The HiFiMan Arya Stealth Magnet Version are version three (also known as Arya V3) of the HiFiMan Arya, high-end planar magnetic headphones intended for audiophiles. This updated model differs from its predecessors due to its namesake stealth magnet design, which the manufacturer advertises improves their sound quality by reducing distortion and increasing transparency. However, their overall design hasn't changed, so they have the same look and feel as their predecessors.
Our Verdict
The HiFiMan Arya V3 are great for neutral sound. They have a neutral sound profile that delivers natural-sounding vocals and instruments with adequate warmth. You won't get as much thumpy low-bass from these over-ears as their closed-back counterparts, though some users will still prefer this recessed bass response. The headphones deliver audio consistently, too, so you'll receive consistent bass and treble each time you use them.
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Open, spacious soundstage.
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Very comfortable fit.
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Deliver bass and treble consistently.
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1/4" to 1/8" adapter not included.
The HiFiMan Arya V3 aren't intended for commuting and travel. They're big, bulky, and have an open-back design, so they don't block out any of the low rumble of bus and plane engines. They also leak audio, which people around you can hear. They don't come with a case either, which can make it easier to damage the headphones when you're on the go. On the upside, they're comfortable and well-built.
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Very comfortable fit.
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Not meant to be portable.
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Aren't intended to block out background noise.
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Leak a lot of sound, by design.
The HiFiMan Arya V3 are a very bad choice for sports and fitness, especially since they aren't designed for this purpose. They're bulky and can easily fall off your head with moderate movement. They also lack an IP rating for water resistance, though that's normal for audiophile headphones.
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Very comfortable fit.
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Not meant to be portable.
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Not stable enough to stay in place during moderate movement.
The HiFiMan Arya V3 are poor for office use. Unless you use these headphones in a private office, you'll annoy coworkers around you since the headphones are designed to leak audio. They also won't block out any background noise, making it more difficult to focus on your audio. That said, they have a comfortable fit suitable for long listening sessions.
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Very comfortable fit.
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Aren't intended to block out background noise.
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Leak a lot of sound, by design.
You can't use the HiFiMan Arya V3 wirelessly.
The HiFiMan Arya V3 are fair for wired gaming if you don't need mic support. They only have a 1/4" plug, so if you want to use them on your PC or console, you'll need an adapter. That said, they have a comfortable fit suitable for long listening sessions, and their open-back design helps create a spacious and immersive soundstage for your gameplay.
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Open, spacious soundstage.
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Very comfortable fit.
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Aren't intended to block out background noise.
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1/4" to 1/8" adapter not included.
The HiFiMan Arya V3 don't have mic support by default. That said, if you've got a standalone mic and want to use these headphones for calls, you won't get the best phone call experience. They leak audio by design, so if you're talking to someone, escaping audio can be picked up by the mic.
- 8.7 Neutral Sound
- 3.7 Commute/Travel
- 5.2 Sports/Fitness
- 4.4 Office
- 4.9 Wireless Gaming
- 7.0 Wired Gaming
- 1.5 Phone Calls
- Updated Nov 19, 2024: 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.
- Updated Jul 30, 2024: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.7, which updates our Noise Isolation test. We've also expanded the scope of this test to include Common Scenarios in addition to Voice Handling and Wind Handling.
- Updated Jan 26, 2024: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.6 , which updates how we measure latency. We've updated and renamed the following test groups: Wired Connection, Bluetooth Connection, and Wireless Connection (Dongle). We've also added new codec latency measurements and provided an audio sample of recorded latency.
- Updated Aug 31, 2023: Review published.
- Updated Aug 25, 2023: Early access published.
- Updated Aug 23, 2023: Our testers have started testing this product.
- Updated Aug 17, 2023: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
- Updated Jul 31, 2023: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.
- Updated Jul 26, 2023: The product has won our suggestion poll, so we'll buy and test it soon.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
These headphones are the third generation of the HiFiMan Arya. They come in one color variant: 'Black'; you can see our model's label here. What sets them apart from other Aryas are their stealth magnet design, which the manufacturer advertises improves their sound quality. However, they otherwise retain the same look and feel.
If you encounter another variant of these headphones, please let us know in the forums, and we'll update our review.
Compared To Other Headphones
The HiFiMan Arya V3 are planar magnetic headphones and are the next generation of the HiFiMan Arya. What sets them apart from their predecessor are their stealth magnets, which are supposed to improve sound quality. However, there isn't a significant difference in performance between the two headphones, and the V3 model have a slightly worse distortion performance, though it's still quite good overall. That said, you may enjoy these headphones if you're looking for audiophile headphones that can produce a bit more low-bass than other open-back headphones like the Sennheiser HD 800 S.
If you're looking for more audio-centric headphones, check out our picks for the best audiophile headphones, the best open-back headphones, and the best headphones for music.
The HiFiMan Edition XS and the HiFiMan Arya Stealth Magnet Version are both high-end planar magnetics. While both headphones have similarly immersive soundstages, the Edition XS have a punchier and thumpier bass, which fans of house and techno might enjoy. They also come with a 1/4" adapter and have a lower impedance of 18 ohms with a sensitivity of 92 dB, so they're easier to drive. That said, the Arya are more comfortable and feel better built.
the HiFiMan Arya Stealth Magnet Version are an updated model of the HiFiMan Arya. The Stealth Magnet Version have their namesake used in their driver design. The manufacturer advertises that these Stealth Magnets help sound reproduction and lower distortion. That said, there otherwise isn't a difference in design, so you can expect the same levels of comfort and build quality. The differences in sound quality are also somewhat minor, as they have largely similar sound profiles and soundstages. However, the Stealth Magnet Version have some distortion present in the left driver at high volumes.
The Sennheiser HD 800 S are better open-backs than the HiFiMan Arya Stealth Magnet Version. While both headphones are very comfortable, the Sennheiser are better-built and have an even more immersive soundstage performance. That said, they're harder to drive than the HiFiMan since they have an impedance of 300 ohms with a sensitivity of 102 dB. Conversely, you may still prefer the HiFiMan if you want your open-backs with a bit more bass.
The HiFiMan Sundara 2020 and the HiFiMan Arya Stealth Magnet Version are both open-back planar magnetics from the same manufacturer. The Arya Stealth Magnet Version can reproduce more low-bass, which some users may prefer. They also have a more immersive soundstage. That said, the Sundara 2020 follow our target curve more closely in the treble range, ensuring clear and bright vocals and instruments.
Test Results
These headphones look similar to the HiFiMan Arya (also known as the Arya V2). They still have oblong ear cups with dark silver grilles to protect their drivers. They also have a ski-band headband design and a tall metal headband to hold the headphones together. What makes these headphones different from the V2 model is a change to their driver design. They're still planar magnetic but use stealth magnet technology. The manufacturer is vague on what this means other than claiming that it improves acoustic transparency and reduces distortion. They also appear shaped and positioned to create as little interference as possible. They only come in one color variant: 'Black'.
They're comfortable headphones. Even though they're pretty bulky, their headband helps distribute the headphones' weight, so you can wear them for long listening sessions without feeling fatigued. Their spacious ear cups also ensure a solid seal, even if you have large ears, and the padding feels plush without putting too much pressure on your head.
These headphones aren't designed with portability in mind. While the ear cups can swivel to lay flat, they can't fold into a more compact shape. They also lack a carrying case to help protect them from damage on the go.
The HiFiMan Arya V3 have a good build quality. They're made of a mix of metal and plastic, which helps them feel sturdy and well-built. They also have faux leather padding. They're basically the same in frame as the HiFiMan Arya.
These headphones are stable enough for listening to your favorite tunes at your desk or on the couch. However, if you're into headbanging while jamming out, they can move around your head or even fall off it with more intense movement.
The HiFiMan Arya V3 have a very neutral sound profile. They can reproduce natural-sounding vocals and instruments, making them well-suited for a variety of audio content. While these sounds are a little weak compared to the rest of the mix, it's somewhat minor in scope. However, sibilants like cymbals are bright, and if you're sensitive to treble sounds, you may find them a bit piercing. They also lack a thumpy low-bass, but that's normal from open-back headphones.
These over-ears have outstanding frequency response consistency. Once you've taken the time to adjust their fit, you'll get consistent bass and treble delivery each time you use them.
The bass accuracy of these headphones is great. They lack a thumpy low-bass, though that's not surprising from open-backs. However, they have enough warmth to help balance the bass without drowning out vocals and instruments.
Their mid accuracy is excellent. The response is slightly tilted; vocals and instruments like the piano in Claude Debussy's Arabesque No. 1 sound natural, though slightly weakened and lacking a bit of depth. If you're looking for HiFiMan headphones with a more flat mid-range, try the HiFiMan Sundara 2020 instead.
The treble accuracy of these headphones is great. The low-treble is a little underemphasized, slightly veiling vocals and instruments. Conversely, the mid-treble is overemphasized, so sibilants like cymbals are bright, though they may be piercing if you're already sensitive to this range.
The peaks and dips performance is great. Overall, there aren't many deviations in the sound profile, which indicates that the headphones can control their sound profile quite well. A small bump in the high-bass adds warmth to the audio, while a dip in the high-mid weakens vocals and instruments a touch. The mid-treble is uneven, so sibilants like S and T sounds are alternatingly dull and piercing.
HiFiMan has had quality control issues in the past, and users have reported build issues from other products in their lineup. The unit we've reviewed is also our second pair, and we had to replace our previous pair as there were issues with the right driver. However, planar magnetics are more susceptible to damage due to their design since their diaphragms are more fragile. It's also more difficult to ensure that the L/R drivers match as the planar magnetic drivers are more complex to reproduce. However, imaging indicates a manufacturer's quality control and ergonomics. Imaging also varies across units, so you may receive one unit that performs poorly and another that performs as intended.
Our second unit has outstanding imaging. Their L/R drivers are well-matched in group delay and phase, amplitude, and frequency response, ensuring that sound objects like voices are accurately localized in the stereo image.
Their passive soundstage is excellent. Thanks to their open-back design, which allows audio to escape from the ear cups and interact with your environment, they have a natural, spacious, and open soundstage similar to their predecessor, the HiFiMan Arya. Audio also feels like it's coming from speakers placed in the room around you rather than from inside your head, creating a more immersive listening experience.
The weighted harmonic distortion performance is good. There's a peak in the left driver's high-mid at high volumes. However, it's unlikely that you'll be listening to audio at such a high volume, and distortion is hard to hear unless you're a discerning audiophile. The rest of the ranges fall within good levels, producing clean and pure audio reproduction.
These are the settings used to test the HiFiMan Arya V3. Our results are only valid when used this way.
These headphones aren't designed to block background noise since they have an open-back design that lets sound it. If you want to use them anywhere that's not a quiet, isolated room, you'll hear everything around you.
These headphones are meant to leak audio by design. That means if you're listening to audio, even at moderate volumes, others around you can hear it.
These headphones come with a TRS cable with two 1/8" connectors for the drivers and a 1/4" connector for your device. There are specific connectors for the left and right drivers, so be sure not to mix them up. They lack an 1/4" to 1/8" adapter though.
These headphones are only directly compatible with your PC if you have a 1/4" to 1/8" TRS adapter, and you'll only receive audio.
You can only receive audio via analog on PlayStation consoles if you have a 1/4" to 1/8" TRS adapter.
You can only receive audio when you use their analog connection. However, you'll still need a 1/4" to 1/8" TRS adapter to use them on this console.