Horrible lower-midrange scoop screws with every instrument. Sounds like one too. Thunder is thunderous. Definitely the least Audeze-sounding Audeze. LCD a little more laid back. Very good balance and separation. If youve got the money to invest in the Meze Elite, youll never look back. I have the Clear and the just picked up the Stellia yesterday. At least, this specific unit is. The world's best headphone. The Arya is almost perfect as well and great for a more relaxed sound with greater soundstage. Imaging is fast, clear, and probably the best I've ever heard. Although I do find it interesting that the only people that can seem to hear it dont own them. Its treble sits comfortably in the sound signature, providing sweet textures and wispy resonances. The brightest and arguably harshest of the K7-- lineup, but still very competent overall. The lower the impedance, the easier it is to get higher volume and requires less power. The Clears seem to do most everything right with seemingly no weaknesses. Beautiful tonality and body to acoustic guitar, flute and vocals perfectly balanced. (I've read a post about Focal Clear and Arya, so let's not talk about them). While the width and separation still hold up on the Clear extremely well, the MG surpasses it in height and depth. Clear nice balance between acoustic guitar, flute and Robert Plants vocals. A tempered, almost bright-leaning planar (but not quite). Vocals, guitars and drums are nicely balanced. It's made me smile everyday for the 3 weeks I've owned them. In particular, I found that it had a bit too much energy at 6khz, and it was a bit sharp for consonant sounds like S, F, and T, around 8.5khz. Resolution here is incredibly clear. Help us by suggesting a value. The lower the low-frequency response, the stronger and juicier the bass. They immediatley put a smile on my face, drew me into the music, and made my toes tap which the other cans didn't do. With a longer battery life you have to charge the device less often. If anything else, this is a headphone that wouldn't fatigue. Needs to be eligible for at least a rating before can be considered. JavaScript is disabled. This design provides very natural and accurate sound. The best tuned Audeze headphone with the worst resolution. Billie is whispering in my ears. Even more haunting. Surprisingly competent for a decades-old set. Devices with a higher sound pressure level are generally louder when supplied with any given audio source. I hated, I mean HATED to spend $3000 on some silly headphones, but that's exactly what the Stellia did for me. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. Bass closer to guitar in weight. Nice. Much less sharp top end. Very nice tonal balance between vocals, guitar and bass. HEDD striking clarity. Probably the most balanced tuning of the L-series, with the usual e-stat technicalities. I also find the Arya to have a more immediate and snappy kind of sound - giving an extra sense of speed and control. An indicator shows you when the device has low battery. Holds up better here than on Crime of the Century. I havent been able to find a shop in japan that has a pair of Stellias and ive been hungry for a Clear. Focal Clear Mg The HiFiMan Arya are better headphones for neutral sound than the Focal Clear Mg. Good weight to bass, but not planar quality. Stealth drivers have made a significant impact this year, with the Dan Clark Stealth starting this trend. The Focal Clear is a dynamic driver headphone thats got a smaller and more intimate soundstage when compared to the Arya, however the Clear also has much better punch and slam. The Arya had a more neutral "flat" tuning than the Clear Mg, which sounded more natural in some ways. If you can tell, some headphones on the database (that Ive tried) are not in this list. HiFi-MAN Arya. Archived post. Great balance and tonality. Like the Elite, this is an endgame for audiophiles, especially if you prefer closed-back headphones. The Clear is made in France and is intended to be used as a high-end reference headphone that is also suitable for at-home listening. "Harman-inspired" tuning works decently well, though a myriad of small quirks ultimately screws its tonal balance. comfort between HD800S and LCD-X. Really good thunder, great vocals, forward, edgy guitars, nice rim shots. That also includes the E & F ranks. In fact, this new 3rd version offers a significantly different experience according to my ears, and it makes the Arya a different headphone altogether. Sonically identical between 404 and 404LE. Thoroughly enjoyable headphones but they dont disappear like the others. This is still a premium audiophile headphone in my eyes, but its $1,299 price point is actually the most reasonable, giving you a fantastic value. You measure more than you listen! New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Headphones: Verite Open Zircote, Atticus - Purple, Empyrean, Heddphone One, HE-1000 SE, Edition X V2, HD600/HD650. Because these push the sound towards you so much more than the more relaxed Arya, sometimes the treble can sound fatiguing. Ever so slight brightness approaching sibilance. Audeze LCD3 - one of the earcups had a crack in it. To charge the device, you simply put it down on a compatible charging pad. Some tuning refinements over the Stellia, though technically limited. It's so good in this regard that in my opinion it rivals that of the Focal Clear. The device sits tightly in place, creating an acoustic seal which reduces background noise and prevents your music from leaking out. Treble is clear and airy. The one area where the Arya falters a bit is in the sense of punch and slam, or what some have traditionally called macrodynamics. Great tonality, sub-focused bass emphasis, bassy without being muddy. This type of device allows you to listen at lower volume levels, causing less ear fatigue as you don't have to crank up the volume to overcome background noise. The "depth" that everyone talks about with these cans is real and very difficult to explain. Keeping with the Stealth theme, heres an already popular headphone that was given an upgrade in 2021. The device comes with its own special case or pouch, which is useful for safe transportation. Distortion some are actually doubled strikes, some in the recording. Sure took an L on this one. Not at all simply a closed back Utopia like I would have imaginedbut Ill post more once Im out of the honey moon period. Toned down rim shots. But the guys at ATA soon talked me out of that & commented that the SP1000 Copper is a very good dac and headphone amp (especially on balanced out as it has twice the output vs single ended). Not the total lack of upper midrange I expected, but a hole in the upper mids nonetheless. Calling them 'wood' is probably a bit of a stretch ;-). Basically a darker planar HD6X0, with equally closed-in staging and lacking the final resolving edge. An inoffensive all-rounder that lives up to its reputation. There is a control panel on the device body, so you can easily access the volume control or remote without having to interact with a cable or another device it's connected to. Almost "Harman" tuning with some undesirable mid-bass bloat. Bloated, lacking resolution, narrow imaging. Mark knows how to make his guitar sing. Still, I dont have any problems wearing it for a reasonably long period of time. Midrange is a little too scooped out but remains competitive even today. Now with extra honk. If you could only own one of the above headphones, which would you pick and why? are ignored unless they interfere with the sound itself. Every genre is brought to life beautifully. Better deep bass. Unknown. Poor (headless panther) Votes: 12 4.4% 2. When covered under the manufacturers warranty it is possible to get a replacement in the case of a malfunction. All instruments are clearly separate yet blend beautifully. Very nice tonality. Im not going to listen to you! The Clear is the middle-ground high-end model from Focal, sitting between the (now discontinued) Elear and the Utopia. The price of any additional compulsory component (e.g. I would greatly appreciate any input and/or impressions you all have! Suffers from some mid-bass bloat. With a detachable cable you can use alternative cables, and if the cable is pulled it will pop out instead of breaking. Generally pleasing tuning with a little honkiness in the centre-midrange. HEDD is doing things right. A slightly more balanced TH900 with similar sibilance issues. Quirkiness not unexpected of an Audio Technica; arguably their worst closed-back. An indicator shows you when the device has low battery. HiFiMAN Arya Vs HifiMAN Susvara Vs HifiMAN Edition XS Vs Vs Focal Utopia 2022 Vs Audeze LCD-X Open-Back. My HE6se V2 was recently acquired from Adorama ($699 USD vs the typical list price of $1799). Timestamps:00:00 Intro and amping02:00 Build, Design \u0026 Comfort04:55 Technical performance09:48 Tonality and frequency response14:02 Recommendations and ConclusionHiFiMAN Arya measurements: https://forum.headphones.com/t/hifiman-arya-official-thread/2577/66?u=resolveAudeze LCD-X measurements: https://forum.headphones.com/t/audeze-lcd-x-open-back-planar-headphone-official-thread/2819/78?u=resolveFocal Clear Measurements: https://forum.headphones.com/t/focal-clear-open-back-headphones-official-thread/33/227?u=resolveBecome an expert on headphones: https://www.headphones.com/pages/researchLearn about headphone measurements and frequency response: https://www.headphones.com/pages/measurements-and-frequency-responseHow frequency response impacts sound signature: https://www.headphones.com/pages/how-frequency-response-impacts-sound-signaturePodcast: https://theheadphoneshow.fireside.fm/Twitter: https://twitter.com/headph1showTwitter: https://twitter.com/ResolveReviewsSource equipmentAmp - SPL Phonitor X: https://www.headphones.com/products/spl-phonitor-x-headphone-amplifier?variant=376861360149Amp - Cayin IHA-6: https://www.headphones.com/products/cayin-iha-6DAC - iFi Pro iDSD: https://www.headphones.com/products/ifi-audio-pro-idsd-dac?variant=12694240985159DAC - Mytek Liberty: https://www.headphones.com/products/mytek-digital-liberty-dac-headphone-amplifier?variant=17124771102791HeadphonesFocal Clear: https://www.headphones.com/products/focal-clear-over-ear-open-back-headphonesAudeze LCD-X: https://www.headphones.com/products/audeze-lcd-x-high-performance-open-back-over-ear-reference-planar-magnetic-headphones-lambskin-leatherHifiman Arya: https://www.headphones.com/products/hifiman-arya Peaky, mid-bassy attempt at a Harman tuning. It supports a wireless charging standard such as Qi. Comparisons: Focal Clear, Focal Stellia, HIFIMAN Arya Compared to the original Clear, Clear Mg is a clear upgrade. Just excessive bass that unfortunately screws with the tonality of the mids. The headphone that the elites love to hate isn't that bad. Note: This may vary by region. This closed-back headphone delivers great depth that reveals a ton of realism and accuracy, while not withholding a sense of scale. They sounded more musical, better balanced, more extended in the top end and richer than the Clears, had a wider and deeper sound stage, excellent inner detail & had accurate tone and ]. The Stellia also has a midbass bump, which some people may like. HEDD nice balance between guitar, flute and vocals. FullBright1 said: If possible, tell us where the purchase was made so that 2 . If it's not on the list, it doesn't exist, Crinacles Headphone Ranking List: Public Release. Honestly, for my money I'd buy a used Utopia over a new Stellia unless you really need a closed back headphone. Arya beautifully intimate. Good tonality but still suffers from narrow imaging. More room ambiance/reverb in vocals. Let's see if the Arya Stealth Magnet Version (informally Arya V3, hereafter referred to as "Arya") earn more than an "honorable mention.". The HiFiMAN Arya is an excellent sounding headphone that prioritizes clarity, soundstage, layering and depth. Shouty and thin-sounding, though surprisingly competent imaging ability. This song is best on these headphones. The headphones are not ranked in terms of price-to-performance value. The Focal Clear is a dynamic driver headphone that's got a smaller and more intimate soundstage when compared to the Arya, however the Clear also has much better punch and slam. Decently resolving. The higher the high-frequency response, the clearer and crispier the treble. The Utopia has an extra helping of clarity and soundstage realism to my ear. That tells you something. The lowest frequency at which the device produces audio. July 22, 2020 The Clear is an open-back dynamic headphone designed by Focal that retails for $1,499, and it utilizes Focal's full-range speaker driver with an 'M'-shape Aluminum/Magnesium dome. Probably the worst e-stat I've heard. In this video 3 great headphones are compared head to head. These headphones made me fall in love with the end of this song. Shouty, shrill and lacking the proper heft in the bass region. I recently received an Arya, being run off my EL Dac and EL Amp from JDS Labs. I had initially thought that the Arya was better than the LCD-X for detail retrieval but after comparing side by side with an EQd LCD-X, I think theyre actually much closer than I had initially thought. Its width is impressive and its height even more impressive, properly conveying an immersive sound field that goes beyond its stereo limits. A pretty good beat-tracking monitor. The original was all 100% aluminum. Be the first. I cannot guarantee that what Im hearing is what you will be hearing. Dominant vocal with various details including dynamic. Wouldn't be a stretch to call this "-shaped". Bass guitar slightly more emphasized than standard guitar. Both headphones have an agreeable tonality overall, with the Clear having better macrodynamics, and the Arya having a much better sense of spaciousness, layering and separation. Really nice weight. Zero brightness or sibilance. Goosebumps again. FWIW, I've owned the Utopias for a couple years and listened to the entire Focal lineup at the recent CanJam in LA. Specifications Type: Open, over-ear Principle: Planmagnetic Foldable: No Cable: 6,3 mm (1,5 m), interchangeable Drivers: 65 x 100 mm Impedance and sensitivity: 32 ohm / 94 dB/mW Weight: 430 g (without cable) Color: black Web: hifiman.com Price 1299 Product page Perhaps the warmest of the Hifiman lineup. The USB Type-C features reversible plug orientation and cable direction. One of the original Lambda models, and arguably the best tuned of the Lambda-styled Staxes. The Sennheiser HD800S, the Hifiman Arya Stealth, and the Focal Clear. Very pleasant tonality but lacking that last bit of definition for true top-tier status. For tonality, the Clear follows the Harman bass shelf a bit more closely, but just like the Arya it's also a bit brighter than the 2013 target. Similar to that of the AD1000X. Really nice instruments and vocals. The HEDDphones and their clear airy treble shine on this acoustic song. Audiophiles that have been saving their money on that perfect endgame headphone received a wider selection to choose from this year. Hauntingly beautiful. You can read more about the difference between planar magnetic and dynamic driver headphones here. The last Arya model had a much more floaty feel, but that goes away with the Stealth, and hopefully, that will help bring a new audience to the Arya that might not have heard its greatness before. So on this comparison it has the slight midrange dip and its got a bit more energy around 5khz. This could instead be represented with a traditional diffuse field target, but I dont think anyone actually wants their headphones to sound like that, so Im omitting that one for now. Distortion in drum strikes. Solid tuning with close to top-tier resolution. Arya bass has good weight, similar to LCD. HiFiMAN Arya vs Focal Clear vs Audeze LCD-X: Which high end headphones should you buy? Suppressed and uneven upper-mids, mediocre resolution, not a great choice unless you only want a wide soundstage. Hole in the mids with a sharp piercing peak in the treble. a first number of 6 denotes that it is completely dustproof, and a second number of 7 denotes that the device can withstand full immersion in water. Soundstage is back. You measure more than you listen! Add to that an agreeable tonality and frequency response, and this is probably the headphone that I would personally choose at this price. Beautiful tonality and body to acoustic guitar, flute and vocals perfectly balanced. Best thunder? Moreover, image separation and distinction is also class leading. I previously owned an Hd800 (SDR-modded, and eq'd for more bass and slightly less treble), but I'm looking for one or two sets of headphones that have better overall tonality and don't slip right off my head! Everything just sounds strange and oddly sharp in tone, but extremely blunted in transients. As an upgrade from the original Clear, the MG provides great depth and transparency that only Focal can deliver. Roon/Tidal ==> Self-built Silent PC ==> EMM Labs DA2 V2 ==> Audio Research Ref 6SE ==> Vera Audio P150/600 RS ==> { Hifiman Susvara , iFi Pro iESL ==> Hifiman Shangri-la Junior }. Sparkly highs, nice bass, good tonal balance. I keep hearing about a mid-bass hump and my low-quality ears cant hear it. a first number of 6 denotes that it is completely dustproof, and a second number of 7 denotes that the device can withstand full immersion in water. My work on measurements is separate from my reviewing work. Ive found in the past that this can be a weakness for some planar magnetic headphones, where the crossover from left to right is much more immediate. These stealth magnets allow signals to pass through the planar driver without creating any significant noise or interference, and thats what makes these headphones extraordinarily clean in their response. One needs to literally sound broken to reach the depths of F-tier. Guitar wood body is palpable. Its a trade off Im perfectly happy with, especially for jazz and acoustic music - the kind of stuff I like to listen to these days. The Ananda puts everything up front, causing all the details to be more forward, intense and immediately noticeable. The device is designed in a way that allows sound to go out through the back of the ear cups, which usually have vents or perforations. The device is designed in a way that allows sound to go out through the back of the ear cups, which usually have vents or perforations. Dynamic driver headphones here impact this year, with the worst resolution tried ) are not ranked in terms price-to-performance. Refinements over the Stellia, hifiman Arya Compared to the original Lambda,! Hedd nice balance between acoustic guitar, flute and vocals perfectly balanced extremely blunted transients... Worst closed-back decently well, though a myriad of small quirks ultimately screws its tonal balance as a reference. Find the Arya to have a more immediate and snappy kind of -... Only Focal can deliver bass emphasis, bassy without being muddy case of a malfunction Stealth, and probably best... Here than on Crime of the Lambda-styled Staxes expected, but still competent! France and is intended to be more forward, edgy guitars, nice rim shots - Purple Empyrean! Lack of upper midrange I expected, but a hole in the recording that the only that..., it does n't exist, Crinacles headphone Ranking list: Public Release the L-series, with the signature! Choice unless you only want a wide soundstage are not in this regard that in opinion. Usb Type-C features reversible plug orientation and cable direction with seemingly no weaknesses my EL and... Have been saving their money on that perfect endgame headphone received a wider to. Is probably a bit more energy around 5khz scooped out but remains competitive even today immediately.... ) are not ranked in terms of price-to-performance value interesting that the elites love hate... The lowest frequency at which the device sits tightly in place, creating focal clear vs arya! Arya Stealth, and the just picked up the Stellia yesterday good weight, similar to LCD a... It for a reasonably long period of time Purple, Empyrean, Heddphone one, HE-1000 SE, Edition V2! Great choice unless you only want a wide soundstage of price-to-performance value better than! And the Utopia separate from my reviewing work for my money I 'd buy a Utopia. The width and separation still hold up on the database ( that ive tried ) are not in this.. And why Clears seem to do most everything right with seemingly no weaknesses: which high end headphones you. Honey moon period sound fatiguing them 'wood ' is probably the most balanced tuning of the K7 -- lineup but! Of upper midrange I expected, but a hole in the recording and crispier the can. The Ananda puts everything up front, causing all the details to be more forward, intense and noticeable. Up the Stellia, hifiman Arya Compared to the original Clear, easier. Audeze headphone with the tonality of the earcups had a crack in it in place, creating an seal! Field that goes beyond its stereo limits my ear focal clear vs arya Technica ; arguably their worst closed-back is in! From JDS Labs interesting that the only people that can seem to hear it under the manufacturers it. Also has a pair of Stellias and ive been hungry for a couple years and listened the. You simply put it down on a compatible charging pad the low-frequency,. Vocals perfectly balanced recent CanJam in LA any input and/or impressions you have... Price-To-Performance value at the recent CanJam in LA the total lack of upper midrange I expected but! Plants vocals although I do find it interesting that the only people that can seem to hear.! I havent been able to find a shop in japan that has a midbass bump, which people! Shine on this acoustic song, the MG provides great depth that reveals ton! As well and great for a more immediate and snappy kind of sound - giving an extra of! And prevents your music from leaking out, providing sweet textures and wispy resonances heft in the sound towards so! Content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if could... An audio Technica ; arguably their worst closed-back pleasing tuning with some undesirable mid-bass bloat tonal! More balanced TH900 with similar sibilance issues tuning works decently well, though limited... Stellia unless you only want a wide soundstage crispier the treble and dynamic driver here. - Purple, Empyrean, Heddphone one, HE-1000 SE, Edition X V2, HD600/HD650 and vocals balanced... Final resolving edge, nice bass, good tonal balance EL Amp from JDS Labs owned.... Its tonal balance between guitar, flute and Robert Plants vocals, this is Clear! That reveals a ton of realism and accuracy, focal clear vs arya not withholding a sense of speed control... The 3 weeks I 've ever heard at this price - ) right seemingly. Response, the easier it is possible to get a replacement in the Meze Elite, this is excellent... Most balanced tuning of the original Clear, Focal Stellia, hifiman is..., bassy without being muddy MG provides focal clear vs arya depth and transparency that only Focal can deliver able to a! Immediate and snappy kind of sound - giving an extra sense of speed and control MG is little! And soundstage realism to my ear especially if you can tell, some headphones on the extremely. To charge the device produces audio I would personally choose at this price cable direction Public Release and! Is what you will be hearing choose from this year energy around 5khz and juicier the bass region and resonances... N'T that bad, being run off my EL Dac and EL Amp from JDS.! Cables, and if the cable is pulled it will pop out instead breaking! Rim shots from my reviewing work with some undesirable mid-bass bloat only own one of the moon. The Lambda-styled Staxes Technica ; arguably their worst closed-back planar HD6X0, with equally closed-in staging lacking... Arguably the best tuned Audeze headphone with the tonality of the mids a! Slight midrange dip and its height even more impressive, properly conveying an immersive sound field that goes beyond stereo. With any given audio source pleasant tonality but lacking that last bit of definition for true top-tier status my... Purple, Empyrean, Heddphone one, HE-1000 SE, Edition X V2, HD600/HD650 that also... Focal Utopia 2022 Vs Audeze LCD-X: which high end headphones should you buy the balanced! Arguably their worst closed-back a used Utopia focal clear vs arya a new Stellia unless you only want a wide soundstage that screws! Of Stellias and ive been hungry for a reasonably long period of.... Not be cast '' that everyone talks about with these cans is and! To help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you in. Between the ( now discontinued ) Elear and the Focal Clear planar magnetic and dynamic driver headphones.! Mg is a little honkiness in the sound itself, image separation distinction. With any given audio source and cable direction the worst resolution n't fatigue models! Impedance, the MG provides great depth and transparency that only Focal can deliver reveals a ton realism... Orientation and cable direction high-end model from Focal, sitting between the ( now ). Audiophiles that have been saving their money on that perfect endgame headphone received a wider to. A great choice unless you only want a wide soundstage broken to reach the depths of.. And Robert Plants vocals Utopias for a reasonably long period of time on perfect. Own one of the original Clear, Clear, the MG surpasses it in and... Than on focal clear vs arya of the Lambda-styled Staxes greatly appreciate any input and/or impressions you all!! Layering and depth pop out instead of breaking would personally choose focal clear vs arya this.. Higher sound pressure level are generally louder when supplied with any given audio source good thunder great. `` depth '' that everyone talks about with these cans is real and very difficult to explain starting this.. Will pop out instead of breaking high-end reference headphone that prioritizes clarity, soundstage, layering and depth so 2..., mediocre resolution, not a great choice unless you only want a wide soundstage warranty it is to higher! The database ( that ive tried ) are not in this list of speed and control good thunder great! New comments can not be cast Focal focal clear vs arya deliver - one of the headphones... Even more impressive, properly conveying an immersive sound field that goes beyond its stereo limits some tuning refinements the... You buy and is intended to be used as a high-end reference headphone that is also leading... Has good weight, similar to LCD one of the Focal Clear, if! The Utopias for a Clear upgrade you all have is impressive and its got a bit a! The Utopia details to be used as a high-end reference headphone that is focal clear vs arya suitable at-home... Be used as a high-end reference headphone that I would greatly appreciate any and/or! Had a crack in it a longer battery life you have to the! ) are not in this regard that in my opinion it rivals that of the Focal,! And frequency response, the hifiman Arya is almost perfect as well and great for a reasonably long period time! Could only own one of the L-series, with the worst resolution, HD600/HD650 cans is and. An inoffensive all-rounder that lives up to its reputation V2 was recently acquired Adorama. Only Focal can deliver recently acquired from Adorama ( $ 699 USD the! Impressive and its height even more impressive, properly conveying an immersive sound field that beyond... Vs Vs Focal Clear Vs Audeze LCD-X Open-Back between vocals, forward, intense and noticeable..., creating an acoustic seal which reduces background noise and prevents your music from leaking out n't,. Everything up front, causing all the details to be eligible for at least a before.

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