For me, I personally found the perfect balance of technical and tonal with owning a he1000se for technical and ZMF atrium for tonal ! Super happy with my headphones thank you Sajid for always steering your listeners in the right direction :)
@theodorezurla496 He talked me into the HE1000SE as well, and after burn in taming the teeble, I can't listen to anything else. I have ZMF Bokeh, too, but the HE1000SE is just too much information to listen to anything else. I would love to get ZMF Atrium at some point. I'll sell these Bokeh, and with Atrium/HE1000SE, I feel like I'd be set for at least 5 years.
This video really does put into perspective how you need to determine for yourself where the law of diminishing returns really takes into effect. We all know that it really starts well below $1000, but you may be willing to spend more on a better product even if it's not that much better in certain categories. For me personally, I understand that things are going to get much more expensive really quickly for the type of returns they offer, but I love when you get something new and it gives you that honeymoon phase where you're finding new things in your music all over again, along with just owning something exquisite and engineered to perfection such as the focal utopia.
I started with a Sundara a few years ago. Today I only own an Empy 2 and I'm happy. Its not the most resolving or most technical but it has a fun tuning and perfect build and comfort :)
thanks for putting everything in the right perspective! I might upgrade my DAC/Amp in the future but headphone/ IEM wise I am happy with my current collection consisting of Hifiman Arya Organic, Focal Elear, Fiio FH9 and Thieaudio Prestige ltd. They all have a different flavor and give me plenty of pleasure and I honestly think I do not need to upgrade any further.
I bought the HE 1000 SE on your recommendation. Very nice. It's definitely my endgame headphone for the moment. I can hear higher frequencies on it than I can on my 6xx. The HE 1000 SE is a better all round headphone than the 6XX.
i stand between the new arya organic or a new arya stealths plus a used audeze lcd x. this is a hard choice, what do you think? i'm comming from an old beyerdynamic dt 880 250 ohm edition.
For sure! But, its surprising how low they can go with good amping. Plus most music doesn't have sub bass. I use different headphones for edm and hiphop.
@@Nuevo_El_Nagual I have some organ music with deep loud bass. My 6XX just doesn't cut it in comparison. Maybe the track is bass enhanced but it sounds amazing on my headphones that actually produce steep bass. But you know horses for courses.
Just found your channel and I love your videos! I am itching to explore a new headphone and can't make up my mind at all. I have never heard planars. I currently own (in the order purchased): DT990 Pro ATH M50X HD598 Fiio FT1 DT 1990 Pro I love them all for different things but my favorite is the DT 1990 Pro overall. I find the Sennheiser's to be boring in most cases except for classical/vocal. I am enjoying the journey and still learning. I wanna spend around $1000-$1500. A lot of people recommending HIFIMAN cans so I'm considering finally going planar but I can't make up my mind. Arya Stealth? Organic? HE1000? HE1000se? As much comparisons as I watch including yours I can't decide. I do like fun, engaging, punchy sound, but I also love soundstage. Any advice would be appreciated!
I’ve seen it all, right along with you, and it’s precisely why I’ve sold everything except my ZMFs and HD 650. They simply offer the best *musical experience* for my ears.
I have the Arya Stealth. I like it but prefer the Aune AR5000 which is a fraction of the price. It beats all of my £1000+ headphones. TH-camrs like to tell us to pay more for better sound but they have an ulterior motive because they get more affiliate income that way. I find the ASR website to be more honest than TH-camrs. That's how I found out about the AR5000 as it's rated higher than even the Susvara on that website, for good reason. So don't fall for all the BS from TH-camrs.
@@dtz1000 some reviewers you need to be careful for but reviewers like Sajid are pure honesty and love for the hobby. I think instead of reading it you should go to can jam and test them for yourself… from my experience resolution does come at a cost, but they’re definitely are some bang for the bucks.. your ears are the ultimate test
Just got a pair of Arya Organics and have some Focal Clears on the way. I will probably end up getting Susvara or Utopia at some point. Yes it's a probably a waste of money but I can't take it with me to heaven so I'm gonna spend it on something I enjoy.
I LOVE my Hifiman Arya Organic. Together with (in the background) Hifiman EF500 its golden for me. I never have to buy another headphone and DAC/AMP again!
Paying more for a headphone and listening to badly recorded music results in a bad experience. However, when the recording is exemplary, a decent pair of headphones will sound stellar.
When you rank these headphones by technicality, how do you factor in EQ and the ability to tweak tonality to your liking? I feel weird sometimes because I've completely skipped over the 6xx/650 lineup. When I started getting into open-back headphones, I went from Koss PortaPros to Hifiman Devas and then on to Audeze LCD-X (2021 revision) with EQ. And I love the LCD-X and the planar sound.
Hi Sajid, thank you for this video. Where would you put the Susvara? I know it needs a good amplification so let's just say when paired with Goldenwave Prelude, how does it stack against the competition(maybe let's just compare it to Utopia as it is the closest to Susvara price wise)? Can you please give it a rating on Technical Performance and Tonality?
For me, tonal balance is very important now. I Used to chase resolution and detail only. Right now I have the Sennheiser HD800S, HD6XX, HD600 and Hifiman Arya SE. The HD800S has the worst tonal balance. I had the old Focal Utopia but sold it. I prefer the Araya SE the most among the headphones I own, very well balanced with greath technical performance and resolution. I prefer the Arya SE over the Arya Organic, the SE is more balanced and the Organic has a little to much bite in the treble. And in Sweden, the Organic is not as cheap as in the US. In Sweden you have to pay around 1700-1800 USD. I love my HD6XX and 600, but I always feel that they lack a bit of resolution, and that actually bothers me. But its something magical about them, I like the 600 more. A little more subbass and it is almost perfect.
I am in the market for a Hifiman. Deciding between Edition XS, Ananda Stealth and Arya Stealth. Is Arya SE worth twice the price? I like my bass, don't need them to be basshead but not anemic either. What would you recommend between the 3? Thank you!
I used and loved my HD6xx's for many years as a daily driver. That was until about two months ago when, on a lark I decided to try the Harmonicdyne Collab with Zeos, the Eris. Perhaps it's that I'm just not as tweaky or audiophilia so much, because I absolutely adore these Eris headphones. Using the Schiit Modius/Midgard stack, the Eris are easy to drive and has the exact sound I've been craving, particularly the bass output. I am somewhat of a bass head, having a pair of 12" subs with a pair of aDs 910s standmounts, which already go down to 28htz. I just cannot imagine a better set of headphones for my tastes. The Eris sell for $250 and are very comfortable, so I'm supremely happy with this purchase, and might get another pair, just in case.
I might actually pick up a 2nd one on payday. If more people knew about this thing it might ruin the hobby its so good. Massive bass without being boomy and with great separation.
@@elasmojones With some actual soundstage. I'm constantly looking behind me when a sound comes from the recorder's perspective, thinking it's someone trying to talk to me in the living room. heh
Great detailed interview! Would it be worth it to jump up to a Arya organic from a Non-Stealth Arya? I listen to rock music mostly. I value your opinion!
As one who has been using the Organic, I would make sure you're very comfortable with the treble as it does bite and is hard to listen to for extended periods, even painful. I can hear up to 24 KHz, but if you can't hear anywhere close to that, maybe you won't experience any of these issues. I'm returning the Organic for the HE1000SE.
Apart from sound isolation, the Sennheiser HD400 Pro is the perfect headphone for me in every aspect. I can rely on it to be transparent and faithful to the recording.
I have an Arya Stealth plus many other open and closed backs, for some reason I keep switching back to my M50x with custom pads, for me it's lighter, more comfy and I just prefer the overall sound signature despite obviously not being as detailed as many of my other headphones.
Fascinating topic. I think preference and budget are the priorities. Had a few Sennys in my time, but skipped the 6 series for the road less traveled like ATH R70X. Amazing cans. OG Kennerton Valis was were I landed. Love the macro dynamics, warmth, texture and timbre. Rolled off at both ends, but very punchy in the mid bass.
HD650 truly is a gem. I don't hear the Utopia 2022 as thin personally (definitely do for the Arya) and it actually sounds like a super-HD650 on my set-up - very full, rich and satisfying (esp. compared with the OG Utopia). Are these the only 3 headphones you have in your collection now?
@@amplifyaudioreviews mass kobo 394 ii and qutest w quality LPS and upgraded RCA cables. The mids are more fleshed out on a utopia than the other headphones mentioned. The HD650 is extremely pleasing tonally (and can be sensational on an OTL) but I do feel like there’s some empty space/gaps in the overall sonic image and the Nutopia fills all of that in.
Can i ask you out of those 3 which one would you say have the best bass.. i do electronic music and ive only ever tried 1 pair of open back headphones at guitar center like 4 years ago but i need something better then my audio technica m50s .. i honestly hate those headphones
Liked the video a lot! The Sennheiser 6x0 series is really fun on OTL tube amps, I used to be very sceptical of this claim but I'm a convert. Always find it hard to recommend buying an amp like this for just one pair of headphones when you could just buy a different pair... But if you have 2 or more headphones that can play well with tubes think it's definitely something worth trying out
@@amplifyaudioreviews Just the xDuoo TA-66 currently, nothing all that amazing but was finally a fun entry-level tube amp in Canada that didn't have inflated costs
Please try the heddphone 2! It seems to be the perfect headphone. I got the arya stealth because of the price point and it being considered an allrounder (bass, soundstage, technical capabilities etc). However, i realized it is not for me. I can hear exactly when it cuts off in the quiet details and the sibilance kills me. Treble is difficult to eq. Heddphone 2 seems to have warm mids, more detail and separation, still good soundstage and be punchy as a dynamic driver. I will try it as soon as i get the chance Edit: if you add eq at least
On my journey down the rabbit hole of audiophilia, I believe I've found my endgame, not with one headphone, but with multiple, with each complimenting the others. The perfect headphone probably doesn't exist for me, and I don't have a fountain of money to try every headphone in the world, so I'm perfectly fine with my sub $1000 headphones.
Edition XS is much less refined and has not much soundstage as compared to the Arya Stealth's. The Arya does everything elegantly and is clean, whereas Edition XS is more emphasised in the bass and has a more 'fun' tonality. As someone who owned the Edition XS for two years, I'd take the Arya Stealth any day.
If they didn't really care that much about sound in the first place, maybe they can save some money. I know for shit sure I couldn't. Would be nice tho.
Just get AKG K712 or K702 for classical and massive music with good dac and amp. For everything else HD650 if you dont need closed headphones, then get Meze 99 classics. Also Meze 109 pro does everything but cost much as HD650 and AKG K712 combined.
Now we need another video, do headphones scale with amps? (Im trying to figure this out myself. I have an he6 running on a cayin iha6. I have heard it could sound better on more powerful amps but im on the fence about buying another amp because i dont have experience of knowing if headphones scales with amps).
Totally agree! For me the hd650 also set the preference for tonality. I had only one cheaper hp that impressed me technically. The akg 107. It has a soundstage comparable to the hd800 but worse tonality for my liking. After i got bored of the hd800 tonality I bought the lcd-x (2019) because its closer to the hd650 but it was too for dark for my preference so I bought the lcd-4z 😅 wich was really great overall, even in comparision to other totl hp, but it broke... For the repair costs I bought the heddphone 2 wich is now my daily driver and satisfies my tonal and technical expectations and is built like a tank... I could have cut my journey short with buying an arya early on and not buying anything else until those broke... Well, lets see how im going to waist money on dacs and amps now😂
The HD650 is the headphone many start with because it's popular, priced well, and highly recommended. People get bored, want excitement, and go for something more exciting that sounds more detailed at first listen. After years of trying headphones their taste and experience of how instruments sound matures, they go back to the HD650 and retire with it, why? Because while other headphones like the Arya sound more detailed, they almost force it, the HD650 doesn't. They present the music in an engaging, natural way and those details are still not overly sharpened. You then go back to these expensive headphones, which sound forced and unnatural. The HD650 is unmatched here and also lasts forever. In terms of Hifimans, I've always felt the Ananda Stealth was the slept on models because it offers the unique, open, vast sound but has a bit more body than the Aryas in the vocals with a smoother toneality while being close in detail to the Oranic or Arya Stealth while being much cheaper. I sold my LCD-X and Aryas and stuck with the Ananda Stealth and HD650. My HD650's will last forever.
9:19 Interesting 🧐 The 3 Headphones that I are my go to in my headphone collection.. HiFiman 400i (2020) ..a general slightly more aggressive Sundara 🙂 Sen’s 650 ..yup everything you’ve said 👍 AUDEZE LCDX (2021 Creators edition) ..Holy Smokes 😮 Do headphones scale with price ..yes ..more so than speakers or IEM’s ..🤔 Have a great week
Why do some people like deep bass? Because it sounds very nice through the right headphone. Why do people with budget sennheisers not like deep bass? Because they can't hear it on their headphones.
The 650 is so special, I have both the 650 and 600 for the magic midrange alone. Although they are very capable in other areas like treble naturalness and timbre of course. I tried the Utopia 2022 compared to my Clear MG Pro, I prefer the tonality on the Clear MG. It's similarly warm like the 650, but with much better bass, resolution, and dynamics, and soundstage/imaging. And the Utopia certainly did not sound 3 times the price better than the Clear MG.
If my HE1000SE ever breaks I think the Arya organic would be the next best headphone for my requirements. After all it got headphone of the year from a number of reviewers. They claim it has brilliant sound stage. Any tunnel issues that I'm not 100% happy with I can always stick with EQ.
As an xm4 owner (never tried the xm3) and an audeze maxwell owner the maxwell is a big step up audio wise so if you're already happy with the xm3 but are looking to upgrade eventually then you should check out the maxwell at some point if you enjoy wireless closed backs :).
HD 600 on high end tubes. To get significantly better youll have to go for the HE-1. Because for perfectionist audio other headphones have significant weaknesses in one area or another. You shouldnt have to compromise at astronomical prices. A lot just miss the natural realistic sound by a large margin which is strange because its quite obvious and is a rare distortion in loudspeakers at the highest tier price range.
@amplifyaudioreviews Not high end today, a cary audio integrated tube amp powering high efficiency speakers and the hd600. Mostly use iem on the road and speakers but in a condo you have to use headphones. There is something natural to the hd600 making the shift from speakers to headphones pleasant you don't lose so much. To get something significant to me is a tier better. Cheers, nice video.
I listen to some organ music with deep Bass on my Biodynamic dt700 Pro X. Very enjoyable. Then I tried it with my 6XX. It sounded rubbish as I thought it would. Bottom line is you need different headphones for different music.
For Bluetooth I have Bathys from Focal for traveling. I have Focal clear ogs and focal Elex . I really like the Elex . I like I believe is what they call that Focal sound maybe as I have quite a few . I ordered the new Apos Audio Technica model limited to a thousand units to try at only 299 and another headphone I ordered through some funding thing to produce these headphones in Ukraine I figured was a good idea because people in Ukraine probably really need jobs now
İ have hd 600 marble. & utopia 2022. With a good tube amp, the utopia is way way more balanced clarity addictive not thin at all. İ must be honest its big difference i dont want to grab the hd600 after listening to utopia. Oh yeh 650 600 are different but not a night day difference.
I find the notion (popular among broke college boys on Reddit huffing copium and/or people who only got a decent headphone cuz they saw one on their TikTok feed and don't actually care about sound) that a £300 headphone is "90%" of the sound of a flagship headphone, ridiculous. They plainly sound nothing alike whatsoever. They also don't understand how "diminishing returns" works. Look, the HD650 is a great headphone. It presents music in an enjoyable way, which is what matters. But there are others (ZMFs, vintage Grados/Sonys from that mid-focused era, other boutique brands) that do the same thing VASTLY better if that is your priority. I wouldn't prefer an Arya to a 650, but put an Auteur, Atrium or a '97 RS-1 on my head and oooooo boy. You've explained it well here when you mention that the Arya has 90% of the RESOLUTION of Utopia, specifically. That is true, and people hear that and go "well you've gotta be a chump to spend 4 times as much for 11.11% more!" Forgetting that tonality, timbre, dynamics, and many more have a massive impact on how enjoyable music is, and the Arya isn't even close in those areas. None of this is any substitute for hearing the headphones yourselves. I've heard stuff that's been recommended to me based on my preferences, and described to me in a certain way, and when I heard it I figured either them or myself must be going insane. I've heard £2000 headphones I would hate to own and £450 headphones that I would prefer to those... But I still wouldn't like them, really.
After owning nearly every top-tier headphone, which are highly regarded, I've been deep into the audiophile world for about eight years. Despite always chasing the most expensive gear, the HiFi obsession never stopped. Eventually, I reached the same conclusion: I sold my Utopia because, for me, the HD650 offers the most lifelike tonal quality. When properly amped, it's not far off from the Utopia in terms of technical performance. And anyway music about music not about plankton infos in the recordings.
Agree. I still own a HD800S and Meze Empyrean for variety, but nothing beats the HD650 as an overall great headphone when considering weight, durability, comfort, and sound quality.
You are totally right with the Sennheiser's pulling many times their weight. A lot of people will be skeptical when I say this, but the sound you get from your headphones is very dependent on what DAC you have in your chain. You really can't know how much you are missing until you try new DACs. If you think there are small shortcomings in the sound you hear, there is a good chance it's the source and not the headphone, especially with well reviewed and measuring headphones.
@@HiFiASMR So, the 600 are mids-forward? It must still be a better balance than the 650, because the 600 are almost unanimously recommended as the more transparent mixing headphones … ?
2 years ago I was looking for good open headphones. I went to some stores and had the opportunity to test the headphones with my own headphone amplifier and DAC. I tested the Hifiman Ananda, Audeze LCD-2C, Meze 109 Pro, Focal Clear, and Hifiman Arya Stealth. Logically, I also watched a lot of reviews, and finally, I found a AKG K712 Pro offer at €198. The reviews spoke well about the soundstage and overall sound, so I decided to buy them because the price was really reasonable. I am really happy with the AKG; I think I made a very good decision. Now I want to upgrade, but I want to be sure that I will actually notice an improvement. So, I went again to do some tests, also bringing my AKG K712 Pro to compare them side by side. My doubts were between the Hifiman Ananda Nano and the Hifiman Arya Organic... and I must say that the Ananda sounds great, just as I remembered, but not better than my K712 Pro. I wouldn’t buy them to replace the AKG, but the Arya Organic is clearly better. The Ananda is half the price of the Arya... obviously, the Arya isn’t twice as good, but going for the Ananda doesn’t make sense for me coming from the AKG K712 Pro. If I want to notice the improvement, I have to go for the Arya Organic. Is it worth buying new headphones that are 5.5 times more expensive than the ones I already have, and that are really good? That’s the question... and I’ll probably do it, because it will be my end point in headphones.
For Bluetooth I have Bathys from Focal for traveling. I have Focal clear ogs and focal Elex . I really like the Elex . I like I believe is what they call that Focal sound maybe as I have quite a few . I ordered the new Apos Audio Technica model limited to a thousand units to try at only 299 and another headphone I ordered through some funding thing to produce these headphones in Ukraine I figured was a good idea because people in Ukraine probably really need jobs now
For me, I personally found the perfect balance of technical and tonal with owning a he1000se for technical and ZMF atrium for tonal ! Super happy with my headphones thank you Sajid for always steering your listeners in the right direction :)
🙏🏻
@theodorezurla496 He talked me into the HE1000SE as well, and after burn in taming the teeble, I can't listen to anything else. I have ZMF Bokeh, too, but the HE1000SE is just too much information to listen to anything else. I would love to get ZMF Atrium at some point. I'll sell these Bokeh, and with Atrium/HE1000SE, I feel like I'd be set for at least 5 years.
@@Rob-Davidson he1000se really is something special
@@theodorezurla496Just ordered these. I will be returning the Organic as it's bitingly bright above 8 KHz to at least 20 KHz.
Why not get the HE1000 Stealth for a perfect inbetween ;)
This video really does put into perspective how you need to determine for yourself where the law of diminishing returns really takes into effect. We all know that it really starts well below $1000, but you may be willing to spend more on a better product even if it's not that much better in certain categories. For me personally, I understand that things are going to get much more expensive really quickly for the type of returns they offer, but I love when you get something new and it gives you that honeymoon phase where you're finding new things in your music all over again, along with just owning something exquisite and engineered to perfection such as the focal utopia.
I started with a Sundara a few years ago. Today I only own an Empy 2 and I'm happy. Its not the most resolving or most technical but it has a fun tuning and perfect build and comfort :)
Makes sense
As a gamer and audiophile , the hd800s basically fits both roles for me 😊
thanks for putting everything in the right perspective! I might upgrade my DAC/Amp in the future but headphone/ IEM wise I am happy with my current collection consisting of Hifiman Arya Organic, Focal Elear, Fiio FH9 and Thieaudio Prestige ltd. They all have a different flavor and give me plenty of pleasure and I honestly think I do not need to upgrade any further.
Happy place! Congrats!
I bought the HE 1000 SE on your recommendation. Very nice. It's definitely my endgame headphone for the moment. I can hear higher frequencies on it than I can on my 6xx. The HE 1000 SE is a better all round headphone than the 6XX.
i stand between the new arya organic or a new arya stealths plus a used audeze lcd x.
this is a hard choice, what do you think?
i'm comming from an old beyerdynamic dt 880 250 ohm edition.
HD650 are the most used headphones in my collection
👍🏻
You guys obviously don't like deep bass
For sure! But, its surprising how low they can go with good amping. Plus most music doesn't have sub bass. I use different headphones for edm and hiphop.
@@dangerzone007 I use my HD650 with SGP1 speaker amp. I don't have these issues 😝
@@Nuevo_El_Nagual I have some organ music with deep loud bass. My 6XX just doesn't cut it in comparison. Maybe the track is bass enhanced but it sounds amazing on my headphones that actually produce steep bass. But you know horses for courses.
Just found your channel and I love your videos!
I am itching to explore a new headphone and can't make up my mind at all. I have never heard planars.
I currently own (in the order purchased):
DT990 Pro
ATH M50X
HD598
Fiio FT1
DT 1990 Pro
I love them all for different things but my favorite is the DT 1990 Pro overall. I find the Sennheiser's to be boring in most cases except for classical/vocal. I am enjoying the journey and still learning. I wanna spend around $1000-$1500. A lot of people recommending HIFIMAN cans so I'm considering finally going planar but I can't make up my mind. Arya Stealth? Organic? HE1000? HE1000se? As much comparisons as I watch including yours I can't decide. I do like fun, engaging, punchy sound, but I also love soundstage. Any advice would be appreciated!
I’ve seen it all, right along with you, and it’s precisely why I’ve sold everything except my ZMFs and HD 650. They simply offer the best *musical experience* for my ears.
How would the Sennheiser HE-1 fit in mix if you had tried it?
I think Arya Stealth is pretty exceptional for $650
Agree!
I have the Arya Stealth. I like it but prefer the Aune AR5000 which is a fraction of the price. It beats all of my £1000+ headphones.
TH-camrs like to tell us to pay more for better sound but they have an ulterior motive because they get more affiliate income that way.
I find the ASR website to be more honest than TH-camrs. That's how I found out about the AR5000 as it's rated higher than even the Susvara on that website, for good reason. So don't fall for all the BS from TH-camrs.
@@dtz1000 28 ohms and 108db sensitivity is super nice. You can drive it on anything.
@@dtz1000 some reviewers you need to be careful for but reviewers like Sajid are pure honesty and love for the hobby. I think instead of reading it you should go to can jam and test them for yourself… from my experience resolution does come at a cost, but they’re definitely are some bang for the bucks.. your ears are the ultimate test
Just got a pair of Arya Organics and have some Focal Clears on the way. I will probably end up getting Susvara or Utopia at some point. Yes it's a probably a waste of money but I can't take it with me to heaven so I'm gonna spend it on something I enjoy.
I LOVE my Hifiman Arya Organic. Together with (in the background) Hifiman EF500 its golden for me. I never have to buy another headphone and DAC/AMP again!
Paying more for a headphone and listening to badly recorded music results in a bad experience. However, when the recording is exemplary, a decent pair of headphones will sound stellar.
+1
When you rank these headphones by technicality, how do you factor in EQ and the ability to tweak tonality to your liking?
I feel weird sometimes because I've completely skipped over the 6xx/650 lineup. When I started getting into open-back headphones, I went from Koss PortaPros to Hifiman Devas and then on to Audeze LCD-X (2021 revision) with EQ. And I love the LCD-X and the planar sound.
Hi Sajid, thank you for this video. Where would you put the Susvara? I know it needs a good amplification so let's just say when paired with Goldenwave Prelude, how does it stack against the competition(maybe let's just compare it to Utopia as it is the closest to Susvara price wise)?
Can you please give it a rating on Technical Performance and Tonality?
For me, tonal balance is very important now. I Used to chase resolution and detail only. Right now I have the Sennheiser HD800S, HD6XX, HD600 and Hifiman Arya SE.
The HD800S has the worst tonal balance. I had the old Focal Utopia but sold it. I prefer the Araya SE the most among the headphones I own, very well balanced with greath technical performance and resolution. I prefer the Arya SE over the Arya Organic, the SE is more balanced and the Organic has a little to much bite in the treble. And in Sweden, the Organic is not as cheap as in the US. In Sweden you have to pay around 1700-1800 USD.
I love my HD6XX and 600, but I always feel that they lack a bit of resolution, and that actually bothers me. But its something magical about them, I like the 600 more. A little more subbass and it is almost perfect.
Great setup
Arya SE here too, its my endgame, i will not buy a more expensive one, diminishing return is real. Have a fiio FT5, HD660s, HD600 too, they all great.
The Organic has bit me in the treble region so much so I cannot even listen to them for long periods. Some songs cause ear pain.
I am in the market for a Hifiman. Deciding between Edition XS, Ananda Stealth and Arya Stealth. Is Arya SE worth twice the price? I like my bass, don't need them to be basshead but not anemic either. What would you recommend between the 3? Thank you!
No definitely not! The Arya SE is not worth twice the price of Edition XS!
Edition xs is the best headphone for its price. Unreal price to perform ance
I used and loved my HD6xx's for many years as a daily driver. That was until about two months ago when, on a lark I decided to try the Harmonicdyne Collab with Zeos, the Eris. Perhaps it's that I'm just not as tweaky or audiophilia so much, because I absolutely adore these Eris headphones. Using the Schiit Modius/Midgard stack, the Eris are easy to drive and has the exact sound I've been craving, particularly the bass output. I am somewhat of a bass head, having a pair of 12" subs with a pair of aDs 910s standmounts, which already go down to 28htz. I just cannot imagine a better set of headphones for my tastes. The Eris sell for $250 and are very comfortable, so I'm supremely happy with this purchase, and might get another pair, just in case.
I might actually pick up a 2nd one on payday. If more people knew about this thing it might ruin the hobby its so good. Massive bass without being boomy and with great separation.
@@elasmojones With some actual soundstage. I'm constantly looking behind me when a sound comes from the recorder's perspective, thinking it's someone trying to talk to me in the living room. heh
Great detailed interview! Would it be worth it to jump up to a Arya organic from a Non-Stealth Arya? I listen to rock music mostly. I value your opinion!
As one who has been using the Organic, I would make sure you're very comfortable with the treble as it does bite and is hard to listen to for extended periods, even painful. I can hear up to 24 KHz, but if you can't hear anywhere close to that, maybe you won't experience any of these issues. I'm returning the Organic for the HE1000SE.
@@hugoanderkivi Thank you so much for your reply.Have a great one!
Interesting... I'd really like you to answer this: what makes you choose to use IEMS? Same for headphones.
Apart from sound isolation, the Sennheiser HD400 Pro is the perfect headphone for me in every aspect. I can rely on it to be transparent and faithful to the recording.
I have an Arya Stealth plus many other open and closed backs, for some reason I keep switching back to my M50x with custom pads, for me it's lighter, more comfy and I just prefer the overall sound signature despite obviously not being as detailed as many of my other headphones.
I use to collect headphone and moved to chifi iems. Sold most headphones and settled mainly on hd650 and hd600.
Fascinating topic. I think preference and budget are the priorities.
Had a few Sennys in my time, but skipped the 6 series for the road less traveled like ATH R70X. Amazing cans.
OG Kennerton Valis was were I landed. Love the macro dynamics, warmth, texture and timbre. Rolled off at both ends, but very punchy in the mid bass.
A lot of folks got stuck on the 600s or 650s but I like the 660s2 or 800.
This is why I consider the grado gs3000x to be a great headphone, priced relatively well.
HD650 truly is a gem. I don't hear the Utopia 2022 as thin personally (definitely do for the Arya) and it actually sounds like a super-HD650 on my set-up - very full, rich and satisfying (esp. compared with the OG Utopia). Are these the only 3 headphones you have in your collection now?
I have a few others from ZMF and Hifiman. What’s your chain for the Utopia?
@@amplifyaudioreviews mass kobo 394 ii and qutest w quality LPS and upgraded RCA cables. The mids are more fleshed out on a utopia than the other headphones mentioned. The HD650 is extremely pleasing tonally (and can be sensational on an OTL) but I do feel like there’s some empty space/gaps in the overall sonic image and the Nutopia fills all of that in.
Outstanding perspective!
I'd be very curious of your opinions on DMS' Omega headphone
Sure would like to get one in
Can i ask you out of those 3 which one would you say have the best bass.. i do electronic music and ive only ever tried 1 pair of open back headphones at guitar center like 4 years ago but i need something better then my audio technica m50s .. i honestly hate those headphones
F
no one talks enough about how good a Sundara sounds off of an amp stack like Oor + Hypsos
Thats true! That build quality tho! 😊
Refreshing honesty, appreciated
I bought a refurbished Arya Stealth for $550 USD. I can't think of upgrading ever again. It's the perfect headphone for me!
I like the Arya Stealth but Aune AR5000 is better and is a fraction of the price.
Arya organic is worth paying extra. I have both, the organic sounds alot better then the se
@@stevendavis1135 is the Organic more bassy and much punchier than the Arya SE?
Liked the video a lot!
The Sennheiser 6x0 series is really fun on OTL tube amps, I used to be very sceptical of this claim but I'm a convert. Always find it hard to recommend buying an amp like this for just one pair of headphones when you could just buy a different pair... But if you have 2 or more headphones that can play well with tubes think it's definitely something worth trying out
100%. I have tried some OTLs. Which ones have you liked?
@@amplifyaudioreviews Just the xDuoo TA-66 currently, nothing all that amazing but was finally a fun entry-level tube amp in Canada that didn't have inflated costs
Please try the heddphone 2! It seems to be the perfect headphone. I got the arya stealth because of the price point and it being considered an allrounder (bass, soundstage, technical capabilities etc). However, i realized it is not for me. I can hear exactly when it cuts off in the quiet details and the sibilance kills me. Treble is difficult to eq. Heddphone 2 seems to have warm mids, more detail and separation, still good soundstage and be punchy as a dynamic driver. I will try it as soon as i get the chance
Edit: if you add eq at least
I did try it and l loved it. Check my audiophile style review!
@@amplifyaudioreviews where, cannot find it
Is that the ef500 in the background?
Indeed!
@@amplifyaudioreviews thanks for the reply! Quick question do you prefer the HD 600 or the HD 650?
On my journey down the rabbit hole of audiophilia, I believe I've found my endgame, not with one headphone, but with multiple, with each complimenting the others. The perfect headphone probably doesn't exist for me, and I don't have a fountain of money to try every headphone in the world, so I'm perfectly fine with my sub $1000 headphones.
My headphones:
Arya Stealth
HD600
Focal Elex
LCD-2C
Awesome!
Mad Love From India can you recommend portable amp and desktop amp to drive HD650 to use it for full optimisation
Anode acoustics #1 tube amp. Look it up. Endgame amp. And please don't get portables with hd 650. Useless
Great review
I ve even heard that the edition xs sound like the arya stealth..almost no differences..if you had tested both..whats you take on this?
Yes very similar in some ways but Edition XS warmer and better tonality albeit slightly less “spacious sounding”
Arya stealth has more mid-treble, so it can sound more harsh at times, also it feels less "V-shaped", with a focus shifted closer to the midrange.
Edition XS is much less refined and has not much soundstage as compared to the Arya Stealth's. The Arya does everything elegantly and is clean, whereas Edition XS is more emphasised in the bass and has a more 'fun' tonality. As someone who owned the Edition XS for two years, I'd take the Arya Stealth any day.
you think someone can buy an HD 650 and be done with the hobby?
great video, and very thoughtful comparison
with a good headphone amp....but you may need another at some point in time like LCD-X
Absolutely 👍🏻
If they didn't really care that much about sound in the first place, maybe they can save some money. I know for shit sure I couldn't. Would be nice tho.
Just get AKG K712 or K702 for classical and massive music with good dac and amp. For everything else HD650 if you dont need closed headphones, then get Meze 99 classics. Also Meze 109 pro does everything but cost much as HD650 and AKG K712 combined.
Now we need another video, do headphones scale with amps? (Im trying to figure this out myself. I have an he6 running on a cayin iha6. I have heard it could sound better on more powerful amps but im on the fence about buying another amp because i dont have experience of knowing if headphones scales with amps).
Great idea. Will try to do one!
I love the HD650. Atrium is a big step up, reminds me a bit of the HD600/650. But I still use the HD650 a lot because of its pleasant tuning.
I agree!
Totally agree!
For me the hd650 also set the preference for tonality.
I had only one cheaper hp that impressed me technically. The akg 107. It has a soundstage comparable to the hd800 but worse tonality for my liking.
After i got bored of the hd800 tonality I bought the lcd-x (2019) because its closer to the hd650 but it was too for dark for my preference so I bought the lcd-4z 😅 wich was really great overall, even in comparision to other totl hp, but it broke...
For the repair costs I bought the heddphone 2 wich is now my daily driver and satisfies my tonal and technical expectations and is built like a tank...
I could have cut my journey short with buying an arya early on and not buying anything else until those broke...
Well, lets see how im going to waist money on dacs and amps now😂
Good assessment. Always value for money first by cutting out the superfluous and keeping it to your taste. Everyone has a different preference mix.
The HD650 is the headphone many start with because it's popular, priced well, and highly recommended. People get bored, want excitement, and go for something more exciting that sounds more detailed at first listen. After years of trying headphones their taste and experience of how instruments sound matures, they go back to the HD650 and retire with it, why? Because while other headphones like the Arya sound more detailed, they almost force it, the HD650 doesn't. They present the music in an engaging, natural way and those details are still not overly sharpened. You then go back to these expensive headphones, which sound forced and unnatural. The HD650 is unmatched here and also lasts forever.
In terms of Hifimans, I've always felt the Ananda Stealth was the slept on models because it offers the unique, open, vast sound but has a bit more body than the Aryas in the vocals with a smoother toneality while being close in detail to the Oranic or Arya Stealth while being much cheaper. I sold my LCD-X and Aryas and stuck with the Ananda Stealth and HD650. My HD650's will last forever.
9:19 Interesting 🧐
The 3 Headphones that I are my go to in my headphone collection..
HiFiman 400i (2020) ..a general slightly more aggressive Sundara 🙂
Sen’s 650 ..yup everything you’ve
said 👍
AUDEZE LCDX (2021 Creators edition) ..Holy Smokes 😮
Do headphones scale with price ..yes ..more so than speakers or IEM’s ..🤔
Have a great week
Why do some people like deep bass? Because it sounds very nice through the right headphone. Why do people with budget sennheisers not like deep bass? Because they can't hear it on their headphones.
The 650 is so special, I have both the 650 and 600 for the magic midrange alone. Although they are very capable in other areas like treble naturalness and timbre of course.
I tried the Utopia 2022 compared to my Clear MG Pro, I prefer the tonality on the Clear MG. It's similarly warm like the 650, but with much better bass, resolution, and dynamics, and soundstage/imaging. And the Utopia certainly did not sound 3 times the price better than the Clear MG.
That makes sense!
One day, please do the same for iems!
Have done already! I have done something similar and more comprehensive for IEMs!
If my HE1000SE ever breaks I think the Arya organic would be the next best headphone for my requirements. After all it got headphone of the year from a number of reviewers. They claim it has brilliant sound stage. Any tunnel issues that I'm not 100% happy with I can always stick with EQ.
For me I have used the Sony xm 3 for the last three year and it sound perfect. Can you plz do a review on these
There are much better headphones. We're talking about HiFi, not regular consumer-grade headphones.
As an xm4 owner (never tried the xm3) and an audeze maxwell owner the maxwell is a big step up audio wise so if you're already happy with the xm3 but are looking to upgrade eventually then you should check out the maxwell at some point if you enjoy wireless closed backs :).
If you only like mid range the 6XX/650 might be good enough however if you like deep bass the 6xx is a waste of time.
HD 600 on high end tubes. To get significantly better youll have to go for the HE-1. Because for perfectionist audio other headphones have significant weaknesses in one area or another. You shouldnt have to compromise at astronomical prices. A lot just miss the natural realistic sound by a large margin which is strange because its quite obvious and is a rare distortion in loudspeakers at the highest tier price range.
What tube amp do you like with the HD600?
@amplifyaudioreviews Not high end today, a cary audio integrated tube amp powering high efficiency speakers and the hd600. Mostly use iem on the road and speakers but in a condo you have to use headphones. There is something natural to the hd600 making the shift from speakers to headphones pleasant you don't lose so much. To get something significant to me is a tier better. Cheers, nice video.
I listen to some organ music with deep Bass on my
Biodynamic dt700 Pro X. Very enjoyable. Then I tried it with my 6XX. It sounded rubbish as I thought it would. Bottom line is you need different headphones for different music.
Should add the X9000 and Immanus to the mix
I need to buy the Immanis
What do you run hd650 from?
Hifiman EF500!
For Bluetooth I have Bathys from Focal for traveling. I have Focal clear ogs and focal Elex . I really like the Elex . I like I believe is what they call that Focal sound maybe as I have quite a few . I ordered the new Apos Audio Technica model limited to a thousand units to try at only 299 and another headphone I ordered through some funding thing to produce these headphones in Ukraine I figured was a good idea because people in Ukraine probably really need jobs now
İ have hd 600 marble. & utopia 2022. With a good tube amp, the utopia is way way more balanced clarity addictive not thin at all. İ must be honest its big difference i dont want to grab the hd600 after listening to utopia. Oh yeh 650 600 are different but not a night day difference.
Of all the headphones I try, I always end up going back to my HD600, they are like coming home...
Agree!
Have you tried the custom cans mod for the 650? It elevates the technicalities and dynamics a bit. Must try.
No have not. Can you drop me a link?
Very good vlog. Thank you
Thank you!
This would have been good with Hifiman Sundara included... 🤔🤔🤔
It’s a shame reviewers do not let’s us hear what they mean as all of this sounds way too subjective.
Arya is the best overall
Merci
I just imagine anyone that dailies an HD650 goes into a blind rage if they see a subwoofer from their deep seated hatred for bass.
Lol
what about, how headphones scale with amps at £x, £2.5x, £5x
GM☕️
Late to the show 😎
Listening 👂
Great!
I find the notion (popular among broke college boys on Reddit huffing copium and/or people who only got a decent headphone cuz they saw one on their TikTok feed and don't actually care about sound) that a £300 headphone is "90%" of the sound of a flagship headphone, ridiculous. They plainly sound nothing alike whatsoever. They also don't understand how "diminishing returns" works.
Look, the HD650 is a great headphone. It presents music in an enjoyable way, which is what matters. But there are others (ZMFs, vintage Grados/Sonys from that mid-focused era, other boutique brands) that do the same thing VASTLY better if that is your priority. I wouldn't prefer an Arya to a 650, but put an Auteur, Atrium or a '97 RS-1 on my head and oooooo boy.
You've explained it well here when you mention that the Arya has 90% of the RESOLUTION of Utopia, specifically. That is true, and people hear that and go "well you've gotta be a chump to spend 4 times as much for 11.11% more!" Forgetting that tonality, timbre, dynamics, and many more have a massive impact on how enjoyable music is, and the Arya isn't even close in those areas.
None of this is any substitute for hearing the headphones yourselves. I've heard stuff that's been recommended to me based on my preferences, and described to me in a certain way, and when I heard it I figured either them or myself must be going insane. I've heard £2000 headphones I would hate to own and £450 headphones that I would prefer to those... But I still wouldn't like them, really.
Focal designs very beautiful headphones . Hifiman not much
I can agree!
I guess the Arya Organic, HE1000 Stealth, HE1000SE, and Susvara change that. They've improved their build quality.
After owning nearly every top-tier headphone, which are highly regarded, I've been deep into the audiophile world for about eight years. Despite always chasing the most expensive gear, the HiFi obsession never stopped. Eventually, I reached the same conclusion: I sold my Utopia because, for me, the HD650 offers the most lifelike tonal quality. When properly amped, it's not far off from the Utopia in terms of technical performance. And anyway music about music not about plankton infos in the recordings.
Agree. I still own a HD800S and Meze Empyrean for variety, but nothing beats the HD650 as an overall great headphone when considering weight, durability, comfort, and sound quality.
I heard arya and its nowhere near utopia
You are totally right with the Sennheiser's pulling many times their weight. A lot of people will be skeptical when I say this, but the sound you get from your headphones is very dependent on what DAC you have in your chain. You really can't know how much you are missing until you try new DACs. If you think there are small shortcomings in the sound you hear, there is a good chance it's the source and not the headphone, especially with well reviewed and measuring headphones.
👍🏻
hd650 is all mids. midfi.
nah hd600 is the kind of midfi
@@f7p1764 I thought 600 was meant to be more neutral than 650 / one of the most neutral
@@kierenmoore3236 HD600 has grainy spikey treble. hd650 was made to dampen it to reduce fatigue. makes it sound darker in return.
@@HiFiASMR So, the 600 are mids-forward? It must still be a better balance than the 650, because the 600 are almost unanimously recommended as the more transparent mixing headphones … ?
2 years ago I was looking for good open headphones.
I went to some stores and had the opportunity to test the headphones with my own headphone amplifier and DAC.
I tested the Hifiman Ananda, Audeze LCD-2C, Meze 109 Pro, Focal Clear, and Hifiman Arya Stealth.
Logically, I also watched a lot of reviews, and finally, I found a AKG K712 Pro offer at €198. The reviews spoke well about the soundstage and overall sound, so I decided to buy them because the price was really reasonable.
I am really happy with the AKG; I think I made a very good decision.
Now I want to upgrade, but I want to be sure that I will actually notice an improvement. So, I went again to do some tests, also bringing my AKG K712 Pro to compare them side by side.
My doubts were between the Hifiman Ananda Nano and the Hifiman Arya Organic... and I must say that the Ananda sounds great, just as I remembered, but not better than my K712 Pro. I wouldn’t buy them to replace the AKG, but the Arya Organic is clearly better.
The Ananda is half the price of the Arya... obviously, the Arya isn’t twice as good, but going for the Ananda doesn’t make sense for me coming from the AKG K712 Pro. If I want to notice the improvement, I have to go for the Arya Organic.
Is it worth buying new headphones that are 5.5 times more expensive than the ones I already have, and that are really good? That’s the question... and I’ll probably do it, because it will be my end point in headphones.
For Bluetooth I have Bathys from Focal for traveling. I have Focal clear ogs and focal Elex . I really like the Elex . I like I believe is what they call that Focal sound maybe as I have quite a few . I ordered the new Apos Audio Technica model limited to a thousand units to try at only 299 and another headphone I ordered through some funding thing to produce these headphones in Ukraine I figured was a good idea because people in Ukraine probably really need jobs now