Arya Unveiled impressions thread

[martel80]

Anyone in the music industry field, more specifically an Audio engineer of any sort ( Mixing or Mastering), can comment on those ?

I'm coming from the Ananda Nano's EQ'd (After costum claibration profile and measurement) and was very pleased and I'm now considering the LCD-X, the MM-500 and the Arya Unveiled as possible upgrade/different perspective cans.

Would love to hear the pro's and con's from a critical listening stand point from an Audio professional.
-Macro representation
-Micro Details/ resolution / detail retrieval
-Transient response
-Soundstage (If its exaggerated like the HD800/HE1000 line or if its natural)
- Apparent rendering (Low end quantity and definition, Mid lows representation and articulation, etc...)

A comparison with the NDH-30, HD650, Ananda nano, Q/K701, LCD-X, LCD-5 or MM-500 would also help a lot if anyone has any experience with those as I'm more or less familiar with them as I had them for an extended period or tried them briefly.

Last thing, I'm using the B&K target as my sound calibration target for my studio monitors in my studio so the Harman curve is a big no-no for me. Just to put things in context.

Thank you.

 

[monoxyde1234]

Just got mine yesterday, upgrading from arya stealths.

quick initial impressions(compared to the stealths): it presents detail with much less effort. I find it easier to distinguish instruments in busy tracks for example - like it layers the sounds much more cleanly, while in the stealths - i have to focus and do more of an "active" listening to hear the same information. voice and instruments sounds more natural and full bodied. I sometimes wondered what reviewers mean when they say they can hear the plucking of strings, or the space between the singer and the mic - ofcourse I still count it as "audiophile" jargon however these set of cans are also doing it for me. As for bass, I feel that my stealths have a bit more punch, but the unveileds extends lower and has a flatter, more controlled bass.

I've had quite a journey with "mid range" hifiman's starting from the he-560s to Edition X v2 to Arya Stealths, and now the unveileds. While there's no way for me to recall how each of these headphones compare to one another, I do feel a general sense of "unveiling" of sound for each upgrade I took which personally adds a bit more fun to this hobby. Excited to see what hifiman has in store next.

PS. I initially had some reservations with the exposed drivers but now having this on-hand - the gaps are tight enough for me to use this as I normally would any other set of cans.

 

[Turnaround]

I got the Arya Unveiled because I really liked how they sounded, and they addressed two things I do not love about my Audeze MM-500. I was able to compare the Arya Unveiled to a couple other HiFiMan headphones, before deciding on them.

The Arya Organic is brighter than the Arya Unveiled. By brightness in the Arya Organic, I mean in the way the Sennheiser HD 800S comes off as bright, although with a different character. The Arya Organic has a larger and wider soundstage than the Arya Unveiled. These were the most obvious differences I heard comparing these headphones. I did not like the brighter top end of the Arya Oganic, and preferred the Arya Unveiled mostly due to that.

The HE1000 Unveilved is brighter than the Arya Unveiled, but not bothersome to me like the Arya Organic's brightness. The HE1000 Unveiled has a larger and wider soundstage than the Arya Unveiled. The Arya Unveiled presents more full-bodied images (more meat on the bones) than the HE1000 Unveiled. These were the most obvious differences I heard comparing these headphones. The HE1000 Unveiled is more refined in some ways, but not so obvious and apparent enough to me to justfy spending over $1000 more for. Tallying the main pros and cons for me, I preferred the larger soundstage on the HE1000 Unveiled, but I preferred the Arya Unveiled's top end and the more full-bodied images it cast. In the end, I preferred the Arya Unveiled as more enjoyable and sounding more right to me.

I'm coming from the Ananda Nano's EQ'd (After costum claibration profile and measurement) and was very pleased and I'm now considering the LCD-X, the MM-500 and the Arya Unveiled as possible upgrade/different perspective cans.

I really like my Audeze MM-500, but it is a bit dark on the top-end, and it has a very narrow soundstage. I got the Arya Unveiled becuase it's a planar headphone that addressed these two things I do not love about the MM-500: the Arya Unveiled opens up the top-end and does a larger and wider soundstage.

I think the MM-500 still has some advantages over the Arya Unveiled. The MM-500 is more full-bodied in images than the Arya Unveiled. The MM-500 has a certain sense of ease in its top-end, which makes it easier to listen to for a long time (although some may find it too dark). I think the MM-500 is better in transients, and drums have a more natural and life-like sound and feel. Although the MM-500's soundstage is very narrow, with instruments stacked on top of each other more than spread out in a horizontal space, the MM-500 has excellent layering and separation, whre you can cleanly pick out, pull apart and focus on a particular voice or instrument in the mix. This is what I like most about the MM-500. By comparision, the Arya Unveiled casts a larger soundstage for instruments to appear in space, but the boundaries between instruments is more blurry.

I think the larger soundstage of the Arya Unveiled is more enjoyable for a hi-fi experience, just enjoying music. But the MM-500’s excellent layering and separation makes it the better headphone when I want to listen carefully to the details of a recording. I like both headphones, for their different strengths.

You might find it interesting to compare the frequency response of the Arya Unveiled and the MM-500, which Techpowerup does in its review of the Arya Unveiled.

Don't want to derail this thread off the Arya Unveiled, but note that the Audeze LCD-X is Audeze's old tuning, and the Audeze LCD-5 and MM-500 are Audeze's new tuning and a large departure from their old tuning. You should decide whether you prefer Audeze's old tuning versus new tuning. (More discussion in Headphones.com review of the MM-500.)

 

[martel80]

I really like my Audeze MM-500, but it is a bit dark on the top-end, and it has a very narrow soundstage. I got the Arya Unveiled becuase it's a planar headphone that addressed these two things I do not love about the MM-500: the Arya Unveiled opens up the top-end and does a larger and wider soundstage.

I think the MM-500 still has some advantages over the Arya Unveiled. The MM-500 is more full-bodied in images than the Arya Unveiled. The MM-500 has a certain sense of ease in its top-end, which makes it easier to listen to for a long time (although some may find it too dark). I think the MM-500 is better in transients, and drums have a more natural and life-like sound and feel. Although the MM-500's soundstage is very narrow, with instruments stacked on top of each other more than spread out in a horizontal space, the MM-500 has excellent layering and separation, whre you can cleanly pick out, pull apart and focus on a particular voice or instrument in the mix. This is what I like most about the MM-500. By comparision, the Arya Unveiled casts a larger soundstage for instruments to appear in space, but the boundaries between instruments is more blurry.

I think the larger soundstage of the Arya Unveiled is more enjoyable for a hi-fi experience, just enjoying music. But the MM-500’s excellent layering and separation makes it the better headphone when I want to listen carefully to the details of a recording. I like both headphones, for their different strengths.

You might find it interesting to compare the frequency response of the Arya Unveiled and the MM-500, which Techpowerup does in its review of the Arya Unveiled.

Don't want to derail this thread off the Arya Unveiled, but note that the Audeze LCD-X is Audeze's old tuning, and the Audeze LCD-5 and MM-500 are Audeze's new tuning and a large departure from their old tuning. You should decide whether you prefer Audeze's old tuning versus new tuning. (More discussion in Headphones.com review of the MM-500.)

Thank you for the answer. That was well put out.

Here's my questions;
- Do you feel the MM-500 is better suited for mixing purposes or would you pick the Arya Unveiled over it ? You seem to mention instrument separation being a big point so I'm wondering how much of a difference it would make when finalizing a mix on those.

- Have you ever tried the Sonarwork calibration ? If so, which of the 2 seems closer to the rendering after calibration ? (less correction applied)

- You also mentioned that the MM-500 has more meet on the bone so my uneducated guess would be that you're talking about the 100hz to 500hz rendering.. So here's my question; would you say the Arya Unveiled come out as an ''incomplete'' rendering if it's missing what the MM-500 has in that frequency range ? I'm asking because I was a Ananda Nano user and REALLY loved everything about it, minus the Lower mids ( as mentioned in this question) .

If you have more info to give about those and you're mixing result using only one of those , I'm really all ears !! Where does both seem to fall short and reach a culprit in different situation or critical listening situation in your point of view?

Thanks a lot for that. It'll definitely help.

 

[Turnaround]

Here's my questions;
- Do you feel the MM-500 is better suited for mixing purposes or would you pick the Arya Unveiled over it ? You seem to mention instrument separation being a big point so I'm wondering how much of a difference it would make when finalizing a mix on those.

- Have you ever tried the Sonarwork calibration ? If so, which of the 2 seems closer to the rendering after calibration ? (less correction applied)

- You also mentioned that the MM-500 has more meet on the bone so my uneducated guess would be that you're talking about the 100hz to 500hz rendering.. So here's my question; would you say the Arya Unveiled come out as an ''incomplete'' rendering if it's missing what the MM-500 has in that frequency range ? I'm asking because I was a Ananda Nano user and REALLY loved everything about it, minus the Lower mids ( as mentioned in this question) .

If you have more info to give about those and you're mixing result using only one of those , I'm really all ears !! Where does both seem to fall short and reach a culprit in different situation or critical listening situation in your point of view?

I would not be qualified to address what a mixing engineer needs in headphones.

SonicScoop on YouTube has a video (and related article on his website) about his recommendations for the best headphones for mixing and mastering. He made a later video (and related article on his website) about <$400 headphones for mixing and mastering, where he says he was not yet aware of HiFiMan when he made the first video. These videos are interesting in how he discusses his needs as a mixer and mastering engineer, and how he chooses headphones.

He does stress that headphones are a personal choice, being familiar with your headphones is important, and certain headphones can better fit your experience level and tendencies.

On the Arya Unveiled and MM-500, I would say that when I listen to either of them for a while, it sounds correct and right to me. But when I intentionally A/B them, I notice the Arya Unveiled sounds a touch too bright, while the MM-500 sounds a touch too dark; and I notice the Arya Unveiled sounds a touch too thin-bodied, while the MM-500 sounds a touch too thick-bodied. I think my brain gets fooled into wanting a Goldilocks middle when I hear the contrast.

I think you are not going to make a perfect decision based on reviews and online opinions. You will likely need to go through a few headphones to figure out what works best for you. Even if you visit a store where you can really compare different headphones, your tastes and preferences will likely change after living with something for a while. You will lose some money in the process. But that is the only way to learn about these things, and I think of that cost as the price of acquiring something right for me.

 

[Kevintj604]

Quick question.

Wondering if anyone has A/B'd between the HEKV2 OG and the Arya Unveiled?

I'm contemplating selling my HE1000V2 OG to buy the Arya Unveiled and wondering if that's a smart move or not.

I currently only use the HEKV2 for Soundtracks and composed music so it's not in use a lot. I figured I'd potentially get more use out of the Arya but if it's a bad trade I won't bother.

 

[pneumonia]

Upgraded from the Organic to Unveiled, very happy with them.

Not as spacious in regards to staging but improves in practically everything else.

 

[Shivanshumishra]

If anyone has received the Arya Unveiled and happen to own the Arya Organic, HE1000SE and Stealth, I would appreciate some impressions on the differences between these headphones. I am able to listen to all except the Arya Unveiled.

Thanks.

You should check out Arya Unveiled's review from headphones.com () by Resolve and Golden Sound.

 

[martel80]

Not as spacious in regards to staging but improves in practically everything else.

That's exactly what I was just talking about in another thread earlier today.

I'm very happy to read that there's no more exaggerated width to those.

I see you use the exact same DAC as I do.

What are your current EQ setup for the Arya Unveiled on your RME ADI-2 DAC FS ?

 

[pneumonia]

That's exactly what I was just talking about in another thread earlier today.

I'm very happy to read that there's no more exaggerated width to those.

I see you use the exact same DAC as I do.

What are your current EQ setup for the Arya Unveiled on your RME ADI-2 DAC FS ?

I’ve not felt like I’ve needed to EQ them honestly, they sound brilliant out of the box.

 

[Shivanshumishra]

Would be able to compare

Upgraded from the Organic to Unveiled, very happy with them.

Not as spacious in regards to staging but improves in practically everything else.

If you have heard HE1000SE, Would you provide a comparison between these two?

 

[pneumonia]

Would be able to compare

If you have heard HE1000SE, Would you provide a comparison between these two?

I’ve not heard them unfortunately, I’m sure someone else can chime in who has though.

 

[Turnaround]

If you have heard some HiFiMan headphones, the frequency response measurements of others might give you some sense of how they sound in comparison. Below are links and graphics from vsg.squig.link.

You'll notice that each of the HE1000 Unveiled and Arya Unveiled, compared to their predecessors, have less of a dip in the 1-3kHz region, do not have the peak in the 6-8kHz region, and are a touch less in the bass region.

https://vsg.squig.link/headphones/?...a_Organic,HIFIMAN_Arya_(2021_Stealth_Magnets)

https://vsg.squig.link/headphones/?...eiled,HIFIMAN_HE1000_Stealth,HIFIMAN_HE1000se

 

[ryder78]

You should check out Arya Unveiled's review from headphones.com () by Resolve and Golden Sound.

Yes, I watched that review on Youtube sometime last month. I've delayed the audition and purchase of the Arya Unveiled as I've shifted my interest to home hifi just recently when an opportunity came up. Nevertheless, I'll surely try the Arya Unveiled later this year when I'm ready.

Coincidentally, I stumbled upon this video suggesting several pairs of cheaper headphones may be a better idea than a pair of costly headphone (Arya Unveiled). I disagree with this notion though.

 

[Shivanshumishra]

Yes, I watched that review on Youtube sometime last month. I've delayed the audition and purchase of the Arya Unveiled as I've shifted my interest to home hifi just recently when an opportunity came up. Nevertheless, I'll surely try the Arya Unveiled later this year when I'm ready.

Coincidentally, I stumbled upon this video suggesting several pairs of cheaper headphones may be a better idea than a pair of costly headphone (Arya Unveiled). I disagree with this notion though.

I didn't watch Joshua's this video but I disagree in buying cheaper headphone even though I can comfortably buy better headphones. I feel there isn't much value. From hobby perspective that might make sense, but each individual is different.