Over-Ear
HiFiMAN Arya
88Outstanding
$769
Full review dataHiFiMAN Arya vs Shure Srh1840: 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 Srh1840
72Good
$624
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 Srh1840
Sound7.5
Value6.5
Specifications
| Spec | HiFiMAN Arya | Shure Srh1840 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Over-Ear | Over-Ear |
| Price (USD) | $769 | $624 |
| HearWiki score | 88 / 100 · Outstanding | 72 / 100 · Good |
| Released | 2021 | 2012 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | Planar | dynamic |
| Driver size | - | 40 mm |
| Drivers per side | 1 | 1 |
| Frequency response | 8Hz-65kHz | 10Hz-30kHz |
| Sound signature | Bright neutral | - |
| Impedance | 35 Ω | 65 Ω |
| Sensitivity | 90 dB/mW | 96 dB/mW |
| Wireless | ||
| Multipoint pairing | - | No |
| Features | ||
| Active noise cancelling | - | No |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 430 g | 268 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
Shure Srh1840
The Shure SRH1840 is a lightweight, open-back dynamic headphone aimed at studio professionals, offering a notably flat and detailed sound signature with a wide soundstage. Its build is solid and drivers are well-matched, but it demands quality amplification due to its moderate impedance and lower sensitivity, and some measurements point to distortion issues that may affect critical listening. Overall, it's a capable tool for mixing and monitoring when paired with the right gear, though not ideal for portable use.
- Pro:Very flat, neutral frequency response
- Pro:Lightweight and comfortable for long sessions
- Pro:Expansive soundstage with clear treble
- Con:Higher harmonic distortion at certain frequencies
- Con:Less efficient, needs a good amp
- Con:Not suitable for portable devices
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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