Over-Ear
HiFiMAN Arya
88Outstanding
$769
Full review dataHiFiMAN Arya vs Noble Audio Fokus Apollo: 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
Noble Audio Fokus Apollo
68Good
$649
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
Noble Audio Fokus Apollo
Sound7.5
Noise cancelling6.5
Battery9.0
Value6.0
Specifications
| Spec | HiFiMAN Arya | Noble Audio Fokus Apollo |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Over-Ear | Over-Ear |
| Price (USD) | $769 | $649 |
| HearWiki score | 88 / 100 · Outstanding | 68 / 100 · Good |
| Released | 2021 | 2024 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | Planar | hybrid |
| Driver size | - | 40 mm |
| Drivers per side | 1 | 2 |
| Frequency response | 8Hz-65kHz | 10 Hz - 40,000 Hz |
| Sound signature | Bright neutral | - |
| Impedance | 35 Ω | 32 Ω |
| Sensitivity | 90 dB/mW | - |
| Wireless | ||
| Bluetooth | - | 5.3 |
| Bluetooth version | - | 5.3 |
| Codecs | - | SBC, AAC, LDAC, aptX, aptX HD |
| Multipoint pairing | - | Yes |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | - | 80 h |
| Battery life (ANC on) | - | 60 h |
| Full charge time | - | 150 min |
| Wireless charging | - | No |
| Features | ||
| Active noise cancelling | - | Yes |
| ANC type | - | hybrid |
| Transparency mode | - | Yes |
| Companion app | - | Yes |
| Wear detection | - | No |
| Controls | - | buttons |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 430 g | 338 g |
| Water resistance | - | None |
| USB-C | No | Yes |
| Balanced connection | Yes | - |
| Calls | ||
| Microphones | - | 6 |
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
Noble Audio Fokus Apollo
The Noble FoKus Apollo is a premium wireless over-ear headphone that pairs hybrid dual drivers with active noise cancellation for a technically ambitious listening experience. It offers exceptional battery life, strong codec support, and solid build quality, making it a practical choice for travel and daily commutes. While its sound is generally coherent and detailed, some users may need to adjust EQ for extra brightness and be mindful of slightly boomy bass when ANC is active.
- Pro:Outstanding battery life of up to 80 hours
- Pro:Supports LDAC and LDHC for high-resolution wireless audio
- Pro:Hybrid dual-driver design delivers detailed sound
- Con:Controls have a learning curve
- Con:Bass can become boomy with ANC enabled
- Con:May require EQ to achieve extra treble sparkle
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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