HIFIMAN Ananda Stealth vs HIFIMAN Arya Stealth
The HIFIMAN Ananda Stealth scores 0.1 higher and costs $400 less than the HIFIMAN Arya Stealth. The reviews favour the Ananda Stealth on tonal balance, and the Arya Stealth on soundstage and comfort.
By Jakub Charkiewicz, updated .
Our pick HIFIMAN Ananda Stealth The Ananda Stealth is 0.1 ahead on score and costs $400 less than the Arya Stealth: nothing to trade. The reviews favour the Arya Stealth over the Ananda Stealth on soundstage and comfort, which is its case.
When to choose the Arya Stealth over the Ananda StealthThe short version
The HIFIMAN Ananda Stealth scores 8.8/10 (Highly Recommended) and the HIFIMAN Arya Stealth 8.7/10 (Highly Recommended). At $359 against $759, the Ananda Stealth saves you $400 over the Arya Stealth. On soundstage, the Arya Stealth's review lists "Unbeatable, accurate, near-3D imaging" where the Ananda Stealth's lists "Soundstage isn't the widest". On tonal balance the Ananda Stealth has the edge over the Arya Stealth: "Slightly warm tonality - rare for HIFIMAN" against "Slight plasticky tint to timbre". The published pick rule chooses the Ananda Stealth over the Arya Stealth.
Higher score
HIFIMAN Ananda Stealth
HIFIMAN Arya Stealth
Which one to buy
Our pick is the Ananda Stealth, unless its soundstage or comfort would be a dealbreaker; then the Arya Stealth.
HIFIMAN Ananda Stealth
Our pick. Choose it if:
- The Ananda Stealth's tonal balance matters more to you than the Arya Stealth's soundstage and comfort.
- You want the Ananda Stealth's higher score (8.8 against 8.7) and $400 back against the Arya Stealth.
HIFIMAN Arya Stealth
Choose it instead if:
- The Arya Stealth's soundstage and comfort matter more to you than the Ananda Stealth's tonal balance.
- You want the Arya Stealth's more analytical sound; the Ananda Stealth sits closer to neutral there.
What matters most to you?
| What matters | HIFIMAN Ananda Stealth | HIFIMAN Arya Stealth |
|---|---|---|
| Sound | 9.1 | 9.1 |
| Technical performance | 8.4 | 8.7 |
| Build & comfort | 8.8 | 8.6 |
| System fit | 8.9 | 8.7 |
| Value | 8.8 | 8.2 |
The widest gap is value: 8.8 for the Ananda Stealth against 8.2 for the Arya Stealth. Each column comes from its own review's pros and cons, 13 for the Ananda Stealth and 14 for the Arya Stealth, and recombines to its headline score, 8.8 and 8.7. How a score is built
Where they differ
The Arya Stealth has cups that swivel and the Ananda Stealth does not.
Soundstage and imaging
The Arya Stealth review lists two strengths and one flaw here, the Ananda Stealth review one strength and one flaw.
- Arya Stealth, strength: "Unbeatable, accurate, near-3D imaging"
- Ananda Stealth, flaw: "Soundstage isn't the widest"
Comfort and fit
The Arya Stealth review lists two strengths here, the Ananda Stealth review two strengths and two flaws.
- Arya Stealth, strength: "Most comfortable HIFIMAN at this price"
- Ananda Stealth, flaw: "Inner foam isn't very soft - takes getting used to"
Tonal balance
The Ananda Stealth review lists one strength here, the Arya Stealth review one strength and one flaw.
- Ananda Stealth, strength: "Slightly warm tonality - rare for HIFIMAN"
- Arya Stealth, flaw: "Slight plasticky tint to timbre"
Only the Ananda Stealth review discusses amp matching (one strength); only the Arya Stealth review discusses mids (one flaw), build (two flaws), and cabling (one strength).
What they have in common
The Ananda Stealth and the Arya Stealth are both open-back planar magnetic headphones from HIFIMAN, and both have Stealth Magnets, a suspension-strap headband, dual 3.5mm cable sockets, and bass that reaches down to 20 Hz. The Ananda Stealth and Arya Stealth reviews both praise bass and driver technology, and both fault detail.
Sound signature, overlaid
On tonal balance the Ananda Stealth sounds warm where the Arya Stealth sits near neutral, on presentation the Ananda Stealth sits near neutral where the Arya Stealth sounds analytical, on energy the Ananda Stealth sits near neutral where the Arya Stealth sounds energetic, and on stage size the Ananda Stealth sits near neutral where the Arya Stealth sounds wide-staged. The Arya Stealth review reads bass weight and the Ananda Stealth review does not, so the two go uncompared there.
On paper
The Ananda Stealth ranks #6 and the Arya Stealth #8 of the 30 headphones reviewed here; on value the Ananda Stealth rates Strong and the Arya Stealth Steep. To reach 110 dB peaks the Ananda Stealth needs about 50 mW and the Arya Stealth about 40 mW, which puts both in reach of most dongle DACs. The Ananda Stealth and the Arya Stealth both take Dual 3.5 mm cables, so one upgrade cable fits either. The Ananda Stealth and Arya Stealth spec sheets match on driver (Planar magnetic) and connector (Dual 3.5 mm).
The Ananda Stealth and Arya Stealth figures come from HIFIMAN's official site.
| Spec | HIFIMAN Ananda Stealth | HIFIMAN Arya Stealth |
|---|---|---|
| Impedance | 16 Ω | 32 Ω |
| Sensitivity | 93 dB | 94 dB/mW |
| Frequency response | 8 Hz - 55 kHz | 8 Hz - 65 kHz |
Only the Ananda Stealth review records weight, not the Arya Stealth review.
How these verdicts were reached
The Ananda Stealth was reviewed in June 2024 and the Arya Stealth in July 2024, on one reference chain and rubric. The Ananda Stealth review never mentions the Arya Stealth, nor the Arya Stealth review the Ananda Stealth: two separate sessions. The Ananda Stealth and Arya Stealth reviews were both re-checked in September 2026.
Questions about the Ananda Stealth and Arya Stealth
What is the difference between the HIFIMAN Ananda Stealth and the HIFIMAN Arya Stealth?
The HIFIMAN Ananda Stealth edges the Arya Stealth where it is measured, 8.8 to 8.7. In the reviews' own lines, tonal balance goes to the Ananda Stealth and soundstage and comfort to the Arya Stealth. On voicing the Arya Stealth is the more analytical of the two; the Ananda Stealth does not lean far on that axis.
Which should you buy, the HIFIMAN Ananda Stealth or the HIFIMAN Arya Stealth?
The Ananda Stealth: it leads the Arya Stealth on both counts, 8.8 against 8.7 and $400 less.
How do the Ananda Stealth and the Arya Stealth compare on soundstage and imaging?
The Arya Stealth, narrowly: its review lists two strengths and one flaw on soundstage, the Ananda Stealth review one strength and one flaw.
Which is more comfortable, the Ananda Stealth or the Arya Stealth?
The Arya Stealth, narrowly: its review lists two strengths on comfort, the Ananda Stealth review two strengths and two flaws.
Is the Arya Stealth worth $400 more than the Ananda Stealth?
Not on score: the Arya Stealth costs $400 more than the Ananda Stealth for 0.1 less on the rubric. In the reviews' own lines, it buys the Arya Stealth's soundstage and comfort over the Ananda Stealth.
Where they rank
In Best Planar Magnetic Headphones the Ananda Stealth ranks #5 and the Arya Stealth #7; in Best Open-Back Headphones the Ananda Stealth ranks #6 and the Arya Stealth #9; only the Ananda Stealth makes Best Headphones Under $500 (#2).
Ananda Stealth #2 Arya Stealth not listed 12 picks
Best Planar Magnetic Headphones
Ananda Stealth #5 Arya Stealth #7 11 picks
Ananda Stealth #6 Arya Stealth #9 14 picks