Arya Unveiled
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Introduction
HIFIMAN is widely recognized as one of the most innovative brands in the hifi industry, particularly famed for its groundbreaking contributions to planar magnetic headphone technology. Founded by Dr. Fang Bian, the company has steadily reshaped the audiophile landscape through its continuous pursuit of sonic perfection.
Planar magnetic technology uses an ultra-thin diaphragm with evenly distributed conductors, driven uniformly by powerful magnets. This design allows headphones to deliver precise, transparent sound reproduction with exceptionally low distortion. They have an enhanced transient response, and superior imaging capabilities, especially compared to conventional dynamic drivers.
A notable characteristic of HIFIMAN’s product philosophy is the consistent flow of cutting-edge innovations from flagship models, such as the legendary Susvara and HE1000 series, down into more affordable and accessible headphones. This strategic approach ensures audiophiles at various levels benefit from technological advancements like improved diaphragm materials, advanced magnet arrays, and optimized open-back designs. As a result, every new HIFIMAN model, regardless price, inherits these groundbreaking features.
The HIFIMAN Arya Unveiled is a fully open-back planar magnetic headphone. It features a fully grille-free, open architecture, it aims to reduce sonic interference.
Test equipment:
– Burson Soloist 3XR GT + Supercharger
– Eversolo A8 + upgraded LHY LPS
– Chord TT2 + Mscaler, both upgraded LPS
Design & Build
The Arya Unveiled continues HIFIMAN’s iconic teardrop-shaped design but introduces an entirely open-back construction that removes the traditional grille, allowing sound waves to pass through unhindered.
Visually, it has an elegant, modern appearance, combining a glossy black finish with exposed silver drivers. Though primarily plastic, these keep the headphone very lightweight and comfortable. However, I can imagine some might wish for a sturdier, more premium build, given its high-end market positioning.
The adjustable headband and ear pads use faux leather, which provides both comfort and secure fitting.
Comfort & Fit
At around 413 grams, the Arya Unveiled is quite comfortable for long sessions. Its headband evenly distributes weight (nothing new in the Arya range), eliminating pressure points. The uniquely shaped ear pads offer a soft gentle fit, ensuring comfort.
Sound Quality
Bass
The Arya Unveiled delivers impressively deep sub-bass performance with excellent extension and neutrality. While mid and upper bass have notable warmth and body. Bass-heavy music might lack a bit of the punch and impact some enthusiasts typically desire. The Arya Unveiled is more focusses on realism and warm neutrality. Nonetheless, bass clarity and texture remain excellent, making it particularly enjoyable with acoustic instruments, strings, and bass guitar. Nothing is overpowering.
Mid
The midrange is where the Arya Unveiled truly shines, providing exceptional clarity and resolution. Vocals come across as richly detailed and emotionally engaging, whether male or female. The Arya Unveiled presents vocals intimately and expressively. Instruments within this frequency range also benefit from this timbre and presence, resulting in a natural and realistic sound signature.
Treble
The Arya Unveiled has a slightly warmer treble tuning, I would say a very pleasont ‘new’ side track compared to the other Hifiman’s, leading to a smoother, less fatigue-free listening experience without compromising clarity.
High-frequency instruments such as cymbals and percussion have good definition without excessive brightness or sibilance, creating an overall balanced, airy presentation.
Stage and Image
One of Arya Unveiled’s standout qualities is its wide and precise soundstage. It really excels here, creating a huge space, accurately placing instruments and vocals around you, which greatly enhances complex musical arrangements.
Comparison to Similar Models
Compared to the HIFIMAN HE1000 Unveiled, the Arya offers a slightly warmer presentation (hence the comment, of more of a sidetrack). While the HE1000 provides a more neutral sound with greater emphasis on dimensionality and precision, the Arya appeals to those preferring a more dynamic and warm signature.
The Arya Unveiled needs to be covered for protection after listening, by magnetic plates
Let’s get into some tracks, explaining what makes the Arya unveiled stand out
Melody Gardot – Your Heart Is As Black As Night
Melody Gardot’s smoky, silky voice is beautifully rendered by the Arya Unveiled. Her voice sounds warm, with exceptional realism and separation, I have not heared this before in any Arya yet! The double bass and soft percussion are subtle yet deep. The new Unveiled brings remarkable spaciousness and realism, creating an experience akin to attending a live performance.
Sinne Eeg – The Windmills of Your Mind
Sinne Eeg’s clear, delicate vocals benefit greatly from the new smooth sound signature of the Arya Unveiled, Her voice seemingly floats in front of you within a three-dimensional soundstage, with subtle brushes and gentle piano notes beautifully defined and transparent. The Arya creates an amazing atmosphere.
Stacey Kent – The Ice Hotel
This track is especially impressive due to Arya’s clear and open soundstage. Stacey Kent’s airy, elegant voice is presented with remarkable clarity, while each instrument is subtly placed within the soundscape. Particularly, the delicate guitar notes and smooth drum performance benefit from Arya’s outstanding detail retrieval and expansive stage.
Harry Connick Jr. – It Had to Be You
Harry Connick Jr.’s warm, classic crooner vocals and the swinging big-band arrangement come vividly to life thanks to the warm (new) smooth sounding Arya Unveiled, excellent dynamic range! The energetic brass section maintains power without harshness, while the deep double bass and gentle piano accompaniment sound rich and full. Arya effortlessly balances all elements, presenting the track in an engaging, musical way. NICE!
Nat King Cole – Unforgettable
Nat King Cole’s iconic, velvety baritone voice sounds enchanting on the Arya Unveiled. Thanks to the natural tonality and lush, smooth midrange, it feels as though Nat King Cole is performing right in front of you. The Unveiled reproduces subtle nuances in his voice with impressive transparency, while the warm strings and gentle piano blend beautifully into an intimate and captivating soundstage.
Conclusion
The HIFIMAN Arya Unveiled is a good choice for who appreciate detailed mids, smooth treble, and still a huge soundstage. Its innovative open-back design provides an open sound signature, ideal for various genres. I can imagine some are worried for this open design, beeing more fragile. I can’t see this as a big issue, for most. Although build quality could feel a little more premium, the comfort and sonic qualities compensates more than fairly for this.
I think Hifiman did a huge upgrade in the Arya range, making this headphone a highly recommended option for enthusiasts seeking for a great new addition of the Hifiman Arya range.
Want to read more reviews, check out my website at: JJAZZIFI
HIFIMAN is widely recognized as one of the most innovative brands in the hifi industry, particularly famed for its groundbreaking contributions to planar magnetic headphone technology. Founded by Dr. Fang Bian, the company has steadily reshaped the audiophile landscape through its continuous pursuit of sonic perfection.
Planar magnetic technology uses an ultra-thin diaphragm with evenly distributed conductors, driven uniformly by powerful magnets. This design allows headphones to deliver precise, transparent sound reproduction with exceptionally low distortion. They have an enhanced transient response, and superior imaging capabilities, especially compared to conventional dynamic drivers.
A notable characteristic of HIFIMAN’s product philosophy is the consistent flow of cutting-edge innovations from flagship models, such as the legendary Susvara and HE1000 series, down into more affordable and accessible headphones. This strategic approach ensures audiophiles at various levels benefit from technological advancements like improved diaphragm materials, advanced magnet arrays, and optimized open-back designs. As a result, every new HIFIMAN model, regardless price, inherits these groundbreaking features.
The HIFIMAN Arya Unveiled is a fully open-back planar magnetic headphone. It features a fully grille-free, open architecture, it aims to reduce sonic interference.
Test equipment:
– Burson Soloist 3XR GT + Supercharger
– Eversolo A8 + upgraded LHY LPS
– Chord TT2 + Mscaler, both upgraded LPS
Design & Build
The Arya Unveiled continues HIFIMAN’s iconic teardrop-shaped design but introduces an entirely open-back construction that removes the traditional grille, allowing sound waves to pass through unhindered.
Visually, it has an elegant, modern appearance, combining a glossy black finish with exposed silver drivers. Though primarily plastic, these keep the headphone very lightweight and comfortable. However, I can imagine some might wish for a sturdier, more premium build, given its high-end market positioning.
The adjustable headband and ear pads use faux leather, which provides both comfort and secure fitting.
Comfort & Fit
At around 413 grams, the Arya Unveiled is quite comfortable for long sessions. Its headband evenly distributes weight (nothing new in the Arya range), eliminating pressure points. The uniquely shaped ear pads offer a soft gentle fit, ensuring comfort.
Sound Quality
Bass
The Arya Unveiled delivers impressively deep sub-bass performance with excellent extension and neutrality. While mid and upper bass have notable warmth and body. Bass-heavy music might lack a bit of the punch and impact some enthusiasts typically desire. The Arya Unveiled is more focusses on realism and warm neutrality. Nonetheless, bass clarity and texture remain excellent, making it particularly enjoyable with acoustic instruments, strings, and bass guitar. Nothing is overpowering.
Mid
The midrange is where the Arya Unveiled truly shines, providing exceptional clarity and resolution. Vocals come across as richly detailed and emotionally engaging, whether male or female. The Arya Unveiled presents vocals intimately and expressively. Instruments within this frequency range also benefit from this timbre and presence, resulting in a natural and realistic sound signature.
Treble
The Arya Unveiled has a slightly warmer treble tuning, I would say a very pleasont ‘new’ side track compared to the other Hifiman’s, leading to a smoother, less fatigue-free listening experience without compromising clarity.
High-frequency instruments such as cymbals and percussion have good definition without excessive brightness or sibilance, creating an overall balanced, airy presentation.
Stage and Image
One of Arya Unveiled’s standout qualities is its wide and precise soundstage. It really excels here, creating a huge space, accurately placing instruments and vocals around you, which greatly enhances complex musical arrangements.
Comparison to Similar Models
Compared to the HIFIMAN HE1000 Unveiled, the Arya offers a slightly warmer presentation (hence the comment, of more of a sidetrack). While the HE1000 provides a more neutral sound with greater emphasis on dimensionality and precision, the Arya appeals to those preferring a more dynamic and warm signature.
The Arya Unveiled needs to be covered for protection after listening, by magnetic plates
Let’s get into some tracks, explaining what makes the Arya unveiled stand out
Melody Gardot – Your Heart Is As Black As Night
Melody Gardot’s smoky, silky voice is beautifully rendered by the Arya Unveiled. Her voice sounds warm, with exceptional realism and separation, I have not heared this before in any Arya yet! The double bass and soft percussion are subtle yet deep. The new Unveiled brings remarkable spaciousness and realism, creating an experience akin to attending a live performance.
Sinne Eeg – The Windmills of Your Mind
Sinne Eeg’s clear, delicate vocals benefit greatly from the new smooth sound signature of the Arya Unveiled, Her voice seemingly floats in front of you within a three-dimensional soundstage, with subtle brushes and gentle piano notes beautifully defined and transparent. The Arya creates an amazing atmosphere.
Stacey Kent – The Ice Hotel
This track is especially impressive due to Arya’s clear and open soundstage. Stacey Kent’s airy, elegant voice is presented with remarkable clarity, while each instrument is subtly placed within the soundscape. Particularly, the delicate guitar notes and smooth drum performance benefit from Arya’s outstanding detail retrieval and expansive stage.
Harry Connick Jr. – It Had to Be You
Harry Connick Jr.’s warm, classic crooner vocals and the swinging big-band arrangement come vividly to life thanks to the warm (new) smooth sounding Arya Unveiled, excellent dynamic range! The energetic brass section maintains power without harshness, while the deep double bass and gentle piano accompaniment sound rich and full. Arya effortlessly balances all elements, presenting the track in an engaging, musical way. NICE!
Nat King Cole – Unforgettable
Nat King Cole’s iconic, velvety baritone voice sounds enchanting on the Arya Unveiled. Thanks to the natural tonality and lush, smooth midrange, it feels as though Nat King Cole is performing right in front of you. The Unveiled reproduces subtle nuances in his voice with impressive transparency, while the warm strings and gentle piano blend beautifully into an intimate and captivating soundstage.
Conclusion
The HIFIMAN Arya Unveiled is a good choice for who appreciate detailed mids, smooth treble, and still a huge soundstage. Its innovative open-back design provides an open sound signature, ideal for various genres. I can imagine some are worried for this open design, beeing more fragile. I can’t see this as a big issue, for most. Although build quality could feel a little more premium, the comfort and sonic qualities compensates more than fairly for this.
I think Hifiman did a huge upgrade in the Arya range, making this headphone a highly recommended option for enthusiasts seeking for a great new addition of the Hifiman Arya range.
Want to read more reviews, check out my website at: JJAZZIFI
Hifiman Arya Unveiled product page
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jjazzy
It is an understandable choice, and certainly not a reason for not buying these
