Over-Ear
Grado PS500x
76Great
$600
Full review dataGrado PS500x 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.
Grado PS500x
Sound8.0
Value6.0
HiFiMAN Arya
Sound9.5
Value8.0
Specifications
| Spec | Grado PS500x | HiFiMAN Arya |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Over-Ear | Over-Ear |
| Price (USD) | $600 | $770 |
| HearWiki score | 76 / 100 · Great | 88 / 100 · Outstanding |
| Released | 2024 | 2021 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | dynamic | Planar |
| Driver size | 44 mm | - |
| Drivers per side | 2 | 1 |
| Frequency response | 14Hz-29kHz | 8Hz-65kHz |
| Sound signature | - | Bright neutral |
| Impedance | 32 Ω | 35 Ω |
| Sensitivity | 98 dB/mW | 90 dB/mW |
| Wireless | ||
| Multipoint pairing | No | - |
| Features | ||
| Active noise cancelling | No | - |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 215 g | 430 g |
| USB-C | - | No |
| Balanced connection | - | Yes |
What reviewers said
Grado PS500x
The Grado PS500x is a wired, open-back over-ear headphone that delivers a lively and engaging sound, with punchy bass and clear detail. Built for home or studio use, its open design leaks sound heavily and is easy to drive from portable devices thanks to its low impedance. While technically capable, its build quality feels less premium than its price suggests.
- Pro:Energetic, entertaining sound with strong bass and good timing
- Pro:Open, informative presentation with competitive detail
- Pro:Easy to drive from portable players due to 32-ohm impedance
- Con:Open-back design leaks a lot of sound, not suited for public use
- Con:Build quality is not especially luxurious for the price
- Con:Refinement could be better, with a raw or edgy character
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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