Arya Unveiled impressions thread

[Thomasr]

ChatGPT is getting surprisingly good at playful satire:

Here are some satirical names for an IKEA high-end audiophile headphone model, blending IKEA’s playful naming style with audiophile tropes:

1. Ljudsnobb (Sound Snob)
2. Klangström (Sound Stream)
3. Överhör (Overhear)
4. Tonbalans (Tone Balance)
5. Trädljud (Wood Sound)
6. Hi-Fjäll (High Mountain, pun on Hi-Fi)
7. Frekvensväv (Frequency Weave)
8. Dämpklang (Damped Sound)
9. Hörmöbel (Hearing Furniture)
10. Basvrål (Bass Roar)
11. Högupplös (High Resolution)
12. Ljudlöv (Sound Leaf)
13. Kabelkris (Cable Crisis)
14. Audiovåg (Audio Wave)
15. Tystlåda (Silent Box)

For extra authenticity, the headphones would require some assembly and come with optional "upgrades" like wooden earcups, flat-pack cables, and a special IKEA-exclusive DSP app: LjudRätt (Sound Right).

 

[boodi]

You're right. Now having been listening for several days, I've had time for "brain burn in" to kick in, and the relaxed treble that I my brain initially perceived as perhaps a loss of some detail (HPs with peaky treble tend to have a 'sparkle' to them that you won't hear with these). But in reality, the microdetails are absolutely there. And again what also continues to stand out and impress is the soundstage. The way an instrument or sound will pop out in its own separate layer outside of my head is extremely satisfying, and again a major departure from the typical "hifiman house sound". The soundstage of these unvieled HPs are on another level.
The longer I listen the more I love these.

I might pull the trigger too soon.

Been a wild fan of he1000se until eventually the 'zing' in the timber of instruments ( not particularly analogue ) let me off.

Susvara couldn't sound so good as them on portable . So I left the Hifiman train there.
Now things changed , I wonder when we'll have a comparison between HE1000UN and ARYAUN

 

[Kammerat Rebekka]

I might pull the trigger too soon.

Been a wild fan of he1000se until eventually the 'zing' in the timber of instruments ( not particularly analogue ) let me off.

Susvara couldn't sound so good as them on portable . So I left the Hifiman train there.
Now things changed , I wonder when we'll have a comparison between HE1000UN and ARYAUN

Here you go
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/hif...000-stealth-vs-he1000-se.975248/post-18498103

Spoiler: I prefer the Arya Unveiled and it’s slightly warmer treble.

 

[Loryh]

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.

Happy New Year! I own the Arya Organic, have the Meze Empyrean ll and Susvara Unveiled on loan. I now have the Arya Unveiled, which I consider still being broken in at around 50 hours.

First of all, in spite of currently listening to some of the highest rated headphones, the Arya Organic make me smile the most. They have over a year of constant use, and I still think of them as reference to everything I listen to. I love that they are mobile; easily driven by a strong dongle/DAC (currently the iFi Go Bar Kensei, and the Earmen Colibri). The bass, detail and stunning sound stage are what keep me going back. The Meze sound closed-in in comparison. The Susvara are in a class of their own, but I still prefer the bass on the Arya Organic.

So far, the Arya Unveiled are becoming wonderfully rich and warm, something they didn't have right out of the box. Like the Organic, on first listen they were bright and a tiny bit closed-in, in terms of sound stage. But once they had been playing for lots of hours off in my office, and I put them back on, the difference was quite noticeable. They have a smoothed off treble and the bass has really, really filled out. Vocals are stellar. Hard to tell yet, but I think the Organic hold more detail. I would say they are warm and rich while still having some of the airy clarity of the Organic, and Susvara. They also play well on the Kensei dongle/DAC.
My primary DAC/Amp are the HIFIMAN EF1000 DAC and the Topping DX7 Pro. I'm hoping to get a hold of the Topping Centaurus R2R DAC to try out with the Pass Labs HPA-1 amplifier that is sitting on my desk waiting for a good DAC.

Personal opinion, but I think that the HIFIMAN planers really love R2R DACs vs Delta-Sigma, with the first seeming to round off the brightness a bit while warming them up without any giving up any transparency and finesse. I'm not a trained listener and certainly not an engineer, so who knows, it could be the placibo effect...as an aside, I am a woman, and have been told we have "better" hearing...no flames please, I don't have a clue if there is any truth to that; given that generalizations are just that...

 

[ryder78]

Happy New Year! I own the Arya Organic, have the Meze Empyrean ll and Susvara Unveiled on loan. I now have the Arya Unveiled, which I consider still being broken in at around 50 hours.

First of all, in spite of currently listening to some of the highest rated headphones, the Arya Organic make me smile the most. They have over a year of constant use, and I still think of them as reference to everything I listen to. I love that they are mobile; easily driven by a strong dongle/DAC (currently the iFi Go Bar Kensei, and the Earmen Colibri). The bass, detail and stunning sound stage are what keep me going back. The Meze sound closed-in in comparison. The Susvara are in a class of their own, but I still prefer the bass on the Arya Organic.

So far, the Arya Unveiled are becoming wonderfully rich and warm, something they didn't have right out of the box. Like the Organic, on first listen they were bright and a tiny bit closed-in, in terms of sound stage. But once they had been playing for lots of hours off in my office, and I put them back on, the difference was quite noticeable. They have a smoothed off treble and the bass has really, really filled out. Vocals are stellar. Hard to tell yet, but I think the Organic hold more detail. I would say they are warm and rich while still having some of the airy clarity of the Organic, and Susvara. They also play well on the Kensei dongle/DAC.
My primary DAC/Amp are the HIFIMAN EF1000 DAC and the Topping DX7 Pro. I'm hoping to get a hold of the Topping Centaurus R2R DAC to try out with the Pass Labs HPA-1 amplifier that is sitting on my desk waiting for a good DAC.

Personal opinion, but I think that the HIFIMAN planers really love R2R DACs vs Delta-Sigma, with the first seeming to round off the brightness a bit while warming them up without any giving up any transparency and finesse. I'm not a trained listener and certainly not an engineer, so who knows, it could be the placibo effect...as an aside, I am a woman, and have been told we have "better" hearing...no flames please, I don't have a clue if there is any truth to that; given that generalizations are just that...

Happy New Year to you too and thanks for the detailed impressions, certainly useful and appreciated. It appears that I need to pay more attention to the Arya Organic in the store if I happen to compare them all. The Arya Unveiled will need to have that something special if I were to pick it over the rest, not only the Arya Organic but HE1000 SE and Stealth.

I'll be using my existing DAC dongles (FIIO KA15 and Cayin RU7) with the headphones if I end up with one, soon. I only listen at home and not outdoors or on the go.

 

[Loryh]

Happy New Year to you too and thanks for the detailed impressions, certainly useful and appreciated. It appears that I need to pay more attention to the Arya Organic in the store if I happen to compare them all. The Arya Unveiled will need to have that something special if I were to pick it over the rest, not only the Arya Organic but HE1000 SE and Stealth.

I'll be using my existing DAC dongles (FIIO KA15 and Cayin RU7) with the headphones if I end up with one, soon. I only listen at home and not outdoors or on the go.

The Arya Unveiled is beginning to edge out the Organic, but it may be because I need to start paying close attention to it and make it my primary headphone for a while. I haven't done any A/B comparisons yet between them. Given the price on the Organic, I think it is a great deal and if someone is a fan of the HIFIMAN house sound I would recommend it without reservations. I briefly heard the HE1000 Unveiled at CanJam and I loved what I was hearing. Like the Arya Unveiled there was a warmth and relaxed richness to it. I remember thinking that I could listen all day with that headphone and make it my desktop go-to.
By the way, totally a goofy thing to say, but, I think the Arya Organic is a beautiful looking headphone.

 

[Patlezinc]

I might pull the trigger too soon.

Been a wild fan of he1000se until eventually the 'zing' in the timber of instruments ( not particularly analogue ) let me off.

Susvara couldn't sound so good as them on portable . So I left the Hifiman train there.
Now things changed , I wonder when we'll have a comparison between HE1000UN and ARYAUN

Try both. I have tweaked a bit the He1000Unveiled with PEQ to match the Arya Unveiled FR (it is pretty easy). If we admit I succeded, it is true that the Arya Unveiled FR is a bit more forgiving with songs a bit on the edge. But with well recorded songs or with instrumental music you loose a bit of something with the Arya FR style.
FR curve cant represent the full headphones of course. Anyway, does this little difference justification 1000€ more? Maybe not. It is up to each person. But a listen would give you the right answer. No one can give you the right advise because no one has your ears/tastes/system. What is sure (to me) : this new tuning of the Unveileds with trebles more conventional and mids a bit higher is a nice move for poeple listening a bit of everything. It ends up more natural. And I definitely dont think any punch or dynamic has been lost in the process. Or in a way it is annoying at least, if it exists. Not to my hears.
If you think about DAP only , think about an external amp then.

 

[MrHaelscheir]

Try both. I have tweaked a bit the He1000Unveiled with PEQ to match the Arya Unveiled FR (it is pretty easy). If we admit I succeded, it is true that the Arya Unveiled FR is a bit more forgiving with songs a bit on the edge. But with well recorded songs or with instrumental music you loose a bit of something with the Arya FR style.
FR curve cant represent the full headphones of course. Anyway, does this little difference justification 1000€ more? Maybe not. It is up to each person. But a listen would give you the right answer. No one can give you the right advise because no one has your ears/tastes/system. What is sure (to me) : this new tuning of the Unveileds with trebles more conventional and mids a bit higher is a nice move for poeple listening a bit of everything. It ends up more natural. And I definitely dont think any punch or dynamic has been lost in the process. Or in a way it is annoying at least, if it exists. Not to my hears.
If you think about DAP only , think about an external amp then.

Given how similar the magnet arrays look between the HE1000 Unveiled and Arya Unveiled and how similarly they measure (other than VSG's measurement showing a bit more upper treble and top octave out of the former), I am curious as to whether you find any differences in transient tactility or the sense of "speed" or "resolution" between the two. Likewise, based on VSG's measurements and how similar the headphones are, if you adjusted the headbands so that both headphones have the pads at identical heights relative to your ears, assuming the playback volumes were accurately matched, I would expect that one would only need to EQ the upper treble to get them very close.

 

[boodi]

Happy New Year! I own the Arya Organic, have the Meze Empyrean ll and Susvara Unveiled on loan. I now have the Arya Unveiled, which I consider still being broken in at around 50 hours.

First of all, in spite of currently listening to some of the highest rated headphones, the Arya Organic make me smile the most. They have over a year of constant use, and I still think of them as reference to everything I listen to. I love that they are mobile; easily driven by a strong dongle/DAC (currently the iFi Go Bar Kensei, and the Earmen Colibri). The bass, detail and stunning sound stage are what keep me going back. The Meze sound closed-in in comparison. The Susvara are in a class of their own, but I still prefer the bass on the Arya Organic.

So far, the Arya Unveiled are becoming wonderfully rich and warm, something they didn't have right out of the box. Like the Organic, on first listen they were bright and a tiny bit closed-in, in terms of sound stage. But once they had been playing for lots of hours off in my office, and I put them back on, the difference was quite noticeable. They have a smoothed off treble and the bass has really, really filled out. Vocals are stellar. Hard to tell yet, but I think the Organic hold more detail. I would say they are warm and rich while still having some of the airy clarity of the Organic, and Susvara. They also play well on the Kensei dongle/DAC.
My primary DAC/Amp are the HIFIMAN EF1000 DAC and the Topping DX7 Pro. I'm hoping to get a hold of the Topping Centaurus R2R DAC to try out with the Pass Labs HPA-1 amplifier that is sitting on my desk waiting for a good DAC.

Personal opinion, but I think that the HIFIMAN planers really love R2R DACs vs Delta-Sigma, with the first seeming to round off the brightness a bit while warming them up without any giving up any transparency and finesse. I'm not a trained listener and certainly not an engineer, so who knows, it could be the placibo effect...as an aside, I am a woman, and have been told we have "better" hearing...no flames please, I don't have a clue if there is any truth to that; given that generalizations are just that...

Are the arya unveiled growing over the organic on you so far/lately or...still you favor arya organic..?

 

[Loryh]

The Unveiled are growing on me. One of the qualities is a sub-bass fullness that gives them some punch that has a little more weight. They are fun and really lively, if that is a term... I've been listening to the Meze Empyrean ll for a few months now. The Meze are built like a tank and are beautiful, but I found them a bit too dark, though again, look at what I've been "trained" on...HIFIMAN and STAX.
I've never listened to the Arya Stealth, but given that these sound different enough from the Organic and not an evolution of the Organic sound, I'm wondering if these might be an unveiled version of the OG Arya? I will see if I can get an answer from HIFIMAN.

I hope that helps...

 

[bagwell359]

Given how similar the magnet arrays look between the HE1000 Unveiled and Arya Unveiled and how similarly they measure (other than VSG's measurement showing a bit more upper treble and top octave out of the former), I am curious as to whether you find any differences in transient tactility or the sense of "speed" or "resolution" between the two. Likewise, based on VSG's measurements and how similar the headphones are, if you adjusted the headbands so that both headphones have the pads at identical heights relative to your ears, assuming the playback volumes were accurately matched, I would expect that one would only need to EQ the upper treble to get them very close.

The thickness of the membrane, it's tension, gauss strength of the magnets, distance between stators, magnets, membranes. There are a lot of subtle ways to change tuning on HFM headphones. The long cups tend to have commonalities for sure.

Mods such as pads, headbands, cables, and most importantly PEQ certainly can help shrink these differences. But by example the HE-6 OG, HE-500, and HE-6 SE which are very very similar on many construction points sound quite a bit different stock, but they can be made to get a good deal closer with effort, but not the same.

 

[Reputator]

Sound impressions start at 10:29.

Spoiler

It reminds him of a baby Susvara Unveiled. Less bite in the treble but still highly detailed. Not as dynamic or slammy as the Organic.

 

[BowWazoo]

An interesting review.
I have to do a direct comparison with my beloved Arya Stealth. Because just like the Organic and HE-1000 Stealth (I think these three are extremely similar), I love their dynamics and their very strong bass
(set to Harman, of course).

 

[Reputator]

Spoiler

He doesn't view it really as a successor to the Ayra line, sound signature wise, but rather a whole new animal. And he likes this change enough to call it his new favorite Arya.

 

[TheR0v3r]

Spoiler

He doesn't view it really as a successor to the Ayra line, sound signature wise, but rather a whole new animal. And he likes this change enough to call it his new favorite Arya.

Excellent headphone, hard to find any faults. My favourite Arya (haven’t heard Organic) and also better than any HE1000 (I’ve heard all current models). IMHO.

It has this pleasing combination of having an open, layed back feel without sacrificing tonality or resolution. One of very few headphones I don’t feel the need to EQ.

Edit: Forgot about HE1000 Unveiled which I haven’t heard.