Over-Ear
Audeze EL-8 Open Back
68Good
$700
Full review dataAudeze EL-8 Open Back vs HiFiMAN Arya: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the HiFiMAN Arya comes out ahead with an HearWiki score of 88. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Our pick: HiFiMAN Arya - Outstanding overall at around $769.
Over-Ear
HiFiMAN Arya
88Outstanding
$770
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Audeze EL-8 Open Back
Sound7.0
Value6.0
HiFiMAN Arya
Sound9.5
Value8.0
Specifications
| Spec | Audeze EL-8 Open Back | HiFiMAN Arya |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Over-Ear | Over-Ear |
| Price (USD) | $700 | $770 |
| HearWiki score | 68 / 100 · Good | 88 / 100 · Outstanding |
| Released | 2015 | 2021 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | 100 mm planar magnetic | Planar |
| Driver size | 100 mm | - |
| Drivers per side | 2 | 1 |
| Frequency response | 10Hz-50kHz | 8Hz-65kHz |
| Sound signature | - | Bright neutral |
| Impedance | 30 Ω | 35 Ω |
| Sensitivity | 102 dB/mW | 90 dB/mW |
| Sensitivity | 102 | - |
| Wireless | ||
| Multipoint pairing | No | - |
| Features | ||
| Active noise cancelling | No | - |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 460 g | 430 g |
| Foldable | Yes | - |
| USB-C | - | No |
| Balanced connection | - | Yes |
What reviewers said
Audeze EL-8 Open Back
The Audeze EL-8 Open Back is a premium planar magnetic headphone featuring large 100mm drivers, delivering a spacious and detailed sound with strong, deep bass and clear highs. Its robust build and comfortable fit make it a solid choice for rock, hip-hop, and similar genres, though its open design and weight may not suit everyone. With high sensitivity and low impedance, it's easy to drive while offering an impressive soundstage for critical listening.
- Pro:Excellent build quality with premium materials
- Pro:Deep, detailed bass and clear highs
- Pro:Spacious soundstage with strong imaging
- Con:Heavy at 460 grams, may cause fatigue
- Con:Open-back design leaks sound and lacks isolation
- Con:Not ideal for classical music or maximum detail retrieval
HiFiMAN Arya
The HiFiMAN Arya is a premium planar magnetic headphone known for its exceptionally fast, detailed, and airy sound. Its bright-neutral tuning delivers a highly resolving, spacious presentation with excellent technical performance, making it a strong choice for critical listening, though it requires a good amplifier to shine. With a comfortable open-back design and a relatively affordable price for its class, it balances high-end performance with accessibility.
- Pro:Excellent detail retrieval and transparency
- Pro:Wide, open soundstage with precise imaging
- Pro:Fast and articulate planar driver response
- Con:Bright treble can be fatiguing for sensitive ears
- Con:Needs a powerful amp to reach full potential
- Con:Open-back leaks sound and offers little isolation
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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