I really feel the benefit (if any) must be so miniscule over a well designed grill as to not worth the risks.
For me, the perfect headphones above 6 kHz is the HD 800 S. Just EQ everything below that, especially that 5 kHz peak.
And what happen if you use the EQ on the HE1000 Unveiled? Would you still rate this lower than the Arya Unveiled? 🤔😃 Thank you for that Video 🙏🏽😃
They pretty much mention it, the issue with the HE1000 unveiled is the issues above 6k. Basically, above 6k is when these headphones start to vary on different ears and the Arya has a more ideal response OVER 6k, hence why it is the better option with EQ. Basically, harder to correct with EQ in the treble vs the mids and bass.
I'm just curious how close you can get to the unveiled by removing the grill on the Arya then putting an eq on it
Conversely, I wonder how close you can get to the stock unveiled sound, while putting grilles over the drivers.
These are different drivers in the unveiled series
I wonder if I would like the Arya unveiled as a owner and „lover“ of a EQed he6se v2?
Nice review thanks chaps. The EQ’d Arya Unveiled sounds like it might be just what I’m looking for. I’m new to Headphone equalisation. My primary source is Tidal on my IPad or iPhone including downloaded albums. How would one EQ on iOS, particularly with Tidal DRM’d downloaded content? Is there a system wide EQ app? (update - I did a quick google prior to posing this question, and more thorough one since and it appears there's a few iOS apps like Amarra and 'Bass Booster & Equalizer' that can stream Tidal and do EQ but none support offline Tidal playback).
Can you please review the Hifiman Mini Shangri-La as well one day? Adding more electrostatic headphone content would be great in general too 🙂
How does Hifiman rate the efficiency specs, per mW or per 1V?
can you do a review of headphones for those people like me that want the best headphone for movie watching?
This over the LCD-X ?
A slightly unrelated question: I'm using the Arya Stealth with the headphone output from my Yamaha R-N2000A integrated. (I usually have to cut the treble and boost the bass.) I get extremely good detail but not as much body as I'd like. How much would I likely gain from using a good amp? (Unfortunately can't go for the Zahl right now.) Thanks again!
hey everyone! can't decide saving up for these or simply purchasing the HiFiMAN Ananda Nano... even tho it plays in a different lower league. I would use it for mixing and mastering alongside audeze maxwell and Sennheiser HD600. i am looking for one who lets me judje the LOW END. i know a lot of people who swear to the low end of Ananda Nano which is perfect for kick/bass separation. is the low end on the new Arya even better? any help is highly appreciated.
BUT DOES IT SLAM?
But srsly, the unveiled headphones are disqualified for me because I’ll break them in no time.
Half serious on the slam though. Would be nice to have good hifi headphones that shake your skull if the track demands it.
Where can Resolve’s Playlist For Fun be found?
Someone should do a magnetic grill mod for all the unveiled versions for tuning.
that's a genius idea
i'll buy one as soon as someone makes a decent grille mod for it
Will you take a look at the Aune SR7000?
I'm curious what their profit margins on these are. They probably cost, what, $100 to make?
have you tried EQ the sundara closed?
Modhouse Tungsten or Arya Unveiled?
@ChrisStoneinator since Resolve said he would take the Arya Unveiled over the Susvara, which many people still think is better than the Tungsten
I was waiting for this
Oh man am I advanced enough for this headphone? I would get it but now I fear I might not understand why it's good.
whats with the lids. id have them lying around/ loose very soon. Maybe if there was some sort of functional or fx or enhancement or mellow or whatever with them, they could last a couple weeks or so before they went under a rug
How much does it cost to replace a Susvara Unveiled driver?
Think I notice some buzzing when resolve is speaking....Great review though!
About to dump $2,000 on some headphones and I need a suggestion between these and the Mod House Tungsten. Actually bought an amp powerful enough for the Tungsten in advance, but since then I ended up grabbing some Edition XS, and absolutely love how open they sound (even more open than my HD800s and DT1990s) with my Realiser A16 for movies.
Timbre isn't really an issue because the A16 already does a headphone EQ by default, so it's more the physical characteristics that separate them that will determine how open they sound compared to one another. The Edition XS just sound a lot more "speaker like" in that regard, but I've not heard the Tungsten yet, but also wanted a headphone that sounds good for music without the need to EQ.
Marcin dragon in harmony is a cool album if you like guitar.
Just a random question for GoldenSound. Are those blessing 3 you have in ears or a different IEM
I was wondering if anyone can compare them to Audeze LCD-X or other similar priced headphones other than Hifiman
See the price of your tall heads, is that someone like me wearing the same headband, will look like a Teletubbie or Cyberman with that big antennae arc going over the head - so I very much miss the original HE500 style headbands...
Well, when I wear the Meze Empryean ll, I think I look like a water buffalo…
I can’t even fit through doors wearing my Organics. Turns out you look far more like a Cyberman when doing a full on limbo trying to get through a 7ft+ doorway, especially if you have a lit up mojo2+poly on your belt.
I have the Arya stealth, but my favourite is the HE6 (six screw), because it’s such a rude boy. What’s the slam on these, compared to the Arya stealth (with PEQ)?
@resolve, you spoke abiut not liking the amts system on the noire x for the treble, it seems it's a bit sharp for me as well, do you have an eq profile that helps that headphone?? Please god haha I'm waiting to return it to see if I can fix it my self but I just feel like it stays sharp even when dropping the whole treble area.
am I the only one who can't find eq in the description?
Can you ban anyone in the comments who refers to their latest audiophile purchase as their endgame?
I have a small head and really disslike the lack of clapm force in Hifimans egg shaped line, they slide arround my head if I move at all.
imo, as clear as any review could get for all we currently know about HPs, HRTFs, HPTF, and EQ and its general and specific effects when applied to a discussion of the Arya unveiled's merits for the wider audience.
I feel that the onus of comprehension would lie more on anyone criticising the information in this video than on how said info was delivered.
that being said, there are many parallels to be drawn regarding people's opinions on the subjective experience of audio and life in general, especially considering the varying duality of arrogance & ignorance and how those scales tip.
So, I’ve been EQ’ing Arya Stealth all month and tonight I thought I’m gonna see how my old pals the FiiO FH19 IEM’s are doin’… do you know what!?! Screw over-ear headphones. These things sound fkn perfect to me. Not one ounce of EQ is needed. Gaga’s new song “Abracadabra” reproduced exactly as it should be. As is her last one “Disease” and “Replay” from 5 years ago. Why am I even going down this over-ear road??? I must be crazy. I’d loved to know what these guys think of the FH19’s.
Hey resolve, what mic were you using in the video?
Looks like an electro voice RE20
I would love for you guys to review the UNIO Audio Monitoring Ecosystem by Genelec..
The screws on the Sundara closed are not magnetic,
I want measurements with the covers on🤔
What does HRTF mean?
"Formally, a single Head-Related Transfer Function (HRTF) is defined to be a specific individual's left or right ear far-field frequency response, as measured from a specific point in the free field to a specific point in the ear canal."
tldr ears are shaped differently and are basically, along with the HP, the room for the listening experience. So anyone's experience with a HP could vary significantly from one another.
HIFIman i like to see them do a ORGANIC SUNDARA AND ORGANIC EDITION XS ..
Sorry, where is your eq profile linked? Thanks!
It'll be in the forum thread linked in the description - I just don't have it up just yet.
Link to resolves playlist please? :)
in the description
So something like LCDX or Arya organic are somehow worst than the Unveiled?
Why „somehow“? I’d assume so with the Unveiled being newer and more expensive
The LCDX was never decent.
GoldenSound, Its time to review the new Rockna DAC
People don't EQ because they don't know how to. You can make all sorts of changes to the FR, but without being able to decide if it's better, worse, or just different.
The other thing is that due to HpTF variations, there is no EQ profile made by someone else with a measurement rig that I can adopt with more than a 50% success rate.
I also bet that blind EQ (without measurements) would lead to all sorts of unexpected variations. It might even reveal that even at the individual level, there isn't a single FR profile to rule them all.
I would compare this to the mm500.
The salt analogy doesn't really work. If you always add salt to your dish at the end, consider modifying your recipe to include more salt when cooking
But you didn't make the dish. It's salt after the fact. Yes, it does work.
@En_Joshi-Godrez It's even worse if you didn't make it, you are basically insulting the chef. At informal BBQs yes it's fine, but fine dining or sit-down places, very frowned upon at best
@@miscwork-qb7pd it's a consumer product, not a piece of art. Please get a grip.
@@miscwork-qb7pd If the dish doesn't have enough salt, then it is an insult to the customer who bought it. The analogy still works. I know your type. You're over 50. Have a very antiquated ridged view on etiquette. Must be polite even if YOU were the one that bought it. That doesn't work in a modern context, and rightfully so.
No doubt. The ease with which HFM planars can be EQed is their most underappreciated feature. So much so that, with just a few filters, my HE6se v2 obviate the need to upgrade to other, “better” HFM planars.
I have watched several videos on EQing, but still can’t get it right for some reason. Could you maybe elaborate on the easy to EQ HFM planars? I have an Arya Organic, and especially in the bass, I can’t seem to EQ it right, since it gets bloated fast
@FabioGrenkh what settings do you currently use may I ask?
@Togoths I’m constantly switching around and trying out different things, but it should be something like this currently:
FILTER; dB; Gain; Q
PEAK; 80; -2.0; 0.600
LSHELF; 205; 5.0; 0.710
PEAK; 205; 4.0; 3.000
PEAK; 1050; -1.0; 4.000
PEAK; 1900; 4.5; 1.414
PEAK; 3000; -3.0; 2.000
HSHELF; 7000; -4.0; 0.710
That way I currently don’t have much bloat, if any at all, but I’d like more bass sometimes and then it gets critical
@FabioGrenkh if an EQ profile is sounding “bloated” in the bass my guess is that 1) you need to apply negative pre-amp gain (equal and opposite to the highest EQ peak) and 2) you need an amp powerful enough to compensate for whatever negative gain you apply. Glancing at your settings, you’ll need to apply about -5dB of pre-amp gain.
But in general, EQ takes a lot of practice, learning, and experience to get right. If it’s new to you, I wouldn’t expect to get it right for a while. In the meantime, I’d refer you to a resource like oratory1990’s presets, and to Resolve’s videos on how to get started with EQ. But know that it does take a lot of time and practice to get good with EQ.
what I care about is not how to avoid dust, hair splitting, and metal entering, but how to clean it.
Good question
XTC2 needs no EQ I heard because they customize the sound for each user
Note: Manufacturer’s comment. BTW hopefully these guys can review the XTC2!
I could never understand the people that are so hell bent on not EQ'ing.
I would diverge from saying you can just EQ it to make it an Susvara.
There is still more to a headphone than just a FR curve. I've demoed them both, you could say the 8k price point is too much. And quite frankly I would agree. But it is still marginally better.
And in the audiophile world, there are people willing to pay large amounts of money for very little gain.
I'd rather just have the OG Sus and call it a day for 2k less and sounds super similar. And for my ear gain, I don't need to EQ it. Which is a nice little plus.
They never at any point said that you could eq to make it become a susvara.
@En_Joshi-Godrez Tell me you didn't watch the video without telling me.
Not only did he essentially say that, but also said after some EQ it was better. He even warned us that it would be a hot take.
You obviously didn't watch it.
@@johnrus7661 he said he preferred it, NOT that it became it. The onerous is on you, my illiterate friend.
@@johnrus7661 "can just eq it to make it a susvara". He never made that claim at any point in the video. I was right to make that correction. Next time, learn some basic English literacy before commentating. Just my advice.
@En_Joshi-Godrez Says the person that clearly didn't read a worried I said.
My name jeff
No mine
I say that every time I pick Jeff in rivals 😂
So true
What, from the 2nd person?
But, many headphones are a bit lacking in fit and need one more notch or click to snug up the fit properly. HIFIMAN’s headphones have always fit me. I asked Dr. Bian if he takes women into account when designing, and he says he always asks women from the office to try the headphones on as part of the design process.
*looks over to ADI-2*
6:42 do you know what else is massive?
It feels strange that arya Stealth has a better tone than arya Unveiled. by the channel. Headphoneshow and goldensound and most importantly arya stealth price 599 dollars
Thanks for the apology! You know you did wrong.🤣
How is the sound field imaging, soundstage, etc???
Watch the video
I don't want to own a unveiled, the constant worry that something could puncture the driver can't be fun.
Wow! It’s always fun when you two confirm my experience. I love these headphones, and those covers work; they are light and quiet when setting them down. I think the magnets will do a good job protecting them. A note of caution…avoid setting them magnet side down on a surface that can attract them.I have a desk lamp that has a square base that sticks out, and is big enough to lay a headphone on. While listening, I took them off for a moment, and carelessly set them “face” down. I couldn’t lift them back up. They were stuck, and I had to slide them off. Yikes.
So, my question; I've never EQ’d, and I don’t know how to. Where in the chain is that done? Apple Music has EQ, but I mostly listen to Qobuz, and they don’t have that feature. I go from MacBook Pro, USB to DAC.
Seeing Andrew almost blush was adorable…
Ask them to do your taxes too
i am so confused
looks like a fine grill to cook some bacon
"whilst"
"Moist"
29:20 you're missing out if you don't use EQ. Absolutely. When you get good at EQ it's so much fun. If you don't use EQ you might as well give up trying to be an audiophile.
Lol... There are other avenues in this hobby one can get into other than EQ, if you're willing that is...
@@djhmax09 I went through all those avenues, kilobuck tube amps, kilobuck DACs, Chord, HQ Player, upsampling up to 768khz with million tap filters, you name it... then the JDS Labs Element IV with it's user friendly PEQ changed everything for me. :D
hulo