Unseen, unheard​When sound waves pass through the magnet structure via the diaphragm, they are prone to interferences and diffraction with conventional designs as air is moved through them. The Stealth structure ensures this to happen to a minimum for more precision, clarity and imaging precision. In the same vein a stealth bomber’s shape and form which is not a random or artistic choice at all, and ensures deflecting or bouncing off radar waves and becoming unnoticed, HIFIMAN’s stealth system ensures magnets not being in the way of the sound as good as possible. I didn’t dismantle the driver even though it uses a standard Phillips screw. Some parts in the driver area are plastic, and I don’t want to damage the driver. I put a light on the other side of the driver and you can see the magnets through the screen covering. The driver inside measures 65mm x 100mm, and it is said to be larger than the driver used on the Sundara or Ananda. Overall Build Quality and Comfort Timbre​Headphones with strong timbral qualities to me are headphones like the HD 6XX family and the Susvara. The naturalness, especially in their mids, make listening to real instruments and vocal performances simply a mesmerising, an almost live experience. The staging is quite similar between the two, with both giving you a rather small and intimate staging performance with a focus on imaging.

The original Arya has been and still is one of the crowd-pleasers, having fans all over the market. Many describe it as the ultimate planar for those who are not willing to spend multi-thousand dollars for a pair of headphones. While it was still rather expensive, the amount of high-end value we were given fully justified that cost.The Arya Stealth is super comfortable thanks to the huge and swiveling ear cups, that are roomy enough to accommodate larger ears while the hybrid cushioned ear pads are soft to the touch with excellent breathability. Simon and Garfunkel's "Fakin' It" was a mixed bag. Paul Simon's voice sounded lovely as always, and the various instruments complemented each other nicely without any one drowning out the other. The middle of the song, which features a simulation of a man entering a shop with a bell on the door, didn't have the level of detail and realism where I feel like his footsteps are happening outside of my head, but this isn't a hyper-analytical headphone, either. The HD800S soundstage is more diffuse and wide whereas the Arya is more solid but with sharper imaging. Ok, this isn't direct comparison since i had them for about 2 months as a loan lately, but my memory is very fresh about them....and not for a good reason since I really dislike those headphones. PS: I want to thanks Hifiman for sending this review sample out of the blue. I was expecting getting the Edition XS but will not complaint getting the Arya since XS might be very similar to Ananda ive review before...

I immediately threw them on the EARS rig and that was the result. I measured multiple times and even swapped them around to the other mics which produced the same result. The Stealth goes further here, giving the aggression a nice little boost with its more intense energy delivery and added cleanliness. Trails and reverbs are easier to hear fading out in the distance now. The midrange is pretty regular for a Hifiman headphone – it’s linear, neutral, and very detailed. Don’t expect any added warmth or body to it, as the Arya SE is flat and precise. With their staging capabilities though, it sounds very intimate and right in your face, being one of the most forward-sounding midranges I’ve heard in a long while.When the HE-1000SE appeared on the shelves, sporting both the stealth magnets and a higher sensitivity, bringing HE-1000 level performance for portables while actually surpassing them in technical performance notably, it came with a few yet worthy tradeoffs. What’s also very important is that getting the right system for the Susvara would cost a lot, while the Arya SE is not as demanding, both in terms of raw power and the overall quality of the rest of the components.