Over-Ear
Focal Celestee
65Good
$990
Full review dataFocal Celestee 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.
Over-Ear
HiFiMAN Arya Unveiled
84Outstanding
$1,200
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
HiFiMAN Arya Unveiled leads on 3 of 4 measures.
- Focal Celestee
- HiFiMAN Arya Unveiled
HearWiki score
65
84
Sound
7.7
9.4
Value
-
8.0
Price (USD)
$990
$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 3 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 3 years between them, that is a thin return - treat this as a restyle rather than a new platform.
- Celestee2021
- Arya Unveiled20243 yr newer
Specifications
CelesteeArya Unveiled
- Type
- Over-Ear
- Over-Ear
- Price (USD)
- $990
- $1,200
- HearWiki score
- 65
- 84
- Released
- 2021
- 2024
- Availability
- Still sold new
- Still sold new
- Driver
- 40 mm dynamic
- planar magnetic
- Driver type
- dynamic
- planar
- Driver size
- 40 mm
- -
- Drivers per side
- 1
- 1
- Frequency response
- 5 Hz - 23 kHz
- 8 Hz - 65 kHz
- Impedance
- 35 Ω
- 27 Ω
- Sensitivity
- -
- 94 dB/mW
- Codecs
- SBC
- -
- Multipoint pairing
- No
- -
- Wireless charging
- No
- -
- Active noise cancelling
- No
- No
- Weight
- 430 g
- 413 g
- Water resistance
- none
- -
- Detachable cable
- Yes
- Yes
- Connector
- 3.5 mm
- 6.35 mm
- Balanced connection
- Yes
- Yes
What reviewers said
Focal Celestee
The Focal Celestee is a premium closed-back wired headphone that delivers a smooth, warm, and highly detailed sound signature, making it a strong contender in the luxury segment. Its sturdy, elegant build and comfortable fit are complemented by easy driveability, though its intimate soundstage and lack of wireless features position it as a purist's choice for focused listening at home or in quiet environments. The included accessories are minimal, which may be a consideration given the high price point.
- Pro:Excellent detail and resolution with a smooth, warm tuning
- Pro:Premium, well-crafted build and comfortable design
- Pro:Easy to drive without requiring a powerful amplifier
- Con:Soundstage is narrow, resulting in an intimate presentation
- Con:No wireless or ANC capabilities for portable use
- Con:Short included cable limits placement options
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.
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