The Headphone that does it ALL

[@en510]

Note that the full saying is "a jack of all trades is a master of none, but is often times better than a master of one" and it seems really fitting here too

[@fatdoi003]

i think this is a good entry HP into highend headfi..... find out what you like or lacking then search for another HP that fills in the gap

[@ACE112ACE112]

Bruce Lee be like press X to doubt

[@Wylie288]

And a master of one gets me what? Audio thats super fucked? Ill take balanced everything or master of one thing. Thats always a superior product. Every products short comings drag it down. Mastering one thing is redundant when it can only be as rated as high as its worst quality.

[@zwryy7622]

@@ACE112ACE112 Bruce Lee was an actor

[@thetndixie]

I've always enjoyed saying Jack of all trades and master of some lol

[@davidking77]

Build and Comfort - 1:38 Subjective Sound - 3:03 Objective sound - 5:25 Amplification - 7:57 Final Gushing - 8:38

[@cyberiscool4198]

Thx man

[@pzmaven]

Don’t forget the creepy sentient Frequency Response head 5:28

[@_Azur]

Jack of all trades, master of none but better than a master of one Don't forget the last most important part

[@samuelviden7412]

I’ve had my Arya Stealth for two months now, and I agree with everything you say. I’ve thrown every genre I can at them, including games and movies with Dolby Atmos, and they make everything sound absolutely amazing.

[@CrackaSlapYa]

What I need to know is Arya Stealth comparable or better than HD 800s in gaming? Specifically footsteps and gunfire placement.

[@freddycely9580]

@@CrackaSlapYa not even close. The 800S are the God of gaming headphones

[@CrackaSlapYa]

@@freddycely9580 yeah but they are pretty shit for EDM and rap. Damn nice for opera, classical, and gaming but alas i only fux with one of those 3.

[@freddycely9580]

@@CrackaSlapYa that's true, most reviewers says that the Aryas soundstage is almost as good or close to the 800S but I always wonder if this people got deaf but hearing so many headphones. The 800S have higher detail and the soundstage is so far superior not even a competition.

[@varunnarain50]

@@CrackaSlapYa I've been loving both rap and EDM through my Arya Stealths. I think its a coupling issue where the headphone isn't applying as much clamp force on your head as it can to get an ideal seal. When its properly seated on my head with a firm and tight clamp, everything becomes insanely detailed, spaced out and positionally accurate with a sense of physicality I don't get from most other headphones. The bass especially carries an immense weight to it, to my ears anyway.

[@josephchamberlain3681]

Your video production is crazy good.

[@SubjectE57]

I love my Arya stealth editions, I've been upgrading steadily for the past 5 years but they were the first time I didn't feel I was missing out on anything. It's nice to see other people feel the same way.

[@OscGar11]

have you tried the he1000 v2?

[@CrackaSlapYa]

@@OscGar11 im trying to decide between the two right now.

[@OscGar11]

@@CrackaSlapYa I sent in my sundara's to hifiman and they offered me a discount on the HE1000se. I didn't get to audition the 1000v2s or the arya stealths tho. Just jumped straight past them to the 1000se. I'm happy with them.

[@CrackaSlapYa]

@@OscGar11 i bet! enjoy. What kind of discount did they give u?

[@OscGar11]

@@CrackaSlapYa the value of the sundaras

[@ClintAvila]

Really happy with my Arya Stealth. I bought after you said that you loved them. A nice addition to my collection and my first planar. Been using the K9 Pro AKM to drive them (also bought after your recommendation). Very nice pairing. Would love to see you review the HE1000se and hear your thoughts on the differences and elevation in sound quality for the price jump. 🤔 Thanks for the great review. Definitely enjoy your reviews and also how succinct you are. It's nice not having to set aside a half hour or more to get the 411 on the latest gear. 🙂

[@black_n5492]

I also got the K9 AKM and love it with my Focal Elex. How do you still find this combo 9 months later? I'm planning on getting the Arya stealth

[@ClintAvila]

@@black_n5492 The K9 AKM with the Arya Stealth is a great match. In fact all my headphones sound fantastic. I also have Sennheiser HD800S, 660S, 560S, and 6XX. For it's price point it's achieving and competing strongly against amps that cost much more. I also have a Burson Conductor GT that is more than triple the cost. Yes it does sound better than the K9 but it's pretty amazing how good the K9 sounds next to it. I still highly recommend the K9 Pro AKM to anyone looking for the next level from entry level amps. I've never heard the ESS version but I've read the difference is not night and day with most saying AKM is more musical and the ESS is more analytical.

[@falcogol3451]

great 👍. your reviews are no nonsense. free of lengthy meaninless blandering and always very honest. thank you

[@danielwu7238]

Cant wait for your Arya Organic review

[@timbrehead9466]

Perhaps the elephant in the room is that it’s now marked down to $650 when it was released at $1600. Your review of the Atrium was pretty glowing too!

[@kona328WH]

500 quid now on amazon UK

[@everettedl]

The sound the grill made when you flicked it brought me joy

[@robertpomfret561]

I have the stealth and its performance is really simply amazing. I just love it so much.

[@hushpuppykl]

I love my Arya Stealth. They are truly well balanced as you say. A jack of all trades ...

[@quincyfreeman2901]

Oof. That’s a glowing review. I’ve been thinking I need to get my hands on one since they came out and that continues to be the message as more people do. Great review as always. Cheers!

[@juliangst]

Recently got the aeon noire and love them. Next headphones will probably be the Arya stealth for more openness. After that the only real upgrade would be DCA stealth and susvara but I’m happy for now :D

[@DMS3TV]

Noire and Arya stealth is a pretty killer endgame combo.

[@krucacing]

yeah just went to canjam, tried c flow 1.1, stealth, lcd xc . noire is super good value.xc too heavy for marginal technicalities improvement but not in tuning, c flow is better but not portable, stealth is the openest feeling closed back i ever tried it feels weird.

[@juliangst]

@@krucacing they are in fact so good that I might get rid of my DT1990 because I just don’t use them anymore. Both have about equal sized sound stage, the Aeon are more resolving and have better bass and most other technicalities are also better

[@imKhokie]

I tried the arya stealth at the same time I was trying hd800S and focal clear as well for about 2 months. I came to the same conclusion that the arya were pretty solid for basically every genre. The reason I ended up returning them and keeping the clear / hd800s because for every single genre my preferred headphone was either the hd800s or the clear. I tried them in 1 week rotations, and I never found myself missing the arya when I was using either of the other two. Even with the Arya being more well rounded, if I had to keep just one headphone I'd go with the hd800s on a nice tube amp. The idea of a perfectly well rounded headphone always sounds good to me in theory, but in practice I usually don't end up reaching for the all rounder when I'm in the mood to listen to music.

[@Leo-yn5fx]

What if you don't have the clear or the hd800s? Arya stealth still good?

[@cd-rom.]

What genre bud

[@imKhokie]

@@Leo-yn5fx Absolutely, the arya stealth are very good

[@melbournaut]

Was hesitant to watch a review straight after purchasing these things but that didn't hurt at all

[@amplifyaudioreviews]

Great review. Straight talk about a really good headphone.

[@millenwagon]

This is how I feel about the edition xs. It literally ticks every box for me. The build could be better but it’s still fine, plus they’re comfy and light. They sound phenomenal too. Bang for buck I don’t think it can be beaten

[@nickapalooza861]

I think the Ananda Stealth bests it but I do think hifiman rules the 300-700 range

[@millenwagon]

@@nickapalooza861 they’re considerably more expensive for me so I’d rather have the xs and save a fair few quid

[@nickapalooza861]

@@millenwagon understandable, though right now in the US they are only 50 more than the XS. Don't know about other places

[@millenwagon]

@@nickapalooza861 wow! £200/$250 more in the uk, crazy how the prices vary!

[@kona328WH]

​@@millenwagon500 quid now in the UK for v3

[@dasninjastix]

I've only had them for a week, so still in that Honeymoon phase but they're going to make me sell off most of what I've collected. The only fault I can see in Arya Stealth is the fit if you have a small head. It's the most well balanced headphone I've heard. It plays nice with every genre I've tried and doesn't seem to overemphasize poorer recordings. I wanted to try and grab the new ZMF Atrium but after doing my research it seemed like the Arya v3 would just fit my tastes better and hot damn, it seems like I finally hit a bullseye for an open back.

[@dasninjastix]

@@humm6155 ignoring entry level Hi-Fi stuff I own, my main line up is a t60rp Argon, a Campfire Cascade, a Focal Radiance, a ZMF Eikon, an Arya Stealth, and a Meze Empyrean.

[@magnh]

You did a quit snippet on the Edition XS at the beginning of the video, but are there any plans for a full review of it in the near future? Many reviewers have been recommending it and would love to hear your opinion on it as well

[@dannybos7024]

Hé already said he’d do a review on them

[@dreamstormPL]

I own XS for about a month. I would be happy to see this review too :) I don't really understand theese comfort complains. For me there are very comfortable. At first I thought pads are too stiff but actually they are fine. I am thinking about new pads some day but I am afraid they will harm the sound.

[@dannybos7024]

@@dreamstormPL You have to keep in mind that comfort is very subjective and DMS is a huge fan of suspension straps for a headband.

[@guystpierrecomposer]

The XS sounds great and are very confortable, the only problem I have is when you move they are a bit loose. But the reverse side is they have almost no clamping force witch is very comfortable for me when I am still. The Arya sound probably better, but how much... 5% ? You can buy the first version of focal clear AND the XS for the same money you'll spend on the Arya... or like me, XS + Mojo 2, a killer match with fantastic eq for adjusting those recording of the 70s that lack bass or lower the treble on very bright pop recording. Very handy for famous classical recording that don't sound so well either...

[@stephanrudolph]

I 100% agree with your review DMS. I love my Arya Stealth. Good recorded audio sounds amazing with them, often larger than life. Comfort is insanely good. For poor recordings I switch back to my HD660s, which are great in hiding flaws compared to the Arya ...

[@invisiblekid99]

I have a pair of 660’s too and the Stealth msg will be delivered in two day. Cannot wait. I really like the 660’s but the clamp force is just too much for me and I usually use my Audio Quest NightOwls as they are incredibly comfortable. But they need good quality music also. Was hoping I could sell the 660’s to help the sting of £1200 but I may need to keep them if the Aryas need good recordings too. Besides a collection of 4 completely different headphones has its appeal.

[@d00d48]

Just noticed this video today. I got the Arya Stealths a couple weeks ago after receiving an email sale notification and feel validated by DMS's review. :D My immediate reaction upon putting them on, as I bought them based solely based on reputation and strength of reviews for the previous iterations, was that they're absolutely worth the money. For context, I listen to a lot of EDM (all sorts), various forms of rock (prog, alt, classic), and some folk and classical. Other headphones I own include the Focal Elex, Sony MDR-Z7M2, Sony MDR-CD1700, HIFIman Sundara, Sennheiser HD560S, HD58x, three iterations of the Fostex TR50p Mk3 (stock, Dekoni Blue, and Modhouse balanced), Meze 99 Noirs, and a few others, all distributed throughout the house and office and home office and connected to various amps. And as a matter of preference, I tend to prefer fun to analytical headphones as I listen to enjoy rather than to create, produce, or review music. FWIW, the only headphones I've ever owned that I really disliked and sold are the Beyerdynamic DT-990 Pros (80 Ohm version) - the pronounced V-shaped response just irritated me to no end. I didn't even want to keep them as any sort of reference. (EDIT - July 5, 2022 - Got some DT990 600 ohm cans just over a week ago and I find I like them quite a lot more than the 80 ohm version. Impressions thus far: the bass isn't flabby nor the highs ice-pick bright - feels much more balanced than the 80 ohm version; wish I still had the 80 ohm cans for a direct comparison, but I am pretty confident in this read given how much I disliked the 80 ohm version) Anyway, the Arya's really impressed me right out of the box, and the last time I was so enthused with a set of transducers was when I got my Moondrop Blessing 2:Dusk IEMs last year. As the Arya has replaced my Sundaras at my primary listening location, the most obvious difference & improvement is the bass extension and the wider soundstage. Is the Arya worth 3 or 4 x the cost of the Sundara? That's a matter of personal preference, but for me the answer is a definite yes.

[@Leo-yn5fx]

this is the headphone to compliment my lcd x 2021 revision and the dt 1990 pros.

[@MFHRaptor]

DMS joins Joshua Valour in putting Arya in a lofty pedestal. Those two have convinced me that this should be my 1st foray into the high-end..

[@TheJediJoker]

Except that Josh liked the V2 and really doesn't like the Stealth (V3).

[@yogatriathlete]

Jack of all trades, master of none... Isn't that exactly what you said about the Focal Clear?

[@TheJonazas]

Well great to know I did a good purchase :3 I also really really like it. I owned the LCD-X before the Arya stealth and thought it was zero chance i'd ever leave my LCD-X, but look at me now. Haven't gone back to my LCD-X in many months now. Arya stealth is just too damn good.

[@tcc5750]

DMS if you like the HD6XX vocal intimacy, give the HE1000V2 a try, when I compared to Susvara and Arya V3 Stealth, I ended preferring the HE1000V2 as an alternative to both. I still own my Susvara though, got them used for a damn good price.

[@aqwandrew6330]

how about susvara vs he1000v2? since both are intimate and good for jpop vokal

[@theodorezurla496]

He1000v2 are god tier 🔥🚀❤️‍🔥

[@endlessdrive8421]

Never thought I'd see you recommend an Arya this much considering your view of the older revisions haha. I'm still using my Arya v2 which shares head time with my HD800S, but if I ever need to replace me Arya v2, I'd consider giving the Arya Stealth a chance~

[@markos.5539]

5:26 that jumpscare got me really good

[@bobsykes]

I know you work for Abyss, so perhaps you’re reluctant to say, but how do these stack up against the new Diana TC, which other reviewers have named the best headphone, ever?

[@muskelversagen]

when i heared correctly he does not work for them anymore, but yeah a comparison would be interesting

[@bluemonstrosity259]

Realistically, these are better in every single way except booming bass

[@diana73654]

I own Arya V2, Arya Stealth and HE1000SE . For me , the magic headphone you are talking about, is HE1000SE, which sounds, for me, like a Stealth on steroids . Though Arya Stealth is an amazing headphone .

[@Ezees23]

The SE may be my next HP after I decide to "upgrade" from the Stealth.

[@diana73654]

@@Ezees23 for me, from all headphones i have listened until now, H1kSE is the only high tier headphone that trully deserves the price . And they are better than any other headphone at their price, and for me, even above. I am talking about headphones alone, with a decent amplification. With super-ultra very expensive amplification , Susvara MIGHT take the cake ... For some people it doesn't , even like this. Also, for the fact that it can sound so amazing even from a 150 bucks portable dac/amp, makes it the best choice by far . But, as DMS is always saying, it is my opinion. You need to listen to them first .

[@Ezees23]

@@diana73654 Sounds good to me. How's the stage compared to the Arya v2's and Stealths???

[@diana73654]

@@Ezees23 bigger, more depth , take stealth version and increase all the good things . Stealth and SE are amazing for the money, each one.

[@Ezees23]

@@diana73654 I'm intrigued. I may try to trade in my Aryas after a while.

[@cdotwu]

Just got the Edition XS and am loving the sound. Would love to hear how it compares to the Arya Stealth..

[@jmcc2736]

I just ordered the edition XS and looking forward to it. I had a choice in getting these headphones, and decided to rather get the following for the same price. Hifiman Edition XS Bluesound Node (streamer for my speakers) Moondrop Variations IEMs

[@guystpierrecomposer]

I got the XS and the mojo 2 for less then the Arya :) very good match in my opinion. I'll be curious to see how DMS mesure the difference between XS and Arya... 5%?

[@JL3001]

It's a fantastic headphone, one which works really well in every scenario--music, movies, gaming. It's the perfect complement to my Verite Closed, which I prefer for pure music listening, but the Arya is the go-to for other tasks.

[@Hari-kx2er]

Edition XS is very comfortable personally for me, much more than Sundara. Build quality is typical Hifiman, lightweight not rugged and very much similar to that of Hifiman Ananda (except headband difference). For an open back headphone tied to a desk, it has good build quality.

[@pinusmasterful]

Can agree, most comfortable headphone I owned, while Deva with same headband but other pads wasnt so Nice.

[@soulfulfool]

good build quality? hahaha maybe if they cost 100$

[@Hari-kx2er]

@@soulfulfool I am speaking from experience. I have used a Hifiman Sundara for an year without any issues. Then sold it for a good price to buy the XS However don't let me stop you from your hate campaign.....

[@MyFatherLoves]

Such a sick room. Well done, sir.

[@theodorezurla496]

Great review! LcdX 2021 review please 🙏

[@Armbrust210]

2:06 felt a bit weird to watch the b-roll footage of you adjusting the headband with the Sound of you doing the same during a-roll but not matching what was on screen

[@kendil22]

I think this will be my next headphone. It was toss up between these and the Sennheiser 800s, but not sure how I'd like the treble on those.

[@Skeeb23]

Starting to see a shared taste in preference. I've had the Arya Stealth since Josh V reviewed them. I just picked up a Radiance because I wanted a high end Focal sound closed back. It's hard to go from the Arya to the Radiance but such a big difference anyway. I'm loving both and couldn't agree more on the Arya. I'm powering mine with a Jotunheim2 and it pairs very well!

[@jimmiefu8998]

Hey I'm planning to get a similar collection as yours. I have a pair of focal celestee and I'm thinking to get a pair of arya stealth with a schiit dac/amp stack. Do you think magnius + modius will serve the arya well?

[@Skeeb23]

@@jimmiefu8998 based off of what I've read but not heard, yes. I almost got the magnius but splurged a bit more for the Jotunheim 2. I think you would be perfectly happy with the Magnius. Modius for sure since I own that one!

[@jimmiefu8998]

@@Skeeb23 I might go with the Asgard amp just because it has a silver option 😂, but what's the difference between a modular amp (asgard, jotunheim) and a balanced amp (Magnus)? Btw thx for reply :D

[@dclove5150]

@@jimmiefu8998 The Asgard and Jotunheim have an expansion slot for an internal DAC or phono stage. If you want a DAC/amp in one unit you can get the Asgard or Jotunheim. They can also be used with an external DAC too. I have both the Magnius/Modius and a Bifrost/Jotunheim stack with Focal Clears and HD6xx. I have only had the Bifrost for a few days and still am trying to figure things out. My early impressions is there isn't a huge leap going with the more expensive combo. I don't think I have "golden ears" someone else might be able to better explain the differences in sound betwen the Magnius/Modius and the Bifrost/Jotunheim.

[@sergescardigno]

lovely vid - we need that updated master google sheet ranking!

[@DMS3TV]

I'm still working on a website to replace the google sheet, slowly but surely

[@sergescardigno]

@@DMS3TV amazing, appreciate all the work 🙌

[@DefiantAML]

The full quote ''Jack of all trades , master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one'' suits the Aryas better.

[@luigismilazzo]

Today I tried It in Istanbul. Thanks to Akalin Muzik for the opportunity. Boom. I felt in love

[@marcogr6299]

Buy Arya Stealth and you’ll get all rounder and save lot money for dac and amps, they can sound pretty well plugged in with nearly every device. Astonishing.

[@MultipleInterface]

Bought them, no regrets. They sound amazing sitting on my couch or bed plugged into the Hugo 2/2go combo…excellent recommendation, first Hifiman can I’m not returning lol

[@jasonweaver3629]

Had mine for a month and I agree.

[@luximperium4164]

this video is going to get me in trouble isnt it

[@naedtrax3766]

I wonder how these would go when it comes to immersion in single player games, I'd assume pretty darn good!

[@ciousli]

Unfortunately not many games have good audio. A good headphone can really expose bad microphones and low quality background music. E.g. when I game on my Stax, they add more distraction than immersion. With that much money I'd first invest in a good display. But after that, cans like the HD800s or the Arya Stealth can for sure make a big difference with how much soundstage they provide. Try them if you have the budget.

[@MFHRaptor]

You don't have to assume. You don't need to go this high to reach the top end of what gaming audio has to give you!

[@swiftshinobi8337]

As cious li said, good headphones reveal bad microphones or expose bad recording, but you really don't need to go this high up in headphones just for gaming, IMO something with a warm/v shaped sound signature with decent staging works best for games

[@michabuszynski7326]

Hey bro im playing Cod Modern Warfare on Topping MX5 And Arya Stelth. My skill went up like 15 % since i made purchase. Spotting footsteps is amazing.

[@geraldgambler7276]

@@michabuszynski7326 damn really? I'm jealous

[@Kamugin1]

My daily driver is a pair of headphones that flew under the radar of the most trusted (or popular) reviewers, the Cleer Next.

[@paddypat]

sentient headphone rig knows all

[@c4monkey]

880s 600ohm with good amp and eq is my best jack of all trades

[@ashu21]

I spy with my little eye, an Ace of Spades in the thumbnail. When is the Witch Queen review coming out?

[@ixoye56]

I'm saving up for them right now, Arya Stealth are the best headphones I ever heard.

[@jamescruz8678]

1:21 Doug Demuro? Is that you?

[@DMS3TV]

Hey we’re both Dougs ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@AnotherAnonymousMan]

*All hail our sentient frequency response head overlord!*

[@thetndixie]

Great video! 💞

[@elliotpahl672]

It's quite funny how DMS and Joshua Valour have the opposite opinion on the Arya vs the Arya stealth. :)

[@wiriadinata]

0:14....ughhhh, your mechanical keyboard sounds....sooo tempting !

[@pepin219]

The frequency responce head at 5:28 though

[@brothatwasepic]

Dear DMS can I ship you my HE1000SE if you still have the Arya Stealth to help us cross compare thoroughly

[@HungryEatNow]

It's really confusing seeing you guys all over the place...channels 😂

[@gdemirjian]

Hifiman online store often has this HP for open box sale price of, $1,299. Mine looks and sounds like brand new. A close second for me are my HE6se V2 and LCD X 2021. Cheers bro!

[@ballswan]

Just ordered this. Waiting eagerly like a kid with Christmas on the way.

[@gdemirjian]

@@ballswan Have fun, brother!

[@musicxxa6678]

Bruh Hifiman destroying the competition at every price point. I respect that. But QC, build, longevity issues are still pain in the ass and shouldn't be underestimated.

[@JTB--]

I've owned the Sundara, Ananda, Arya Stealth and currently own the HE1000se... and Never had a problem with any of them whatsoever

[@seriouslyEH]

Are you just parroting this untruth? If you really do have a problem HiFiMan's customer service is tops!!

[@musicxxa6678]

@@JTB-- The build overall isn't great. There are lots of minor annoyances like uneven pads, uneven tension on headband extension or cup yoke, wiggling connectors, bulged mounting rigs, squashed cabling inside the cups, dead drivers, dying drivers. One of the driver of my Ananda died just after 1 year out of nowhere. These problems shouldn't be understated in my opinion. Just web surfing shows tremendous amount of problems. I don't see this much problem with any other brand. If you surf forums and reddit daily you will see people having problems with Hifiman almost every day. Like @Mark Lobo stated, their customer support is good though. Clearly these are not ''heirloom'' type of headphone that will last you decades with good spare part market and user serviceability.

[@JTB--]

@@musicxxa6678 My last 2 Hifiman were the Arya Stealth which I traded up to the HE1000se recently. Both have solid builds. But I'm not arguing your point. I know there have been QC issues with Hifiman in the past. So far I've been lucky I guess. And those silver tube cable's are just not what a TOTL headphone like the HEKse should be getting in the package. They sound ok... but they are a huge pain in the ass getting tangled and just look cheap.

[@musicxxa6678]

@@JTB-- How did you find the SE ? Worth it ?

[@luckyjinxer]

Was that your editor trying to do a jump scare? 😂

[@JTB--]

I agree... the Arya Stealth are better than the earlier Arya HP's in every way to my ears. I loved the Arya Stealth but ended up trading up to the HE1000se with Hifiman's trade up program. I'd consider the Arya Stealth a baby HEKse. Many say the HEKse is a baby Susvara. HEKse is great and as far as I'm going up the Hifiman family tree. It's a detail monster and very easy to drive. But I 100% recommend the Arya Stealth for those who want the benchmark HP under $2000 and a legit taste of that high end Hifiman Planar sound. Pretty much good with all music genre's and a solid all rounder HP. Very comfortable for all day listening... and the Arya Stealth pairs well with most audio gear including a Hybrid Tube amp like the LYR 3

[@ClintAvila]

So you feel jump to HEKSE is definitely worth it? I have Arya Stealth but can definitely see myself trading up in the future. My mind is constantly wondering how much more detail is there and also how much better is the bass on the HEKSE 🤔

[@JTB--]

@@ClintAvila I feel your pain. I struggled for a while before finally pulling the trigger. I went back and forth on whether to do it until i finally said F' it and went for it. When talking about the HEKse and Susvara the key word is "Detail". The only way for me to explain my decision to keep the HEKse was doing an A/B test with other headphones. I did A/B tests with the HD 800s and Verite Closed against the Arya Stealth and all 3 were basically holding their own and sounding good. When I got the HEKse and did the A/B test I immediately heard the difference in better detail and the jump in performance. It was drastic enough of an improvement that it made my HD 800s sound pretty average. I knew I'd probably never be touching the HD 800s again so I sold it. This can be a vicious cycle of always wanting to move up to the next tier of HP's and audio gear. I almost wish I never got bit by this headphone hobby bug because it's crazy expensive. I'd say for most the Arya Stealth is fine. Benchmark HP under $2k. But there is definitely a jump in performance to the HEKse to my ears. I'd almost argue the HEKse is a better/smarter buy than the Susvara because it's already doing much of what the Susvara can do and it's easy to drive. As far as Bass goes on the HEKse... it's similar to the Arya Stealth where if a song calls for it... it's going to deliver it nicely. I like how they do Bass a lot. These aren't Bass head/Bass cannon HP's, but they do give some slam and impact when the song calls for it. For instance Queen's Another One Bites the Dust bass line will thump. And just so you know Hifiman said I had 7 days to return the HEKse if for some reason I didn't like them. So you do have a safety net if you go for it

[@ClintAvila]

@@JTB-- thanks for the awesome advice and details about your experience. Yes this is indeed a rabbit 🐰 hole hobby that is expensive to play in. I, too, feel my HD800S might be sacrificed when I decide to step up again. But then there's something so fun to just grab a different set of headphones from my collection and stop thinking about it and just listen to the music. There's just something unique about each set. 😁

[@doma4947]

They are a great headphone and I still want them, I was deciding between the OG Clear and the Arya Stealth, and ultimately the OG Clear when balanced won out for me. The OG Clear also sounds amazing on portable sources like the MOJO whilst having the ability to scale up on higher end gear.

[@bronsoncjmj]

As an update, DMS posted a video about how he bought the Clears. You have a great pair of headphones for sure.

[@alouisschafer7212]

We need more jack of all trades type Headphones. What am I supposed to do with a 500$ headphone that was tuned for one genre? I want a Headphone that can do everything to the best of its abilities. This is why the Sennheiser headphones and Hifiman Planars are so popular: They are some of the most balanced and well tuned Headphones on the market in their respective price categories. Tune your headphones to match the IEF Neutrality Target (crinacles Target) or the Harman Target without the awful bass shelf and literally nobody will complain about your tuning ever again. Hifiman and Sennheiser adheres to these targets and well the results show: The HD600 is the dead on reference to this day.

[@danjones7561]

The LSA HP2 (based on a Kennerton Gjallarhorn) is also a great "jack of all trade" phone. Sold by Underwood Hifi.

[@mr.anderson2257]

Well I'd hope so for 1600$!!! Lmfao

[@pianistor555]

I found a better headphone... It is called the Hifiman HE1000 V2. I originally bought the Arya Stealth because of all the hype but it really wasn't for me, sibilance was an issue (with both ifi Signature and EF400) and it ultimately sounded a bit too sterile/analytical to my taste. The HE1000 V2 fixes every complaint I had with the Arya Stealth, just a more warm enjoyable listen that makes every single recording sound pleasing regardless of the genre, with better resolution (but presented in a more relaxed manner) much better imaging and better soundstage, with such a good tuning and beautiful tone for the vocals, vocals just sound great on it. So yes in my opinion for $700 extra I would recommend the HE1000 V2 instead of Arya Stealth.

[@samlee2562]

Have you heard of Kennerton or better yet LSA?! The LSA-HP-1 is a clone of a $2800 Kennerton headphone coming in at $1300 delivered.. hardly anyone reviews them but virtually everyone who does recommends them very highly, often topping their recommendation list.. 🤓

[@peterandersson6762]

The amp for those are ifi audio pro ican signature. Now that what i call a homerun!

[@EvgeniyRC]

Hello. You're praising these headphones so much that I thought about buying them. I have LCD-X2021 headphones, please tell me what is the difference in their sound in your subjective opinion.

[@JagsP95]

Good review I'll buy it someday

[@azukijelly7755]

How is this compared to Diana's?

[@garethfuller2700]

Element III Review when? (I've got an Element II, and I'm curious to know how the two compare)

[@Mandragara]

Would like to see Dan Clark stealth

[@scottl8089]

So much gushing I thought this was a Zeos video. 😏

[@massivemikeh]

Theeeze...

[@metalfather8139]

With so many headphones...thanks so much for pointing me towards 560S 100$ SCORE

[@kyron42]

But how does it compare to the purple unicorn that Andrew liked so much?

[@MisterChibs]

No floppy cat ears ears. Purple unicorn sounds better.

[@Jimmy-Chin]

I really wanted to love this headphone, but after a few weeks I had to return it. The main issue is that the upper mid range/low treble was a little hot to me. I found that I personally needed more warmer sounding headphone. Pros were the great detail and speed of everything. Some songs just sounded insane to listen to. Used on a Topping A/D30 pro stack. The pads also hurt my jaw (Mildly big head).

[@lukeizze]

You tried the XS? Was considering that.

[@Ezees23]

The A30/D30 Pro stack may have been the actual culprit along with not burning them in. There's a reason Arya owners take the time to play in/burn in their cans and pair them with Class A discrete amps - the treble smooths out after about ~75hrs and the Class A amps have better timbre and less annoyingly bright trebles. It's what I did and I'm glad I gave them time - they're revealing yet smooth at the same time.

[@Ezees23]

That stack is more than likely the main reason. I had the A90 with the Arya v2s and it was piercing yet lackluster. Sent it back and bought a used Gustard H20 - Class A discrete FTW!!!

[@bologescu]

@@Ezees23 I just got my Arya stealth today and immediately noticed exact same issue as @jimmyfrancis9693 did above. I am going to wait to make sure I get over the ~75hrs break in before I decide to return it. Interesting enough, I felt the same about the 560S which got better every time I listened to them. I am curious, which amp are you using?

[@bologescu]

@@Ezees23 I just saw this second post. Still on Gustard H20?

[@prithvib8662]

I had both the Arya Stealth and Arya V2's for a long time and did extensive A/B testing. What's wild is that you can EQ the Stealth to sound suuuper close to identical to the Arya V2's but the other way around seemed harder. If you already have the V2's, it's not worth it to switch, but if you don't, get the Arya Stealth and a basic Magni/Modi Schiit Stack and you're all set. Saves way more money than the Magnius/Modius and the Arya V2.

[@soulfulfool]

Stealth was too expensive for me, its a sin to pay so much for that cheap build quality 🤦‍♂. Bought V2 for 980$ for sound alone it was worth it, build still disgust me. Thought they gonna be lighter on bass since the size and very open structure, oh boy they are NOT 👑. I'm feeding them with power by balanced cable of high quality, "she" really appreciate I care 😅👌

[@hatdog703]

Never been this early to your videos... What would you recommend for fps gaming under $150?

[@Wixen]

Get the fidelio x2hr's

[@DMS3TV]

PC38X or PC37X depending on which is on sale. Both are excellent for gaming.

[@hatdog703]

@@DMS3TV thanks

[@jinx20001]

i really like my aria stealths, on my first listen my immediate reaction was they are lifeless honestly, its so flat, it doesn't lend itself well to some genres where there needs to be a bit more body and soul to the music, reggae being the perfect example where its focus is on mid bass beats, the arya v3 does it but its very much not the focus and comes across a little too clinical. what is amazing though is you soon come to realize they are not banging out a bassline because - the music isn't banging out a bassline, its just lesser quality headphones would bloat the mid bass where the arya is far more focused, far faster and clean, when called for the bass hits pretty hard and fast but more crucially it extends very well so nothing gets lost or does not come through strong enough, the first time i listened to ''lil john get low'' i realized how punchy they can be when the question is asked. everything else performs as you would expect, flat mids with a hint of brightness in the upper mids and a treble that's quite bright but not painfully so, its basically ''just right''. i game a lot with the headset aswell and use a chord mojo 2 and find it does an excellent job with imaging and soundstage, both of which become even more apparent when the focus is on sounds like distant gunfire, you can pick out direction and distance really well. my only downside would be they don't respond that well to EQ, boosting the low end at all can lead to a loss of control and some distortion at high volume (really high though), there's not much headroom i find between sounding absolutely amazing and then pushing it a bit too far quickly realizing i should knock it back a few clicks, single driver woes i guess, not that experienced with larger headphones in general but multi driver IEM's can naturally handle complexity very loudly a bit better as might be expected. my only other comparisons would be DT1990 pro, a handful of ''gaming headsets'' and plenty of IEM's, 64 U12T, sony ier m9, just to name a few in recent months.

[@Ezees23]

As far as EQ goes, that isn't the Arya's fault at all - they take EQ like a champ. That "falling apart" is more of an expression of the amp in your chain - when it begins to run out of power. When you boost the bass it requires much more power (current actually) from the amp and when that current isn't able to be produced, the amp produces more distortion and loses control of the driver - making it "fall apart". Put them on a substantially more powerful amp and pump up the bass all you want - they will only get more bass and more controlled (I did this with my bypassed Emotiva A-100 (~12W @ 32 ohms) - my jaw literally dropped and I still refer back to that sense of supreme "effortlessness").

[@chillstep4life]

Would be curious how the Arya stealth compares to Arya Organic.

[@Spin3l3ssJ3lly]

OK, ok, you just need to take it easy, talk to the head, ask what it wants. But ...lock that door at night, will you, better safe than sorry.

[@peterandersson6762]

I bought the arya stealth onley based on this revew. And i do not regret it for a second. Ok it would be nice to test out the 1000se and the elite. Witch of those two do you think ie best? Best reguards Peter from Sweden. Btw i have the eversolo dmp a8 aand. Topping a70 pro balansed.

[@cdbeen123]

Totally agree, love my Arya Stealths, im using them with a Burson Soloist 3XP amp and Schiit Bifrost 2 Dac which sounds awesome but I was wondering if you have used a tube pre-amp with your Aryas yet ? Really am very interested to hear your thoughts on what a bit of tube flavour could do to these , cheers mate

[@Thoughtflux]

Did you add a tube preamp to your chain yet?

[@arrowzen7433]

The angle offset on the grill drives me so crazy that I can’t justify a purchase. I know it is stupid if it sounds good. But I can’t get over that design flaw - especially not at this price. Guess I have OCD.

[@Kasharicdaims]

Ironically, the headphones named "Stealth" are the more noticeable and noteworthy of headphones. Great review as always. :)

[@vp1132]

DMS : please review the FiiO K5 Pro ESS..

[@badkid73]

I strongly prefer V2 for the soundstage. The stealth is different enough to consider owning both.

[@petergrifindor]

Meze Elite also checks every box

[@DMS3TV]

Mine gets here tomorrow so we'll see!

[@ItsZim0]

Is Joshua holding the camera in this one? XD

[@G-O-A-M]

I´ve got the Arya Stealth since a few days and i couln´t be happier! Keep in mind the headphone needs a few hours to "burn in" in the beginning it was a bit sharp but now perfect!

[@hanfpeter4190]

5:28 🗿

[@Matt.Renham]

great review always love watching your honest opinions, would this be good for gaming or would be better off buying hd800s

[@dxbydt]

How does it compare to the Diana TC?

[@omicron-prsnl9806]

I can't believe DMS uses MoistCr1TiKaL's severed head to measure headphones

[@hartyewh1]

I dropped the Arya V2 (pre-stealth) from my list since with EQ the LCD-X (2021) was just better. Any thoughts if the Stealth version might be better when EQ'd to the same target?

[@theodorezurla496]

Interesting

[@kyron42]

As an added bonus with the lcd-x you get to exercise your neck muscles without having to go to the gym.

[@hartyewh1]

@@kyron42 Well yeah, for some it's an issue, but I don't even mind the LCD-4.

[@theodorezurla496]

@@kyron42 Lmfao

[@rawrj]

Yeah, damn if this had been out when I got my LCD-X I might have gone for it. Love the LCD-X though, and still hate how goofy that arya headband looks.