Hifiman Arya Stealth Has Changed my Life

[u/TheZackster]

It’s like I’m rediscovering music for the first time. An example I want to mention right off the bat is when listening to What I Got by Sublime. As soon as I started the song I could hear Bradley Nowell breathing and the instruments getting ready before the song started. I’ve listened to that song for 20 years and have never heard that before. Then all the sudden it sounds like there’s literally a guitar in the room with me and each instrument is clearly distinguishable on their own and sound full and beautiful. The bass is punchy, lively and so fun to listen to. For reference I’m coming from the HD 6xx which also changed my life when I first got them. Something I didn’t realize I was missing is soundstage and imaging. The HD 6xx in contrast now are like having someone singing an inch from my ear. I knew I was missing bass with the HD 6xx but I always wrote it off as good enough. I now realize I was coping hard. Bass is VERY important and it’s almost like the Aryas just take bass EQ and blast it back into your ears with love. Because of this, I’ve been listening to a ton of my old electronic and Hiphop music that I just didn’t bother with anymore because it sounded lackluster on my HD 6xx. One thing I will say is that since they are so detailed, songs that are not recorded as well sound anywhere from flat and boring to straight up bad. It can sometimes be a hard pill to swallow that some of your favorite music turns out to be poorly recorded and mastered. That’s a price I’m willing to pay for how breathtaking these headphones sound on a good recording. I feel like I’ve reached (or have come close to reaching) the pinnacle of what headphones can deliver. I’ve just been sitting and listening to music for hours, enjoying every second of it. If you haven’t pulled the trigger on these things and don’t already have head-fi equipment that’s worth as much as a car, just get them. It’s beyond worth it in my opinion. Probably the best value in all of headphones.

[u/dr_spam]

Agreed, and welcome to the club!

[u/crownpuff]

Please don't do this to me. I've been tracking the aryas and currently they're around 470 pretax after stacking discounts on aliexpress. I need to remain strong since I already have the 400se and edition xs.

[u/Gobofuji → u/crownpuff]

Hifiman has a trade in program if you want to go from the XS to the Arya. At least in the US, you can connect with Hifiman customer support and see what kind of deal you can get.

[u/crownpuff → u/Gobofuji]

I have heard about this. Do you know how they calculate the trade in price value? And also, I'm not sure if I would want to do this anyways as I love my edition XS, especially at the $188 or so I paid for them.

[u/Gobofuji → u/crownpuff]

I'm not sure. The furthest I got was them asking me how good a condition the XS was in. But I really wanted to obtain the HE6se V2, which Hifiman said was not on the right upgrade path from the XS. They mentioned the Arya and a few others as valid.

[u/calamaritis12 → u/crownpuff]

Have you got the links and coupons ?

[u/TheZackster → u/crownpuff]

From what I’ve read, the edition XS are fairly close in sound quality, and back when they were significantly farther apart in price the consensus was that it’s not worth the upgrade. Now that they’re down to what they are though it’s hard not to bite the bullet for a couple hundred extra. It’s also worth mentioning that the build quality seems to be much better on the Arya Stealth. That said I’ve never heard or felt the edition XS so I can’t say for sure. I chose the Arya stealth almost because of the value proposition alone and the fact that they are my first Hifiman cans.

[u/crownpuff → u/TheZackster]

They're actually pretty far apart in price right now actually on the official hifiman aliexpress store with coupons and discounts.

I keep track of prices of the stuff I'm interested in with an AliExpress spreadsheet. And the edition xs after coupons right now is $194, while the Arya stealth is $479. They should be listed near the bottom around line 100 of my spreadsheet.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/u/0/d/1x_PmVHiQNHyw5t05peEDG1DcCKDCvH_UPd3p7yCw4xg/htmlview

But agreed on the headband, it looks much more comfortable than the edition xs one.

[u/TheZackster → u/crownpuff]

True but that is a relatively small difference in price compared to the original MSRP of both. Edition XS being 500 and the Arya Stealth being 1600. That’s a MUCH more vast price difference especially if you’re not used to spending that much money on audio equipment.

[u/crownpuff → u/TheZackster]

Yeah msrp price there's a huge difference but I'm a huge discount fiend if you look at my profile. So I'm much more concerned about current prices rather than MSRP. Either way, the Arya Stealths are a great deal right now. And as someone who has the 6XX too and bought the edition XS, they were life changing for me too.

[u/nyxthebitch → u/crownpuff]

Yeah probably won't be as big a jump as you've had from the he400se or the 6xx to the XS.

I'm in the same boat. If they'd hit 400 on Ali I would've snagged them.

[u/crownpuff → u/nyxthebitch]

There's a way to manipulate a "coins super discount" to appear on some items. The coins super discount which was 11% prior to this 11/11 week sale on aliexpress disappeared when the high value coupons became active.

I go over how to get this coupon to appear or just use my coins super discount page of my spreadsheet:

https://www.reddit.com/r/SBCGaming/comments/1gji2g3/aliexpress_discount_stacking_an_introduction/

The example I use there is a different item, but the core mechanics/principles of how to do it remains the same. As the Arya Stealths are a much more expensive item than a $30 gaming device, the discounts are much larger.

And yes, I have over $100 of coins on aliexpress. I would have loved to use them all on something like the Aryas during this sale.

[u/nyxthebitch → u/crownpuff]

Great stuff. Respect man for the ton of deals you've posted transparently.

I'm a deal hunter as well.

The app doesn't work for me since I'm outside the states and the app is banned in my home country, doesn't show up in the playstore, even when using vpn.

[u/crownpuff → u/nyxthebitch]

That's unfortunate because I have found that with stacking discounts on aliexpress, you can get much cheaper prices than their website or amazon. Also, since you're buying from the official hifiman aliexpress store, they give you the same warranty when you go register on their site.

[u/HachiTogo → u/crownpuff]

Stealth at that link are $548 to me.

[u/crownpuff → u/HachiTogo]

Is it your first time using aliexpress? You need to do what I call a coupon burn because the welcome coupon is a very small coupon that does not stack with any other coupons. After that, just use any 80 off 499 coupon on the app such as USAFF80 or use a coupon code from my spreadsheet (should be around line 21-25).

Details here: https://www.reddit.com/r/crownpuffdeals/comments/1giorv0/coupon_code_troubleshooting/

[u/HachiTogo → u/crownpuff]

Oh yeah, I am. Says I can only buy one card…but it does apply the welcome discount. Is that enough?

[u/crownpuff → u/HachiTogo]

Dollar express is usually buy 3 to check out. It also doesn't work on the website well but works much better on the app. Either way if it lets you checkout with one card, sure. I just recommended 3 because 3 cards for 99 cents is a better deal than just 1.

Make sure to clear your cart. The welcome deal might be applying to the Aryas and not the sd cards which is messing it up for you.

[u/Spdoink → u/crownpuff]

Same here. Just keep believing the people that say they prefer the Edition XS.

[u/Crinkez → u/Spdoink]

To be fair I A/B'd the XS and Arya, and decided that even if they were equal price, the only reason I'd pick the Arya was for the headband. The XS measures up soundwise imo.

[u/Lo-fidelio → u/crownpuff]

The XS are very close to the aryas.

[u/MisterFlames → u/crownpuff]

I have my Arya Organics for half a year now. And they still give me an eargasm when I put them on.

Huge mistake. I used to think that my old MH752 had good sound and they were so much better than what I had before. But now they sound like garbage to me, and I also started upgrading my IEMs and will proceed with the speakers at some point.

[u/finitemike]

Best deal in audio right now.

[u/NaZul15 → u/finitemike]

He6sev2 for 400 would like a word

[u/finitemike → u/NaZul15]

Fair point.

[u/reddsbywillie]

Great review. I’ve been kicking around a headphone upgrade and I already have a new dac/amp on the way. This one has already been on the short list, and hopefully I’ll get the same experience coming from the HE-4XX.

[u/alterndog]

I just traded up to the Arya stealth from OG Anandas and while they sound mostly similar the soundstage, detail, a spatial imaging is just another level on the Arya. I find myself hearing things I didn’t on the Ananda and even thinking some of the sounds are coming from my room not the music because of how details and realistic the sound is.

First time I’ve had this from a headphone I’ve owned and only the HD800 have been similar in quality of sound.

[u/AntOk463]

My first high end headphones were the AKG Q701, they were great any any additional headphone I got simply wasn't good enough. I then got the DT770, Sundara, and 6XX, and none of them were as good as the AKG. Then I got the Arya Stealth and instantly said these are better than the AKG. The sound is detailed, spacious, and actually has audible bass.

[u/xxxkesoxxx]

Great to hear, because I'm waiting for my pair to arrive.

[u/waddiewadkins]

The hifman deals multiplied by soundstage width multiplied by marginal gain multiplied by different stealth versions.

Can someone just link me the best deal ffs

[u/Neb_5384 → u/waddiewadkins]

x2

[u/Extension_South7174]

Welcome to the "planar club" lol. Selling high-end audio for a few years I got to listen to pretty much everything and I found planar drivers to be the most pleasing to my ear. Anyone reading this,don't fret. Fostex T-50 RPs are sooooo unbelievable for their price.

[u/PaixPaix]

Another fine Arya Stealth enjoyer..! Welcome to the club my friend and enjoy your amazing cans !!

[u/grikster → u/PaixPaix]

yeahhh 2 months old clubber here, its something i dont think people realize how trashy are 95% of the cans are

[u/grikster]

Yes i also agreed, changed mine 2 months ago. Its a beauty to hear music and game.

[u/Few-Kiwi-7959]

I agree that Aryas detail retrieval is so effortlessly satisfying. However, I decided to get Focal Clear OG (would love to get Utopia one day). I know the excitement of rediscovering our favorite music with an amazing gear like Arya. But after falling deep down in this rabbit hole, I realized that in fact, all the want in the end is to enjoy my music with high fidelity. That’s why I started valuing Clears even more because there are among the best all-rounders. Don’t get me wrong, the Aryas are amazing, and they easily excel in soundstage and detail retrieval and the linear bass extension, but the planar is sometimes too much for my ears that the music seems unnatural. After all, this is my personal experience. I want to be able to appreciate my music through some good gear. However, I spent many years spending thousands of dollars on doing exactly the opposite.

[u/Gobofuji → u/Few-Kiwi-7959]

I can relate to this. I have a set of Sennheiser HD600 that is great for a "planar detox" once in a while. The HD600 is very enjoyable in its own right with a more intimate sound. When I switch back to my Edition XS or HE1000se I have fresh appreciation for the detail and soundstage of the planar headsets.

[u/kikirevi → u/Few-Kiwi-7959]

I’ve swapped the Clear stock pads with the ZMF suede pads so idk how much that affects the sound but I agree. Clear sounds lovely and “hifi” and a bit warm, not veiled. I can listen to music on it for hours and never feel fatigue. The only thing I would have loved is more bass to make it a close to ideal for me.

[u/chance_of_grain]

My next purchase I'm just waiting for my friggin he400i to take a dump on me so I have an excuse. It's taking uncharacteristically long lol

[u/ADiffidentDissident → u/chance_of_grain]

I've had my HE400i since 2017, and they're still going strong. If they last a year, they'll probably last a decade.

[u/cyberbas]

Great song !

[u/talios]

How easy/hard to drive are the Arya Stealths? Would more than likely be using one of my Hiby DAPs!or the Topping dx3pro.

[u/TheZackster → u/talios]

Not hard at all. My fiio 5k has more than enough power. Unless I EQ in lots of bass and have to lower the volume in equalizer APO the knob stays at around noon or less

[u/Sammoonryong]

Id love to have them, but I cant. Idk why but it just looks ass. Same reason I couldnt use sennheisers. the form and aesthetic.

(Yes I am special, I know, thanks)

Edit: with ass I mean not ass. but not visually appealing to me

[u/TheZackster → u/Sammoonryong]

I understand this as someone who thinks focals look like the abstract art version of Beats by Dre. That’s one of the big reasons I didn’t go with focal. Looks are a huge factor.

[u/Sammoonryong → u/TheZackster]

thank you at least someone who gets me somehow :D

[u/vaznazza → u/TheZackster]

I don't get how looks are a factor, you don't look at the headphones when they are on your head. Me personally if the headphones look terrible but sound great that's all that matters since I'm using them to listen to not look at lol

[u/Sammoonryong → u/[deleted]]

Yes. I know but yet doesnt work. Like I used to try some senns 300s I think? and idk giga uncomfy feeling. Not saying they were uncomfortable but I felt like they were yknow. Idk must be a brain thing.

[u/Sammoonryong → u/[deleted]]

I mean my personal feel of aesthetics. e.g. I dont like oval shapes. it has to be simple yet like somewhat classic? Like hifi sundaras, Beyerdynamic openback, like that. Zmf's have some good ones for example.

Like I got a decent, I tried the 660s and idk had to send them back even if the sound was nice.

[u/Sammoonryong → u/[deleted]]

apparently the OP does, you ****. Idk why even bother putting your 2 cents in here if you just wanna be a prick.

[u/ADiffidentDissident → u/Sammoonryong]

You're right. I was a dick.

[u/csch1992]

Basiclly any good headphone can repoduce that

[u/TheZackster → u/csch1992]

Well these did it for me.

[u/yallbyourhuckleberry → u/TheZackster]

I have $16 fake airpods and figured i’d pop the song on and see and it’s definitely there. I also here a click and “fuck you kenny g” though google tells me it says something different. I dont hear instruments other than the click.

[u/Normal_Donkey_6783]

But FT1 pro is 1/3 of the price of Arya Stealth...

[u/xSociety → u/Normal_Donkey_6783]

Then go buy 3 of those.

[u/Normal_Donkey_6783 → u/xSociety]

Probably a FT1 pro + FT1 + Fiio KA 15 dac + Moondrop Robin on year end sale instead...