Over-Ear
HiFiMAN Arya
88Outstanding
$769
Full review dataHiFiMAN Arya vs STAX SR-007A: 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
STAX SR-007A
84Great
$1296
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
STAX SR-007A
Sound9.0
Value6.0
Specifications
| Spec | HiFiMAN Arya | STAX SR-007A |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Over-Ear | Over-Ear |
| Price (USD) | $769 | $1296 |
| HearWiki score | 88 / 100 · Outstanding | 84 / 100 · Great |
| Released | 2021 | 2018 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | Planar | electrostatic |
| Drivers per side | 1 | - |
| Frequency response | 8Hz-65kHz | 6Hz-41kHz |
| Sound signature | Bright neutral | - |
| Impedance | 35 Ω | 170000 Ω |
| Sensitivity | 90 dB/mW | 100 dB/mW |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 430 g | 512 g |
| USB-C | No | - |
| Balanced connection | 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
STAX SR-007A
This electrostatic headphone delivers a beautifully effortless and highly transparent sound, with impressive clarity, speed, and a surprisingly robust low end for its type. It stands out for its natural tonal coherence and wide, immersive soundstage, all while offering excellent comfort and fit thanks to its rotating earcups and light build. However, it requires a dedicated amplifier and has a few practical limitations that may give some buyers pause.
- Pro:Exceptional transparency and low distortion
- Pro:Lightweight and very comfortable for long sessions
- Pro:Open, natural soundstage with strong imaging
- Con:Requires a special energizer or amplifier to operate
- Con:Non-detachable cable limits upgradeability
- Con:Bass weight is still somewhat limited compared to dynamic flagships
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.