Over-Ear
Focal Elegia
78Great
$490
Full review dataFocal Elegia 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
$769
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Focal Elegia
Sound8.5
Value6.5
HiFiMAN Arya
Sound9.5
Value8.0
Specifications
| Spec | Focal Elegia | HiFiMAN Arya |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Over-Ear | Over-Ear |
| Price (USD) | $490 | $769 |
| HearWiki score | 78 / 100 · Great | 88 / 100 · Outstanding |
| Released | 2018 | 2021 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | dynamic | Planar |
| Driver size | 40 mm | - |
| Drivers per side | 1 | 1 |
| Frequency response | 5Hz-23kHz | 8Hz-65kHz |
| Sound signature | - | Bright neutral |
| Impedance | 35 Ω | 35 Ω |
| Sensitivity | 105 dB/mW | 90 dB/mW |
| Wireless | ||
| Bluetooth | none | - |
| Multipoint pairing | No | - |
| Battery | ||
| Wireless charging | No | - |
| Features | ||
| Active noise cancelling | No | - |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 430 g | 430 g |
| Water resistance | none | - |
| Detachable cable | Yes | - |
| USB-C | No | No |
| Balanced connection | Yes | Yes |
What reviewers said
Focal Elegia
The Focal Elegia is a premium closed-back dynamic headphone that impresses with its refined build and easy-to-drive nature, making it a strong pick for portable use. Its sound is detailed and sophisticated, though it leans toward specialized critical listening rather than all-purpose versatility. While it excels in midrange clarity and overall tone, some listeners may find its clamping force and sparse feature set limiting.
- Pro:Easy to power from portable devices
- Pro:Premium build quality and elegant design
- Pro:Detailed, neutral-leaning sound with strong midrange
- Con:Comfort issues due to firm clamping force
- Con:Lacks modern features like wireless or ANC
- Con:Not ideal for mixed-use scenarios
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.
Compare something else
Swap either side out, or start again from the picker.