Synergy
Efficiency
I did assume that the Arya Unveiled was going to be the most efficient Arya, but it’s not, though not by much, either. I would say it’s just below the Organic in efficiency and only by around 5%.
These don’t mind being run by low-powered gear, but I would certainly remain above 200mW of power. The bass is hindered considerably when underpowered.
However, they do scale upwards very well. The bass is one area that gains definition and texture when driven by high-power sources due to the current demands of these drivers.
Pairings
My FiiO M11 Pro powered this set just fine, but it’s not a combo you would use if you’re seeking a warm experience and only if you’re looking to restore the upper brilliance and detail retrieval. I would use an iFi audio xDSD Gryphon for a warmer presentation or something similar.
I usually don’t talk about tubes because I’m a solid-state guy, but I tested the Arya Unveiled with a Little Dot P8, which is a budget valve amplifier, and they performed well, but I still prefer solid-state for the added brilliance and detail.
The HIFIMAN line of DAC amplifiers, such as the EF400 or the EF600, hit a midway point in that they are naturally warm sounding but are solid-state. They provide just the right amount of high-frequency control with the ability to retain detail on the Arya Unveiled.
Select Comparison
HIFIMAN Arya Organic
Technical
The Organic is the most recent Arya addition to the family, and it turned out to be a wonderful upgrade, particularly over the older V2 variant, which, to its credit, had the largest soundstage of the bunch but had a slight veil in its sonic presentation.
The Organic combined the Stealth Magnet technology with the Nano-thin diaphragm and incorporated some wooden accents into the cups, which added character to the model alongside a unique physical appearance. But so does the Arya Unveiled with the exposed magnet backside.
The Organic is probably the most efficient Arya model by a small margin over the Arya Unveiled.
The Organic is rated at 27Ω versus the Arya Unveiled’s lower 16Ω rating, with the same 94 dB sensitivity specification on both models. Either model can be used with mid-tier DAPs, dongles, and similar gear, but they improve with high-end gear and high current amplification.
Design
If there’s a decrease in clamping force on the Arya Unveiled, it wouldn’t be much because they both feel very similar. Where these two differ in comfort is the Arya Unveiled’s use of softer foam inside the pads. Again, it’s by a small margin.
The differences are mostly visual in design. I like the all-black look of the Arya Organic with the wood inlay, which makes it unique within the line.
However, the Arya Unveiled kicks it up a notch with an industrial look that is the opposite compared to the rest of the line, but there’s that caveat in that you have to handle them with care.
Performance
When HIFIMAN slid the Organic into their Arya product line, the overall presentation became more natural and smooth.
Perhaps the sonic signature took on an added amount of richness, and most will consider the Organic to be the denser sounding of the series, even the most musical in this comparison.
The Organic is not as neutral as the others in the Arya lineup, and there is forwardness in its presentation, particularly in the midrange region.
The Organic has perhaps the best or, let’s say, the most pronounced mid-bass section, and combined with the smoother upper range, it makes the Organic the most relaxed listen of the series.
The soundstage size shrank some over the V2, but it gained precision, but not over the Arya Unveiled, which gains more size and focus.
That makes it easier to isolate elements within recordings. That and the added detail, high-frequency extension, and resolve make the Arya Unveiled the more interesting listen of the two.
HIFIMAN HE1000SE
Technical
The HE1000SE is a similarly priced headphone from HIFIMAN that uses the Asymmetric cup design and a similar headband assembly but in a different color scheme. But they’re both from the same cookie-cutter.
The rear portion of the HE1000SE cup uses HIFIMAN’s Window Shade system, which is highly breathable. The Arya Unveiled takes that to another level by using fewer magnets on the output side of the diaphragm, leaving the back uncovered and increasing the diaphragm’s breathability.
Design
The HE1000SE’s color scheme is different from the Arya Unveiled in that it uses a silver color scheme with a perforated black head strap, which I prefer over the Arya Unveiled head strap.
The HE1000SE cup design uses wood, similar to the Organic. I’m uncertain if the wood is there for show or if it does something to the overall signature of the HE1000SE because both the Arya Organic and the HE1000SE have similar sonic characters to my ears.
The pads are softer on the HE1000SE, and it’s due to the softer foam they use. This puts the driver closer to your ear because the pads collapse further but are more comfortable for that reason.
Perhaps that’s where their sonic differences are from. I’ll have to swap pads at a later date and conduct some experiments.
Performance
The HE1000SE is labeled the studio monitor of this lineup because it’s the flattest in this group, especially between the lowest bass regions up to 2k, after which the sonics gain some intensity.
The HE100SE has an invigorating, larger-than-life sonic signature, but the Arya Unveiled brings more to the table by removing a veil over the overall sonic signature versus the HE1000SE, in my opinion.
I do hesitate to say this, but the Arya Unveiled sounds better in most cases, but that’s just my opinion.
The Arya Unveiled has better focus, produces more vividness, and produces more detail, in my opinion. It is also more efficient, which makes it more flible for pairings. The HE1000SE needs more power to shine, but it sounds sweeter, especially in the upper regions.
HIFIMAN Arya Stealth Edition
Technical
The HIFIMAN Arya lineup consists of five models, three of which are still widely available today. One of them is the Stealth Magnet Version, named so since it was the first model to implement this within the Arya family.
My favorite was the Organic up to this point because it steps it up sonically and produces a smoother and more realistic tonality in general, comparatively to the other three.
The Stealth model was released too close to the Organic in my opinion, and most people overlook it. However, nowadays, you can find them at a reduced price, which makes them a good candidate for those who are searching for the best bang for the buck.
Design
The Arya Stealth carries the family’s traditional vestment with the Window Shade system, an all-black color scheme, and a shared spring steel design, including the headband strap along with the sleek metal yokes.
Three versions of the Arya used the same color scheme, and only until the release of the Organic did we get a different look in the series, an improved one if you ask me. The first three Aryas are hard to distinguish in a lineup.
Comfort levels are equal, but the stealth came with stiffer pads, and if I recall,l the softer pads were introduced with the Organic. Or perhaps my mind is playing tricks on me because of so many similarities, which tend to blur comparative lines.
Performance
The Stealth variant of the Arya can get energetic in the upper region, but that gives it a high level of transparency. The bass, however, has more prominence, especially around the mid-bass section.
Transients are fast and crisp on the stealth model, and there’s more bass impactfulness coming from the Stealth variant, but perhaps you’ll prefer the tighter bass notes from the Arya Unveiled plus the added detail and resolve.
The soundstage is where the Arya Stealth changed from the original series, and I would say drastically over the V1 and V2 Arya variants.
The overall size shrank in size, but the soundstage gained precision, and the aura around elements was more in focus and sharply defined in the Organic.
The Arya Unveiled managed to widen the soundstage a bit but retained that focus. Plus, once again, a layer of veil was lifted from the overall sonic signature, hence the name, Unveiled.
My Verdict
With the new HIFIMAN Arya Unveiled, the company once again managed to improve on one of their most iconic headphones, offering it up at a price point that is lower compared to the original two variants.
The HIFIMAN Arya Unveiled combines tonal accuracy, detail retrieval, and a full frequency response that is balanced and well-behaved. It all adds up to a great headphone and the best of the Arya series thus far.
The only inconvenience here is the extra care one has to employ in handling these headphones. Just remember that the pads can be replaced if they wear out, and the cable can be customized, which are bonus points.
HIFIMAN Arya Unveiled Technical Specifications
- Frequency response: 8Hz to 65kHz
- Sensitivity: 94 dB
- Impedance 27Ω
- Weight: 413g (excluding magnetic veils and headphone cable)
