HIFIMAN Arya Stealth vs HIFIMAN HE1000 Stealth
The HIFIMAN Arya Stealth scores 0.2 higher and costs $360 less than the HIFIMAN HE1000 Stealth. The reviews favour the Arya Stealth on comfort, and the HE1000 Stealth on build and tonal balance.
By Jakub Charkiewicz, updated .
Our pick HIFIMAN Arya Stealth The Arya Stealth is 0.2 ahead on score and costs $360 less than the HE1000 Stealth: nothing to trade. The reviews favour the HE1000 Stealth over the Arya Stealth on build and tonal balance, which is its case.
When to choose the HE1000 Stealth over the Arya StealthThe short version
The HIFIMAN Arya Stealth scores 8.7/10 (Highly Recommended) and the HIFIMAN HE1000 Stealth 8.5/10 (Highly Recommended). At $759 against $1,119, the Arya Stealth saves you $360 over the HE1000 Stealth. On build, the HE1000 Stealth's review lists "Top-tier hand-polished, CNC-machined aluminium and real leather build" where the Arya Stealth's lists "Doesn't feel premium when you pick it up". On comfort the Arya Stealth has the edge over the HE1000 Stealth: "Most comfortable HIFIMAN at this price" against "Genuinely large - may not fit smaller heads; cups can press the jaw". The published pick rule chooses the Arya Stealth over the HE1000 Stealth.
Higher score
HIFIMAN Arya Stealth
HIFIMAN HE1000 Stealth
Which one to buy
Our pick is the Arya Stealth, unless its build or tonal balance would be a dealbreaker; then the HE1000 Stealth.
HIFIMAN Arya Stealth
Our pick. Choose it if:
- The Arya Stealth's comfort matters more to you than the HE1000 Stealth's build and tonal balance.
- You want the Arya Stealth's higher score (8.7 against 8.5) and $360 back against the HE1000 Stealth.
HIFIMAN HE1000 Stealth
Choose it instead if:
- The HE1000 Stealth's build and tonal balance matter more to you than the Arya Stealth's comfort.
- You want the HE1000 Stealth's brighter sound; the Arya Stealth sits closer to neutral there.
What matters most to you?
| What matters | HIFIMAN Arya Stealth | HIFIMAN HE1000 Stealth |
|---|---|---|
| Sound | 9.1 | 8.5 |
| Technical performance | 8.7 | 8.6 |
| Build & comfort | 8.6 | 9.0 |
| System fit | 8.7 | 8.4 |
| Value | 8.2 | 7.8 |
The widest gap is sound: 9.1 for the Arya Stealth against 8.5 for the HE1000 Stealth. Each column comes from its own review's pros and cons, 14 for the Arya Stealth and 14 for the HE1000 Stealth, and recombines to its headline score, 8.7 and 8.5. How a score is built
Where they differ
Four topics the Arya Stealth and HE1000 Stealth reviews both discuss, the most decisive first.
Only the HE1000 Stealth
Build and design
The HE1000 Stealth review lists one strength here, the Arya Stealth review two flaws.
- HE1000 Stealth, strength: "Top-tier hand-polished, CNC-machined aluminium and real leather build"
- Arya Stealth, flaw: "Doesn't feel premium when you pick it up"
Soundstage and imaging
The Arya Stealth review lists two strengths and one flaw here and the HE1000 Stealth review one strength, with no clear edge.
- Arya Stealth, strength: "Unbeatable, accurate, near-3D imaging"
- HE1000 Stealth, strength: "Wide, open, out-of-your-head soundstage with strong imaging"
Comfort and fit
The Arya Stealth review lists two strengths here, the HE1000 Stealth review two strengths and two flaws.
- Arya Stealth, strength: "Most comfortable HIFIMAN at this price"
- HE1000 Stealth, flaw: "Genuinely large"
Tonal balance
The HE1000 Stealth review lists one strength here, the Arya Stealth review one strength and one flaw.
- HE1000 Stealth, strength: "Fun, engaging, slightly bright reference tuning with natural timbre"
- Arya Stealth, flaw: "Slight plasticky tint to timbre"
Only the HE1000 Stealth review discusses treble (one flaw) and amp matching (one flaw), and the Arya Stealth review does not.
What they have in common
The Arya Stealth and the HE1000 Stealth are both open-back planar magnetic headphones from HIFIMAN, and both have Stealth Magnets, a nanometer-thickness diaphragm, the Window Shade grille, a suspension-strap headband, and dual 3.5mm cable sockets. The Arya Stealth and HE1000 Stealth reviews both praise bass, driver technology, and cabling, and both fault detail and mids.
Sound signature, overlaid
On tonal balance the Arya Stealth sits near neutral where the HE1000 Stealth sounds bright. The Arya Stealth and the HE1000 Stealth both sound analytical, energetic, and wide-staged. Neither the Arya Stealth nor the HE1000 Stealth leans either way on bass weight.
On paper
The Arya Stealth ranks #8 and the HE1000 Stealth #12 of the 30 headphones reviewed here; on value the Arya Stealth and the HE1000 Stealth both rate Steep. To reach 110 dB peaks the Arya Stealth needs about 40 mW and the HE1000 Stealth about 50 mW, which puts both in reach of most dongle DACs. The Arya Stealth and the HE1000 Stealth both take Dual 3.5 mm cables, so one upgrade cable fits either. The Arya Stealth and HE1000 Stealth spec sheets match on driver (Planar magnetic), impedance (32 Ω), frequency response (8 Hz - 65 kHz), and connector (Dual 3.5 mm).
The Arya Stealth and HE1000 Stealth figures come from HIFIMAN's official site.
| Spec | HIFIMAN Arya Stealth | HIFIMAN HE1000 Stealth |
|---|---|---|
| Sensitivity | 94 dB/mW | 93 dB |
Only the HE1000 Stealth review records weight, not the Arya Stealth review.
How these verdicts were reached
The Arya Stealth was reviewed in July 2024 and the HE1000 Stealth in June 2026, nearly two years later, on one reference chain and rubric. The Arya Stealth review never mentions the HE1000 Stealth, nor the HE1000 Stealth review the Arya Stealth: two separate sessions. The Arya Stealth and HE1000 Stealth reviews were both re-checked in September 2026.
Questions about the Arya Stealth and HE1000 Stealth
What is the difference between the HIFIMAN Arya Stealth and the HIFIMAN HE1000 Stealth?
The HIFIMAN Arya Stealth edges the HE1000 Stealth where it is measured, 8.7 to 8.5. In the reviews' own lines, comfort goes to the Arya Stealth and build and tonal balance to the HE1000 Stealth. On voicing the HE1000 Stealth is the brighter of the two; the Arya Stealth does not lean far on that axis.
Which should you buy, the HIFIMAN Arya Stealth or the HIFIMAN HE1000 Stealth?
The Arya Stealth: it leads the HE1000 Stealth on both counts, 8.7 against 8.5 and $360 less.
Which is better built, the Arya Stealth or the HE1000 Stealth?
The HE1000 Stealth: its review lists one strength on build, the Arya Stealth review two flaws.
Which is more comfortable, the Arya Stealth or the HE1000 Stealth?
The Arya Stealth, narrowly: its review lists two strengths on comfort, the HE1000 Stealth review two strengths and two flaws.
Is the HE1000 Stealth worth $360 more than the Arya Stealth?
Not on score: the HE1000 Stealth costs $360 more than the Arya Stealth for 0.2 less on the rubric. In the reviews' own lines, it buys the HE1000 Stealth's build and tonal balance over the Arya Stealth.
Where they rank
In Best Planar Magnetic Headphones the Arya Stealth ranks #7 and the HE1000 Stealth #9; in Best Open-Back Headphones the Arya Stealth ranks #9 and the HE1000 Stealth #11.
Best Planar Magnetic Headphones
Arya Stealth #7 HE1000 Stealth #9 11 picks
Arya Stealth #9 HE1000 Stealth #11 14 picks