Hifiman Arya Stealth

With the HiFi headphone Hifiman Arya Stealth, we are dealing with an over-ear magnetostatic whose design is “particularly” open in several respects.

Limited Scope of Delivery

The only accessory included with the Hifiman Arya Stealth is its detachable cable. It is a 1.50-meter-long unbalanced cable that ends in a large stereo jack plug and two mini jack plugs. A generous strain relief prevents cable breakage at the input end. The core of the cable consists of four ultra-pure crystalline copper strands enclosed by a black fabric braid. All contact surfaces are gold-plated for corrosion protection.

Unlike some competing models in this price range, the headphone comes with neither a case nor a carrying pouch. A plug adapter is also missing from the scope of delivery. And this is despite the fact that the headphone’s impedance does indeed allow its use with lower-voltage headphone amplifiers, which often only provide a mini jack output.

Material and Construction of the Hifiman Arya Stealth

The Hifiman Arya Stealth comes with a design typical of Hifiman headphones, which is both ergonomic, understated, and timeless. Its headband construction is robustly made of metal, whereas its ear cups are made of lightweight plastic.

Ultra-thin membranes operate in the drivers of the headphone. Because of their low mass, they can reproduce transients especially quickly and precisely, supposedly leading to fewer distortions. They are moved by magnets whose rounded edges and asymmetrical, acoustically permeable arrangement are intended to deliver an especially pure sound. Due to this transparency, Hifiman refers to them as “Stealth” magnets. Additionally, both the inside and the outside of the ear cups feature grilles that ensure an especially open construction. The build is so open that the headphone’s membranes are visible if you hold its ear cups against a light source.

Technical Specifications of the Hifiman Arya Stealth

The frequency range of the Hifiman Arya Stealth is extraordinarily wide, specified at 8 Hz to 65 kHz. In the bass range, it clearly exceeds the typical limits of human hearing. And while I sometimes hesitate to use the term “super high frequency range” when describing the treble of certain other headphone models, it definitely applies to the Arya Stealth. The already-mentioned impedance makes it a versatile audio tool. With a sensitivity of 94 dB SPL, it occupies a range typical of its price class.

Handling of the Hifiman Arya Stealth

The headphone’s headband adjustment is stepped and adapts to the size of the head. However, that only happens if the headband has already been set smaller on both sides. Conversely, adjusting the headband for smaller head sizes requires a two-handed approach. The shape of the Hifiman Arya Stealth’s ear cups is aligned with the human ear. That is why they are asymmetrically shaped.

Thanks to the combination of lightweight materials, a soft inner side of the ear pads, and rather low clamping force, the headphone remains comfortable to wear for hours. It is precisely this low clamping force that also accounts for its very loose fit, meaning the Arya Stealth can slip even with slight head movements. Therefore, it is well-suited for very relaxed hi-fi listening. At the same time, the included cable, measuring only 1.49 m, is relatively short for hi-fi use.

Sound Quality of the Hifiman Arya Stealth

The Hifiman Arya Stealth impresses with ultra-deep bass that never overshadows the overall sound. Above that lies a nuanced bass reproduction. In the midrange, the Arya Stealth reproduces its signal in a detailed and indeed striking manner. The intelligibility of voices, whether in speech or singing, benefits from this and is very high. However, for guitar-oriented music such as alternative rock or metal, this may be sonically demanding.

One highlight is undoubtedly its treble range. Here, it reproduces sonic details very cleanly and with high precision. Moreover, the headphone’s performance in the super high frequency range feels expansive and boundless. Its open design and extremely broad frequency range combine to make the Arya Stealth’s sound appear uncompressed and almost unlimited. This also contributes to its dynamics. Not only does this headphone implement transients with pinpoint accuracy and lightning speed, but its sense of depth is also impressive.

And lastly, the soundstage it delivers is extremely wide, allowing for very detailed localization. Classical music enthusiasts will be thrilled by what the Arya Stealth is capable of revealing in orchestral pieces.

Conclusion

The Hifiman Arya Stealth combines a high-quality magnetostatic driver with an extremely open build, thereby offering both excellent wearing comfort and a notably uncompressed, wide-ranging presentation. Across its vast frequency spectrum, this headphone impresses with its detailed sound as well as an impressive sense of depth and a differentiated soundstage. Depending on the genre, however, the upper mids can be quite pronounced.

Its relatively short cable, lack of accessories, and the need to occasionally adjust its size with both hands constitute small drawbacks in terms of scope of delivery and handling. Anyone untroubled by that can confidently go for the Hifiman Arya Stealth if they desire a headphone for home listening enjoyment and are willing to spend the necessary money.