Short answer: the HIFIMAN Arya Organic. It ranks #12 of 216 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 4.4/5, at $769. The Focal Hadenys ranks #31, rated 4.2/5, at $749, $20 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
Why pick the HIFIMAN Arya Organic: A preference score of 91 in oratory1990’s measurement means the overall balance sits very close to the Harman target, with a nearly neutral tilt and a smooth 1.77 dB deviation. The catch: Sub-bass below 60 Hz sits about 2 dB under target and the air band above 10 kHz runs about 6 dB hot, with a peak of nearly 10 dB near 11.9 kHz that can add a bright sparkle to cymbals.
The case for the Focal Hadenys: In oratory1990’s measurement it earns a preference score of 87 with only 1.73 dB of deviation, so its tonal balance is among the closest to what most listeners prefer. The tradeoff: A 9.6 dB dip near 9.7 kHz softens cymbal shimmer and sibilance, so the top end can sound slightly muted.
Buy the HIFIMAN Arya Organic. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $20 with the Focal Hadenys does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| HIFIMAN Arya Organic | Focal Hadenys | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $769.00 | $749.00 |
| Ranked | #12 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #31 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 91 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 87 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 1.77 dB standard deviation | 1.73 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.06 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.37 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-4.0 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-1.1 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Open | Open |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic | Dynamic |
| Impedance | 16 ohms | 26 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 94 dB | 100 dB/mW |
| Weight | 1 lbs (440 g) | 0.6 lbs (294 g) |
| Frequency Response | 8Hz - 65kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 25Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Drivers | - | 1 x 40mm dynamic |
| Built-in Microphone | - | No |
Related Headphone Comparisons
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- HIFIMAN Arya Organic vs HIFIMAN HE600
- HIFIMAN Arya Organic vs HEDD Audio D1
- Focal Hadenys vs HIFIMAN HE6se V2
- HIFIMAN HE600 vs Focal Hadenys
- HEDD Audio D1 vs Focal Hadenys
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
HIFIMAN Arya Organic: $769.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: A preference score of 91 in oratory1990’s measurement means the overall balance sits very close to the Harman target, with a nearly neutral tilt and a smooth 1.77 dB deviation. Bass between 60 and 200 Hz runs only about 1 dB above target and the upper mids are within 1 dB, so vocals and instruments sound natural and unforced. At 16 ohms and 94 dB sensitivity it is easy to drive, and it rates higher than the Audeze LCD-XC and HIFIMAN HE1000 Stealth.
Cons: Sub-bass below 60 Hz sits about 2 dB under target and the air band above 10 kHz runs about 6 dB hot, with a peak of nearly 10 dB near 11.9 kHz that can add a bright sparkle to cymbals. A 4.5 dB dip around 9.5 kHz makes that treble region uneven. The open back leaks sound and offers no isolation, so it suits quiet rooms, and the 440 g weight is on the heavy side.
Full HIFIMAN Arya Organic review and specifications →
| Released | Aug 2023 (3 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Open |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 1.77 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 8Hz - 65kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 91 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 16 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 94 dB |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-4.0 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.06 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 1 lbs (440 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -4.4 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 | +4.3 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 1,866 Hz | +6.2 dB | 1.75 |
| Peak | 89 Hz | -2.6 dB | 0.82 |
| Peak | 3,082 Hz | -2.8 dB | 0.68 |
| Peak | 404 Hz | -0.5 dB | 1.49 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -6.9 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 5,536 Hz | +2.1 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 2,960 Hz | -0.6 dB | 4.64 |
| Peak | 3,567 Hz | +1.4 dB | 5.97 |
| Peak | 3,221 Hz | -0.9 dB | 6.00 |
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Focal Hadenys: $749.00 B&H Photo Video eBay
Pros: In oratory1990’s measurement it earns a preference score of 87 with only 1.73 dB of deviation, so its tonal balance is among the closest to what most listeners prefer. Every band from sub-bass to treble stays within about 1 dB of target, with sub-bass just 1.1 dB short at 30 Hz, giving full, extended bass without bloat. At 26 ohms and 100 dB/mW it plays loud from a phone or dongle, and 294 g is light for an open-back over-ear.
Cons: A 9.6 dB dip near 9.7 kHz softens cymbal shimmer and sibilance, so the top end can sound slightly muted. The open back leaks sound and blocks no outside noise, which rules it out for commuting or shared offices. The Audeze LCD-XC is rated a step higher, though it costs more.
Full Focal Hadenys review and specifications →
| Released | May 2024 (2 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Open |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 1.73 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 40mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 25Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 87 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 26 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 100 dB/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-1.1 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.37 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs (294 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -3.4 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 | +6.3 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 53 Hz | -6.4 dB | 0.50 |
| Peak | 432 Hz | +1.5 dB | 2.45 |
| Peak | 2,376 Hz | +3.1 dB | 3.04 |
| Peak | 3,557 Hz | -3.5 dB | 4.37 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +0.4 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 1,095 Hz | -0.9 dB | 2.21 |
| Peak | 4,998 Hz | +2.0 dB | 5.07 |
| Peak | 6,125 Hz | -2.2 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 654 Hz | +0.5 dB | 2.56 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons