HIFIMAN - Arya Stealth Magnet Version

I got and returned the 109 Pro after few weeks. They are super comfortable, nice sounding and that is it. They are nice they didn't do much for me no complaints it just OK. I found my self going back more and more to my older Arya Stealth and 6xx. Obviously everyone is different but I think under $1000 there is much better at least objectively better headphones and you can listen to them first. Focal Clear, Arya Stealth, LCD-2C (used) I would even throw in 660S2. All these to me sounded better than 109 Pro.

Tried these, but the L and R that's stitched inside the cups destroyed all comfort for me, so I returned them. Also I couldn't wear them comfortably with glasses. Otherwise I agree that they are pretty comfortable. Got Arya Stealth now and can wear them all day without any discomfort even with glasses.

Love my Arya Stealth comfortwise (and also soundwise). First Headphone in my posession (DT770/880/1990) or that I've tried (HD490, Focal Clear, Amiron Home) that I can wear comfortably with glasses all day long.

Arya Stealths are amazing. Got them a few months ago (new for 550€ on an Amazon sale) after one of the drivers of my DT 1990 gave up after just 4 years. Otherwise they were really nice sound wise and decent comfort wise. Hope I'll have better luck with the Aryas, but so far I am really pleased with their sound and comfort. Especially comfort wise the Aryas were a gamechanger when wearing them with glasses.

My favorites in terms of "bank for your buck" are definitely the Arya Stealth. If you spend a bit more, you get the LC2C which are also absolute beasts. Focal Utopia stunned me by how good it sounds for dynamic headphones and it made me reconsider how I view dynamics. As for immersion, I'd pick Susvara any time of the day, they were the best sounding ones and the most resolving ones I've ever tried (if I had the budget ofc). Other than that, the ADX5000 are brilliant and if you can't afford them, the ADX3000 is a cheaper model but still sounds amazing.

I’ve got my stealths paired with a Merlin/Gremlin stack with the upgraded select tubes and they are truly wonderful.

Arya Stealth - a great Allrounder

If you have a desk setup and don’t mind wired, you can put something amazing together. I’ve got a Fosi Audio K7 amp, Hifiman Arya Stealth headphones and a modmic. The PS5 Pro sees it as a headset. It sounds incredible.

A good over ear headphone that’s not wireless, will more times than not require/ benefit from an amp/dac. Besides that as many have recommended the Arya stealth, a closed back headphone will usually provide you that feeling of bass you sound like you’re looking for. Open backs tend to trade bass for sound stage, Arya stealth being one of the best in its price bracket especially if you find one used, that has amazing imaging detail and sound stage, bass however might not be super. I’m personally an advocate of IEMs but fit is super subjective so more times than not an over ear headphone will have more of a universal fit. IEMs also don’t produce the bass slam like headphones do simply because of basic physics, bigger over ear drivers move more air and therefore have more satisfying bass (as long as you don’t get an open back)

I use hifiman arya stealth for gaming and it's amazing thanks to the clarity, soundstage and deep lows. very immersive.

Yeah just try to calm the mind and enjoy it. I fall into the same trap as well, but yesterday i ended up listening to music for like 2hrs just enjoying my new Arya Stealths. Originally it started as me testing auto eq on my android device and moondrop dawn pro dac, then it lead to just enjoying the music through the headphones.

Skip the Beyerdynamics unless you can listen to them first. They’re … very trebly. If you go that route, buy from somewhere with a good return policy AND get the lowest Ohm version you can find. If you can buy them from someone with a better return policy than Hifiman directly, the Arya Stealth is a great gaming headphone around $500 USD. I prefer the Meze 105 AER and 109 Pro personally for music (warmer tune), but any of those will be great. If you really want closed backs (and it doesn’t sound like you do), the best value on the market is the Fiio FT1, an excellent headphone at any price but currently $160 USD. (Their open back sister the FT1 Pro are also excellent). The closed back upgrade pick is the DCA Aeon Closed. Reviews: - Arya https://daemonxar.wordpress.com/2025/02/02/hifiman-arya-stealth-my-new-favorite-objective-open-back/ - 109 pro https://daemonxar.wordpress.com/2025/02/08/meze-109-pro-review/ - 105 AER https://daemonxar.wordpress.com/2025/06/05/meze-105-aer-review-another-great-meze-product/ - FT1 https://daemonxar.wordpress.com/2025/04/17/the-fiio-ft1-a-truly-excellent-budget-closed-back/