Over-Ear
HiFiMAN Arya
88Outstanding
$769
Full review dataHiFiMAN Arya vs Sennheiser HD 490 Pro: 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
Sennheiser HD 490 Pro
78Great
$429
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
Sennheiser HD 490 Pro
Sound8.5
Value6.5
Specifications
| Spec | HiFiMAN Arya | Sennheiser HD 490 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Over-Ear | Over-Ear |
| Price (USD) | $769 | $429 |
| HearWiki score | 88 / 100 · Outstanding | 78 / 100 · Great |
| Released | 2021 | 2024 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | Planar | dynamic |
| Driver size | - | 38 mm |
| Drivers per side | 1 | 2 |
| Frequency response | 8Hz-65kHz | 5Hz-36.1kHz |
| Sound signature | Bright neutral | - |
| Impedance | 35 Ω | 130 Ω |
| Sensitivity | 90 dB/mW | 96 dB/mW |
| Sensitivity (dB/Vrms) | - | 105 |
| Wireless | ||
| Multipoint pairing | - | No |
| Features | ||
| Active noise cancelling | - | No |
| Controls | - | none |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 430 g | 260 g |
| Foldable | - | No |
| Detachable cable | - | Yes |
| 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
Sennheiser HD 490 Pro
The Sennheiser HD 490 Pro is a wired, open-back over-ear headphone aimed at studio work, offering a neutral and accurate sound signature with strong comfort. It includes two pad options and is easy to drive from most devices, though its price is considered steep for what it delivers compared to some rivals. While praised for its balanced tuning and lightweight build, it doesn't universally outperform cheaper classics in sheer audio quality.
- Pro:Very accurate and neutral sound reproduction
- Pro:Lightweight and comfortable for long sessions
- Pro:Detachable cable with balanced option
- Con:Expensive for its performance tier
- Con:No built-in controls or wireless features
- Con:May still benefit from an external amp in some setups
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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