Short answer: the Edifier Stax Spirit S3. It ranks #21 of 216 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 4.3/5, at $514.55; the HIFIMAN Arya Stealth Magnet Version ranks #41, rated 4.1/5, and costs $599, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
What the Edifier Stax Spirit S3 does well: This is a rare wireless planar magnetic headphone, with Bluetooth 5.2, aptX Adaptive and aptX HD support, a built in microphone and a claimed 80 hours of battery life. The tradeoff: Those measurements show a 6.8 dB dip near 6.9 kHz and the 6 to 10 kHz band sits about 3 dB low, so cymbals and sibilance come across dulled and less detailed.
Why pick the HIFIMAN Arya Stealth Magnet Version: A preference score of 85 in oratory1990’s measurement and a near flat tilt of 0.02 give it a balanced overall tonality. The catch: An 8 dB dip near 9.3 kHz followed by a 7 dB peak near 11.9 kHz makes the treble uneven, so cymbals can sound recessed one moment and sharp the next.
Buy the Edifier Stax Spirit S3. It is rated higher for sound quality than the HIFIMAN Arya Stealth Magnet Version and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Want more options? Browse the full Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Edifier Stax Spirit S3 | HIFIMAN Arya Stealth Magnet Version | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $514.55 | $599.00 |
| Ranked | #21 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #41 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 89 (median of 6 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 85 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 1.62 dB standard deviation | 2.29 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.20 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | +0.02 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-1.9 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-5.0 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wireless and wired | Wired |
| Back | Closed | Open |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic | Planar magnetic |
| Drivers | 1 x 89x70mm planar magnetic | - |
| Impedance | 24 ohms | 32 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 94 dB SPL(A) | 94 dB |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (329 g) | 0.9 lbs (404 g) |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 8Hz - 65kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Active Noise Cancelling | No | - |
| Battery Life | 80 hours (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | - |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, aptX, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive | - |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | - |
Related Headphone Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Edifier Stax Spirit S3:
- Edifier Stax Spirit S3 vs Stax SR-L300
- Edifier Stax Spirit S3 vs Grado Hemp
- Grado Hemp vs HIFIMAN Arya Stealth Magnet Version
- HIFIMAN Arya Stealth Magnet Version vs Stax SR-X1
- HIFIMAN Arya Stealth Magnet Version vs Fosi Audio i5
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Headphones In Full
Edifier Stax Spirit S3: $514.55 Wireless Amazon eBay
Pros: This is a rare wireless planar magnetic headphone, with Bluetooth 5.2, aptX Adaptive and aptX HD support, a built in microphone and a claimed 80 hours of battery life. The median of six hobbyist measurements on squig.link yields a preference score of 89 with a gently warm tilt, and bass holds to within about 2 dB of target at 30 Hz. The closed back keeps sound in, making it usable in offices and on transit.
Cons: Those measurements show a 6.8 dB dip near 6.9 kHz and the 6 to 10 kHz band sits about 3 dB low, so cymbals and sibilance come across dulled and less detailed. There is no active noise cancelling, and at 329 grams it is on the heavy side for a wireless headphone.
Full Edifier Stax Spirit S3 review and specifications →
| Released | Jun 2022 (4 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Active Noise Cancelling | No |
| Back | Closed |
| Battery Life | 80 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, aptX, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Connection | Wireless and wired |
| Deviation From Target | 1.62 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic |
| Drivers | 1 x 89x70mm planar magnetic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 89 (median of 6 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 24 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 94 dB SPL(A) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-1.9 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.20 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (329 g) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
HIFIMAN Arya Stealth Magnet Version: $599.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: A preference score of 85 in oratory1990’s measurement and a near flat tilt of 0.02 give it a balanced overall tonality. Bass from 60 to 200 Hz sits within 1 dB of target and the upper mids are only about 1 dB low, so vocals and instruments sound natural. At 32 ohms and 94 dB sensitivity it is easier to drive than most planar headphones, and 404 g is moderate for the type.
Cons: An 8 dB dip near 9.3 kHz followed by a 7 dB peak near 11.9 kHz makes the treble uneven, so cymbals can sound recessed one moment and sharp the next. Presence is about 3 dB hot and the air band about 3 dB elevated, which adds edge to bright recordings. Sub-bass runs about 3 dB under target, and the open back leaks sound and offers no isolation.
Full HIFIMAN Arya Stealth Magnet Version review and specifications →
| Back | Open |
|---|---|
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.29 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 8Hz - 65kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 85 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 32 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 94 dB |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-5.0 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.02 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.9 lbs (404 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -5.1 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +5.9 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 1,825 Hz | +5.1 dB | 1.78 |
| Peak | 99 Hz | -2.5 dB | 0.31 |
| Peak | 4,828 Hz | -3.9 dB | 4.18 |
| Peak | 3,009 Hz | -2.8 dB | 3.29 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -3.1 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 969 Hz | -1.3 dB | 3.17 |
| Peak | 1,373 Hz | +0.9 dB | 4.21 |
| Peak | 652 Hz | +0.8 dB | 4.18 |
| Peak | 150 Hz | +0.2 dB | 1.75 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons