Arya Organic: What's actually happening

[@grahammitchell5444]

The 'smile'! Brilliant! Biggest chuckle of the day; thank you.

[@DaleMcGregor-w3x]

Your advice of recommending these to an "older listener" is absolutely bang-on. My hearing has suffered with aging - when I was 18 I could hear 22,000 Hz (I have owned and played synthesizers since I was 15), and the limits of my high frequency hearing have decreased to just barely more than 13,000 Hz now (unless I boost the gain and really drill the sound into the ears). I've found that the Organics have opened up a whole new vista of sonic experience, hearing (again) what I used to be able to hear when I was younger. The shimmer of a cymbal, the long decay of a triangle or bell, even the resonance of a snare drum rim-shot all have been brought forward and have me enjoying music more. I generally listen to acoustic music, blues, jazz and music recorded in "real" spaces, but often venture out into all manner of things. There's a night and day difference in many tracks when comparing the Organics with any of my many Sennheisser and Grado variants. I'll still reach for the 660s2's for some of my older Ella Fitzgerald recordings, but the Organics have become my preferred headphone for almost everything - my aging ears have done the EQing for me. I appreciate your balanced advice. Fair criticisms and measured "effervescence" where merited.....though the odd smile and expression of joy when a headphone offers you those little "life-glimmers" that they sometimes do would be OK. This whole "review business" doesn't have to always be serious! Oh, and I subscribed.

[@EdzusC]

Just had the opportunity to listen to both Arya stealth and organic. And the organic stole my heart. I'm someone who enjoys brighter headphones and tend to EQ on the brighter side. Also the base felt just right even for high beat electronic music. I will definitely buy these the moment my wallet allows it.

[@doyoulikecrystalgel]

Question; i have the Arya V2’s, and it’s been my daily (alongside Bathys for on-the-go) driver for 2 years now. Would it be worth “upgrading” to the organic? For reference, i have ZERO issues with my Arya’s. I DO wish they took well to rock music, which is what the Bathys excels in, but other than that, i wouldn’t change a thing. Do you think the organic would be worth it?

[@EdzusC]

@@doyoulikecrystalgel No I would say there is no reason to upgrade to Organic, if anything I would rather play around with EQ to find a good sound for rock.

[@mohammedbazhair2000]

Did you mean Organic brighter than stealth.. And causes harsh ?? Because I am somewhat sensitive to treble

[@EdzusC]

@@mohammedbazhair2000 Yes they are brighter then stealth. For me personally it wasn't harsh, but I could see it being to harsh for other people especially if you are sensitive to high treble.

[@MistaLova-Lova]

I've just heard these at CanJam London. Show conditions only, but it was enough for me to recognise the pleasant tuning of these headphones. At this price, they might easily be an end-game headphone for many. However, it's worth stressing that there is a big gap in resolution and holography between these and the HE1000se. At $2,000 those are a steal and may even be preferable to the Susvara by many.

[@psysword]

Yup jumped on it

[@pppppppp2146]

Hifiman he 6 se v2 better than he 1000se

[@renaramadan4626]

could you compare / listen to both? In what regard are they better? @@pppppppp2146

[@redgopnik2227]

I'm screenshotting that smile for my background, thanks

[@dandical]

Listened to both, preferred the organic’s bass and wider sound stage but the stealths are still great.

[@dangerzone007]

I love this satin finish and the wood grain. I might get one just for the way it looks.

[@flourishingfog]

Please review the HE1000 V2 stealth!

[@fparad0x228]

Great Video. I have the Stealth and i love them so much. The most time i hear Rock and Metal from Classic to modern stuff Like djent. i own some stuff from Audeze, bayerdynamic and the Neumann closed, but the most time i grap the aryas. They give me the greatest chills i ever had.

[@kkazakov]

They're perfect for me for rock and metal. I'm glad I purchased them BEFORE hearing from you that they are not good for this type of music 😅

[@halldorsturluson1449]

exectly the comment i was looking for, what metal are you listening to? any prog metal? or prog rock?

[@wavesnowaves]

Haha agree. I just bought Arya stealths, and find that it’s awesome for metal. Especially that Swedish death metal chainsaw guitar sound 😃

[@samuelflores2926]

​@@halldorsturluson1449I like prog. Did you get it? Does it sound good for Dream Theater? 😅

[@musicxxa6678]

Good stuff. I'm waiting for that HEK Stealth coverage and i hope you can also revisit the HEKSE to measure and compare. Hifiman headphones are quite popular so some kind of round up would be interesting. HEKSE is also technically interesting due to it's driver being physically different than others.

[@tylerstravis]

Did Resolve ever update us on his HE1k stealth thoughts?

[@musicxxa6678]

nope@@tylerstravis

[@explorinlearnindoing5462]

My buying choice is between these two. What are your thoughts about the HeKse and the HeStealth?

[@musicxxa6678]

@@explorinlearnindoing5462 Never heard hekstealth. i own hekse and its great. staging, imaging, detail all top level. not very energetic though. less energetic than arya stealth but have far better spatial qualities and seperation.

[@explorinlearnindoing5462]

@@musicxxa6678 okay thanks! I love an analogue, natural, smooth, musically sound. So energetic for me can also be too much. I have been to manu audio shows in the last 20 years and sometimes when you enter a room that initially sounds woww... after a longer period it starts to fatigue. Like also with too bright sytems. I prefer a more tube like laid back sound. Then the HeKse would be better than the Ayre Stealth and Hekstealth right?

[@GeraltOfNvidia]

After you said that a subscription would get us closer to a genuine smile, I thought to myself, "alright man, you got me, I'll subscribe" only to find out that I'm already a subscriber

[@pvtcmyers87]

Thank you so much for the really great review! 😊

[@merovech7]

FINALLY...someone who references the upper end spike. My ear drums were shredded by this headphone. Long live my Arya Stealth 😊

[@aaronfriedman8201]

Depends on your age.

[@FabioGrenkh]

Why not EQ?

[@JMAudioEditions]

The XTC2 doesnt need eq'ing since we customize the sound 8 different ways from super warm to super detailed and anything in between- we hope you get to try one

[@jmjf7]

It’s been months. How does it compare to the he1000se? And the v2 stealth.

[@StrangerInParadise58]

My Arya Organic arrives today and I can't wait!!! :-)

[@RealKyurem]

How you liking it after 6 months?

[@authenticNL2]

How you liking it after 1 year?

[@StrangerInParadise58]

@@authenticNL2 One of my favorite headphones in my entire collection. Love the Organics!

[@Joniyah444]

Idc what anyone says I love them !

[@TerraBlacc1]

Did we ever get that genuine smile? We're ready for this, Resolve.

[@dixter1652]

now we just need to see Hifiman come out with a Susvara Organic at $2500.... he wouldn't be able to make enough if he fixed the power requirements that the OG Susvara has...

[@semtexxl]

Nothing is impossible but by judging the price drop of HE1000SE model to “only” 2k I guess the next new model will be the new “SE” iteration. Just a wild guess, nothing substantiated by the facts or indications from Hifiman directly. IMHO a wild deal on one of the most detailed/analytical (if that is your thing) HP out there. I have never heard it but I am judging the sound profile by the consesnsus on forums.

[@En_Joshi-Godrez]

Its will be €4k at the absolute minimum. It completes the with LCD5, so its not meant to be accessible to you, its meant to make money.

[@tylerstravis]

I've had the Arya Organic and HE1000 Stealth in my shopping cart waiting for your review!

[@hkw8477]

Same here....tempted to just buy both (direct from Hifiman and return one before 30day trial). I'm kinda leaning towards HE1000 though because I think it's capable of handling EQ to match the Organics sound signature.

[@SupplyNinja]

The Organic will not compete with the 1000 Stealth in in-depth comparisons. And the Stealth will not compare to the SE. Stealth does have better tuning than the SE. but once I EQd the SE to the Stealth tuning, it became a headset of absolute zero compromise.

[@semtexxl4023]

Finally a level-headed non-bombastic/no hype review. Thanks for the honesty. This just proves it was worth waiting for your review. Going by your conclusion I don't need this as I already have Arya Stealth version (V3) but the new HE1000 Stealt is quite interesting and for quite fantastic price. A lot of people are waiting for direct comparison with Stealth Arya or Organic version. Yet again thanks for basically concluding this is a sidegrade from original Arya...

[@GangityBirdity]

Exactly how I felt after watching his review. This is what I needed

[@Ray-dl5mp]

I don’t see how Joshua said it was more than it was. Both reviews seem very consistent with each other. Just because someone likes something doesn’t mean they are wrong. My best guess is for people that wanted an Arya with more engaging/ enjoyable bass, this headphone gives you that and could be near perfect for that type of person in the price range. So again just because Resolve focused more on the treble doesn’t mean Joshua is wrong. Resolve also said they can be adjusted with a very simple EQ if the treble bothers you. The point of these reviews is to get an idea how exciting something is depending on your preferences. I think it’s great Joshua got pumped up about them. Resolve also seemed surprised by the bass/ engagement factor but he is a science guy. He focused on the negative more. All good to me from both people.

[@Jefafa73]

​@AL-qj9yh Unless you abuse your headphones, this isn't an issue.

[@NRobbi42]

​@AL-qj9yhI've never had any issues.

[@mmorales508]

​@AL-qj9yhMy Sundara 2021 is still in mint condition, use it every day, put ZMF pads on it, game on them etc etc without a single issue. Bought them fall 2021 so...

[@StevenL717]

I tried organic, 1000 stealth and 1000se, the stealth is just way too “normal”. SE is good but nothing special for me the utopia/800s user. But organic, oh man, even the sibilant sounds bothered me for some songs, but overall, it’s just sooooo good! It’s perfect for string music and piano and I can literally feel them playing beside me! And this feeling cannot be experienced by any other headphones I had/listened, even susvara! The bass on organic is also punchy and powerful. Beautiful, I have to say beautiful to organic and I will definitely save money for it now! 😊

[@a2raya87]

Hifiman > Focal

[@One-Two_swift-kickbox]

Focal > Hifiman

[@a2raya87]

@@One-Two_swift-kickbox lmao keep dreaming. is that why most stores are having Focals like 60% off cause no one is buying them

[@L8KY]

Focal + Hifiman

[@blackcum2275]

Both Focal and Hifiman are shit.

[@axeldeeker5644]

9:00 very much looking forward to this explanation!

[@karadumanr]

The best review I've seen for hifiman arya organic, especially after joshua valaur, who said he didn't like the stealth version at all and said it was perfect for the organic version with similar sound characteristics. By the way, I'm thinking of switching from grado rs2e, which I use for metal music, to audeze lcd x, do you think it's worth it? Thanks.

[@samzsamzzz2624]

Josh Valour is a treble head😂

[@Vikinguy]

Josh nailed his review of it.

[@En_Joshi-Godrez]

​@@Vikinguycopium

[@stephenpinter2917]

Josh is a bit weird with his tastes@@Vikinguy

[@LordVictorHalgaard]

On your compensated graph, compared to stealh, it doesn't actually look like a bass shelf, so much as a midbass-dip. The Stealth was about the same level most of the way except that slight dip, making it look like a shelf? But that might just be a visual artifact of the compensation...

[@YourfriendNextDoor2]

My favorite Hifiman even over buying the more expensive.

[@lb3537]

Thank god! Someone just saved me more money! I was hearing that these were the best headphones ever recently … good to hear the differences are slight …. I own both the Arya stealth and he1000 stealth….. the he1000 stealth is just my thing man…. It’s just about perfect… the Arya stealth is fantastic as well and I love it … I just feel the he1000 stealth blows me away! I feel it’s a little wider a little more air/detail and and a little more bass than the Arya stealth… although both are great and I listen to both a lot every time I put on the he1000 stealth I’m just like holy s#*t! I put this on plug into any powerful enough amp play Alone by heart and it’s just an unreal Experience ….Just my two cents I also much prefer the silver of the he1000 stealth they are made really well Despite the fake wood wrap

[@jhontroll4612]

Finally a concise and precise review, thank you! I dislike when a KZbinr with poor music-ear training or lack of sound comprehension (JV) give an opinion like they are the some sort of ear god. Really enjoy the way you describe your journey and on top of that use measurements that validate that. I found this also brighter than the stealth. As everyone else, would love to hear your opinion of organic vs hekstealth, but also the he1000se, there is a video talking about this (Organic vs everything) but I found that video not reliable at all. Please get a new he1000se because I’m sure there is more than 1 revision but nobody is talking about it. Thank you for the video

[@melodygeeks3917]

I bought recently the HE1000se and I agree with you that hifiman been doing silent revisions of it. The first time I listen to the Se was around 5 years ago, it was very bright and weird sounding, a couple of years later I bought it and was darker and not as open as the HE1000V2 or stealth, I bought it again recently and finally I found it the best of the he1000 series by far. my end game. yes same system every time, and yes nobody is talking about it.

[@jhontroll4612]

@@melodygeeks3917 yes I did demo the hekse not long ago and I agree, best he1000 version, but even is way cheaper now I still need to hide from my wife the loss in the bank account in order to buy it

[@petrpulpytel]

thx for great review Andrew👍, so Arya organic will be perfect partner for my Radiance... both for different genres...

[@nickpelayo3172]

Im really interested to see the he1kv3 and if hifiman is going to start working on a headphone between these and the susvara

[@FilipinaVegana]

Indeed.

[@HobbyTalk]

Sure it’s organic, but is it gluten free, dairy free, sugar free?

[@ryanhostudio]

honestly when i heard organic i thought maybe they finally lowered the treble level but guess not

[@Furbsta]

Hahaha loved this comment way more then I should 😂

[@HobbyTalk]

@@Furbsta my people lol

[@ilpreterosso]

Sure it’s organic other than it’s nothing organic

[@user550el0el0]

gluten free ebola?

[@geekatari4391]

I thought you had like half a million subscribers. I am a happy subscriber 😊

[@GadZookz]

Thanks Resolve! Where is the Arya Organic grown?

[@TheHEADPHONEShow]

In the headphone orchard. They're also free range and grass fed.

[@GadZookz]

@@TheHEADPHONEShow you had better put up some scarecrows to to repel those who gather on the boundaries, waiting for maverick headphones that jump the fence. 🎃

[@ignicioperez4647]

Thanks a lot for this very good video. How would the Arya Organic compare to the ZMF Aeolus? I ask because I’m considering replacing my Ananda with the Aeolus but I’m hesitating whether I should go for the Arya Organic. Then again, I’m aware the Hifiman and ZMF are two very different headphones (planar vs dynamic). Grateful for your views/advice. Best wishes, Ignacio. Btw, I suscribed to your channel some weeks ago…

[@ixoye56]

Do you have any EQ for this one to share? Btw, where can I find your EQ for other headphones?

[@CookinBeatloaf]

Sounds like a good compliment to an LCD-2 Classic

[@minghaolu2505]

Pretty bright headphones, but I didn't find the sibilant frequencies to be an issue. Kettering by the Antlers, which I usually test sibilance against, didn't have any issues with my pair.

[@reflection1119]

I was tempted by this for a brief moment but as more reviews have come through, I'm sticking with my Arya V2 (Stealth didn't do it for me)... Next up on the hype train the Modhouse Tungsten... I'm greatly looking forward to that release and hearing how it's received

[@sjqideez6626]

Just make sure you have a nuclear power plant to drive the Tungsten 😆

[@reflection1119]

@@sjqideez6626 apparently the double magnet version is supposed to be more efficient... But relative to the single magnet version "efficient" may still mean the need for a minor uranium enrichment program.

[@Soundoverload]

Maybe the new Topping A70 Pro at $499 will do the trick. It has a 17 Watt Max output

[@reflection1119]

@@Soundoverload wow that's crazy

[@sjqideez6626]

@@Soundoverload the Cen Grand Silver Fox head amp is rated at 22W into 30 ohms

[@michaelschultz1125]

I like the sound signature of my music to be punchy and have some weight to it. I prefer the bass and upper treble to be somewhat boosted, but the upper mid's to be tamed and not too bright. Which headphones fit closest to this kind of listening experience?

[@jjcornelio7741]

watching this on my Sundara. Wish I could afford the Arya organic lol

[@Ordos20]

Same

[@Joniyah444]

Invest into Shiba Inu

[@BruceCross]

Sundara is still a wonderful headphone.

[@emeruen]

How do you define impact and physicality, because I believe the entire hifiman open back planar line has a strong focus on it 10:46

[@NRobbi42]

Luckily, I always EQ my headphones, so a little brightness out of the box doesn't matter much if it excells in everything else compared to past versions.

[@Hari-kx2er]

How much is it an upgrade from Edition XS? Is it better to upgrade from XS to Arya Stealth or Arya Organic? Thanks in advance!

[@JohnSmith-oe4bw]

It's very subjective. I have XS & Arya Stealth. Technically, the Stealth is better. With better tonal balance and resolution. XS has a bigger soundstage, deeper subs bass, and is more airy. the fit/headband is also better on the Stealth. You have to listen for yourself to decide.

[@NRobbi42]

Arya organic is the more definitive overall step up, but it's also the most expensive option.

[@theavpman4834]

Should have used a darker wood tbh it looks kind of weird having like bright redish-orange wood when everything else is black.

[@sohambhaumik]

What are your thoughts on pairing these with the SPL Phonitor X vs Woo WA7?

[@xrhythmsx]

How do they compare to the sennheiser 800s

[@lilfuzzballa]

Should I buy a balanced cable for these headphones? Does anyone have any recommendations of one to use?

[@lth_lch]

20 bucks is steep, but that mug is enticing

[@loryhawley2930]

I've had them for about 6 weeks. I found them a bit too bright at first, but I was told they benefited from break-in, so I ran them in the background for about 50 hours. I also changed the cable to a balanced 4-pin XLR cable and it was a big difference. Can't say what did it, wasn't scientific, but they warmed up and blossomed into more of what I love about planar magnetics. These also got a bit more punchy in the bass. They are a delight.

[@mohammedbazhair2000]

What's break-in???

[@killerra]

@@mohammedbazhair2000 A lie that will literally never die.

[@Luishopee]

Would you like to recommend the brand of your cable?

[@mohammedbazhair2000]

@@killerra whaat??

[@killerra]

@@mohammedbazhair2000 Burn or break in doesn't exist and has never been measured. That is all.

[@MrOldandslow]

I don't care what the headphones or cables look like. I care about how they reproduce audio. They are the best producer of audio of all my headphones. They sound remarkable!

[@PrismApplied]

I’m subscribed, smile. You’re a little goofy in this video. 😂 Question: Is there any headphone at any price that doesn’t need eq?

[@sierre00]

lul the smile, that's some dedication right there

[@1988remixx]

I was so excited to get my Organic’s. But……”sigh” for me they didn’t live up to all the hype they got. I forgot who said it but a headphone youtuber, I think it was Zeos said, “I want the headphones or IEM’s to make me want to rediscover my music catelog again”!! This is what I really wanted from the Organic’s but I was completely underwhelmed. These will definitely go into auction. Maybe it’s my ear pinna but Over Ear headphones have been very disappointing while as recent purchases of IEM’s like my Variations have been truly enjoyable!!! I believe I’ll be heading towards the Monarch III’s

[@mitchy5994]

I went from Arya Stealth to Variations to MKIII. I just sold all three and bought Buchardt p300 Speakers as well as the Arya Organic. I am very pleased.

[@rais3tong]

What would you recommend for me to upgrade from the hifiman xs too stealth or other model ? Please recommend

[@jekken333]

I'd wait for Arya organic V2 or V3. 🤭🤭🤭

[@msteele0]

Arya Stealth FTW for me.

[@gehteuchnichtsan7911]

Still in love with my sundara but i wish i could sometimes enjoy the organic? Is there any possibility to rent them. Im living in germany...

[@mebaugh1]

Totally agree that between Resolve’s highly measured approach and Josh’s more pop approach it gives us a fuller picture. I bought Arya v3 Stealth about 4 months ago so wondering if I poorly timed my purchase. But, since I use Chord Mojo 2 with plenty of lossless, tailored EQ I’m feeling pretty good about my choices. Seems to me we are living in a world of incremental refinements and that chasing the edge isn’t always the best strategy.

[@JamesTrafford-zp1gx]

Personally, I find the use of graphs in reviews a complete turn of. I don’t give a monkeys if there’s a slight dip here or a slight boost there, all that I’m interested in is whether or not a headphone sounds right with my music in my chain. It’s the music that matters to me and the gear is just a means to an end.

[@amitavadas2628]

The smile moment was pure Louis CK. Subscribed.

[@OblivionIce]

Can you add a bass shelves at 125 +6 to +10 or is that going to cause too much distortion?

[@Joullele9]

I have no idea what you mean by "a driver mode" when you talk about it at around 6:20

[@BruceCross]

I think he means the slight bass boost is the natural frequency response of the driver.

[@dentboxhero1717]

Way more informative than most of the other reviews that just mainly, for the most part, stroke the Arya Organic's appendages to get viewer's pants wet.

[@ilyanikulin6543]

I wonder why other reviews would perceive the Organic as having noticeably wider soundstage? Maybe more highs for more spacial queues?

[@burnttoast4424]

I was about to get the Atrium's but then I saw this video. Which has the better soundstage the Arya or Atrium?

[@josealessandri3108]

Could you share your EQ profile for this headphone?

[@gddfhjiufcv]

what EQ settings did you settle on?

[@TheBillclark2]

How does the QC seem on this? Any comparison to Meze 109 Pro?

[@DarkFire515]

While I don't own the 109 Pro I demod a pair for several hours. I also demo'd an Arya Organic and then bought a pair. There were no issues with either pair of Arya Organics that I tried or bought. That being said, the build quality of the 109 is a small step ahead. No QC issues with the Arya but for build quality if the 109 is 100% then I'd say the Arya is probably 85 - 90%.

[@teqai]

If you can stretch your budget to the Organic, it is the superior headphone in terms of sound quality.

[@PantsaBear]

The 109 Pro is like... the most comfortable headphone ever made lmao. But arya stealth and the organic still pretty darn comfy, they're just not the plateau of comfort like Meze has with the 109

[@jafizzle95]

I am ~SO~ glad that I bought the Arya Organic before there were any reviews. Definitely risky, but man did I make the right call. Why? Well, if I saw this review first I would not have bought the Organic. (Not a dig at Andrew btw, great review.) I had the Arya Stealth and returned it because the treble was literally hurting me. Having extensive listening time with the Arya Organic, it has been utterly baffling hearing reviewers say that these are very bright headphones. Compared to the Stealth, in my opinion, the treble on the Organic sounds almost flawlessly balanced with everything else. For reference, both of my main amps are THX based so they aren't smoothing anything out in the treble region, so I am getting the full force of the Organic's treble here. I definitely didn't expect these to end up being the best headphone I've owned for metal, but here we are. Nothing even comes close in my experience. Double kick drums punch hard and fast in these, even tracks from Infant Annihilator (content warning for anyone that looks them up, but just know it's satire/parody/whatever) with 300+ bpm kick drum parts. Every hit is felt. In most other headphones and IEMs I've tried the 300+ bpm kick drum is almost entirely lost with the only remnant being a click from the higher frequencies of the kick drum. Nothing sounds muddy, harsh, sibilant, or unpleasant. The speed and separation of the Organic presents everything in it's own layer of sound. Bass is thick, full-bodied, fast and detailed, distorted guitars are meaty yet detailed, snares crack authoritatively, cymbals are crystal clear without overstepping. I'm in heaven. I want for nothing more. ( points of reference: - IE600 I find way too bright for metal - LCD-X treble was painful even at reasonable listening volumes with metal (and besides had no other redeeming qualities that I could find, honestly one of the most disappointing headphones I've owned but maybe this isn't the time or place for my rant about that headphone - feel free to discredit my opinions based on my feelings about the LCD-X, I know these are beloved headphones in the community) ) edit: The Tangle Tee looks sick, probably going to snag one.

[@DarkFire515]

Agree 100%. I've been a metalhead for the past 40 years. I instantly bought a pair of Arya Organics last week after auditioning them. The Orgaincs paired with my Fiio K9 Pro ESS amp sound phenomenally good for metal.

[@TheJonazas]

I don't know if I can believe what you say or if your ears are just way different cause you said the lcd x has harsh treble. That does not make any sense. I have the LCD X and Arya v3 and the audezes are my go to if I want to listen to extremely loud music since the treble is so nice and relaxed. I use a tube amp with very warm tubes with my aryas and they sound really great, but I wouldnt use them with a thx amp I think.

[@leohanley5935]

Would you say the organics get more intimate than the stealth?

[@DarkFire515]

@@leohanley5935 If and when the music calls for it, absolutely yes. They're also capable of delivering the usual nice wide sound stage of previous Arya variants. Having a headphone that can do both is very rare - one of the reasons why I personally like them so much.

[@jeremykiel6709]

That smile earned you a sub :)

[@aceofspades6667]

Nice this looks solid

[@iykeguy]

Finally someone who actually isn’t just gushing over this like it’s the best thing since slice bread. I heard this version and I just couldn’t deal with that sibilance….the fact some reviewers just straight up mislead people *cough cough* J..h is alarming. Bright does not equal detail and that treble push isn’t always desirable. I prefer the LCD X 2021 all day everyday and twice on Sunday over this. I listen to a lot of pop, classical music, soul and even Jazz for reference.

[@SohcSTi]

Just because someone loves these headphones doesn't mean they are distrustful. This hobby is subjective and not absolute.

[@Joelsfilmer]

@@SohcSTi What separates a reviewer from a rando just saying what they think is the ability to see the product from more points of view that their own personal one. If a reviewer praises the treble of this headphone without also making it known that it might be too much for a lot of listeners, they haven't made a good review. If they knew but didn't say it, they are distrustful to their audience. If they just aren't well informed enough to know it in the first place, it's distrustful to call their text or video a review.

[@SohcSTi]

@@Joelsfilmer Maybe that's the problem. You put "reviewers" on a pedestal. You should consider multiple sources before purchasing. Everyone hears things differently.

[@Joelsfilmer]

​@@SohcSTi Of course one should always compare and contrast opinions, but are you seriously saying we shouldn't expect reviewers to be competent? And it's the fault of the viewer and consumer for not knowing things that many mainstream "reviewers" don't know or don't bother explaining? Making an effort to analyse and judge subjective and objective information from more than one point of view is tier 1 knowledge for anyone calling themselves a reviewer. If they don't do that, then it needs to be super obvious that their opinions come from their own subjective preferences, and nothing else. This isn't rocket science. I honestly find your viewpoint depressing. We can and should expect a modicum of effort from influential people who call themselves reviewers.

[@Ca11mero]

Thanks =) very interesting!

[@reiness]

This doesn't sound bright to me at all, Yeah I prefer brighter headphones, but I tried my ear shattering treble tracks (think electro pop/jpop etc), and this doesn't come nearly as bright as you described. Well brightness tolearance varies, give it a try instead if you're interested in this headphone. At the same time I tried the new ananda nano and I did find it a bit too bright, but the arya organic is just right.

[@RustyNotesTV]

How does the Ananda Nano stack against these??

[@valleyguy633]

I have to remain diligent in watching review videos and reading comments just in case I decide I need a set of headphones other than my Sundaras. I can actually keep the different models straight at least, and I don't want to fall too far out of the loop. I'm a bit concerned that the Sundara's would just be retired if I were to buy another set, and I don't think they deserve that at this point. Doesn't cost anything to subscribe so I did as per your so eloquently stated request. And your demeanor is just fine, no need to change that.

[@Comhead1234]

Hi, I'm wondering if you have still held on to your Sundaras. I want to say that I have had a great experience with HiFiMAN, where I sent in my used Sundaras to upgrade to the Arya Stealths for $200 off. I know I have effectively retired my Sundaras, but its offering for this trade-up will never be forgotten.

[@valleyguy633]

​@Comhead1234 Wow, I just happened to be awake and got this. Thanks for your interest as a fellow headphone enthusiast. What happened was, I watched these guys 182 headphone shootout, not all but just some models I thought I might be interested in. One thing I always thought could be improved upon with the Sundaras was punch and slam. Not all music has it, but where it does I like it to hit hard. These guys have always said Focal was the benchmark for that. So, I watched their section on Focal, all the while fighting to keep an open mind of dynamic driver vs planar, hifiman vs Focal, completely different designs etc. Through the reviews of different models the Elex reviews stuck out to me. Two guys had it an "easy" A tier, and one guy B tier, but could also see it at A. One guy said he preferred them to Utopia their top of the line. So, I went on headphones .com, and they had them on sale, and also open box which put them at about half price as I recall. Had heard good things about buying open box, so I pulled the trigger. When the package arrived everything was pristine. No indication at all that the box had ever been opened, and the headphones themselves were clean as a whistle. The sound itself is fantastic. They check all the boxes for me, whatever the genre. I'll always analyze the music as it's playing, but I really don't analyze the headphones anymore, they perform that well. I don't even think about upgrading anymore. Like all my equipment they did take some time to break in, but not much time at all. The build quality is bulletproof with solid protection of the driver inside and outside.I haven't used my Sundaras in months, but will keep them as a backup. Curious to hear how you like your Arya's. Which version did you get? I bet they sound great. Ps. I see you got the stealth, which is different from organics, right?

[@mopnem]

Good level headed review..SUPER rare among the audiophile KZbinrs. In don’t even watch audiophile KZbinrs anymore

[@Capitan_Cavernicola_1]

Great sounding headphones! I tried them recently. I just wish they would have used better materials. The color schemes is fine but I agree that the wood veneer looks fake. Is it plastic? Also, the headband and the metal frame are comfortable but they looks cheap again. Also, the cable looks quite basic - cheap plastic.

[@EricDoggett]

I wish there was a place to rent headphones such as these, even if for a day or two, to understand them better!

[@gimeli2]

Just buy a pair and return it after a few days.

[@Crisis16J]

Went to my local headphone shop. Have to say Organic is a very nice product, that being said I tried the stealth and it stealthily stole my heart. Such cool headphones either way.

[@nothingelse1520]

I haven't been listening to my Arya V2 much, I was using them to test out my new Schiit Midgard and the left driver died. Hifiman gave me a good deal on an Organic, hopefully be here next week. The HD800 (no mods) has been my daily driver since I got one used in March.

[@RealKyurem]

Did you try them out?

[@nothingelse1520]

@@RealKyurem Yes, they are sitting right here. Sound great. My favorite non-estat.

[@RealKyurem]

​@nothingelse1520 Nice, i got the HE1000 Stealth instead and I love them

[@MartinBaltuhin]

Another great review. So if I am looking for something similar but not bright, are ZMFs a good alternative? Soundstage is a must

[@nortonfamily6711]

ZMFs, even the closed backs, do stage well. The problem is the frequency response is really bizarre and unpalatable to some. I own the zmf verite closed, and there's a big dip in the lower treble, followed by a peak. So somehow they're simultaneously very warm, and very airy (it's not simple to EQ either). The verite isn't similar at all to the Arya; i consider them to be complementary. Also, while their resolution and separation is really impressive for a closed back, the Arya still does it better. So honestly, if you just want something similar to an Arya but not bright, get an Arya and EQ it. As Andrew said, EQing the Arya is really easy, and I can actually give you a preset if you want.

[@MartinBaltuhin]

@@nortonfamily6711 yeah but i also keep hearing about Arya and other planars that they favor more classical music genres. I would like some kick with my trance music. I also listen to classical, but not a factor at the moment. They also describe them as bright. As current k712 cans, that i love, stage like crazy, i really dig into that sound. I dont think i can handle closed back. i listen to many hours daily and cloed backs seem to hurt my years in some time, even more if speaker is brighter. I was a big fan (prob still am) of VO as an overall described by reviewers. I have not heard it yet, any ZMFs for that matter, so no point of refference outside youtube. I would really like something lively and stagy, realistic sounding, no tints. And a bit of kick when needed, what Anrew said Arya lacks. There is an option for me to hear some of them soon i hope, but i am prepared to pull the trigger when i decide im hyped enough :D So TLDR, i am torn between HekV2 or Stealth and Arya as almost all that i want but with major drawbacks, or zmf's VO or Atrium, and when i sell my kidney, maybe caldera, who knows D

[@Hansimullerboy]

Youc could alsways EQ these, if you find them too bright1

[@MartinBaltuhin]

@@Hansimullerboy i try to avoid EQ-ing. Everything i've EQed, even with Andrew or Crinacle's profiles, it sounds "more harman" but loses all charm that the headphone offers. Maybe its just bad experience but hwo knows. Prefer to get closest to my taste.

[@nortonfamily6711]

@@MartinBaltuhin applying one or two filters to the Arya's treble isn't going to make it lose its charm, trust me.

[@teqai]

What about the tactility? The original Arya doesn't slam, but you can feel the music on your skin very slightly. Does the Arya Organic provide more tactile feedback?

[@nortonfamily6711]

Even the stealth is noticably more dynamic than the v2, and everything else ive heard about the organic is that, at minimum, it's at least as good as the stealth. I've owned the v2, currently own the stealth, and am getting the Organic tomorrow, so I can let you know how they all compare.

[@teqai]

@@nortonfamily6711 Congrats on the purchase, hope you enjoy it. Please do let me know. That's like the only thing I'm missing from the Arya.

[@NRobbi42]

From other reviews that I've heard, there's noticeably more "slam" in these.

[@nortonfamily6711]

@@teqai So, let me preface this by giving you a baseline for my impressions about the Arya Stealth vs the v2. Essentially, I find the resolution, instrument separation, dynamics, and bass to be dramatically improved. However, there's a trade-off, where soundstage is reduced (I'd describe it as sounding more correct, and the sound is overall a lot less diffuse than the v2.) That said, the stealth still has incredible depth and layering in its soundstage. There's another camp of people who think the Arya stealth sounds very similar to the V2. I am not one of them. Now, comparing the Arya Organic to the stealth, surprisingly I find them very similar, exactly as Andrew said. Dynamics/slam is pretty much identical to the stealth, (although it might be slightly weaker, actually). I wasn't expecting this, considering that plenty of people said the dynamics are improved compared to even the Stealth. However, the difference between my opinion and that opinion makes sense, if those people found the stealth to be similar to the V2. But, your question is if the Organic slams harder than the V2, and that's a very clear yes. Other than that, the main difference between the Organic and Stealth is the tuning: it has more upper treble and less midbass. For some genres, like atmospheric electronic music, I actually like this a lot. It sounds airier and lighter. That said, the treble gives me cancer on other songs with poor treble mastering, in a way that the stealth does not. Staging-wise, I genuinely can't tell if there's a difference between the stealth and the organic. That's another area i disagree with some other people's impression on. Honestly, I'll probably give it a week, but considering the differences between the Organic and stealth are slight, and not strictly in a good way, I'm probably going to return the Organic and try the HE1K Stealth.

[@teqai]

@@nortonfamily6711 Thank you for your impressions. I've been cought up in the hype with the Meze 109s, so it's been quite helpful. Looks like if I want good bass from planars I'll have to save up quite a bit more money and go to the Diana Phi TC or sth.

[@JohnSmith-oe4bw]

I like the Arya Stealth for Metal (Heavy/Power/Symphonic), and Electronic (Synthwave/Trance). What would be an improvement in punch and dynamics at this price range?

[@Rayman30]

LCD-X for metal.

[@ROCKSTAR3291]

Focal Clear

[@Rayman30]

@@ROCKSTAR3291 I own both, they’re both great, but the bass on the LCD-X are next level.

[@ROCKSTAR3291]

@@Rayman30 the open back or closed version ?

[@ixoye56]

Focal Clear MG

[@Fordtruck4sale]

Would going from some 6XX's to something like this with a balanced Schiit stack be enough of a jump to give you a wow moment when you put them on. Or will it be just like "ah yeah that's a bit better". lol

[@epicskylegend7501]

That’s a good question. I honestly think it depends a lot on the listener and how sensitive you are to differences in audio reproduction. I upgraded from the Sundara to the He1000 stealth and I’ll be honest at first I wasn’t impressed. To be clear the He1000s sounded good, but at the time I thought “it doesn’t sound all that much better than my Sundaras.” I then decided to give it a couple of weeks and it started to grow on me more and more especially in instrument heavy tracks. I then went back to my Sundaras after a couple of weeks and literally said to myself “Ah, I get it now.” Having used the Sundaras for over 2 years I got used to the sound signature and thought they were an amazing headphone and while they still are for the price, there’s a clear difference between something at that range vs something like a He1000. The way the music is presented in totally different on the two in my experience. The He1000 can do everything the Sundaras can but better. The sound is much more full and engaging, there’s a greater sense of depth and detail. The bass is more prominent and extends better. There’s also more sub bass which makes the experience a lot more satisfying. The instruments that are played in the background sound a lot more natural and less veiled, etc. I payed 4x more for the He1000 than the Sundara and while they don’t sound 4x better, they sound enough better to me that the difference in price was worth it. However, your mileage may vary. You might find that you don’t notice as much of a difference coming from something like the 6xx or you might find that you notice an even bigger difference.

[@zackblack2048]

I did this with a ifi zen stack v1 and was pretty impressed, however it is my first headphone in this price range or even close. Going back and forth between the 6xx and the organic was quite dramatic, much more detail within every song I played things sounded a little less in my face and laid back with the highs reaching up close to a point that would be too much but never quite hopping into too much for me personally. Using the xbass feature on the zen dac really made the low end sing as it does, and I also want to point out that the zen stack is generally warmer so it may have tamed the highs slightly. I think this would give you a wow moment compared to the 6xx for sure after listening for a few hours then swapping back to the 6xx.

[@CaptnKrksNippls]

I mean just from a staging perspective it will blow you away compared to a 6XX. But that also relies on it being a trait you value. Some people maybe don't index for detail as hard as others and so that jump might not matter but things like soundstage size and seperation will be noticable to most people I think.

[@ROCKSTAR3291]

Well the 6XX sound completely different so it wouldn’t be an upgrade (in details and staging, sure), more like moving to something new. Get ZMF if you want to upgrade.

[@NRobbi42]

On a Schiit stack? The improvement should be Night and Day, though the Organics sound quite different, so it may or may not be to your taste.

[@asotoposada]

Nice review! I am wondering whether to buy the Arya Organic or the HE1k V2 Stealth or HE1kSE, any advice?

[@SupplyNinja]

They scale in quality as the price goes. Arya (all of them) are not as resolving as the HE1000 Stealth. And the gap between the Stealth and the SE is even larger than the one between the Stealth and Arya. I’ve had all three. Returned all but the SE. Stealth has the absolute most pleasing and incredible tuning of the three. But not even close to as much clarity as the SE. And the SE takes EQ better than any other headphone I’ve ever used. I settled SE to match the tuning of the Stealth and it became a headphone with zero compromises. It’s own clarity and the best tuning imaginable.

[@asotoposada]

@@SupplyNinja Thanks! I ordered the SE at the end :)

[@emanueleasr2859]

which type of music is for?

[@asotoposada]

@@emanueleasr2859mostly classical, but eventually also some techno

[@reflection1119]

There.... they've reviewed it... Arya happy now?.. Arya??!

[@rajithfernando6200]

Andrew, are you okay? 😄 does the euphoria have anything to do with the headphones? 😄

[@dandical]

Just because this wasn’t to this reviewers tastes doesn’t mean all other reviewers are shills. I listened to them both and I prefer them much more over the stealths as well.

[@bozoc2572]

Where are the treble peaks located? They seem to be around 9k and 15k

[@ResolveReviews]

6.6khz and 13khz roughly. The one around 9khz is close to canal entrance resonance and might not actually be a peak.

[@lain2236ad]

All I want is a genuine untouched he500 or he6 rerelease/ reproduction

[@asan1050]

ThanksMuch! yes

[@holdincourt]

Genuine smile incoming!

[@bilalrasool1]

Thanks for giving a more critical review, with how some others described them, it sounded like the Arya Stealth are basically useless and the Organic are so much better. This makes me feel better for having bought the Arya Stealth before the recent price drop.

[@AlwaysLoudAA]

Stealth is $750 on amazon right now, organic is $1300. For $500, and minor cosmetic and tuning differences, i'll go for the stealth. Should be a huge upgrade over my 6XX.

[@martinconlon2673]

I have just done the same 😁 I have had my 6XX for six years and wanted to upgrade. I wanted to try something different, as i have had Sennheiser pretty much all my headphone listening life. Just ordered the Arya Stealth yesterday in a Spring deal in the UK for £599. Just over half the price of the organic, which makes it a very easy choice. can't wait for them to arrive 😁

[@aquilescastro1794]

@@martinconlon2673how is the stealth then?

[@KAL-589]

I think I'll stick with my cable modded T1s. Still the goat.

[@billviolette5274]

What is a driver mode?

[@thomasronnow9396]

A driver resonanse frequency, a frequency that is naturally boosted due to the drivers construction and specification (sensitivity, impedance etc)

[@joshuaarrebola3430]

I’m already subscribed, I can’t subscribe more to make you smile… 😢

[@ismacid]

Just bought this Arya Organic, I like it but not loving it, it's sibillant. Have you any recommendations not as bright as this ones? I usually listen to rock

[@ixoye56]

Use PEQ to your liking, and it's free.

[@c34webb]

Noting touches the organic outside of the HEK se and Susvara. Of course it’s all very subjective but with general consensus this is THE Arya to have and you can skip the rest of the 1000 series till the se.

[@mehmetgurdal]

Ok? Bass shelf+brighter 6khz (and above) Hmmm? I wonder how these would work on gaming?