Based on my own reading and some of the posts here, the HEK stealth has some serious quality issues. Anything from the band snapping, drivers failing, etc… I saw less complains about the Arya breaking down.
For those who listened to both, is there such a huge difference between the two in terms of sound quality? Or is it a tuning difference?
Yes, the stage size, mid and lower bass dynamics, treble detail/harmonics, coherence come to mind at once as strongly favoring the HEK Stealth > Arya Stealth. The Arya Stealth has higher ear gain, can sound a little raw/rough. Classical/Jazz/chamber rock favor the HEK, rock and other amplified/processed recordings can favor the Arya - but its a matter of taste to a large extent.
To toss in another comparison. I think the HE-6 SE (v1 or 2) > Arya 1/2. However the Arya Stealth and HE-6 SE are on balance a push, but IMO the HEK Stealth beats both of them - handily, although the bass impact of the HE-6 SE tops both under 60 Hz.
They both want good source - and if you cannot afford the HEK, the Arya is anything other than a bad choice, it's just not as good. There is a family resembelance - like there is betwen the Ananda Stealth and Arya Stealth, but with say some of these cuts, and your own ref cuts, differences should be noted.
* Lt. Kije by Prokofiev (Reiner)
* Juraj Stanik - "I Wonder"
* Diana Krall "All For You" cuts 4-5
* Dead Can Dance - pref SACD MoFi's - "De Profundis" good starting point
* Joni Mitchell "For the Roses" cuts 8-11
* Little Feat "waiting for Columbus" cuts 8-9
* Radiohead "OK Computer"
* Genisis - Trick of the Tail "Squonk" - this one is best loud
* Patricia Barber "Cafe Blue" Cuts 1, 9, 10
* Miles Davis - Tutu (title track), Bitches Brew "Miles Runs the Vodoo Down"
* The Who - Quadrophenia "Sea and Sand"