Nice review! In my opinion, the HE1000 Stealth is worth the extra cost over the Arya Organic even if only for the build quality. I love the bass of the HE1000 Stealth and I think it sounds almost as detailed as the HE1000se while not revealing the small flaws in the recording in a blunt way like the SE does.
Thank you for the comparison. I have been using the Arya Organic for the past month and I think what you stated on its review and here is spot on. It has great staging capabilities, thumpy bass, forward mids, and bright treble. I personally don't mind the brightness. For the price, I don't think I'm going to chase for the HE1000SE (I was) anymore. Great video. Keep up the good work!
I've also been wondering about HEKse's "details", cuz I personally really love more details, and almost every other reviewer seems to say similar things as most comments - that the se is in a class of its own. But this is the 1st time I've seen someone actually compare all 3 on a few songs. And honestly, the difference doesn't seem worth the cost. I'll stick to Arya organics as my endgame. No longer interested in se.
I owned both the HE1000SE & the HE1000 Stealth, at the same time. And I A/B'd them for over 30 days. He is the main difference between them: HE1000SE has more detail and will wow you with resolution and clarity. Like WOW. HE1000 Stealth has a better designed tuning and will absolutely wow you with the overall image and placement of different sounds. Like WOW. The Stealth is much more pleasing to listen to if you want to simply get lost in and fall in love with the music. The HE1000SE is much more pleasing to listen to if you want to be shocked at the grand fidelity and detail of every individual sound played. They are both amazing. I kept the HE1000SE because I could EQ them much more easily in the Stealth's direction for when i wanted to relax with the music. The Stealth did not do nearly as well with EQ. I honestly wish i kept both. They are different but i couldn't pick a winner based on sound alone. I want them both for the 2 moods i find myself in often: Listening for detail and listening to melt into the music. Buy them both if you can.
Man i got stealth n now atrium. I went back and forth if i should upgrade the stealth to SE. To me i like to get lost in music and really like stealth but there is always sn itch shd i upgrade it to SE :$
@SupplyNinja what EQ settings are you using on the HE1000se to move in the direction of the Stealth? I love the HE1000se as is but depending on what I am listening to, EQ'ing to a more relaxed level would be a nice option. I almost went for the HE1000 Stealth as it seems to be very close at a discount but I know myself well enought that I would also have the itch to own the HE1000se.
Very accurate assessment of these two! That is exactly the way I heard them when I compared them and have decided that the SE is more to my preference. I also agree that it is easier to make the SE sound more like the Stealth than the other way around.
@@irun2sanaxox the SE is awesome with tubes! I actually prefer them with tubes but these headphones scale so well with whatever amp you are using. Just don't use a OTL tube amp with these headphones.
Excellent! I've been waiting for this comparison for months. I shared this with my Facebook headphone groups. From the limited info available I traded up from Arya Stealth to the HEk Stealth. Seemed like a no-brainer for only 100 bucks more. I love how smooth it is while also having great imaging and detail. A lot like a planar version of my ZMF Atrium. Note: The Dekoni sheepskin perforated pads retain the sound signature and are so much more comfortable than stock. And I think Hifiman finally nailed it with the included cables here (from worst to first with these cables). Best headphone stands for the money you got there too. I have two black and one white for my HEk. You just get it. Love your videos. Thanks!
I got a chance to listen to the HE1000se at CanJam this year--it's an excellent headphone. Wish I had the money to get one but even at its reduced price, it is out of my range lol But if you have the cash for it, I would recommend it. One of the best headphones I got the chance to listen to at the show.
@terjes64 I think I saw unveiled, that (probably the other one too) is out of my price range. The organic alone is pushing it. That's like 2x of my intended budget. I am aiming for arya stealth.. But no stocks anywhere in my area. I can order from hifiman themselves but the import tax.. I don't want to deal with out customs lol (corrupt) Anyway.. I don't know yet, seeing lots of comments about quality control. I do like their sound
This is a great video and it's a question I've asked myself a number of times over the past few months. My itch for new headphones has been growing. :)
I have exactly this combo. I previously had Arya Stealth and OG Ananda. The HE1000 v2 Stealth is just completely awesome to me. Makes everything I throw at it sound incredible. Never fatiguing.
Absolutely brilliant review can't wait to check out more of yours. I have the HE1000SE and could not be happier which I use with my Cayin N8ii. I also have the focal radiance on order as that will give a completely different sound and the fact that it is a closed back. Thank you once again
Radiance is highly underrated, in some ways I enjoy it more than my Utopia since it has no nasty bass crackling if played too loud. People are letting the Bentley logo deprive themselves of a great HP.
I have the N8ii as well and both the Stealth and SE sound excellent off of this DAP. Component synergy is a real thing as these sounded better on the N8ii than some higher power desktop amps I've listened to them on.
Wonderful comparison, as an owner of the Organic and the 1000SE I totally agree regarding the resolution , the tamber and the HUGE stage that are a plus for the SE and I also find it more dynamic as well.The sub bass is more refined and pronounced like it's of "higher quality" vs a stronger more pronounced mid bass on the Organic that is probably the best option in its price range if spicy but detailed treble doesn't bother you.
Hey, I was wondering. Joshua val said that the bass was not spacious as the original Arya's. He said It's not spacious, bass. It's intimate bass that I wouldn't like that. Can you clear this up if it's wrong. And can you compare that base spaciousness to the Arya Organics because I have it. And if it's spacious bass, I will get that upgrade.
@@The-Oreo-Man Happy New Year 😁 I have personally not heard the Arya V1 and V2 but from what I've read and heard the Arya Stealth (V3) that I also own is the most balanced and less harsh though everyone says that they have less staging capabilities but excel everywhere else. Now the Organic builds on that by bringing more mid bass , less midrange warmth , a bit more treble spikes and the staging capabilities return. Now I can imagine what base spaciousness means and it's probably the ability to make it sound more realistic and natural giving the sense of size which is something I definitely noticed that the HE1000SE have in comparison to the Aryas that I own(V3+Organic). In my opinion the HE1000SE have a superior bass in quality, tamber and detail which I notice even while gaming, for example on Cyberpunk 2077 walking outside of bars/clubs it's super realistic and powerful. The bass notes last longer and fade away slower more natural compared to the Aryas that aren't as full and impactful on the sub bass. Regarding the soundstage that Josh describes as not impressive I wholeheartedly disagree (maybe because of the gear he had back then?)and even owners of 4-7K headphones regard it as larger and more holographic than headphones like the Susvara, LCD series , Utopia, ZMF headphones etc. I don't know how the new Modhouse Tungsten is holding up.
@@giorgosapo4508 Thank you for your reply to that comment. Just reading your review really makes me want to get it. The part I want most is soundsage. That's the seller for me. I got some exciting news. I got some custom cables from Marco Custom Cables. The headphone cable was $1000. The adapter was $160, and the 2 XLR were $340. Crap it hurts to text that. But holy crap Everything like bass impact, spaciousness, clarity, and everything under the sun improved. It was like a 15% increase. And that's no BS. My friend that's not into Sound stuff tried my headphones and said, "Everything opened up." He also said,"It sounds like nothing was interfering with the sounds." So what wasn't just me. That's besides the point. I have some questions. How does just the soundstage compare to the Sennheiser Hd800s? How much more soundstage is there in the HE1000se over the Organics in feet/inches? You can totally guess this. It is just to give me a reference to roughly how good it is. You said that the HE1000se is better soundstage than the Susvara's. If that's true, I can't believe it, lol😆. These headphones are really sounding like my perfect type of headphones. Not to mention that I'm upgrading to the HIFIMAN HE1000se over my Arya Organics due to a hair stuck in between the driver making a buzzing sound. I still have them on warranty. I should have been more careful with my headphones, setting it down on beds and other stuff that has potentially had debris/hairs on it. I should have cleaned them out more due to me listening 6 hours a day and cleaning them once a month... That's going to change to every time I use them, I clean them. Because 6 hours isn't a small amount. Do you have any good tips for cleaning them deeply? Thank you so much if it answers these questions and have a good rest of your year!!! 🙃
@@giorgosapo4508wow thank you for your detailed opinion. I‘m thinking of buying either arya v3 or organic but cant decide if the huge Price difference is worth it. Right now I‘ve got a Sundara which is good but Not Impressive. Would you recommend v3 or organic cause it‘s 400$ more which is a lot in my opinion. I‘ve also Seen that the he1000 stealth are identically priced to arya organic…. So I‘m really confused. If Price doesnt matter, which one is the Overall best? It would be my only headphone (not a collector)
@@andreasschultze6644 Hello Andreas with the Greek name 😊 first of all you're going to be extremely impressed by either the V3 or the Organic because it is a huge step up from the Sundara. As much as people say that the Organic is a big upgrade from the V3 I will tell you that they are similar and different headphones. The Organic has a wider soundstage, a boosted mid Bass which is immediately felt that offers more impact and better thump and can get a tiny bit more harsh on the treble depending on the track that you're listening to. In my experience comparing these two I found the V3 a bit more present on the sub bass, slightly warmer mids and definitely more neutral all around. The Organic has a more fun and thumpy profile that will be more suitable as a daily driver watching TH-cam, movies, video games etc
Very useful comparison. The He-1000se got another price cut down to $1699 in the current sale and that puts it really in competition with the whole line-up.
Hifiman has some crazy sales right now. The Arya stealth is $599 and the he1000 stealth is $1199. I actually prefer the Arya Stealth for a lot of the reasons you mentioned. I'm thinking of returning the HE1000s for the Arya organic. The HE1000 is a bit on the warmer side for me. But great video though. I think we have similar preferences
GM ☕️from Toronto. At $1.2K U.S. …how do these compare to Audeze LCDX 2021 Creators Edition…. Truth be told ..I love my LCDX ..for movie OST ( Hans Zimmer low bass!) Techno , instrumental music ..SOME VOCALS..if they’re mastered well … For music that is vocal centric..I’ll use another headphone for that ( even the HiFiman 400i 2020 edition) from my collection. You described the headphones well ..but I didn’t get the sense that they aren’t picky with genre or amplification 🤔 Great video. Enjoy the weekend.
So the lcdx would be a more I timate sound first, but then a bit more dynamic as well. I know they can be a bit amp picky where I didn't find these Hifiman s to be as much (for my gear). Also I know the lcdx is very EQ friendly if you need that. I'd say the he1000 stealth would be probably the most genre friendly of the 3, but neither option is terrible. Hope that helps!
@@Skeeb23 If you allow me to add something, as stated the LCD-X is a very dynamic punchy and full of rumble headphone that does indeed work wonders with EQ making it a a bit more spacious, punchier and tonally "correct" compared to the stock tuning. HE1000Stealth is indeed the closest and friendliest comparison here.
pretty good video... that question has been needed to be answered for quite a while now.... some say the fourth headphone for the other three compare would be the original HEKv2 (non stealth).. as they claim the stealth mags pushed the sound sig to the top end of the FR making them more bright... ??? So I'm sure I'm not the only one that noticed the Modhouse Tungsten in the background... how does its sound signature compare to the lineup here and when do you plan on a review for it... thanks
I would say the Original V2 sounds more diffused and while the soundstage is larger, it is less precise and especially in the bass region, it sounds soft and almost pillowy compared to the stealth edition. The stealth edition while slightly more intimate gives better all around performance.
It seems that if you EQ they can be very close. I use MiniDsp Studio for its parametric EQ. Hence, I bought the Organic. I do not like things to close but know how to eq the sound for greater depth of stage.
I own both he1000 versions and just want to say that something is wrong here. There is no way the he1000se is brighter than the stealth. Are you sure you had the stealth? Also im surprised you are not mentioning about the tridimensionality of the Hekse. That is what makes the headphone apart from the other 2. You should have more complex layered music track for review too not just mainstream singers. Thank you for the review
@@Snxgur age does make a difference in our hearing. I'm 44. I have good hearing but it's a known fact we do not hear higher frequencies quite as easily the older we get. It very well could be a certain peak in the FR that you are sensitive to that isn't the same peak heard on the SE. I'm just spitballing though ha!
I didn't have se but before I bought stealth, I digged into research to find the difference between this two and I have to agree with you. every review suggested that hek stealth have similar detail and texture retrieval, especially in treble and sometimes it seems even more detailed do to more pronounced treble. what I have heard, stealth have more V shaped tune, but SE got better, more 3D soundstage with better holographiness/separation and more precise imaging. on the other hand, Stealth is dynamic, punchy and definitely not smoother.
To me It is pretty obvious the He1000se is smoother than the HeKstealth. few reviewers say the opposite, maybe different revisions? who knows. Reviewers should get some musical or ear training, especially if this is going to affect a company sales and peoples decisions. too many reviewers listen to over simple music with repetitive harmonies, super simple vocals, I feel like headphones this caliber should be use for orchestral or music with way more complex layering. If you like simple vocals just get a bit cheaper headphones and save money.
I listen to mostly Juice WRLD (WAV files)- rap like music with mostly male singing voice. Sounds like I might prefer the Arya by a hair. Any other Juice heads out there?
I disagree a bit I preferred he1000 stealth tuning above SE, more refined and natural. Also he1000 stealth its soundstage was a little wider than SE. SE had maybe tad more 3d effect but its soundstage is more intimate while the he1000 stealth sounds big and wide all times.
@@urbenkamI never heard the se but I had the Arya stealth, organic and he1000 stealth. I loved the Arya stealth, hated the organics siblance but enjoyed the he1000 stealth. So much so that I returned the Arya stealth (and organic) and kept the he1000s. It's just a better version of the Arya stealth imo.
I'm curious on what your source was as I have listened to both of these plenty of times and on many different sources and never found the stealth to sound wider. The SE has always had the wider image and better soundstage. I guess this is why we all need to listen in person instead of taking someone's word as we all hear differently. 😀
Spot on sir, that's why I went with Stealth. HE1000SE are absolutely surgical when it comes to detail. And I was surprised by the amount of detail they produce, that they still stayed refined and not too hot. But the better tuning, better bass presence and bigger sound stage just make the Stealths such an easy reach, especially for movies. The Dark Knight and Saving Private Ryan on those... WOW!
@@urbenkamTo me the Stealths had more action in the treble region. The HE1000SE could get creep into it depending on the track. But overall the SE was tamed in the treble and bass with even more details. SE = end game analytical headphones Stealths = best of both worlds(analytical and fun) Organic = fun city if you can handle the spice
With the Arya Stealth at $650 on Amazon, I’m curious to hear what you think about the headset. I bought the Arya Stealth and Organic to A/B test them, and I am having a hard time mentally justifying double the cost of the stealth to go for any of their other line-ups above…
Just bought the Arya Organic after thinking and re-thinking and I'm kinda pleased only. Something way cheaper like the Grado 325X has a much better bass, sub bass and rumble and even better tonality overall. With the Arya I have to equalize to boost the bass on pretty much every single track unless is bass heavy. So, all the reviews I saw about it were way exaggerated. The soundstage is ok, not super wide or deep, the detail retreival is on par with the Grados, nothing better and the headband adjustment is pure crap, it falls down after a while wearing them if you move just a bit. Not to mention its a joke than a 1299 Dollars/Euros includes a pretty lame cable which downgrades the audio possibilites of the heaphones. I have a month ahead to decide if I keep them or return them..... mmmm, not sure. I have worst flagship headphones than the Arya but also way better mid-range cans that are way superior to the Arya. Hifiman is a very overrated brand.
@@jjphoenix4055 preferences, your chain and comfort is the subjective part of this hobby more people need to really understand. Sorry they are not working out for you, but, now you know better what you enjoy.
I can 2nd skeeb on this. And infact I myself used to believe "nah chains can't make a difference. How could an amp and dac do anything when all they are doing is doing the conversion and amping of the signal?" So I had the basic schitt stack of modi 3 and magni heresy, and I.. liked organic I guess. After owning 6XX for about 3 years, I had made the jump to organics and was.. kinda disappointed, the increase just wasn't worth the price. Until I finally gave in and decided to get some better gear to drive them. Got the bifrost 2, and later changed the amp to a violectric v222. And let me tell you, even I was surprised, someone who thought chains can't make a difference - they actually make a big difference. The 1st time I hooked up bifrost to my setup, I was immediately met with a clearer, less grainier, and controlled (for the lack of a better word) sound. It was like modi was grainier and shouty Kinda sound and bifrost was just this pure clear controlled bliss. And then when I was listening to 1 of my favorite ost's, with v222, I immediately spotted the depth and separation of instruments much more, the bass became more clear and thicker, the vocals became more forward, and the peaky sharp sounds were fully under control. It's like the songs became much more melodious and enjoyable, while being more analytical. The schitt stack was... Fine, but it felt flat. Almost too flat. Like it doesn't do anything aside from, well, boosting the signal. Meanwhile the much more expensive setup added so much colour to it, made the instruments separate and louder (in a musical way), made the vocals enhanced, added depth in stage which was totally unnoticeable before, and most of all, it did all of this while adding superior level clarity. I kid you not I became a believer of chain effects on my 1st day I powered my bifrost. The expensive setup is ofcourse expensive, but it's definitely worth it. I mean looking back, I realize I would still be on schitt stack and getting like 50% of what organics actually offer.
about as simple as this- The Meze house sound vs the Hifiman. Both are awesome to me. Im a meze and Hifiman fanboy. In an ideal money scenario I'd rock a Meze Elite (or Empy 2) and a HE1000se. But, alas, Im much to broke for all that so I am quite blessed to have Meze 109Pros for the last year (they are pretty amazing for that price- $600 used) and a pair of Hifiman HE1000 Stealths on the way. Trying to inch my way to glory. Im hoping for a HE1000se revision this year and them intend to trade up from the Stealths.
@@CrackaSlapYa Best of luck on the journey! I've been testing out the organic and HE1000 stealth against the Empyrean 2 to see which one I'm keeping but it seems like sound-wise, they have their own quirks so really hard to lean towards one 100%. In terms of comfort and looks, the Empyrean 2 is really doing it for me. For some reason, the headband for the he1000 stealth has been uncomfortable for me. Overall, I'm pretty sure I'll end up returning the He1000 stealth and organic since I'm trying to keep just one only and call it a day for now(even if I really want to keep all of them, not finically smart, lol). Really tough choice.
Did you get a chance to try out the Tungsten (double-sided) yet? I'm trying to determine if it's an upgrade over the HE1000 Stealth and how they differ.
You say the SE is worth the upgrade, but going off just the soundstage, how much better is it? I care mostly about depth and width. Would you say the difference is worth the price?
Funny how not many people talk anymore about the 400se being the true disruption. The B variant, available in Asia mostly, can be had for 50USD now, maybe cheaper. I got mine for 60USD. If I had started here I might not have taken the plunge into even the 300-500 dollar market.
www.oneillscreationworkshop.com/grumpy-goose-headphone-stands?fbclid=PAAaZhlvioB-sOhB3b12aAVSERl50Zl_cFXSmUBCcxoF96muRp88D-0D4BHrc You can follow him on Instagram @instagram.com/oneills.creation.workshop?igsh=aDc4amNlNjQ2YW9i He only is able to make a few at a time and they sell out within minutes, sometimes seconds.
I got the HE1000v2 and it was my choice over the stealth edition ... for each its own ... not everyone likes the same tonality... again the v2 not stealth it was my choice
@@Vanxiety12 HD800s just sound the most natural and the soundstage experience is bar none, best headphones for gaming by FAR and very light, the he1000 stealth soundstage for me was extremely weird sounding, like distant but not wide it just sounded like i was listening from afar. The planar bass is on another level tho, only thing i miss from the he1000 is how deep the bass goes, however i really like the 800s bass it isn’t overpower and is very high quality . quality over quantity. The main reason i wanted these headphones was for gaming, i have other for musical purposes and the 800s was a lot better then the he1000 stealth for gaming. I preferred the Dt990 that i got for $100 over the he1000
@@SnxgurI got the Hd800s and I like them a lot. But I can’t help but wonder what a pair of hifiman sound like. I’m trying to with strain on buying a pair lol. Not sure how long i will last.
the SE might as well stand for "Soundstage Edition" although all 3 are quite wide. The SE is more of a full circle though instead of i guess an ovel shape if that makes sense.
I'd say better at imaging (slightly) and slightly smaller soundstage (hd 800 can kind of feel TOO big). The hek is the better headphone overall.@@YTjuanchicod
@@CrackaSlapYa wow, i hear hek sound and scales bigger. And the 800s are more microdetailed and small one. In terms of soundstage i hear than 800s is wider but flater or 2D, when the hek has a deeper and higher soundstage like a esphere
Are you sure that the ones you call "Stealth" are the newest "Stealth Magnet" ones and not the previous V2 that have as well Stealth drivers? those look exactly the same but sounds completely different compared to the Stealth Magnet ones. I think you confused between the two because the sound characteristics you are describing are of the previous V2 (with Stealth drivers) and not of the newest, called He1000 Stealth Magnet. The latter are not at all smoother than the SE( the opposite) and not at all "intimate" .
I'm positive and can only report on what I hear. Understand when I said more intimate, I meant more so then the other two. All 3 stage very well. They are definitely smoother to my ear on the amps I listened on.
I am afraid if this is not differences or variance between different pcs. Because that stealth i heard was warmest and smoothest of all hifiman but i havent heard orhanic or special edition only ananda, xs, sundara, arya stealth. He1000 most musical smooth and more lush vocals and midrage than any of these
@@AbalMarius the confusion I am trying to avoid is between HE1000 V2 ( that many call "Stealth" because it has as well Stealth drivers) and the latest HE1000 that is called instead " Stealth Magnet" that many, wrongly, call just "Stealth"(like the V2). Probably Hifiman could have differentiated better the names and we will not be here discussing
I demoed all 3 and only the He1000se stood out for soundstage, a truly oval shape to it, and tonally balanced. The organic and V2 sound almost 2D in comparison, less depth, and the tonal balance of the Organic is anything BUT organic. The elevated bass is nice but not worth the pain of that treble. It reminds me of listening to the DT1990 from Beyer on steroids. I don't know why they tuned it that way, it messed with timbre of a lot of instruments.
@@soulfulfool Your CHAIN may make quite a bit of difference when you get into uber-resolving HPs. Ex: I had the Arya v2s and was comparing an OG Topping A90 to the Monolith '887 to Magni 3+ and a resistor-bypassed Emotiva A-100 (ie: 2 IC chip amps vs 2 discrete Class AB amps). What I found out was that neither IC chip amps sounded nowhere near as NATURAL as both the discrete amps. That "sharp highs and timbre is fake" is EXACTLY how they sounded on both IC chip amps - while they sounded much more "real" with the discretes. Long story short (haha, too late) - I bought a used Gustard H20 Class A Bal amp that pretty much dusted all of them in "natural", punch, width, depth, quiet/no noise, and timbre. Amps and chains do count, IMO......
@@Ezees23 of course chain count, my chain is set more likely for dynamic drivers, for planars I would need R2R dac + discrete class A like you mentioned
Nice review! In my opinion, the HE1000 Stealth is worth the extra cost over the Arya Organic even if only for the build quality. I love the bass of the HE1000 Stealth and I think it sounds almost as detailed as the HE1000se while not revealing the small flaws in the recording in a blunt way like the SE does.
theyre kind of meh
@@iikatinggangsengii2471what is
@@iikatinggangsengii2471 Your opinion is kinda meh
The bass on the Stealth is perfect.
@@iikatinggangsengii2471 What is abetter sounding headphone at a similar price range in your opinion?
Thank you for the comparison. I have been using the Arya Organic for the past month and I think what you stated on its review and here is spot on. It has great staging capabilities, thumpy bass, forward mids, and bright treble. I personally don't mind the brightness. For the price, I don't think I'm going to chase for the HE1000SE (I was) anymore.
Great video. Keep up the good work!
Do you think the HE1000se has a better soundstage than the Organic?
@@Daryl42 I don't have the HE1000SE, so I can't compare the two, sorry.
I've also been wondering about HEKse's "details", cuz I personally really love more details, and almost every other reviewer seems to say similar things as most comments - that the se is in a class of its own. But this is the 1st time I've seen someone actually compare all 3 on a few songs. And honestly, the difference doesn't seem worth the cost. I'll stick to Arya organics as my endgame. No longer interested in se.
I owned both the HE1000SE & the HE1000 Stealth, at the same time. And I A/B'd them for over 30 days. He is the main difference between them: HE1000SE has more detail and will wow you with resolution and clarity. Like WOW. HE1000 Stealth has a better designed tuning and will absolutely wow you with the overall image and placement of different sounds. Like WOW. The Stealth is much more pleasing to listen to if you want to simply get lost in and fall in love with the music. The HE1000SE is much more pleasing to listen to if you want to be shocked at the grand fidelity and detail of every individual sound played. They are both amazing. I kept the HE1000SE because I could EQ them much more easily in the Stealth's direction for when i wanted to relax with the music. The Stealth did not do nearly as well with EQ. I honestly wish i kept both. They are different but i couldn't pick a winner based on sound alone. I want them both for the 2 moods i find myself in often: Listening for detail and listening to melt into the music. Buy them both if you can.
Man i got stealth n now atrium. I went back and forth if i should upgrade the stealth to SE. To me i like to get lost in music and really like stealth but there is always sn itch shd i upgrade it to SE :$
@SupplyNinja what EQ settings are you using on the HE1000se to move in the direction of the Stealth? I love the HE1000se as is but depending on what I am listening to, EQ'ing to a more relaxed level would be a nice option. I almost went for the HE1000 Stealth as it seems to be very close at a discount but I know myself well enought that I would also have the itch to own the HE1000se.
Very accurate assessment of these two! That is exactly the way I heard them when I compared them and have decided that the SE is more to my preference. I also agree that it is easier to make the SE sound more like the Stealth than the other way around.
how is the se on tubes if you have those
@@irun2sanaxox the SE is awesome with tubes! I actually prefer them with tubes but these headphones scale so well with whatever amp you are using. Just don't use a OTL tube amp with these headphones.
Excellent! I've been waiting for this comparison for months. I shared this with my Facebook headphone groups.
From the limited info available I traded up from Arya Stealth to the HEk Stealth. Seemed like a no-brainer for only 100 bucks more. I love how smooth it is while also having great imaging and detail. A lot like a planar version of my ZMF Atrium. Note: The Dekoni sheepskin perforated pads retain the sound signature and are so much more comfortable than stock. And I think Hifiman finally nailed it with the included cables here (from worst to first with these cables).
Best headphone stands for the money you got there too. I have two black and one white for my HEk.
You just get it. Love your videos.
Thanks!
Can u put the link ? I want those stands too THANK U ♥
Thanks for the music recommendations as well as the headphones review!
I got a chance to listen to the HE1000se at CanJam this year--it's an excellent headphone. Wish I had the money to get one but even at its reduced price, it is out of my range lol But if you have the cash for it, I would recommend it. One of the best headphones I got the chance to listen to at the show.
- **HE1000 V1** - 2015
- **HE1000 V2** - 2016
- **HE1000 SE** - 2018
- **HE1000 Stealth (V3)** - 2022
- **Arya V1** - 2018
- **Arya V2** - 2020
- **Arya Stealth** - 2021
- **Arya Organic** - 2023
Thx super helpful
Weird, they are calling the he1k stealth as v2, but dated 2022..so it’s the v3?
@@Cons2911 Well now you have the V4, and unveiled..
@terjes64 I think I saw unveiled, that (probably the other one too) is out of my price range. The organic alone is pushing it. That's like 2x of my intended budget. I am aiming for arya stealth.. But no stocks anywhere in my area. I can order from hifiman themselves but the import tax.. I don't want to deal with out customs lol (corrupt)
Anyway.. I don't know yet, seeing lots of comments about quality control. I do like their sound
I just bought a Aune AR5000 & and iBasso DX180 and couldn't be happier.
This is a great video and it's a question I've asked myself a number of times over the past few months. My itch for new headphones has been growing. :)
Great Vid, thx a lot!!
Now I know I‘ll get the 1000SE. It‘s the best looking of the three to me, too.
So from what I understand, the HE1000v2 with a couple of db Low-Shelf PEQ is the one I would like the most.
I have exactly this combo. I previously had Arya Stealth and OG Ananda. The HE1000 v2 Stealth is just completely awesome to me. Makes everything I throw at it sound incredible. Never fatiguing.
Ive ordered HE1000 STEALTHs a few days ago! Really excited for them to get here
Absolutely brilliant review can't wait to check out more of yours. I have the HE1000SE and could not be happier which I use with my Cayin N8ii. I also have the focal radiance on order as that will give a completely different sound and the fact that it is a closed back. Thank you once again
Radiance is highly underrated, in some ways I enjoy it more than my Utopia since it has no nasty bass crackling if played too loud. People are letting the Bentley logo deprive themselves of a great HP.
Thanks for this. Looking forward even more to it arriving, hopefully tomorrow. @@mikeg2491
I have the N8ii as well and both the Stealth and SE sound excellent off of this DAP. Component synergy is a real thing as these sounded better on the N8ii than some higher power desktop amps I've listened to them on.
Wonderful comparison, as an owner of the Organic and the 1000SE I totally agree regarding the resolution , the tamber and the HUGE stage that are a plus for the SE and I also find it more dynamic as well.The sub bass is more refined and pronounced like it's of "higher quality" vs a stronger more pronounced mid bass on the Organic that is probably the best option in its price range if spicy but detailed treble doesn't bother you.
Hey, I was wondering. Joshua val said that the bass was not spacious as the original Arya's. He said It's not spacious, bass. It's intimate bass that I wouldn't like that. Can you clear this up if it's wrong. And can you compare that base spaciousness to the Arya Organics because I have it. And if it's spacious bass, I will get that upgrade.
@@The-Oreo-Man Happy New Year 😁 I have personally not heard the Arya V1 and V2 but from what I've read and heard the Arya Stealth (V3) that I also own is the most balanced and less harsh though everyone says that they have less staging capabilities but excel everywhere else. Now the Organic builds on that by bringing more mid bass , less midrange warmth , a bit more treble spikes and the staging capabilities return.
Now I can imagine what base spaciousness means and it's probably the ability to make it sound more realistic and natural giving the sense of size which is something I definitely noticed that the HE1000SE have in comparison to the Aryas that I own(V3+Organic). In my opinion the HE1000SE have a superior bass in quality, tamber and detail which I notice even while gaming, for example on Cyberpunk 2077 walking outside of bars/clubs it's super realistic and powerful. The bass notes last longer and fade away slower more natural compared to the Aryas that aren't as full and impactful on the sub bass.
Regarding the soundstage that Josh describes as not impressive I wholeheartedly disagree (maybe because of the gear he had back then?)and even owners of 4-7K headphones regard it as larger and more holographic than headphones like the Susvara, LCD series , Utopia, ZMF headphones etc.
I don't know how the new Modhouse Tungsten is holding up.
@@giorgosapo4508 Thank you for your reply to that comment. Just reading your review really makes me want to get it. The part I want most is soundsage. That's the seller for me. I got some exciting news. I got some custom cables from Marco Custom Cables. The headphone cable was $1000. The adapter was $160, and the 2 XLR were $340. Crap it hurts to text that. But holy crap Everything like bass impact, spaciousness, clarity, and everything under the sun improved. It was like a 15% increase. And that's no BS. My friend that's not into Sound stuff tried my headphones and said, "Everything opened up." He also said,"It sounds like nothing was interfering with the sounds." So what wasn't just me. That's besides the point. I have some questions. How does just the soundstage compare to the Sennheiser Hd800s? How much more soundstage is there in the HE1000se over the Organics in feet/inches? You can totally guess this. It is just to give me a reference to roughly how good it is. You said that the HE1000se is better soundstage than the Susvara's. If that's true, I can't believe it, lol😆. These headphones are really sounding like my perfect type of headphones. Not to mention that I'm upgrading to the HIFIMAN HE1000se over my Arya Organics due to a hair stuck in between the driver making a buzzing sound. I still have them on warranty. I should have been more careful with my headphones, setting it down on beds and other stuff that has potentially had debris/hairs on it. I should have cleaned them out more due to me listening 6 hours a day and cleaning them once a month... That's going to change to every time I use them, I clean them. Because 6 hours isn't a small amount. Do you have any good tips for cleaning them deeply?
Thank you so much if it answers these questions and have a good rest of your year!!! 🙃
@@giorgosapo4508wow thank you for your detailed opinion. I‘m thinking of buying either arya v3 or organic but cant decide if the huge Price difference is worth it. Right now I‘ve got a Sundara which is good but Not Impressive. Would you recommend v3 or organic cause it‘s 400$ more which is a lot in my opinion. I‘ve also Seen that the he1000 stealth are identically priced to arya organic…. So I‘m really confused. If Price doesnt matter, which one is the Overall best? It would be my only headphone (not a collector)
@@andreasschultze6644 Hello Andreas with the Greek name 😊 first of all you're going to be extremely impressed by either the V3 or the Organic because it is a huge step up from the Sundara.
As much as people say that the Organic is a big upgrade from the V3 I will tell you that they are similar and different headphones.
The Organic has a wider soundstage, a boosted mid Bass which is immediately felt that offers more impact and better thump and can get a tiny bit more harsh on the treble depending on the track that you're listening to.
In my experience comparing these two I found the V3 a bit more present on the sub bass, slightly warmer mids and definitely more neutral all around.
The Organic has a more fun and thumpy profile that will be more suitable as a daily driver watching TH-cam, movies, video games etc
Добрый день. Посмотрел Ваш обзор. Спасибо большое очень информотивно! Для себя понял что буду брать arya organic.
Very useful comparison. The He-1000se got another price cut down to $1699 in the current sale and that puts it really in competition with the whole line-up.
Wow. $1699 makes that a pretty easy recommendation!
Hifiman has some crazy sales right now. The Arya stealth is $599 and the he1000 stealth is $1199. I actually prefer the Arya Stealth for a lot of the reasons you mentioned. I'm thinking of returning the HE1000s for the Arya organic. The HE1000 is a bit on the warmer side for me. But great video though. I think we have similar preferences
GM ☕️from Toronto.
At $1.2K U.S. …how do these compare to Audeze LCDX 2021 Creators Edition….
Truth be told ..I love my LCDX ..for movie OST ( Hans Zimmer low bass!) Techno , instrumental music ..SOME VOCALS..if they’re mastered well …
For music that is vocal centric..I’ll use another headphone for that ( even the HiFiman 400i 2020 edition) from my collection.
You described the headphones well ..but I didn’t get the sense that they aren’t picky with genre or amplification 🤔
Great video.
Enjoy the weekend.
So the lcdx would be a more I timate sound first, but then a bit more dynamic as well. I know they can be a bit amp picky where I didn't find these Hifiman s to be as much (for my gear). Also I know the lcdx is very EQ friendly if you need that. I'd say the he1000 stealth would be probably the most genre friendly of the 3, but neither option is terrible. Hope that helps!
@@Skeeb23 If you allow me to add something, as stated the LCD-X is a very dynamic punchy and full of rumble headphone that does indeed work wonders with EQ making it a a bit more spacious, punchier and tonally "correct" compared to the stock tuning.
HE1000Stealth is indeed the closest and friendliest comparison here.
@@giorgosapo4508 the more experience, the better! Thank you for the added input 👍
Nice comparison! of all the Hifiman here which sounds best with Cayin HA-3A.
pretty good video... that question has been needed to be answered for quite a while now.... some say the fourth headphone for the other three compare would be the original HEKv2 (non stealth).. as they claim the stealth mags pushed the sound sig to the top end of the FR making them more bright... ???
So I'm sure I'm not the only one that noticed the Modhouse Tungsten in the background... how does its sound signature compare to the lineup here and when do you plan on a review for it... thanks
the V2 has Stealth drivers too, even if different from the latest version
@@alessandrodifrancesco8110 the original V2 is different than the new stealth version... its not even called the V2...
I would say the Original V2 sounds more diffused and while the soundstage is larger, it is less precise and especially in the bass region, it sounds soft and almost pillowy compared to the stealth edition. The stealth edition while slightly more intimate gives better all around performance.
Excellent video. Dig it.
It seems that if you EQ they can be very close. I use MiniDsp Studio for its parametric EQ. Hence, I bought the Organic. I do not like things to close but know how to eq the sound for greater depth of stage.
I own both he1000 versions and just want to say that something is wrong here. There is no way the he1000se is brighter than the stealth. Are you sure you had the stealth?
Also im surprised you are not mentioning about the tridimensionality of the Hekse. That is what makes the headphone apart from the other 2.
You should have more complex layered music track for review too not just mainstream singers.
Thank you for the review
What is your chain out of curiosity? We all can hear things differently and are sensitive to certain parts of the FR.
I appreciate your pov on this.
the he1000se is def brigher then the stealth from my hearing. im 20 so my ears may be more sensitive?
@@Snxgur age does make a difference in our hearing. I'm 44. I have good hearing but it's a known fact we do not hear higher frequencies quite as easily the older we get. It very well could be a certain peak in the FR that you are sensitive to that isn't the same peak heard on the SE. I'm just spitballing though ha!
I didn't have se but before I bought stealth, I digged into research to find the difference between this two and I have to agree with you. every review suggested that hek stealth have similar detail and texture retrieval, especially in treble and sometimes it seems even more detailed do to more pronounced treble. what I have heard, stealth have more V shaped tune, but SE got better, more 3D soundstage with better holographiness/separation and more precise imaging. on the other hand, Stealth is dynamic, punchy and definitely not smoother.
To me It is pretty obvious the He1000se is smoother than the HeKstealth. few reviewers say the opposite, maybe different revisions? who knows.
Reviewers should get some musical or ear training, especially if this is going to affect a company sales and peoples decisions. too many reviewers listen to over simple music with repetitive harmonies, super simple vocals, I feel like headphones this caliber should be use for orchestral or music with way more complex layering.
If you like simple vocals just get a bit cheaper headphones and save money.
8:16 😍 where can I buy that stand?
Where can i get a headphone stand that looks like that one in the back right of the video. The woodwork is beautiful!
I listen to mostly Juice WRLD (WAV files)- rap like music with mostly male singing voice. Sounds like I might prefer the Arya by a hair. Any other Juice heads out there?
my Arya Organic is my favorite non-estat right now
I disagree a bit I preferred he1000 stealth tuning above SE, more refined and natural. Also he1000 stealth its soundstage was a little wider than SE. SE had maybe tad more 3d effect but its soundstage is more intimate while the he1000 stealth sounds big and wide all times.
have you compared both side by side? question. in regards to treble harshness or sibilance which one has more? i keep getting mixed reviews
@@urbenkamI never heard the se but I had the Arya stealth, organic and he1000 stealth. I loved the Arya stealth, hated the organics siblance but enjoyed the he1000 stealth. So much so that I returned the Arya stealth (and organic) and kept the he1000s. It's just a better version of the Arya stealth imo.
I'm curious on what your source was as I have listened to both of these plenty of times and on many different sources and never found the stealth to sound wider. The SE has always had the wider image and better soundstage. I guess this is why we all need to listen in person instead of taking someone's word as we all hear differently. 😀
Spot on sir, that's why I went with Stealth. HE1000SE are absolutely surgical when it comes to detail. And I was surprised by the amount of detail they produce, that they still stayed refined and not too hot. But the better tuning, better bass presence and bigger sound stage just make the Stealths such an easy reach, especially for movies. The Dark Knight and Saving Private Ryan on those... WOW!
@@urbenkamTo me the Stealths had more action in the treble region. The HE1000SE could get creep into it depending on the track. But overall the SE was tamed in the treble and bass with even more details.
SE = end game analytical headphones
Stealths = best of both worlds(analytical and fun)
Organic = fun city if you can handle the spice
With the Arya Stealth at $650 on Amazon, I’m curious to hear what you think about the headset. I bought the Arya Stealth and Organic to A/B test them, and I am having a hard time mentally justifying double the cost of the stealth to go for any of their other line-ups above…
Then you have your answer! If you had the chance to A/B then that is all the assurance you need to make a decision.
@@Skeeb23 that response is low-key deep… value in life is dependent on perception… crazy but true in many cases
I love my he1000SE.
Just bought the Arya Organic after thinking and re-thinking and I'm kinda pleased only. Something way cheaper like the Grado 325X has a much better bass, sub bass and rumble and even better tonality overall. With the Arya I have to equalize to boost the bass on pretty much every single track unless is bass heavy. So, all the reviews I saw about it were way exaggerated. The soundstage is ok, not super wide or deep, the detail retreival is on par with the Grados, nothing better and the headband adjustment is pure crap, it falls down after a while wearing them if you move just a bit. Not to mention its a joke than a 1299 Dollars/Euros includes a pretty lame cable which downgrades the audio possibilites of the heaphones. I have a month ahead to decide if I keep them or return them..... mmmm, not sure. I have worst flagship headphones than the Arya but also way better mid-range cans that are way superior to the Arya. Hifiman is a very overrated brand.
@@jjphoenix4055 preferences, your chain and comfort is the subjective part of this hobby more people need to really understand. Sorry they are not working out for you, but, now you know better what you enjoy.
I can 2nd skeeb on this. And infact I myself used to believe "nah chains can't make a difference. How could an amp and dac do anything when all they are doing is doing the conversion and amping of the signal?"
So I had the basic schitt stack of modi 3 and magni heresy, and I.. liked organic I guess. After owning 6XX for about 3 years, I had made the jump to organics and was.. kinda disappointed, the increase just wasn't worth the price.
Until I finally gave in and decided to get some better gear to drive them. Got the bifrost 2, and later changed the amp to a violectric v222. And let me tell you, even I was surprised, someone who thought chains can't make a difference - they actually make a big difference. The 1st time I hooked up bifrost to my setup, I was immediately met with a clearer, less grainier, and controlled (for the lack of a better word) sound. It was like modi was grainier and shouty Kinda sound and bifrost was just this pure clear controlled bliss. And then when I was listening to 1 of my favorite ost's, with v222, I immediately spotted the depth and separation of instruments much more, the bass became more clear and thicker, the vocals became more forward, and the peaky sharp sounds were fully under control. It's like the songs became much more melodious and enjoyable, while being more analytical. The schitt stack was... Fine, but it felt flat. Almost too flat. Like it doesn't do anything aside from, well, boosting the signal. Meanwhile the much more expensive setup added so much colour to it, made the instruments separate and louder (in a musical way), made the vocals enhanced, added depth in stage which was totally unnoticeable before, and most of all, it did all of this while adding superior level clarity.
I kid you not I became a believer of chain effects on my 1st day I powered my bifrost. The expensive setup is ofcourse expensive, but it's definitely worth it. I mean looking back, I realize I would still be on schitt stack and getting like 50% of what organics actually offer.
and with the arya stealth at $599, that is the best value at this point in time.
How would these compare to the Meze Empyrean II?
about as simple as this- The Meze house sound vs the Hifiman. Both are awesome to me. Im a meze and Hifiman fanboy. In an ideal money scenario I'd rock a Meze Elite (or Empy 2) and a HE1000se. But, alas, Im much to broke for all that so I am quite blessed to have Meze 109Pros for the last year (they are pretty amazing for that price- $600 used) and a pair of Hifiman HE1000 Stealths on the way. Trying to inch my way to glory. Im hoping for a HE1000se revision this year and them intend to trade up from the Stealths.
@@CrackaSlapYa Best of luck on the journey!
I've been testing out the organic and HE1000 stealth against the Empyrean 2 to see which one I'm keeping but it seems like sound-wise, they have their own quirks so really hard to lean towards one 100%. In terms of comfort and looks, the Empyrean 2 is really doing it for me. For some reason, the headband for the he1000 stealth has been uncomfortable for me. Overall, I'm pretty sure I'll end up returning the He1000 stealth and organic since I'm trying to keep just one only and call it a day for now(even if I really want to keep all of them, not finically smart, lol). Really tough choice.
@CrackaSlapYa I was going to wait for the same thing lol
Yeah thats a brutal choice. Im horrible at deciding between 3 thing I like lol.@@orangemoon1708
@@orangemoon1708, none of the three Meze headphones that I have auditioned compared favourably to the TOTL HiFiMan.
Did you get a chance to try out the Tungsten (double-sided) yet? I'm trying to determine if it's an upgrade over the HE1000 Stealth and how they differ.
I have the SS on hand currently. I'm hoping to have the DS very soon.
@@Skeeb23Nice! How does the SS compare so far?
@@Skeeb23, how does Tungsten compare with the HE1000se?
@@SpiritualPsychotherapyServices He'll never give you an answer on a public forum or his (any reviewer for that matter) "fatburger" goes bye-bye!
You say the SE is worth the upgrade, but going off just the soundstage, how much better is it? I care mostly about depth and width. Would you say the difference is worth the price?
You have to take your hats off to them for messing up the market...
Funny how not many people talk anymore about the 400se being the true disruption. The B variant, available in Asia mostly, can be had for 50USD now, maybe cheaper. I got mine for 60USD. If I had started here I might not have taken the plunge into even the 300-500 dollar market.
what is that wooden headphone stand you have? i want one
Does anyone know where I can buy the wooden headphone stand in the video?
www.oneillscreationworkshop.com/grumpy-goose-headphone-stands?fbclid=PAAaZhlvioB-sOhB3b12aAVSERl50Zl_cFXSmUBCcxoF96muRp88D-0D4BHrc
You can follow him on Instagram @instagram.com/oneills.creation.workshop?igsh=aDc4amNlNjQ2YW9i
He only is able to make a few at a time and they sell out within minutes, sometimes seconds.
@@Skeeb23 Thank you so much!
I got the HE1000v2 and it was my choice over the stealth edition ... for each its own ... not everyone likes the same tonality... again the v2 not stealth it was my choice
Me deux!
I ordered the He1000 stealth today! Really curious how they compare to my HD800s
i vastly prefer HD800s to the He1000 stealth , i returned them. Looking at getting a He1000SE tho.
@@Snxgurwhy?
@@Vanxiety12 HD800s just sound the most natural and the soundstage experience is bar none, best headphones for gaming by FAR and very light, the he1000 stealth soundstage for me was extremely weird sounding, like distant but not wide it just sounded like i was listening from afar. The planar bass is on another level tho, only thing i miss from the he1000 is how deep the bass goes, however i really like the 800s bass it isn’t overpower and is very high quality . quality over quantity. The main reason i wanted these headphones was for gaming, i have other for musical purposes and the 800s was a lot better then the he1000 stealth for gaming. I preferred the Dt990 that i got for $100 over the he1000
@@SnxgurI got the Hd800s and I like them a lot. But I can’t help but wonder what a pair of hifiman sound like. I’m trying to with strain on buying a pair lol. Not sure how long i will last.
@@Vanxiety12 try the Edition XS, they are very good for the price and will give you a very similar sound to the he1000s
Wich has better imaging and soundstage depth?
Honestly all 3 of them I found imaging to be excellent. Soundstage depth I would have to give to the HE1000 (both SE and Stealth).
the SE might as well stand for "Soundstage Edition" although all 3 are quite wide. The SE is more of a full circle though instead of i guess an ovel shape if that makes sense.
@@CrackaSlapYa how do you compare it agains hd800s in soundstage and imaging?
I'd say better at imaging (slightly) and slightly smaller soundstage (hd 800 can kind of feel TOO big). The hek is the better headphone overall.@@YTjuanchicod
@@CrackaSlapYa wow, i hear hek sound and scales bigger. And the 800s are more microdetailed and small one. In terms of soundstage i hear than 800s is wider but flater or 2D, when the hek has a deeper and higher soundstage like a esphere
what one had the biggest sound stage
Are you sure that the ones you call "Stealth" are the newest "Stealth Magnet" ones and not the previous V2 that have as well Stealth drivers? those look exactly the same but sounds completely different compared to the Stealth Magnet ones. I think you confused between the two because the sound characteristics you are describing are of the previous V2 (with Stealth drivers) and not of the newest, called He1000 Stealth Magnet. The latter are not at all smoother than the SE( the opposite) and not at all "intimate" .
I'm positive and can only report on what I hear. Understand when I said more intimate, I meant more so then the other two. All 3 stage very well. They are definitely smoother to my ear on the amps I listened on.
@@Skeeb23 at the end sound is very subjective , you are right 👍
Yes you can tell they are the stealth because the grill cover on the outside of the driver is slightly curved. On the original it is completely flat.
I am afraid if this is not differences or variance between different pcs. Because that stealth i heard was warmest and smoothest of all hifiman but i havent heard orhanic or special edition only ananda, xs, sundara, arya stealth. He1000 most musical smooth and more lush vocals and midrage than any of these
@@AbalMarius the confusion I am trying to avoid is between HE1000 V2 ( that many call "Stealth" because it has as well Stealth drivers) and the latest HE1000 that is called instead " Stealth Magnet" that many, wrongly, call just "Stealth"(like the V2). Probably Hifiman could have differentiated better the names and we will not be here discussing
Love the headphone stands, but they are always sold out..
♥
Egg shaped shells 🐚 yeah you got a point 😂
I demoed all 3 and only the He1000se stood out for soundstage, a truly oval shape to it, and tonally balanced. The organic and V2 sound almost 2D in comparison, less depth, and the tonal balance of the Organic is anything BUT organic. The elevated bass is nice but not worth the pain of that treble. It reminds me of listening to the DT1990 from Beyer on steroids. I don't know why they tuned it that way, it messed with timbre of a lot of instruments.
I do not see the value at those crazy prices.
Even more confused after that!
Tidal has no soul. It sounds cold and dry IMHO. I tried few times....
And yet you laughed again 😂
Arya is dead name for me xD but he1000 stealth for 1200$ is looking good, even better as the "warmer" one since I hate dry planars
Why don't you like Arya?
@@RealSteveEyes sharp highs and timbre is fake, thats only my opinion people tend to overrate any Arya that came up
@@soulfulfool Your CHAIN may make quite a bit of difference when you get into uber-resolving HPs.
Ex: I had the Arya v2s and was comparing an OG Topping A90 to the Monolith '887 to Magni 3+ and a resistor-bypassed Emotiva A-100 (ie: 2 IC chip amps vs 2 discrete Class AB amps).
What I found out was that neither IC chip amps sounded nowhere near as NATURAL as both the discrete amps. That "sharp highs and timbre is fake" is EXACTLY how they sounded on both IC chip amps - while they sounded much more "real" with the discretes.
Long story short (haha, too late) - I bought a used Gustard H20 Class A Bal amp that pretty much dusted all of them in "natural", punch, width, depth, quiet/no noise, and timbre. Amps and chains do count, IMO......
@@Ezees23 of course chain count, my chain is set more likely for dynamic drivers, for planars I would need R2R dac + discrete class A like you mentioned
@@soulfulfool Yeah, at least you recognize this fact. Many people who call themselves objectivists