HIFIMAN Arya Stealth vs HIFIMAN HE1000 Stealth
On score and price HIFIMAN Arya Stealth Higher score and lower list price than the HE1000 Stealth.
The HIFIMAN Arya Stealth scores 0.2 higher and costs $360 less than the HE1000 Stealth. Going by the two reviews, the Arya Stealth is stronger on comfort and the HE1000 Stealth on build and tonal balance.
By Jakub Charkiewicz Published Updated
When to choose the HE1000 Stealth over the Arya StealthIs the HE1000 Stealth worth $360 more than the Arya Stealth?
Not on score: the HE1000 Stealth scores 0.2 lower than the Arya Stealth. Going by the two reviews, what the HE1000 Stealth adds for the money is its build and tonal balance, and the Arya Stealth keeps the edge on comfort.
Which one to buy
The Arya Stealth is the better buy unless its build or tonal balance would put you off, in which case take the HE1000 Stealth.
| At a glance | HIFIMAN Arya Stealth | HIFIMAN HE1000 Stealth |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 8.7/10, Highly Recommended | 8.5/10, Highly Recommended |
| List price | $759 | $1,119 |
| Lowest US price now | $599 at Apos Audio and 3 other stores on Nov 6, 2026 | $949 at Apos Audio and 3 other stores on Nov 6, 2026 |
| Sound, side by side | warmer | brighter |
| Better choice for | comfort | build and tonal balance |
HIFIMAN Arya Stealth
Choose it if:
- You care more about the Arya Stealth's comfort than the HE1000 Stealth's build and tonal balance.
- You want the Arya Stealth's warmer sound, where the HE1000 Stealth runs brighter.
HIFIMAN HE1000 Stealth
Choose it instead if:
- You care more about the HE1000 Stealth's build and tonal balance than the Arya Stealth's comfort.
- You want the HE1000 Stealth's brighter sound, where the Arya Stealth runs warmer.
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 | 8.3 | 7.8 |
The widest gap is sound: 9.1 for the Arya Stealth against 8.5 for the HE1000 Stealth. The Arya Stealth column is worked out from its review's 14 pros and cons and the HE1000 Stealth column from 14, and each adds back up to its overall 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
Here the HE1000 Stealth review is the more positive of the two and the Arya Stealth review finds fault:
- HE1000 Stealth, praised: "Top-tier hand-polished, CNC-machined aluminum and real leather build"
- Arya Stealth, criticized: "Doesn't feel premium when you pick it up"
Soundstage and imaging
The Arya Stealth review and the HE1000 Stealth review are both mixed here, so neither has a clear edge:
- Arya Stealth, praised: "Unbeatable, accurate, near-3D imaging"
- HE1000 Stealth, praised: "Wide, open, out-of-your-head soundstage with strong imaging"
Comfort and fit
Here the Arya Stealth review is the more positive of the two and the HE1000 Stealth review has reservations:
- Arya Stealth, praised: "Most comfortable HIFIMAN at this price"
- HE1000 Stealth, criticized: "Genuinely large"
Tonal balance
Here the HE1000 Stealth review is the more positive of the two and the Arya Stealth review has reservations:
- HE1000 Stealth, praised: "Fun, engaging, slightly bright reference tuning with natural timbre"
- Arya Stealth, criticized: "Slight plasticky tint to timbre"
Only the HE1000 Stealth review faults its treble and amp matching, which the Arya Stealth review does not cover.
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 the HE1000 Stealth are both praised for their bass, driver technology, and cabling, and both criticized for their detail and mids.
Sound signature, overlaid
On tonal balance, the Arya Stealth sounds warm while the HE1000 Stealth sounds bright.
On paper
The Arya Stealth ranks joint #8 and the HE1000 Stealth #12 of the 30 headphones reviewed here; on value the Arya Stealth rates Fair and the HE1000 Stealth 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 impedance (32 Ω) and frequency response (8 Hz - 65 kHz).
The Arya Stealth and HE1000 Stealth figures are the makers' own; IEC 60268-7 defines how they are measured.
| Spec | HIFIMAN Arya Stealth | HIFIMAN HE1000 Stealth |
|---|---|---|
| Sensitivity | 94 dB/mW | 93 dB (reference not stated) |
Only the HE1000 Stealth review lists weight, which the Arya Stealth review leaves out.
How these verdicts were reached
The Arya Stealth review was published on Jul 25, 2024 and the HE1000 Stealth review on Jun 27, 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 last checked on Oct 3, 2026.
Sources
Further reading for the Arya Stealth and the HE1000 Stealth: what both reviews say about timbre and tonality.
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 scores 8.7 and the HE1000 Stealth 8.5. The Arya Stealth does better on comfort, the HE1000 Stealth on build and tonal balance. The bigger difference is voicing: the HE1000 Stealth runs clearly brighter, the Arya Stealth warmer.
Which should you buy, the HIFIMAN Arya Stealth or the HIFIMAN HE1000 Stealth?
The Arya Stealth beats the HE1000 Stealth on both counts, scoring 8.7 to 8.5 and costing $360 less.
Which is better built, the Arya Stealth or the HE1000 Stealth?
The HE1000 Stealth: its review is positive about build, while the Arya Stealth review is critical.
Which is more comfortable, the Arya Stealth or the HE1000 Stealth?
The Arya Stealth, narrowly: both reviews are mixed on comfort, the Arya Stealth's less so than the HE1000 Stealth's.
Where they rank
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