I'd take that one "review" with a big ol' grain of salt. TPU isn't known to be too adept with subjective SQ, "esoteric-ish" type of reviews - IMO, they're more in line with sites like ASR and/or Consumer Reports....

Try some Sparkos SS-3602s inside the P26. I have them inside my H20 and they're delightful, IMO.....

The H26 is out riiight now!!! I wonder if it's max gain and output power is increased from the H20, which is really my only slight caveat with the H20 itself - ie: wonky gain structure and slightly limited power output through it's preamp outs.....

This is also my (very slight) "issue" with the H20 - ie: that it's max HP and preamp output volume seems to be less than it's advertised specs - as it's gain structure isn't very well executed, with not much volume difference between LO, MID, and HI gain settings. Though my DAC outputs slightly...

I can - at least technically. But just like @Zarah said: it'll sound pretty much like a$$- with no bass impact at all....

If they're brand new, please give them time to open up - as the Aryas' (and higher models') drivers can take a while to loosen up from their brand-new, factory-tight conditions. You may find yourself reversing your opinions of them after playing about ~75 hours of either pink noise and/or...

That calculator is meant for only dynamic drivers - they respond to mostly voltage. OTOH, planars require significantly more current than dynamics - which nearly automatically requires more power to reach the sufficient current output levels to the drivers' for proper bass response......

Aryas are revealing and sensitive enough to expose nearly any recording, mixing, or mastering defect in a lot of songs. Sometimes even some of my favorite songs are mildly irritating because I can pick up recording artifacts or mixing defects that detract from my air-drum, air-bass, or...

Read a few pages back - 10 or 12 or so - or you could use the search function on the top of the first comment on this page......

Get in touch with HFM - they're usually really good about after warranty servicing of their "reference" lines (ie: Ananda and above). They probably won't charge much - may even send you a new "upgrade" pair for a reasonable price......

Wow, I guess my setup mitigates the ~12K "peak" you're hearing - my Arya Stealths don't really have much of that, what with my Gustard Class A H20 and OCC copper HP cables. Oh BTW, sorry I missed your reply - haven't been around for a minute b/c I've been preparing to move from my apartment...

I wonder if you gave them enough burn in time for them to mellow out - as most HFM's more resolving models take a bit of time to do so (at least ~50 - 75hrs of either pink noise of bass-heavy music). Before that time they're nearly always too bright and too bass light - but that improves...

Link?

That could likely be the difference btwn an IC based DAC/amp (the Fiio) vs an R2R DAC and discrete amp combo, IMO - as my Arya Stealths virtually always sound better on my discrete Class A amp......

I had the Monolith '887 and the OG A90 for a time (with the next higher up THX module from the '789's and Topping's copycat NFCA modules) and while they were decently good - neither were as good as my cheaper discrete Class AB amps that I had on hand at the time (ie: Schiit Magni 3+ and Emotiva...

IMO, most tube amps aren't a very good match for them. The exceptions would be tube/SS hybrids and transformer-coupled tube amps. The reasons being is that the SS output and transformer output stages would be able to provide the necessary current and drive for low impedance and current-hungry...

It may not be 1000% mandatory in your case (the Asgard is a good match w/ the Arya) - but it may provide just that extra bit of stereo separation, IMO......

Wait till you try out a discrete BAL Class A amp with the Aryas - you may be impressed above all your current HP amps.....

A lot of the SS width of the Arya Stealth depends on if they're broken-in/burned-in and how the musical selection you're playing is recorded, mixed, and/or mastered. IOW, it's rather chameleon-like instead of always being wide, distanced, and sort of "small" sounding instruments like the HD800S...

This^^^.....

That "bloominess" in the bass - lead to a closed-in treble or "thick" presentation - was what ultimately made me send it back pretty quickly. It's not a "neutral" amps to me either - and I concur with some of those "boring" and "somewhat undynamic" sentiments......

That makes perfect sense to me.....

Because your portables aren't cold, compressed, and bright/harsh like many others are. Especially with a revealing and sometimes timbre and tonality challenged HP like the Arya......

Your post has me intrigued. I love the Arya's qualities - but more for not much more $$$? Wallet getting warmer, LOL......

Good post - but a couple of things: 1) You just got them, they need at least ~25-50 hours of bass-heavy music or pink noise before they even begin to open up - "overnight" is not at all enough. They will continue to change up until 100hrs or more - Hifiman recommends ~150 hours. This makes a...