HIFIMAN Ananda Nano vs HIFIMAN Arya Stealth
On score and price HIFIMAN Ananda Nano One step behind the Arya Stealth, for a much lower list price.
The HIFIMAN Arya Stealth scores one step higher, 8.7 to 8.6, and the Ananda Nano costs $260 less. Going by the two reviews, the Ananda Nano is stronger on detail and soundstage and the Arya Stealth on comfort.
By Jakub Charkiewicz Published Updated
When to choose the Arya Stealth over the Ananda NanoIs the Arya Stealth worth $260 more than the Ananda Nano?
For most buyers, no: the Arya Stealth leads the Ananda Nano by 0.1, the smallest step the scale records, and one step is not worth the price difference. Going by the two reviews, what the Arya Stealth adds for the money is its comfort and cabling, and the Ananda Nano keeps the edge on detail and soundstage.
Which one to buy
Most buyers should take the Ananda Nano, and the Arya Stealth is the one to buy if comfort matters most to you.
| At a glance | HIFIMAN Ananda Nano | HIFIMAN Arya Stealth |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 8.6/10, Highly Recommended | 8.7/10, Highly Recommended |
| List price | $499 | $759 |
| Lowest US price now | $319 at Bloom Audio and 1 other store on Nov 6, 2026 | $599 at Apos Audio and 3 other stores on Nov 6, 2026 |
| Sound, side by side | brighter | warmer |
| Better choice for | detail and soundstage | comfort |
HIFIMAN Ananda Nano
Choose it if:
- You care more about the Ananda Nano's detail and soundstage than the Arya Stealth's comfort.
- You want the Ananda Nano's brighter sound, where the Arya Stealth runs warmer.
HIFIMAN Arya Stealth
Choose it instead if:
- You care more about the Arya Stealth's comfort than the Ananda Nano's detail and soundstage.
- You want the Arya Stealth's warmer sound, where the Ananda Nano runs brighter.
What matters most to you?
| What matters | HIFIMAN Ananda Nano | HIFIMAN Arya Stealth |
|---|---|---|
| Sound | 8.8 | 9.1 |
| Technical performance | 9.0 | 8.7 |
| Build & comfort | 8.0 | 8.6 |
| System fit | 8.5 | 8.7 |
| Value | 8.4 | 8.3 |
The widest gap is build & comfort: 8.0 for the Ananda Nano against 8.6 for the Arya Stealth. The Ananda Nano column is worked out from its review's 14 pros and cons and the Arya Stealth column from 14, and each adds back up to its overall score, 8.6 and 8.7. How a score is built
Where they differ
The Arya Stealth has cups that swivel and the Ananda Nano does not.
Comfort and fit
Here the Arya Stealth review is the more positive of the two and the Ananda Nano review finds fault:
- Arya Stealth, praised: "Most comfortable HIFIMAN at this price"
- Ananda Nano, criticized: "Significantly more clamp force than the [Ananda] Stealth"
Detail and dynamics
Here the Ananda Nano review is the more positive of the two and the Arya Stealth review finds fault:
- Ananda Nano, praised: "Great for string instruments"
- Arya Stealth, criticized: "Detail retrieval is inoffensive - not a wow factor"
Soundstage and imaging
Here the Ananda Nano review is the more positive of the two and the Arya Stealth review has reservations:
- Ananda Nano, praised: "Best soundstage width in its class"
- Arya Stealth, criticized: "Soundstage isn't super wide, doesn't get far out of your head"
Only the Ananda Nano review faults its treble and is mixed on its amp matching; only the Arya Stealth review praises its cabling but faults its mids and is mixed on its tonal balance.
What they have in common
The Ananda Nano and the Arya Stealth are both open-back planar magnetic headphones from HIFIMAN, and both have Stealth Magnets, a nanometer-thickness diaphragm, the Window Shade grille, dual 3.5mm cable sockets, and bass that reaches down to 20 Hz. The Ananda Nano and the Arya Stealth are both praised for their bass and driver technology, and both criticized for their build.
Sound signature, overlaid
On tonal balance, the Ananda Nano sounds bright while the Arya Stealth sounds warm.
On paper
The Ananda Nano ranks #11 and the Arya Stealth joint #8 of the 30 headphones reviewed here; on value the Ananda Nano and the Arya Stealth both rate Fair. The Ananda Nano and the Arya Stealth both take dual 3.5 mm cables, so one upgrade cable fits either.
The Ananda Nano and Arya Stealth figures are the makers' own; IEC 60268-7 defines how they are measured.
| Spec | HIFIMAN Ananda Nano | HIFIMAN Arya Stealth |
|---|---|---|
| Sensitivity | 94 dB (reference not stated) | 94 dB/mW |
| Frequency response | 5 Hz - 55 kHz | 8 Hz - 65 kHz |
Only the Arya Stealth review lists impedance, which the Ananda Nano review leaves out.
How these verdicts were reached
The Ananda Nano review was published on Jun 26, 2024 and the Arya Stealth review on Jul 25, 2024, on one reference chain and rubric. The Arya Stealth review names the Ananda Nano in its text, in passing, but the two were reviewed in separate sessions. The Ananda Nano and Arya Stealth reviews were both last checked on Oct 3, 2026.
Sources
Further reading for the Ananda Nano and the Arya Stealth: what both reviews say about sub-bass and tonality.
Questions about the Ananda Nano and Arya Stealth
What is the difference between the HIFIMAN Ananda Nano and the HIFIMAN Arya Stealth?
On score, the HIFIMAN Arya Stealth is ahead of the Ananda Nano, 8.7 against 8.6. The Ananda Nano does better on detail and soundstage, the Arya Stealth on comfort. The bigger difference is voicing: the Ananda Nano runs clearly brighter, the Arya Stealth warmer.
Which should you buy, the HIFIMAN Ananda Nano or the HIFIMAN Arya Stealth?
The Ananda Nano, for most buyers: the Arya Stealth scores 8.7 to the Ananda Nano's 8.6, the smallest gap the scale records, and that step is not worth $260 more.
Which is more comfortable, the Ananda Nano or the Arya Stealth?
The Arya Stealth: its review is positive about comfort, while the Ananda Nano review is critical.
Which is more detailed, the Ananda Nano or the Arya Stealth?
The Ananda Nano: its review is positive about detail, while the Arya Stealth review is critical.
Where they rank
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