HIFIMAN Arya Stealth vs HIFIMAN Arya Unveiled
On score and price HIFIMAN Arya Unveiled Its score lead is worth more than the Arya Stealth's lower list price.
The HIFIMAN Arya Unveiled scores 0.4 higher; the Arya Stealth costs $540 less. Going by the two reviews, the Arya Stealth is stronger on bass and the Arya Unveiled on driver technology.
By Jakub Charkiewicz Published Updated
When to choose the Arya Stealth over the Arya UnveiledIs the Arya Unveiled worth $540 more than the Arya Stealth?
On score, yes: the Arya Unveiled leads the Arya Stealth by 0.4, four steps, which outweighs the price difference. Going by the two reviews, what the Arya Unveiled adds for the money is its driver technology and treble, and the Arya Stealth keeps the edge on bass.
In the reviewer's words
The Arya Unveiled review mentions the Arya Stealth in passing, verbatim below.
Vocals are pushed slightly forward and have a lush, organic density to them that reminds me more of the HE1000se than the Arya Stealth.
Which one to buy
The Arya Unveiled is the better buy unless its bass would put you off, in which case take the Arya Stealth.
| At a glance | HIFIMAN Arya Stealth | HIFIMAN Arya Unveiled |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 8.7/10, Highly Recommended | 9.1/10, Highly Recommended |
| List price | $759 | $1,299 |
| Lowest US price | $599 at Apos Audio and 3 other stores on Nov 10, 2026 | $899 at Apos Audio and 3 other stores on Nov 10, 2026 |
HIFIMAN Arya Stealth
Choose it instead if:
- You care more about the Arya Stealth's bass than the Arya Unveiled's driver technology.
HIFIMAN Arya Unveiled
Choose it if:
- You care more about the Arya Unveiled's driver technology than the Arya Stealth's bass.
What matters most to you?
| What matters | HIFIMAN Arya Stealth | HIFIMAN Arya Unveiled |
|---|---|---|
| Sound | 9.0 | 9.1 |
| Technical performance | 8.6 | 9.5 |
| Build & comfort | 8.6 | 9.3 |
| System fit | 8.6 | 8.7 |
| Value | 8.3 | 8.6 |
The widest gap is technical performance: 8.6 for the Arya Stealth against 9.5 for the Arya Unveiled. The Arya Stealth column is worked out from its review's 14 pros and cons and the Arya Unveiled column from 14, and each adds back up to its overall score, 8.7 and 9.1. How a score is built
Where they differ
Three topics the Arya Stealth and Arya Unveiled reviews both discuss, the most decisive first.
Only the Arya Unveiled
Bass
Here the Arya Stealth review is the more positive of the two and the Arya Unveiled review finds fault:
- Arya Stealth, praised: "Bass extends to 20Hz, fast and transparent"
- Arya Unveiled, criticized: "Less mid-bass bloom than Arya Organic"
Soundstage and imaging
The Arya Stealth review and the Arya Unveiled review are both mixed here, so neither has a clear edge:
- Arya Stealth, praised: "Unbeatable, accurate, near-3D imaging"
- Arya Unveiled, praised: "Holographic imaging with dead-silent background"
Driver technology
Here the Arya Unveiled review is the kinder of the two and the Arya Stealth review has reservations:
- Arya Unveiled, praised: "Grill-less design eliminates micro-reflections off protective metal"
- Arya Stealth, praised: "Stealth Magnets + nanometer-thickness diaphragm + Window Shade Grills"
Only the Arya Stealth review faults its detail and mids and is mixed on its tonal balance; only the Arya Unveiled review praises its treble but faults its amp matching.
What they have in common
The Arya Stealth and the Arya Unveiled are both open-back planar magnetic headphones from HIFIMAN, and both have Stealth Magnets, a nanometer-thickness diaphragm, and a suspension-strap headband. The Arya Stealth and the Arya Unveiled are both praised for their comfort and cabling, and both criticized for their build.
Sound signature, overlaid
For tonal balance, the better guide is the Arya Unveiled review's own comparison with the Arya Stealth, quoted above.
On paper
The Arya Stealth ranks joint #8 and the Arya Unveiled #3 of the 31 headphones reviewed here; on value the Arya Stealth rates Fair and the Arya Unveiled Steep. To reach 110 dB peaks the Arya Stealth needs about 40 mW (most dongle DACs) and the Arya Unveiled about 40 mW for volume alone (the Arya Unveiled review asks for more power than that). The Arya Stealth and Arya Unveiled spec sheets match on frequency response (8 Hz - 65 kHz).
The Arya Stealth and Arya Unveiled figures are the makers' own; IEC 60268-7 defines how they are measured.
| Spec | HIFIMAN Arya Stealth | HIFIMAN Arya Unveiled |
|---|---|---|
| Impedance | 32 Ω | 27 Ω |
| Sensitivity | 94 dB/mW | 94 dB (reference not stated) |
Only the Arya Stealth review lists connector, which the Arya Unveiled review leaves out.
How these verdicts were reached
The Arya Stealth review was published on Jul 25, 2024 and the Arya Unveiled review on Mar 16, 2026, nearly two years later, on one reference chain and rubric. The Arya Unveiled review mentions the Arya Stealth in passing, quoted above. The Arya Stealth and Arya Unveiled reviews were both last checked on Oct 3, 2026.
Sources
Further reading for the Arya Stealth and the Arya Unveiled: the Stealth Magnets both use and what both reviews say about soundstage and imaging.
Questions about the Arya Stealth and Arya Unveiled
What is the difference between the HIFIMAN Arya Stealth and the HIFIMAN Arya Unveiled?
The HIFIMAN Arya Unveiled scores 9.1 and the Arya Stealth 8.7. The Arya Stealth does better on bass, the Arya Unveiled on driver technology. For voicing, the better guide is the Arya Unveiled review's own comparison with the Arya Stealth, quoted above.
Which should you buy, the HIFIMAN Arya Stealth or the HIFIMAN Arya Unveiled?
The Arya Unveiled: its 9.1 against the Arya Stealth's 8.7 is four steps, enough to justify the extra $540.
Which has the better bass, the Arya Stealth or the Arya Unveiled?
The Arya Stealth: its review is positive about bass, while the Arya Unveiled review is critical.
How does the engineering differ between the Arya Stealth and the Arya Unveiled?
The Arya Unveiled, narrowly: both reviews are mixed on driver technology, the Arya Unveiled's less so than the Arya Stealth's.
Where they rank
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