The Arya can easily be the last pair of headphones that 99% of people buy, since it meets most of their audio needs. Since they cost more than $1000, it’s clear that the Arya aren’t for the average person. Instead, they were made by enthusiasts for enthusiasts, especially those who see spending this much on gear as an investment. The only problems are that the open back is very see-through, the fit is XL, and the level of detail and resolution is very high. Some people may find this too much, especially if they want to just listen and relax.
This almost teardrop shape comes from the original HE1000 series, and it’s a style that keeps showing up, like on the original Arya and to a certain extent on the Ananda. It has big open grill plates, long earcups that are very comfortable, and a light spring steel headband with a pressure strap underneath that can be tightened.
The materials are a mix of plastic and steel, and while the 430g weight isn’t the lightest for a full-sized planar headphone on the market today, it’s a good result for a dual-sided magnet design. The finish is also a shiny piano black, which is almost like the old HE-6 finish instead of the Ananda’s matte finish. Original Arya owners should know this finish pretty well.
Its unique design was made to eliminate second reflections and give the headphones a sound that is as clear and free of distortions as possible. Its other job is to protect the driver from bumps and knocks in those big open cups.
You only get one braided cable with a 6.35mm plug and some reading materials. Hifiman says it is a single crystalline copper cable with a jet-black woven exterior. On the other end of the cable, there are left and right 3.5mm TRS plugs. From one end to the other, the cable is about 61 inches or 155 cm long.
Hifiman’s Window Shade system keeps the driver safe and makes the open-back design work better. When you use Window Shade technology, you get a larger soundstage, a great image, and amazing clarity.
Due to the fact that it has an open back, we would mostly recommend using the Arya Stealth at home or on a desktop. The headphones are easy to use, though, so you can use them almost anywhere. Though, a lot of sounds get in and out, so keep that in mind.