The HiFiMan Arya V2 are open-back, planar magnetic headphones designed with fans of neutral sound in mind. They have a very neutral, though slightly bright sound profile, and thanks to their open-back design, their soundstage is perceived as wide and spacious. They're also very comfortable and have a great build quality. That said, they won't be the best choice if you're looking for a pair of versatile headphones, since they leak a lot of audio and don't block out ambient noise. However, they excel in neutral audio reproduction, which should please audiophiles.
Our Verdict
The HiFiMan Arya aren't designed for sports and fitness use. While the headphones are quite comfortable, they aren't particularly stable, and the headband will likely slip off your head during vigorous exercise. The HiFiMan are also fairly bulky, and their wire can be a snagging hazard.
- Comfortable and well-built.
No included 1/4" to 1/8" adapter limits base compatibility.
Unstable during intense motion.
The HiFiMan Arya are bad for travel. They don't isolate you from noise by design, and their open design leaks audio, which can disturb neighboring passengers. The headphones also have a bulky design and don't come with a carrying case, so they're more susceptible to damage when hastily stored in your backpack or carry-on.
- Comfortable and well-built.
- Leak a lot of audio at high volumes.
- Don't isolate you from background noise.
No included 1/4" to 1/8" adapter limits base compatibility.
The HiFiMan Arya are bad for office work. If you share your space, these headphones are not a good option. They don't isolate you from neighbors' keyboard clacks or conversations, and nearby coworkers will hear the contents of private meetings leaking from the headphones. They also don't come with a microphone, so you'll need to use your devices' built-in mic or purchase a standalone option. On the upside, they're comfortable to use for long durations, and you won't encounter battery issues, so they're a viable option if you can work in a quiet, controlled environment.
- Comfortable and well-built.
- Leak a lot of audio at high volumes.
- Don't isolate you from background noise.
No included 1/4" to 1/8" adapter limits base compatibility.
The HiFiMan Arya are wired-only headphones and aren't suitable for wireless gaming.
The HiFiMan Arya are alright for wired gaming. They don't have an integrated mic, so you'll need an alternative solution like a standalone microphone if you want to chat with friends or shotcall. That said, the headphones are quite comfortable, even over extended gaming sessions. They also have solid bass extension for open-backs, so your favorite cinematics won't miss out on too much rumble, and explosions will sound full-bodied. Thanks to their analog connection, they also introduce virtually zero latency to your system, so you won't notice any lip sync issues during cutscenes. However, the headphones are difficult to drive, and you might need an amp if you plan to use them with your volume cranked up.
- Comfortable and well-built.
No included 1/4" to 1/8" adapter limits base compatibility.
The HiFiMan Arya have good audio reproduction accuracy. Their score is primarily brought down by their group delay measurements, though, in practice, there aren't any audible issues, besides a minor loss of impact in transient snare wires and guitar strums. That said, these are also partly attributable to localized stereo matching issues in both phase and frequency response, causing these elements to bias to the right in the stereo image. Aside from the asymmetric dip in the high-mids, the headphones have great peaks and dips performance, adhering to their slightly bright sound profile. That said, peaks in the treble can give the perception of detail and clarity, or be perceived as a little bright and piercing, depending on your tastes. The headphones also interact with your pinna in a way that resembles an angled reference speaker, improving your sense of immersion.
The HiFiMan Arya don't isolate you from noise by design. Their open-back enclosure type leaks a lot of audio, and allows most background noise in. This includes everything from the low rumble of thunder during a storm to the chirps of birds outside your window.
The HiFiMan Arya don't have an integrated microphone. That said, you can likely find an aftermarket cable with a built-in mic.
The HiFiMan Arya have impressive frequency response consistency. Once you've seated the headphones on your head, your listening experience should match our frequency response measurements.
Performance Usages
Changelog
- Updated Jul 31, 2025:
We updated this review to make it clearer that this is the V2 version of the HiFiMan Arya. We added this information to the Introduction and Popular Headphones Comparisons sections.
- Updated Jul 21, 2025:
This review has been updated to Test Bench 2.0, which adds the following tests: Stereo Mismatch, Group Delay, Cumulative Spectral Decay, PRTF, Harmonic Distortion, and Electrical Aspects. In addition, we've added updated results for Isolation, including Noise Isolation - Full Range and Noise Isolation - Common Scenarios. We've added new performance usages and updated the text throughout the introduction, comparisons, and Sound tests and side-by-sides.
- Updated Jul 10, 2025: We've converted this review to Test Bench 2.0, which updates our sound tests and adds performance usages. You can read more about this in our changelog.
- Updated Jul 04, 2025: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.8, which updates our target curve and Sound tests. You can read more about this in our changelog.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The HiFiMan Arya V2 come in one color variant: 'Black'. An updated variant of these headphones is the HiFiMan Arya Stealth Magnet Version. The difference between this model and the updated variant are the addition of Stealth Magnets. The manufacturer advertises that these magnets improve the headphones' sound quality by lowering distortion and increasing transparency. However, their look, fit, and feel are the same.
If you encounter another variant, please let us know in the forums, and we'll update our review.
Popular Headphones Comparisons
The HiFiMan Arya V2 are planar magnetic headphones with an open-back design and a bright sound profile. Although their sound still lacks some thump and rumble, they're able to reproduce a bit more low-bass than other headphones from the same brand, like the HiFiMan Sundara 2020. They also outperform the third iteration of the same 'Arya' moniker, the HiFiMan Arya Stealth Magnet Version, in frequency response consistency, delivering audio more consistently between reseats and between individuals. That said, if you're looking for equally comfortable headphones that are more stable, consider the Sennheiser HD 490 PRO, dynamic driver open-backs that have a slightly bassier balanced sound signature.
Check out our recommendations for the best audiophile headphones, the best headphones for music, and the best studio headphones.
The HiFiMan Arya and HiFiMan Ananda are open-back, audiophile headphones. While both headphones have a similarly great build and feel comfortable, the Arya come with additional cables with 1/8" terminations and a 1/8" to 1/4" adapter.
The HiFiMan Edition XS and the HiFiMan Arya are both excellent audiophile headphones with slight differences. Both headphones have a similarly bright sound profile, but the Arya have a ski-band headband design, are more comfortable, and feel better built. On the other hand, the Edition XS have a more standard headband, and a 1/8" cable and an included 1/8" to 1/4" adapter, while the Arya only have a 1/4" cable.
Both the HiFiMan Arya and the Sennheiser HD 800 S are audiophile headphones for close listening, but you may like one over the other, depending on your preferences. The HiFiMan have planar magnetic transducers and deliver slightly more bass. However, the Sennheiser are a little more balanced, with a flat sound profile suited for clean sound design. They also feel better built and come with a carrying pouch and an extra audio cable.
The HiFiMan Arya are similar to the HiFiMan Sundara 2020. Both models have an open-back design, but the Arya have slightly more bassy and treble. They also have a better build quality, with faux-leather padding and a different hinge design. On the other hand, the Sundara come with a 1/8" TRS cable, while the Arya come with a 1/4" TRS cable, so you need your own adapter to use them on devices like smartphones or consoles.
Test Results
The HiFiMan Arya have a bright sound signature that closely resembles the SoundGuys.com Studio Curve. While their open-back design makes them lose a bit of low-bass, the rest of their sound profile is well-balanced, which makes them suitable for a variety of audio content.
The frequency response consistency is impressive. As long as you take the time to adjust them, you should get consistent audio delivery each time you use them.
The HiFiMan Arya's bass target compliance is remarkable. Although the low- and mid-bass is slightly underemphasized, resulting in a bit less thump and punch, the headphones have a bit of high bass emphasis that brings a full-bodied sound. Overall, Your mix should sound warm and have adequate punch.
The HiFiMan Arya have amazing mid-range target compliance. The range is well-balanced, so vocals and lead instruments sound present, detailed, and accurate. Like the HiFiMan Edition XS, there's a small dip in the high-mids, which could weaken vocals and instruments a bit.
The treble target compliance is fantastic. The low treble is slightly overemphasized, which helps reproduce vocals and lead instruments as detailed and articulated. However, the excess in the mid-treble makes sibilants like S and T sound a bit harsh and piercing.
The peaks and dips performance is impressive. The headphones' frequency response doesn't deviate much from their bright sound profile. There's a dip in the high-mids, which slightly weakens vocals and lead instruments. The following peaks in the low and mid-treble add detail and clarity to the upper harmonics of these instruments, while sibilants can be bright and piercing.
The headphones' L/R driver matching is satisfactory. Most of the measured frequency range is free from issues in amplitude, frequency, and phase response matching. That said, there are localized deviations in the high-mid and high-treble, which pull the articulation of guitar strums or wires vibrating beneath a snare drum to the right of the stereo image. Additionally, the 10kHz peak represents a phase inversion, which, while audible in test sweeps, is less perceptible in most content.
While the group delay score is poor, in practice, the headphones' issues are not so apparent. Subjective listening reveals minor loss of impact or detail in transients like the rattle of snare drums and guitar strokes, though this is more attributable to localized stereo matching issues.
The HiFiMan Arya's PRTF measurements are indicative of good pinna excitement. The headphones' PRTF somewhat resembles that of our angled stereo speaker benchmark, and contributes to a sense of immersion when listening.
The HiFiMan Arya have superb harmonic distortion performance. At typical listening levels, you won't perceive coloration caused by distortion, and transients or loud swells will be reproduced cleanly.
These headphones may require an amp to drive them. Depending on the levels you listen to and whether your content has a wide dynamic range, you might experience clipping on your mobile device or laptop. If you're planning on listening to content like orchestral tracks, consider picking up an amp.
These are the settings used to test the HiFiMan Arya, and our results are only valid when used in this configuration.
The HiFiMan Arya have a similar look to the HiFiMan Ananda with large, spacious oblong-shaped ear cups and a ski band headband design. That said, they have an all-black finish, especially on the ear cups' grilles, which makes them look sleek and premium. Their metal headband is also quite square and stands far apart from your head.
The HiFiMan Arya are comfortable headphones. They don't clamp too tightly on your head, and the ear cups are spacious. The ear cups are well-padded, while the faux-leather headband distributes their weight well. You shouldn't feel too much fatigue wearing them during extended listening sessions.
These headphones aren't very portable. Just like the HiFiMan Ananda, they're not meant to fold flat or fold into a more compact format. They also don't come with a carrying case to help protect them when you're on-the-go.
These headphones have great build quality. Their headband and body are covered in metal, which gives them a premium and durable look and feel. While they don't have the same hinge design as the HiFiMan Ananda or HiFiMan Sundara, they still seem sturdy. Their faux leather padding also feels nice against the skin. They feel sturdy enough to survive an accidental fall without taking too much damage. If you're looking for even better-built headphones, consider the Focal Clear Mg.
The HiFiMan Arya have acceptable stability. They're not designed for physical activity and they can move around your head, even with light movement. That said, they should maintain their positioning during casual listening sessions.
These headphones have bad noise isolation, which is to be expected from open-back headphones. They don't provide any isolation from bass-range noise like bus engine rumbles or mid-range sound like ambient chatter. They also barely block out higher-pitched noise like the hum of an AC unit.
These headphones are terrible for isolating you from noise in common scenarios. By design, these headphones won't block much noise including airplane cabin din, screechy brakes on busy streets, and chatty coworkers.
The headphones leak audio by design. If you're listening to music at a high volume, neighboring coworkers will hear your content, even above the noise floor of the office.
The HiFiMan Arya come with a TRS cable that has two 1/8" connections for the ear cups and a 1/4" connector. The cable doesn't have an integrated microphone, though, so you can only receive audio.
These headphones will work with your PC if you have a 1/4" to 1/8" adapter, though you'll only receive audio output. That said, the headphones might clip if you're listening to content with a large range of dynamics, like classical orchestral music or movie soundtracks.
You can use these headphones for audio output when connected to a PlayStation controller. However, you'll need to provide your own 1/4" to 1/8" adapter. Depending on the games you're playing, you might notice clipping in loud effects.
These headphones can be used wired for audio output when connected to an Xbox controller. That said, you'll need a 1/4" to 1/8" adapter as the headphones don't come with one. Additionally, depending on the dynamic range of games you play, you may notice clipping in loud effects.
