Closer Examination

The man in "HIFIMAN" runs the company with the single mindset of making things sound good while minimizing noise. I will preface this section by saying that the stock cable that comes with the HIFIMAN Arya (2021) sounds good, and by that metric alone, there is no reason to complain. But I am the man writing this review, and my mindset involves judging the cable for its entire user experience. This includes other metrics, such as ease of use, microphonics, associated resistance and capacitance, and even the build quality. The cable is predominantly black and matches the headphones in this regard, with a single fabric jacket over the conductor inside that may or may not be braided. In fact, there is little information available online about the cable composition, and this particular cable does not even appear in the HIFIMAN cable shop list. It begins with a 6.35 mm (1/4") single-ended TRS plug from the source, which then leads to a thick, long, angled plastic housing that makes the cable hard to coil in a compact fashion. The cable is also prone to kinking and memory retention—it doesn't even lie flat easily. The splitter is also a case of function over form, and we then get two thinner sections leading to the 3.5 mm TRS connectors marked "L" and "R" for the two channels. The rings on the TRS connectors are green, and the connectors are gold-plated for oxidation resistance. It may be a nice enough cable acoustically, but the global market demands a balance of aesthetics, ease of use, and sound quality, so HIFIMAN could do better.


Some of the same sentiments are applicable to the headphones, too. That having been said, this is once again where a difference of opinion splits end users of different regions. However, I am more on HIFIMAN's side this time around. The common complaint about the Arya seems to be that the build quality does not seem befitting the price point, so let me tell you right now that these are indeed premium headphones rather than waiting for you to have read everything it offers first. This mindset is typically seen with other consumer devices too, where anything with a plastic construction is construed as cheap, not just inexpensive. The Arya uses a mix of plastic and metal for the body itself, and the somewhat glossy finish to the plastic ear cups contributes to the divisive reception here. Having just experienced a couple of Audeze competitors, I can tell you that I would take the Arya's construction myself. There's nothing inherently wrong about using plastic, especially when the reason is to reduce weight without compromising on structural integrity. Indeed, I dare say that dropping these headphones accidentally on to a hard floor may have less of an effect compared to, say, wooden ear cups that will more likely crack or dent along the grain.

At 430 g, these planar magnetic headphones are low enough in mass density not to be physically fatiguing. The headband design contributes massively to this too, although it does look odd at first sight (and second, and third...). A thin piece of sheet metal, here steel, is bent twice and used as a flexible brace the ear cups are attached to, with a cutout in the center further reducing mass. This is accompanied by a relatively long support band stretching with the headband to support your head. The foam filler is comfortable, and the stitching well executed. This is where storing the headphones is more important, and having the ear cups not touching each other helps lower wear on the support band. I also recommend using a stand that holds these headbands from the steel instead of support headband.


The support band on either side terminates into two sliders, which are held in place with screws, allowing for easier replacement of parts. This is as good a time as any to say that I am quite happy with the customer service HIFIMAN provides, having secretly tested them pretending to be a paying customers. The service representative I was speaking to was ready to walk me through any issues I had, including issuing out replacement parts as needed and providing links to tutorial videos about the assembly or disassembly of the pads and headband or support band. This certainly works in favor of the otherwise short 1-year warranty (15 months upon product registration).

L/R markings on the underside point out the two channels, and the slider is part of the height-adjustment mechanism wherein it clicks into several punched holes in the steel headband. It's not the most elegant solution for adjustment on the fly, and I certainly found myself inadvertently having shifted one side more than the other the first couple of times, but once set up, there is little reason to change it again. Importantly, the height adjustment remains in place even when moving the headphones around, and the headband flex automatically adjusts the contouring around the head. It's a one size fits all approach that works well enough functionally, which has the yoke system from a few others seem less adaptive to different head sizes and shapes.


The truncated HIFIMAN logo is printed on the outside of both sliders, and below them we either see "HIIFIMAN" or "Arya" on the two channels, as well as a continuation of the steel used in the making of the HIFIMAN Arya, albeit as pivot points and supports for the two ear cups themselves. These pivots are quite generous, so much so that you can tilt and rotate the ear pads in almost every which way even if you don't mean to.


Aha, now we get to the thing that has no doubt drawn more eyes than the headband itself, and that is the fairly unique ear-cup design. HIFIMAN has used this teardrop-shaped ear cup with a few other models now, and the Arya is certainly not the first to do it, either. In fact, the Arya at launch drew comparisons to the erstwhile Edition X v2 and more premium HE1000 v2 with a similar design meant to follow the form of the ears and contours of the head. These are open-back over-ear headphones. The outer grille has 11 horizontal bars. Underneath is where we see the patented "Window Shade" that led to the first Arya revision, but more on this later. The ear pads are also slightly contoured and a composite of a polyester and pleather cover and medium-density foam filling. The polyester is perforated and provides support to the sides of the head, but there is no denying that these extend below the ears and down to the jawline for most, which feels weird the first few times you wear the Arya, almost as if you have horse blinders on. The clamp force isn't too high, so it is not uncomfortable as much as a matter of getting used to feeling as though turning your head may break the seal, which it won't. The ear pads are deep enough for most ears not to touch the inner fabric lining separating you from the magnets and the diaphragm itself, but some have managed to make a strand of hair poke through the fabric, which you should certainly remove right away lest it touch the diaphragm and create artificial crinkling noises in use.


Between the headband and multiple pivot points, the ear cups on the HIFIMAN Arya (2021) are quite likely to adhere well to your specific head. Good contact is a must for headphones anyway, which brings with it wear and tear to the ear pads. I again find myself thinking back to the glued pads on Audeze headphones, which are a deliberate choice even on its flagship LCD-5, and HIFIMAN has gone with clips instead in a move that certainly is more user-friendly. This latest-generation ear pad is called the HIFIMAN SerenityPad, a revision to the previous UltraPad, which wasn't the best name for SEO. The difference is that the inner lining/protective cover is now integrated on the driver side of the ear cup, so we see a hollow ear pad here. The easier replacement system has also led to several third-party replacement ear pads with different material choices, including velour, sheepskin, and full leather.

I would say try out the stock ear pads first since they were made with the headphone tuning in mind, and then swap based on your specific needs. The owner's guide illustrates how to swap ear pads, which you can buy original versions of from the HIFIMAN store, by pressing inward in the middle of the two longer sides and then simply pulling it out. Installing one is best done by inserting it at an angle to clip one end in before pushing and clicking the rest of the clips in place. It's a plastic on plastic connection, another benefit plastic brings to the table. This now allows for a closer look at the driver assembly, albeit still with the window shades on, and the stealth magnets on either side of the diaphragm.


The plastic plate inside also has the serial number of each driver engraved; it should match those listed on the warranty card. A small cutout shows more of the cable connector, which faces forward on the bottom of the ear cups such that the cable plugs in and naturally shifts away from your neck. As opposed to dual 2.5 mm at launch, the HIFIMAN Arya now uses dual 3.5 mm connectors on the ear cups, which increases compatibility with aftermarket cables and HIFIMAN acknowledges as a positive since it allows users to swap cables. With the two cables meeting at the splitter on your chest and moving to the source itself, the weight balance is still centrally placed.