Over-Ear
HiFiMAN Arya
88Outstanding
$769
Full review dataHiFiMAN Arya vs HiFiMAN HE 600: 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 HE 600
78Great
$799
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
HiFiMAN Arya
Sound9.5
Value8.0
HiFiMAN HE 600
Sound8.0
Value7.5
Specifications
| Spec | HiFiMAN Arya | HiFiMAN HE 600 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Over-Ear | Over-Ear |
| Price (USD) | $769 | $799 |
| HearWiki score | 88 / 100 · Outstanding | 78 / 100 · Great |
| Released | 2021 | 2025 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | Planar | planar |
| Driver size | - | 100 mm |
| Drivers per side | 1 | 1 |
| Frequency response | 8Hz-65kHz | 8Hz-65kHz |
| Sound signature | Bright neutral | - |
| Impedance | 35 Ω | 28 Ω |
| Sensitivity | 90 dB/mW | 94 dB/mW |
| Wireless | ||
| Multipoint pairing | - | No |
| Features | ||
| Active noise cancelling | - | No |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 430 g | 389 g |
| USB-C | No | No |
| Balanced connection | Yes | Yes |
What reviewers said
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
HiFiMAN HE 600
The HiFiMAN HE600 is an open-back planar headphone that modernizes the classic HE6 concept with a lighter build and easier amplification needs, while retaining a clean, detailed, and balanced sonic character. It offers strong technical performance for its price, though its tight clamping force and slight shortfall in sheer tactility compared to its predecessor are notable trade-offs.
- Pro:Clean, well-extended bass with good detail
- Pro:Natural and articulate mids with smooth treble
- Pro:More practical to drive than the original HE6
- Con:Strong clamping force reduces comfort
- Con:Not a full upgrade over the HE6 in depth and tactility
- Con:Still requires decent amplification to shine
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.