Short answer: the HIFIMAN Arya Organic. Both are rated 4.4/5 for sound quality (#12 and #15 of 216 over-ear headphones), and the HIFIMAN Arya Organic costs $769 against $799 for the HIFIMAN HE600, with sound quality a draw, the lower price decides it.
The case for 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. Watch for: 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.
Why pick the HIFIMAN HE600: The median of six hobbyist measurements on squig.link gives the HE600 a preference score of 90.4, with an unusually even response (1.8 dB of deviation) and essentially no overall tilt toward warm or bright. The tradeoff: Sub-bass sits about 4.7 dB below target under 60 Hz, so deep synth lines and organ pedals have less rumble than the midbass suggests.
Buy the HIFIMAN Arya Organic. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $30 less than the HIFIMAN HE600.
Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| HIFIMAN Arya Organic | HIFIMAN HE600 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $769.00 | $799.00 |
| Ranked | #12 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #15 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 91 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 90 (median of 7 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 1.77 dB standard deviation | 1.74 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.06 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | +0.02 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-4.0 dB at 30 Hz) | Falls 6 dB below target at 27 Hz (-5.7 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Open | Open |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic | Planar magnetic |
| Impedance | 16 ohms | 28 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 94 dB | 94 dB |
| Weight | 1 lbs (440 g) | 0.9 lbs (389 g) |
| Frequency Response | 8Hz - 65kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 8Hz - 65kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Drivers | - | 1 x planar magnetic |
Related Headphone Comparisons
How HIFIMAN Arya Organic compares with other leading options:
- HIFIMAN Arya Organic vs HEDD Audio D1
- HIFIMAN Arya Organic vs Focal Hadenys
- HIFIMAN HE600 vs Focal Hadenys
- HIFIMAN HE600 vs HEDD Audio D1
- Dan Clark Audio Noire X vs HIFIMAN HE600
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 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
HIFIMAN HE600: $799.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: The median of six hobbyist measurements on squig.link gives the HE600 a preference score of 90.4, with an unusually even response (1.8 dB of deviation) and essentially no overall tilt toward warm or bright. Bass from 60 to 200 Hz, the upper mids and the presence region all sit within about 1 dB of target, so voices, guitars and piano come through with natural weight and balance. The open planar magnetic driver has a low 28 ohm impedance, and it is rated slightly higher than the similarly priced Focal Hadenys.
Cons: Sub-bass sits about 4.7 dB below target under 60 Hz, so deep synth lines and organ pedals have less rumble than the midbass suggests. Those measurements also show a sharp 7.7 dB dip near 9.5 kHz that can make cymbals sound slightly muted. The open back leaks sound and blocks no outside noise, which rules it out for offices or commuting.
Full HIFIMAN HE600 review and specifications →
| Released | Aug 2025 (1 year ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Open |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 1.74 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic |
| Drivers | 1 x planar magnetic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 8Hz - 65kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 90 (median of 7 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 28 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 94 dB |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 27 Hz (-5.7 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.02 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.9 lbs (389 g) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons