[PointyFox]

Did the tubes change the signature pretty dramatically? Also what tube amp is that if you don't mind me asking?

I think you quoted the wrong post.

 

[fronl]

I think you quoted the wrong post.

Woops, meant to get the post below yours. Sorry about that!

 

[fronl]

Does anyone have experience from driving them from the Hugo 2's? Is it sufficient to drive the Aryas?
I think they're a really smooth and sweet sounding headphone but I am not sure if I am driving them properly out of the Hugo2's.Using them with a tube amp now

Did the tubes change the signature pretty dramatically? Also what tube amp is that if you don't mind me asking?

 

[N0sferatu]

volume does not equal properly driven.

being driven means its dynamic range and resolution are pushed properly.

you can get a 1000 watt sub LOUD with a 500 watt amp too.
Doesn't mean its pushing it properly.

...and like I said before my Audio-GD FUN made the Arya sound like crap. The FUN has similar power output to the Magni (easily over 1 watt) and there were no dynamics. The Magni makes the Arya sing. My comment still stands for $100 it's more than capable of making this headphone sing. I've also heard the Arya on a Headamp Gilmore mk2. Also sounded excellent on that too. You don't need hundreds or thousands in an amp/dac to make this headphone sound excellent. I've heard my fair share of fun stuff in the past (many of the flagships on rather expensive gear) and for the sit down and just enjoy the music a simple Toping, Schitt, and the Arya is plenty of oomph for enjoyment.

 

[PoSR77]

I feel the Arya is a significant step.
My second "real" headphones were the he400i, I loved those things back then. When I had gotten the Sundara I A/B tested them and that proved to me that there was no reason for me to keep using the 400i, it was just a noticeable improvement. I feel the same for the Arya, the bass is night and day as well as the soundstage. Detail seems to be easier to notice and I don't find them as bright sounding overall as the Sundara.

I got the Arya roughly 2 weeks after the LCD-4 and the Arya still only impressed me.
I would dig around a bit, I managed to get the Arya very lightly used for $1400 CAD.
At that price I see the Arya as the best bang for the buck, even compared with Sundara before who I gave the nod of best bang of the buck towards.

Now I know everyone will have varying tastes, but I believe that if you do enjoy the Sundara and the music you are listening to, as well as traits you are looking for, that it would be quite surprising if you didn't appreciate the difference and not have regret "besides your bank account that is!"

I imagine they would be an easy sell if you did feel the money was too much for not a big enough jump, as yes it is a lot of money for headphones at the end of the day.

Thanks for the lengthy and judicious reply; it was of significant help.

I found a good deal on a new pair of Arya's (no open box, no B stock) that I could live with from a reputable official hifiman seller so I went ahead and got them. With all that's going on shipping might be a mess, but they should be in here in a 2 weeks tops. I'll do some lengthy listening/getting used to them before I post my impressions. I just hope my Gilmore Lite Mk2 can drive them well or else a RME ADI 2 DAC might be in my future (love the way that thing looks for one), but hopefully not for my wallet's sake!

Two main things drove my final decision:

I sat today and really listened to the Sundara's with a lot of different music of varying sound quality, and while at their best with the most well produced tracks they sounded great and I'd be pretty happy with them (at least for the time being; my T1's are better cans, but I loaned them to an out-of-town friend a few months ago and with all that's going on, including his recent job furlough, I said he could keep them indefinitely), even when they sounded their best I can tell something is lacking. Some lack of clarity, openness, "scale", and some "glare" or hardness to the upper mids and highs, and also some lack of refinement or delicacy, especially in the highs. Also, while I find their sound stage adequate for most all genres, I could use a larger one, even on rock/pop/metal. With these you ultimately feel like you are listening to a headphone. That intimacy can be good, but I do like a more immersive sound stage, at least if it doesn't become too unfocused.

And also the cups just aren't the most comfortable on my ears for extended listening. It's not a "can't take it" level of discomfort, but it does detract from the enjoyment of the music, especially after a couple of hours. The cups are just too shallow...and my ears are medium sized and don't stick out far from my head. (Yes, I know I can buy different pads for a lot less than new Arya's, but I'd rather just take the leap to ultra-comfortable headphones instead of sinking $50 to $100 or whatever into new pads.)

That, coupled with the discount I could get if I acted fast, along with the knowing that waiting for perhaps a really good deal on new Arya's in the coming months would nag at me (what am I missing right now?!) propelled my decision. I just hope I find that they are worth the price, but I know that where others find only marginal improvements between lower and higher priced gear, I generally find significant ones (often the differences are subtle, but as with many things in life, it is the subtle contrasts and qualities that really count).

I went from Sundara to Ananda to Arya and it was worth each step up along the way for me.

This helped as well, thanks.

 

[joshuachew]

Hopefully non-stock? Hifiman cables be sucking badly.

Using the legacy DHC Macromolecule cable and also the ALO Ref 16 (pictured above)

Did the tubes change the signature pretty dramatically? Also what tube amp is that if you don't mind me asking?

Yes, it does, it's got a more smooth and open sound compared to the solid state amps. But I kinda like it with the tubes and the ALO Ref 16 cables.
I really do not know what is the name of the amp, it is supposed to be a Woo Audio clone, got it a very very very long time ago from China. Apparently from the same factory that makes the chassis for Woo Audio.

 

[PointyFox]

Those are some long connectors sticking out of the headphones!

 

[joshuachew]

Those are some long connectors sticking out of the headphones!

The cables were built for my LCD X headphones sometime back.
Got an adapter made for the Ayras

 

[sennfan83261]

What cables are ya'll using with your Arya's?

My own Mogami W2893 w/ 3.5mm neutrik connectors and terminated with a neutrik 4-pin XLR.

 

[devilboy]

Received a Hegel Rost recently. VERY surprised to hear how well it drives the Arya. Spacious and warm with bass that's very deep, tight and impactful.
I'm thoroughly impressed.
Using the Hegel as a DAC/AMP for Arya and Spatial loudspeakers as well.

 

[DJJEZ]

Just got my aryas around a week back. absolutely love them

 

[knopi]

Received a Hegel Rost recently. VERY surprised to hear how well it drives the Arya. Spacious and warm with bass that's very deep, tight and impactful.
I'm thoroughly impressed.
Using the Hegel as a DAC/AMP for Arya and Spatial loudspeakers as well.

Nice. Hegel make great things. One my friend loves it with his ATC SCM40mkII. He went slowly from their middle models to highend models. But as everything it needs good match and my other other friend liked more Questyle Twelve over Hegel with my previous speaker Blipo.

 

[musickid]

shortlisted denon 9200, sony mdr z1r and arya to use with my chord tt2 and mscaler. i use an oppo pm1 now with real leather pads at 395 grams right now and very comfortable. my problem has always been comfort and fit. as a guide i have tried he1000se and they were very nearly there but the pads very slightly irritated my ears. i know the arya is lighter but is it generally more comfortable than the he1000se? from the 3 headphones mentioned i would definitely go with arya if the fit is good as i'd rather move away from big tech companies to a specialist like hifiman. one problem is that i tend to favour real leather sheepskin pads like on my oppo pm1 so i wonder if the felt type pads on the arya would be good for me. currently trying to find a way to try the arya here in the UK but it looks like i'll have to buy then return if not comfortable. any general guidance appreciated.

 

[KenB]

I have been interested in audiofile headphones since first joining Head-Fi in 2005. Over the past two decades, like many Head-Fiers, I have bought, sold, and traded a number of products. My current collection includes: STAX SR404/SRM313, Senn HD650, Sony CD3000, AKG AK240DF, Westone W4, and now, my first planars, Hifiman Arya, purchased through Headphones.com a month ago. I am certainly not a qualified technical "reviewer," so my impressions are simply those of an amateur musician and enthusiast. I am finding that the Arya's are my most enjoyable headphones even compared to the STAX electrostatics (also fabulous). I listen mostly to online streaming music (classical, jazz, funk, rock) in UltraHD supported by a Schiit Modi3 DAC and, as pictured, a Schiit Magi3 Heresy amplifier. Initially, I had a Soundavo DAC/Amp combo, but it clipped horribly and was clearly under-powered for the Arya. Fortunately, I was able to return it to Amazon for a full refund. Before committing to Magni3, I wrote to Schiit and received an immediate response confirming that the Heresy is more than capable of driving the Arya's and my experience fully endorses that advice. I listen at fairly loud levels, by my standards, and the volume knob routinely sits in the 1:00-2:00 range. As others have reported, I am enjoying the Arya's wide/tall soundstage, delightful midrange-treble, and deep satisfying bass according to the source recording. For me, these are fantastic headphones and I am thoroughly happy with the acquisition...


P.S. Just listened to "Bring Him Home" by Alfie Boe, Danish National Chamber Orchestra (HD); phenomenal rendition on Arya -- highly recommended!

 

[Listenisb]

Hi, I've been enjoying my Ayra for couple weeks as it's my first planer headphone. Currently in market for a DAP to use in house between rooms. I'm looking at AK Kann and Kann Cube and Hiby R5. I'm using xduoo xd-05 plus as portable for now and want more in terms of SQ and feature like a real DAP. Do I really need the power from Kann Cube to drive Arya compare to much cheaper Kanna and R5? I really like the design of Kann as it has physical control buttons at the bottom. However, Kann Cube is a monster in terms of power. I actually don't mind the size of Cube as there is no plan to take it outdoor. Based on my research, R5 has a really good and fast system which I value a lot. Can someone share their experience with those 3 DAP with Arya? I listen to different genres using Tidal Hi-fi and Spotify premium. I don't have any offline music.

Thanks in advance! This is my first post after months of reading on head-fi forum!

Current set up and headphones:
Hifiman Arya, Focal Elex, Fostex th610, HD600, Final audio e3000
Topping dx7s, SMSL sp200, xduoo xd-05 plus, ifi nano black, Aune X7S, iPod classic, topping mx3
PSB alpha P3 speaker