HIFIMAN Arya Stealth vs HIFIMAN Arya Unveiled
The HIFIMAN Arya Unveiled scores 0.4 higher; the HIFIMAN 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
On score and price HIFIMAN Arya Unveiled The Arya Unveiled scores 0.4 higher, four steps, which is worth more than the $540 the Arya Stealth saves. The Arya Stealth still does better than the Arya Unveiled on bass.
When to choose the Arya Stealth over the Arya UnveiledThe short version
The HIFIMAN Arya Stealth scores 8.7/10 (Highly Recommended) and the HIFIMAN Arya Unveiled 9.1/10 (Highly Recommended). At $759 against $1,299, the Arya Stealth saves you $540 over the Arya Unveiled. On bass, the Arya Stealth review notes "Bass extends to 20Hz, fast and transparent" and the Arya Unveiled review "Less mid-bass bloom than Arya Organic - bass-heads may want more". On driver technology, the Arya Unveiled comes out ahead of the Arya Stealth: "Grill-less design eliminates micro-reflections off protective metal". Weighing score against price, the Arya Unveiled is a better buy than the Arya Stealth, and the cards below say when the Arya Stealth makes more sense.
HIFIMAN Arya Stealth
Higher score
HIFIMAN Arya Unveiled
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 tracked US price | $599 at Apos Audio and 3 other stores on Oct 7, 2026 | $895 at Headphones.com on Oct 7, 2026 |
| Better choice for | bass | driver technology |
| Less suited to | driver technology | bass |
HIFIMAN Arya Stealth
Choose it instead if:
- You care more about the Arya Stealth's bass than the Arya Unveiled's driver technology.
- Keeping $540 matters more to you than the Arya Unveiled's four-step lead over the Arya Stealth, 9.1 against 8.7.
Not ideal if:
- You need the Arya Unveiled's driver technology more than the Arya Stealth's bass.
- The Arya Unveiled's 9.1 against the Arya Stealth's 8.7 is worth $540 more to you.
HIFIMAN Arya Unveiled
Picked on score and price. Choose it if:
- You care more about the Arya Unveiled's driver technology than the Arya Stealth's bass.
- You would pay $540 more than the Arya Stealth costs for the Arya Unveiled's higher score, 9.1 against 8.7.
Not ideal if:
- You need the Arya Stealth's bass more than the Arya Unveiled's driver technology.
- Every dollar counts: the Arya Stealth costs $540 less than the Arya Unveiled.
What matters most to you?
| What matters | HIFIMAN Arya Stealth | HIFIMAN Arya Unveiled |
|---|---|---|
| Sound | 9.1 | 9.1 |
| Technical performance | 8.7 | 9.5 |
| Build & comfort | 8.6 | 9.3 |
| System fit | 8.7 | 8.7 |
| Value | 8.2 | 8.6 |
The widest gap is technical performance: 8.7 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
Neither the Arya Stealth nor the Arya Unveiled leans either way on presentation. 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 #8 and the Arya Unveiled #3 of the 30 headphones reviewed here; on value the Arya Stealth and the Arya Unveiled both rate 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 driver (Planar magnetic) and 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 |
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.
Is the Arya Unveiled worth $540 more than the Arya Stealth?
Yes, on score and price: the Arya Unveiled leads the Arya Stealth by 0.4, four steps, which outweighs the $540. What the extra money gets you, going by the reviews, is the Arya Unveiled's driver technology and treble over the Arya Stealth's.
Where they rank
In Best Open-Back Headphones the Arya Unveiled ranks #3 and the Arya Stealth #7; in Best Planar Magnetic Headphones the Arya Unveiled ranks #3 and the Arya Stealth #6; only the Arya Unveiled makes Best Reference-Grade Audio Gear (#5).
Arya Unveiled #3 Arya Stealth #7 14 picks
Best Planar Magnetic Headphones
Arya Unveiled #3 Arya Stealth #6 11 picks
Best Reference-Grade Audio Gear
Arya Unveiled #5 Arya Stealth not listed 10 picks