Hifiman Arya Stealth opinion

[scw0w]

What do you think about this model? I bought in new for $400 and happy with the price. But if be completely honest i expected much more from the sound. Don't get me wrong: its first-class headphones with excellent staging. Gaming in Arya Stealth is so much better than in any headphone i've had. But it's just not my type of sound. Turns out i really like warmer headphone like HD 650. I didn't realize it until now.
For $400? Its steal. But i don't get the hype. Many people bought them for $1000 and says its best in class headphones.
Comfort of this cans is another level tho. It's so much more comfortable than my previous headphones its just funny. What do you think guys?
Headphones i own:
1) SHP9500. Just steal for $50. I think they have no competitor. With EQ its just another level.
2) HD 6XX (650) my favourite one. It’s a pity that they are uncomfortable for me and I can’t sit in them for more than an hour. Sound is divine.
3) DT 900 PRO X. Its good i like them more than Arya for music. Uncomfortable to me too. Can sit in them 30 min max.
4) Fidelio X2HR. I don't really like it. I think is downgrade after 9500. Uncomfortable.
5) Fidelio X3. Worse headphones i've own. They just so boring its insane.

 

[scw0w]

And one more question guys. Is Fiio K13 R2R really help with highs? Or its just placebo?

 

[Jiraya369]

just eq man, eq yours to the harman target then make adjustments if you want. These aren't high distortion headphones and can be improved easily with eq.

I use the next step up in quality, HE1000 V2 Stealth, and i've eq'd it to my tastes. If you still don't like the sound after eq'ing, you expected too much. People expect good audio products to jiggle their balls for em but that just aint happening, you'll just get good audio reproduction and the next step is to enjoy the sound.

 

[scw0w]

Just eq man, eq yours to the harman target then make adjustments if you want.

I feel the same. What about "warm" DAC K13 R2R? Personally i think all DAC's sound "signature" is snake oil.

 

[Jiraya369]

I feel the same. What about "warm" DAC K13 R2R? Personally i think all DAC's sound "signature" is snake oil.

DAC/amps do change sound, it's just that the ones that most people say are "warm" or something usually, technically, change the sound for the worse. Higher distortion and lowered highs making the sound "warm" and "musical". It's just something that some light eq would've done. I must say the distortion of a tube amp might be musical and fuzzy feeling but the tuning changes are just something that eq can do.

Look at this graph. People said the amp was quite musical. Ideally you have a flat line from 20 hz to 20khz. But look at the differences in the black line, that's what people heard. I admit, i have a similar eq on my headphone, doesn't mean im gonna go around acting snobby about some 20000 dollar amp or something

Lemme send my headphone's original graph from Sai at Unheardlab and my eq on it that i've made from ear after eq'ing to harman first (the dotted line). Go to a squig.link like hangout.audio or sai unheardlab, find your headphones and then eq to harman 2018 using the autoeq function.

 

[solderdude]

HD 6XX (650) my favourite one. It’s a pity that they are uncomfortable for me and I can’t sit in them for more than an hour.

What is uncomfortable about them ?
The clamping force ? That is easily adjusted.

 

[scw0w]

What is uncomfortable about them ?
The clamping force ? That is easily adjusted.

I've come to conclusion that almost all circle earcups uncomfortable for me. My ears are slightly elongated and this make "cirlce" headphones uncomfortable to my right ear. Its touch my back of the ear.
Egg-shaped like Hifiman Arya Stealth or SHP9500 is super comfortable tho.

 

[solderdude]

The round pad over-ears often have a too small diameter.
Usually between 50mm and 60mm which is too small for people with bigger ears (usually older folks).
Best to look for oval shape pad headphones and look for > 70mm height.
Hifiman egg shaped: depth 28mm rear, 25mm front side, height: 85mm, width: 50mm
HD650: oval shaped: depth: 22mm, height: 70mm , width: 35mm

Another issue can be how far the ears protrude outwards.
Most headphones have a pad thickness between 18mm and 22mm which may not be enough.
There are headphones with 25mm or even more (30mm).
Also one should realize that the depth of pads will decrease over time.
Best to take a tape-measure and measure height and depth needed for the ear so you can make an informed decision which ones to avoid.

This is why I always measure the pad dimensions and put them in the specs of the review.

 

[scw0w]

The round pad over-ears often have a too small diameter.
Usually between 50mm and 60mm which is too small for people with bigger ears (usually older folks).
Best to look for oval shape pad headphones and look for 70mm height.
Another issue can be how far the ears protrude outwards.
Most headphones have a pad thickness between 18mm and 22mm which may not be enough.
There are headphones with 25mm or even more (30mm).
Best to take a tape-measure and measure height and depth needed for the ear so you can make an informed decision which ones to avoid.

This is why I always measure the pad dimensions and put them in the specs of the review.

Its good! Thanks for the tip. But personally i don't have problem if my ear touch dynamic. Only back part of ear like on picture. If something touch BACK it drive me insane LOL

 

[Aryzon]

What do you think about this model? I bought in new for $400 and happy with the price. But if be completely honest i expected much more from the sound. Don't get me wrong: its first-class headphones with excellent staging. Gaming in Arya Stealth is so much better than in any headphone i've had. But it's just not my type of sound. Turns out i really like warmer headphone like HD 650. I didn't realize it until now.
For $400? Its steal. But i don't get the hype. Many people bought them for $1000 and says its best in class headphones.
Comfort of this cans is another level tho. It's so much more comfortable than my previous headphones its just funny. What do you think guys?
Headphones i own:
1) SHP9500. Just steal for $50. I think they have no competitor. With EQ its just another level.
2) HD 6XX (650) my favourite one. It’s a pity that they are uncomfortable for me and I can’t sit in them for more than an hour. Sound is divine.
3) DT 900 PRO X. Its good i like them more than Arya for music. Uncomfortable to me too. Can sit in them 30 min max.
4) Fidelio X2HR. I don't really like it. I think is downgrade after 9500. Uncomfortable.
5) Fidelio X3. Worse headphones i've own. They just so boring its insane.

Arya suffers from sibilance as do most older Hifiman planars and there is unfortunately no way to fix it. You can try playing with EQ but you will likely make the whole thing sound worse in the process. Not to mention that it being a very bright headphone to begin with doesn't make things easier.
You said you like warmer sound and so do most people. Get Edition XV, it will be exactly what you are looking for.

 

[scw0w]

Arya suffers from sibilance as do most older Hifiman planars and there is unfortunately no way to fix it. You can try playing with EQ but you will likely make the whole thing sound worse in the process. Not to mention that it being a very bright headphone to begin with doesn't make things easier.
You said you like warmer sound and so do most people. Get Edition XV, it will be exactly what you are looking for.

Ok order it...

 

[Rayman30]

Arya suffers from sibilance as do most older Hifiman planars and there is unfortunately no way to fix it. You can try playing with EQ but you will likely make the whole thing sound worse in the process. Not to mention that it being a very bright headphone to begin with doesn't make things easier.
You said you like warmer sound and so do most people. Get Edition XV, it will be exactly what you are looking for.

I find them to be a bit on the bright side, but after EQ using Amir's settings, they are wonderful. My darling LCD-X have not been getting as much love lately due due to the Arya Stealth being on my head. I paid $500 used, so you got a killer deal!

Try Amir's EQ or Oratory EQ, but yeah they are great and at $400 maybe the best.

 

[scw0w]

I find them to be a bit on the bright side, but after EQ using Amir's settings, they are wonderful. My darling LCD-X have not been getting as much love lately due due to the Arya Stealth being on my head. I paid $500 used, so you got a killer deal!

Try Amir's EQ or Oratory EQ, but yeah they are great and at $400 maybe the best.

Can you share Amir EQ? It is for Arya not Stealth version no?

 

[Rayman30]

Can you share Amir EQ? It is for Arya not Stealth version no?

It is

Preamp: -5.0 dB
Filter 1: ON PK Fc 20 Hz Gain 5.0 dB Q 1.0
Filter 2: ON PK Fc 290 Hz Gain -2.0 dB Q 1.0
Filter 3: ON PK Fc 1630 Hz Gain 3.0 dB Q 3.0
Filter 4: ON PK Fc 4970 Hz Gain -4.0 dB Q 6.0
Filter 5: ON PK Fc 8000 Hz Gain -4.0 dB Q 7.0

 

[scw0w]

Edition XV came to me. It's VERY good just as good as HD6xx and better. Phenomenal. But its pressing on my right ear. I don't know if I can get used to it

 

[Aryzon]

Edition XV came to me. It's VERY good just as good as HD6xx and better. Phenomenal. But its pressing on my right ear. I don't know if I can get used to it

Unfortunately Hifiman changed the clip placements which means that aftermarket pads that used to go on Hifiman eggphones won't fit on Edition XV (and all Unveiled headphones).
Right now unfortunately you only have 2 options. You can order custom pads from Vesper Audio for example but it won't be cheap and there is a long wait time. Or you could search through used market for the Edition X V2 (specifically V2, V1 won't accept aftermarket pads either). And then put Dekoni pads on it. But finding Edition X V2 is easier said than done. Pretty rare headphone these days given how quickly it was discontinued.

Maybe try poking Dekoni customer support and ask if they will bring out their egg pads with new clips in the near future.

 

[scw0w]

Unfortunately Hifiman changed the clip placements which means that aftermarket pads that used to go on Hifiman eggphones won't fit on Edition XV (and all Unveiled headphones).
Right now unfortunately you only have 2 options. You can order custom pads from Vesper Audio for example but it won't be cheap and there is a long wait time. Or you could search through used market for the Edition X V2 (specifically V2, V1 won't accept aftermarket pads either). And then put Dekoni pads on it. But finding Edition X V2 is easier said than done. Pretty rare headphone these days given how quickly it was discontinued.

Maybe try poking Dekoni customer support and ask if they will bring out their egg pads with new clips in the near future.

Nah. I don't buy anything from hifiman from now. Arya Stealth uncomfortable too. Sick of this.

 

[scw0w]

How remove fcking earpuds? Why its so hard

 

[Buckchester]

Dude, stop buying stuff chasing better sound and just try the eq others have recommended. The difference between headphones is frequency response, and you can tailor this to any headphone with eq.

 

[scw0w]

Dude, stop buying stuff chasing better sound and just try the eq others have recommended. The difference between headphones is frequency response, and you can tailor this to any headphone with eq.

I’m chasing comfort not sound. I think my only option hd800s because design is very similar to shp9500 which i can use all day long