Over-Ear
HiFiMAN Arya
88Outstanding
$769
Full review dataHiFiMAN Arya vs Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2: 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
Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2
78Great
$389
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
Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2
Sound8.5
Noise cancelling7.5
Battery9.0
Calls7.0
Value7.5
Specifications
| Spec | HiFiMAN Arya | Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Over-Ear | Over-Ear |
| Price (USD) | $769 | $389 |
| HearWiki score | 88 / 100 · Outstanding | 78 / 100 · Great |
| Released | 2021 | 2023 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | Planar | dynamic |
| Driver size | - | 50 mm |
| Drivers per side | 1 | 2 |
| Frequency response | 8Hz-65kHz | 20 Hz - 22,000 Hz |
| Sound signature | Bright neutral | - |
| Impedance | 35 Ω | 39 Ω |
| Sensitivity | 90 dB/mW | 97.5 dB/mW |
| Wireless | ||
| Bluetooth | - | 5.2 |
| Bluetooth version | - | 5.3 |
| Codecs | - | SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Voice, LDAC |
| Multipoint pairing | - | Yes |
| Wireless range | - | 100 m |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | - | 45 h |
| Battery life (ANC on) | - | 41 h |
| Wireless charging | - | No |
| Features | ||
| Active noise cancelling | - | Yes |
| ANC type | - | adaptive |
| Transparency mode | - | Yes |
| Companion app | - | Yes |
| Custom EQ | - | Yes |
| Wear detection | - | No |
| Controls | - | buttons |
| Voice assistant | - | Alexa |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 430 g | 334 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
Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2
These over-ear wireless headphones deliver a balanced, neutral sound signature with strong detail retrieval, backed by excellent battery endurance and a versatile feature set including adaptive ANC, multipoint pairing, and LDAC support. While the noise cancellation is competent rather than class-leading, the combination of customizable EQ, wired/wireless flexibility, and comfortable design makes them a solid all-rounder for discerning listeners.
- Pro:Excellent 45-hour battery life even with ANC active
- Pro:Balanced, detailed sound with customizable EQ
- Pro:Supports LDAC, AAC, and wired listening via USB-C
- Con:Noise cancellation is only average for the price
- Con:Sound presentation can feel reserved or unexciting
- Con:Physical controls may feel dated to some users
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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