Skip to content
HearWiki

Dan Clark Audio Ether C Flow vs HiFiMAN Arya Unveiled: which should you buy?

On aggregated review scores the HiFiMAN Arya Unveiled comes out ahead with a HearWiki score of 84. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.

Our pick: HiFiMAN Arya Unveiled - Outstanding overall at around $1199.

Score breakdown

Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.

HiFiMAN Arya Unveiled leads on 4 of 4 measures.

  • Dan Clark Audio Ether C Flow
  • HiFiMAN Arya Unveiled
HearWiki score
53
84
Sound
7.4
9.4
Value
3.9
8.0
Price (USD)
$1,800
$1,200

Generation & platform

The scores rank quality. This is the other question: is the newer one actually newer technology, or the same platform in a new shell?

Same generation

The HiFiMAN Arya Unveiled is 8 years newer, but it is the same generation of hardware: nothing in the radio, the codecs or the noise cancelling separates them. Nothing separates them on convenience features either, so the choice comes down to tuning and price. For 8 years between them, that is a thin return - treat this as a restyle rather than a new platform.

  • Ether C Flow2016
  • Arya Unveiled20248 yr newer

Specifications

Ether C FlowArya Unveiled
Type
Over-Ear
Over-Ear
Price (USD)
$1,800
$1,200
HearWiki score
53
84
Released
2016
2024
Availability
Discontinued
Still sold new
Driver
71 mm planar magnetic
planar magnetic
Driver type
planar
planar
Driver size
71 mm
-
Drivers per side
1
1
Frequency response
20 Hz - 20 kHz
8 Hz - 65 kHz
Impedance
23 Ω
27 Ω
Sensitivity
92 dB/mW
94 dB/mW
Active noise cancelling
No
No
Weight
390 g
413 g
Detachable cable
Yes
Yes
Connector
-
6.35 mm
Balanced connection
-
Yes

What reviewers said

Dan Clark Audio Ether C Flow

The Dan Clark Audio Ether C Flow is a premium closed-back planar magnetic headphone that refines the original Ether C with greater immediacy, detail, and musicality. It offers a neutral-to-slightly-U-shaped tonal balance with controlled deep bass and high-resolution performance, packaged in a well-built, comfortable design. While it impresses with its speed and accuracy, its dynamics and imaging are good rather than exceptional, and bass punch could be stronger for some listeners.

  • Pro:Refined, detailed, and musical sound
  • Pro:Neutral-to-slightly-U-shaped tonal balance with controlled deep bass
  • Pro:Excellent build quality and comfort
  • Con:Bass lacks a bit of punch and speed
  • Con:Dynamics and imaging are good but not exceptional
  • Con:Premium price point

HiFiMAN Arya Unveiled

The HiFiMAN Arya Unveiled is a high-end open-back planar magnetic headphone that delivers exceptional detail, tonal accuracy, and a balanced soundstage, making it a strong contender for audiophiles. Its grill-less design reduces reflections for cleaner audio, and it offers easy drivability for its class, though the exposed drivers require careful handling. With a neutral-to-warm tuning and broad frequency extension, it provides a compelling blend of technical performance and musicality.

  • Pro:Excellent detail retrieval and tonal accuracy
  • Pro:Spacious and well-defined imaging
  • Pro:Comfortable for extended listening sessions
  • Con:Exposed driver design requires careful handling
  • Con:Limited connectivity options out of the box
  • Con:Ear-cup material may not appeal to everyone

Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.

Compare something else

Swap either side out, or start again from the picker.