Hifiman Arya Review (headphone)

[jmillar]

Well. Amir has reviewed both (well the He6 SE v1, not the V2 Adorama) so read both reviews .I think he would overall rate the HE6 higher but guess would say the Arya spatial properties post EQ are better.

Sidegrade more than upgrade I would have thought.

The HE-6SEv2 are indeed superb. But alas, in the EU there doesn't appear to be an "Adorama version". They cost €1800. At this price there are a number of worthy contenders.
(And they may require a new amp: they are hard to drive properly)

 

[Jimbob54]

The HE-6SEv2 are indeed superb. But alas, in the EU there doesn't appear to be an "Adorama version". They cost €1800. At this price there are a number of worthy contenders.
(And they may require a new amp: they are hard to drive properly)

Keep your eye on the Hifiman webstore. I got some V2 open box from there. Shipped from China but total cost was around £550. The V1 sometimes goes on offer too.

 

[jmillar]

That's nothing more than the psychoacoustic illusion from how the headphone feels on your head. Spatial quality discussions should just be replaced with clamp force and pad dimensions.

Ok, but how can you measure soundstage in an "objectivist" way TODAY? It's there, we hear it, you can tell some gear blindfolfed (speakers, so NO clamp force or pads). This field has begun to be studied quite recently.

 

[Todd k]

This is the main point though. With enough bands, HD600 can be EQ'd to sonically perform like HD800S.

No it can’t. I have both set of cans
and there is no way I can make my 600’s sound like the 800’s with a 30 band eq

 

[HRTF_Enthusiast]

No it can’t. I have both set of cans
and there is no way I can make my 600’s sound like the 800’s with a 30 band eq

Use ear canal microphones and prove that they are the same. You might be putting too much reliance on HATS measurements.

 

[HRTF_Enthusiast]

Ok, but how can you measure soundstage in an "objectivist" way TODAY? It's there, we hear it, you can tell some gear blindfolfed (speakers, so NO clamp force or pads). This field has begun to be studied quite recently.

For speakers, it's just the level of diffuse sound minus the level of direct sound

 

[staticV3]

Ok, but how can you measure soundstage in an "objectivist" way TODAY? It's there, we hear it, you can tell some gear blindfolfed (speakers, so NO clamp force or pads). This field has begun to be studied quite recently.

Ime, frequency response in the pinna gain region is very important for reproducing soundstage/spatial cues faithfully.
Both my HD600 and ER4XR sound unnaturally and uncomfortably "pushed inside your head" out of the box and both open up considerably when EQed.

 

[Snoopy]

The HE-6SEv2 are indeed superb. But alas, in the EU there doesn't appear to be an "Adorama version". They cost €1800. At this price there are a number of worthy contenders.
(And they may require a new amp: they are hard to drive properly)

Hifiman stuff often goes on sale and you get open box stuff shipped from a polish wharehouse very cheap and tax free. Like the hifiman ananda go regularly for 500€ and the HE-6Se V2 went for something like 750€ or even less not that long ago.

The Jade 2 for 920€ incl shipping and tax.

 

[Jimbob54]

The HE-6SEv2 are indeed superb. But alas, in the EU there doesn't appear to be an "Adorama version". They cost €1800. At this price there are a number of worthy contenders.
(And they may require a new amp: they are hard to drive properly)

http://store.hifiman.com/index.php/he6se-v2.html $600

 

[Jimbob54]

Ime, frequency response in the pinna gain region is very important for reproducing soundstage/spatial cues faithfully.
Both my HD600 and ER4XR sound unnaturally and uncomfortably "pushed inside your head" out of the box and both open up considerably when EQed.

Would you mind pm me your eq filters for the Ety 4XR please.

 

[HRTF_Enthusiast]

Hifiman stuff often goes on sale and you get open box stuff shipped from a polish wharehouse very cheap and tax free. Like the hifiman ananda go regularly for 500€ and the HE-6Se V2 went for something like 750€ or even less not that long ago.

The Jade 2 for 920€ incl shipping and tax.

There isn't a single good hifiman headphone

 

[Jimbob54]

There isn't a single good hifiman headphone

In terms of sound , build or something else?

 

[HRTF_Enthusiast]

In terms of sound , build or something else?

Sound

 

[Jimbob54]

Sound

I would disagree but then variety is the spice of life.

 

[Snoopy]

Sound

And build. Even the jade 2 is a cheap plastic headphone.

 

[Phoney]

There isn't a single good hifiman headphone

Did you buy them all and try?

 

[HRTF_Enthusiast]

Did you buy them all and try?

1. I don't need to "try" when I have measurements.
2. I have heard the Ananda and Arya. Arya almost gave me a tumor.

 

[GaryH]

1. I don't need to "try" when I have measurements.
2. I have heard the Ananda and Arya. Arya almost gave me a tumor.

 

[HRTF_Enthusiast]

View attachment 184516

Do you see that huge high mid scoop followed by a mountainous treble spike? Also, oratory measurements are too smoothed to see the linear distortion in its full glory.

In comparison...

 

[Phoney]

1. I don't need to "try" when I have measurements.
2. I have heard the Ananda and Arya. Arya almost gave me a tumor.

I have the Arya v2, and because I'm fairly sensitive to the higher frequencies, I do agree that it can be a bit too much treble (for me atleast). Some people that are less sensitive to that find it great out of the box. Using EQ fixes that problem for me completely, while still maintaining a good soundstage with the big cups and drivers. Also the bass sounds great with a small boost. Most planars responds very well to EQ.