cfranchi
500+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Jan 9, 2016
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What an impressive review !
At least based on measurements V2 should have more subbass than SE.Yeah a little bit, but I guess it’s fair since the he1000v2 costs way more.
To me it’s not very appealing since I don’t eq for serious listening and I know I would miss its bass impact.
But the he1000 SE? Yeah that’s another story.
Cool chart, would make a great posterOh, and if you like that stuff, this is a great reference chart for audio frequencies spectrum
https://bestmusicstuff.com/collecti...mate-colorful-audio-frequency-spectrum-posterCool chart, would make a great poster
Its still a pretty wide headphone imo. I mean its not as intimate as an HD600 to give you a reference. I don't know about you but I have a fair amount of tolerance for soundstage as long as there is a decent wideness to it. I don't like it when headphones are too closed in and I would say the focal Utopia suffered from that a bit, especially after I came from an HD 800, so I do understand why people care about soundstage but I think on this, comparing it to the empyrean which is also fairly wide I feel like it is competent and not something to overly worry about. To me it seems like it's more of a reason to keep a V2 versus a reason not to upgrade from a lower end Hi-Fi man.I am especially concerned about the soundstage. Resolution and detail, extension at top end and bottom end should be better than the XS in the SE (please say I am thinking right), but after reading reviews that the V3 takes a hit in soundstage segment (has shrunk) versus the V2 I am not sure what to make of it even though the SE as per reviews has improved in
The legendary HD600 and the claustrophobic 3 blob soundstage! I had the 650 but sold it off especially because of this very aspect (and also didnt like the warm veiled sound) but still have the 600 simply as a reference, a palette cleanser when I want to hear natural timbre and the natural luscious mids, after listening to my other sets. Cannot listen to it for long though because not a fan of exactly neutral sound. I prefer more of a U or V sound done tastefully and not overboard. A basshead audiophileIts still a pretty wide headphone imo. I mean its not as intimate as an HD600 to give you a reference. I don't know about you but I have a fair amount of tolerance for soundstage as long as there is a decent wideness to it. I don't like it when headphones are too closed in and I would say the focal Utopia suffered from that a bit, especially after I came from an HD 800, so I do understand why people care about soundstage but I think on this, comparing it to the empyrean which is also fairly wide I feel like it is competent and not something to overly worry about. To me it seems like it's more of a reason to keep a V2 versus a reason not to upgrade from a lower end Hi-Fi man.
I mean you could buy it and if you don't like it and it really bothers you, you can always return it. Alternatively you could just get a used V2 instead because there are plenty of those on the second hand market but you'll have to live without the stealth magnet improvements in resolution and in the other areas that have been mentioned on all the reviews.
I would highly recommend not making a decision in the first couple of days though because I did notice quite a bit of a change rapidly on my pair which is something I've never really experienced before but I definitely did this time. It was a little bit metallic at first and had some danger areas where it was close to maybe being fatiguing at first and I was a bit disappointed by that, because fatigue is the one thing that will make me stop using a headphone no matter how good it is in any other aspect, and it was a problem with the Utopia on the Hugo 2. Thankfully that went away completely after about a week and certainly after I ran it through about 8 hours of pink noise.
Yeah I mean I used to feel that way before this headphone as well, but it's changed my mind because the thing that's difficult to reconcile is how can my brain have such a distinctly different impression very early on than it does later on you know? it just seems like it has to be the headphone.. but anyway it's neither here nor there I guess. you're never going to convince people that have an opinion about cables or burn in one way or another and in the end it doesn't really matter does it ? cheers
Also I think I might believe that the physical characteristics could change in a moving device of some kind I mean after watching Joshua Valour poke his finger through the membrane that is the Arya's diaphram, I can see how this thing can stretch out and change over time with frequencies on it, lol
I switched from XS to Arya SE last month. This is my post from last month after receiving the headphone.You guys are discussing HEK-V2 vs Arya SE, and at this time I am too afraid to ask how much of an upgrade is the Arya SE against the EditionXS :/
If any one can answer this, that would be great.
I am especially concerned about the soundstage. Resolution and detail, extension at top end and bottom end should be better than the XS in the SE (please say I am thinking right), but after reading reviews that the V3 takes a hit in soundstage segment (has shrunk) versus the V2 I am not sure what to make of it even though the SE as per reviews has improved in other segments.
The XS soundstage isn't anything special like the K712 Pro or the HD800 but it's still very enjoyable. Tall and wide and immersive.
So is the V3 soundstage equivalent or worse or better than this.
I received my Arya Stealth. It's very punchy and crunchy headphone. Soundstage doesn't seem big and airy. This is a forward and engaging type of sound. I'd say Edition XS have bigger more spacious soundstage.
Speed is impressive. Ananda and XS sound flabby in comparison. Arya is tight, precise. Driver have strong grip.
The fit and the build significantly better than Ananda and XS in my opinion.
Very nice headphone.
I switched from XS to Arya SE last month. This is my post from last month after receiving the headphone.
Now my overall opinion:
XS have bigger soundstage. It's more distant and wide. Although, not a big difference but it's there and noticeable.
In terms of resolution detail etc Arya SE is significantly better.
Extension at the top end better on XS. Although i wouldn't say better, it's clearly boosted on XS and comes as a radio noise in some songs.
The bass extension is similar in terms of energy but quite different in terms of delivery. XS bass is very loose and bouncy. Arya SE very tight and snappier with a better punch and better overall dynamics in every frequency. Arya SE overall sounds more meaty, solid, engaging, energetic and immersive.
Arya SE can be hot from 3khz to 10khz. It's precise and solid in every frequency which makes it brighter than Ananda and XS.
Imaging is clearly better. Staging is different. XS is more like a traditional headphone. Arya SE delves in to recording and takes the cues to create soundstage. It's more in front and layered. It's kinda like you are inside of it. If you listen the headphone in a really silent room, it's transcending experience how soundstage/imaging/detail come together to make realistic uncanny presentation. And the amount of detail really benefits from high signal to noise ratio, i mean silent room.
Timbre is a lot better i think XS timbre isn't good. Battery, percussion instruments sounds great.
In terms of comfort Arya SE is amazing. It has a bit too much clamp but manageable. Build is also nicer and snug.
TLDR: XS is more relax, vague and loose sound. Arya SE tighter, snappier more insightful.
Perhaps research the He1000v2?Thanks for a detailed response. Exactly what I wanted to know but ironically this has also put me into a perplexing decision.
One of the sets I enjoy quite a lot in my collection is the TH909. The only planar I have is the XS and thinking of upgrading it to something that matches the TH909 performance and also has a wide soundstage similar to the soundstage of the XS if not bigger, but definitely not smaller than the XS's.
The Arya seems to check all my requirements but confused between the V2 or the V3. From your review and also what majority say, the V3 is supposedly a better sounding headphone than V2 and also XS in all aspects other than the soundstage, which both the V2 and XS have a better one. This has me confident and unsure as well for the V3.
Better performance than XS - yes.
Better soundstage than XS - no. (rather smaller!)
The way you have put is apt -
TLDR: XS is more relax, vague and loose sound. Arya SE tighter, snappier more insightful.
I want this Arya sound but with more soundstage!