It's all matter of design, the Lyr 3 is single ended but is one of the best amplifiers ever passed by hands.
HIFIMAN Arya - Arya Stealth - Arya Organic :: Impressions Thread
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Used market amps under $1000 that would be a good pairing with the V3. These amps were $2k or above retail. They are old but still sound very very good. They deliver quality power and good amounts of it which any planar loves.
Violectric V200/280.
Auralic Taurus mk2
Audio-GD master 9 - very neutral
WA6-SE maybe - output impedance may be too high but my 50 ohm LCD-3 prefazor sounded fine.
Apex Peak + Volcano PSU - IMO the best amp I have owned IMO. Speed, clarity, dynamics, can be tuned to be warm or dead neutral depending on tube. Very low output impedance with gobs of current. I heard a Naim Unity Atom side by side and thought the Naim was meh.
Burson Soloist 3x from the current market amps would be a good score.
Flux Labs FA-12, plenty of power for the Aryas with a slightly warm signature.
This is subjective of course.
Violectric V200/280.
Auralic Taurus mk2
Audio-GD master 9 - very neutral
WA6-SE maybe - output impedance may be too high but my 50 ohm LCD-3 prefazor sounded fine.
Apex Peak + Volcano PSU - IMO the best amp I have owned IMO. Speed, clarity, dynamics, can be tuned to be warm or dead neutral depending on tube. Very low output impedance with gobs of current. I heard a Naim Unity Atom side by side and thought the Naim was meh.
Burson Soloist 3x from the current market amps would be a good score.
Flux Labs FA-12, plenty of power for the Aryas with a slightly warm signature.
This is subjective of course.
I think you should "upgrade" only if you are looking for a different signature/pairing synergy. As far as I know, your stack has a good value and it's a good performer.
I had a topping amplifier in the past and I didn't like it 'cause all my HP are bright and it was just a bad pairing to me. If you are satisfied with their clean, a bit sterile and analytic sound, just keep it the way it is.
On the other hand, if you are looking for a smoother sounding stack/AIO, I think the K9 Pro is a very nice companion for the Arya SE.
It's punchy, warm and it has a nice instrument separation. Of course it is not perfect, but it's a good value for sure.
ezduzit2500
1000+ Head-Fier
IDK, I've not heard them before....
ezduzit2500
1000+ Head-Fier
I had the A90 and I didn't like it very much with the Aryas. It compared unfavorably to my $150 used Emotiva A-100 and my ~$125 Schiit Magni 3+, both discrete amps. To me, Topping's IC based amps haven't been an ideal match with the Aryas (timbre wise and spatially). Of course it didn't sound subjectively "bad" IMO, just not the best for the Arya. Again, IMO of course.
I tend to agree, the Arya needs something musical sounding, engaging and organic not clinical and boring.
yassdaboss
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Something like Asgard 3 or jutnheim works perfectly With Arya.
ezduzit2500
1000+ Head-Fier
Discrete Class A or AB for the win! They don't have to be expensive either - just capable....
Someone describes them as measurement chasing amp, which I feel can be true.
I've seen this in other developing tech branches, where at some point the consumer market start chasing sale specs over real performance.
Like Mpixels for photography and HDR/4K for monitors and tv.
Everyone needs to remember this too
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The EF400 is really growing on me. I've been a little critical on the DAC section earlier but it's actually got a solid built in DAC. At least on par with the Mojo 2 (or other mid tier DACs) as far as performance. The synergy with HiFiMan planars are undeniable. Immediately I could hear the pinpoint, precise imaging with the Arya's. So musical and engaging.
If anyone's looking for a AIO, I highly recommend it. It's basically plug and play, so easy to use. Set it and just enjoy the music.
If anyone's looking for a AIO, I highly recommend it. It's basically plug and play, so easy to use. Set it and just enjoy the music.
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zacoist
New Head-Fier
New to sharing my audio experience, so please bear with my inexperience. Still, I would like to know if anyone else had similar or different experiences with Arya v2 and Dekonis' Elite Fenestrated or Elite Hybrid. Paired with a Jotunheim v1.
Comfort: Both were definite upgrades to stock. However, I would say they don't warrant the upgrade for the price if you already have good-conditioned pads. They do fit around my head better as their memory foam tightly hugs my head. Since this is my first time comparing sheepskin and velour, I guess I have an affinity for velour around my head. Although their sheepskin is nice and smells good, I bought it from B-stock, and the shape was a little off, so it didn't sit as comfortably as the velour. Admittedly it could be entirely sociological, but the visual imperfection through off my comfort.
Elite Fenestrated: The biggest thing I noticed was how clean and transparent it was compared to the Hybrid. I thought everything was more forward, and the timbre was better (this was especially clear with songs that had guitar).
Elite Hybrid: Closer to stock. If stock is already perfect for you, this should be a no-brainer. I found it to have/be airier, more depth, better imaging, and openness compared to the Fenestrated. Although I feel like it was a bit more congested, but it was more fun.
I already fell in love with stock Arya v2, so I would have to choose the Hybrid as my favorite.
Comfort: Both were definite upgrades to stock. However, I would say they don't warrant the upgrade for the price if you already have good-conditioned pads. They do fit around my head better as their memory foam tightly hugs my head. Since this is my first time comparing sheepskin and velour, I guess I have an affinity for velour around my head. Although their sheepskin is nice and smells good, I bought it from B-stock, and the shape was a little off, so it didn't sit as comfortably as the velour. Admittedly it could be entirely sociological, but the visual imperfection through off my comfort.
Elite Fenestrated: The biggest thing I noticed was how clean and transparent it was compared to the Hybrid. I thought everything was more forward, and the timbre was better (this was especially clear with songs that had guitar).
Elite Hybrid: Closer to stock. If stock is already perfect for you, this should be a no-brainer. I found it to have/be airier, more depth, better imaging, and openness compared to the Fenestrated. Although I feel like it was a bit more congested, but it was more fun.
I already fell in love with stock Arya v2, so I would have to choose the Hybrid as my favorite.
My place is hot and noisy these days. Last night i had a good listen and yes i can confirm soundstage opens up. It's kinda uncanny how Arya present sound when it's soundstage click. Headphone disappears and you are floating inside the music.
I feel like Arya doesn't rely on physical design for creation of soundstage. It simply resolves the recording to create this effect. For example Edition XS drivers are more distant to my ears and that headphone have no clamp force at all. The result is more vague and diffuse sound but have this natural spacing all the time. Arya on the other hand just translates the recording in an uncanny way. It's more similar to Ananda here which creates more depth/layering in front than other headphones.
Contrails
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Soundstage definitely opened up on mine. I have had mine for 8 weeks now.
BowWazoo
Member of the Trade: Cable Builder
Very, very impressive on the Arya Stealth...
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