Short answer: the HiFiMAN Arya Unveiled. It ranks #20 of 481 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 4.4/5, at $1,119. The HIFIMAN HE1000 Stealth ranks #38, rated 4.2/5, at $949, $170 cheaper, a saving that is not big enough to make up the sound-quality gap.
Why pick the HiFiMAN Arya Unveiled: One of the most accurate open-back headphones available, with a preference score of 90 and a standard deviation of only 1.5 dB from the Harman target across 4 hobbyist measurements on squig.link. The tradeoff: Sub-bass sits about 4 dB below target and is down 5.2 dB at 30 Hz, so the deepest synth rumble and organ notes lack physical weight.
What the HIFIMAN HE1000 Stealth does well: Planar magnetic drivers deliver a preference score of 87 with bass from 60 to 200 Hz about 1 dB above target and sub-bass only about 2 dB light, so low end has solid weight and extension. The catch: The treble is uneven, with an 8 dB dip near 9.4 kHz followed by a 7 dB peak near 11.9 kHz and air above 10 kHz about 5 dB over target.
Buy the HiFiMAN Arya Unveiled. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $170 with the HIFIMAN HE1000 Stealth does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Want more options? Browse the full Headphones rankings.
One of the most accurate open-back headphones available, with a preference score of 90 and a standard deviation of only 1.5 dB from the Harman target across 4 hobbyist measurements on squig.link.
Amazon $1,119.00 eBay
Planar magnetic drivers deliver a preference score of 87 with bass from 60 to 200 Hz about 1 dB above target and sub-bass only about 2 dB light, so low end has solid weight and extension.
Amazon $949.00 eBayPrices on this page were last checked October 16, 2026 at 5:46 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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
Specifications Side By Side
| HiFiMAN Arya Unveiled | HIFIMAN HE1000 Stealth | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,119.00 | $949.00 |
| Ranked | #20 of 481 in Over-Ear Headphones | #38 of 481 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 90 (median of 4 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 87 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 1.54 dB standard deviation | 2.10 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.20 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | +0.04 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-5.2 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-4.0 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Open | Open |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic | Planar magnetic |
| Impedance | 27 ohms | 32 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 94 dB/mW | 93 dB |
| Frequency Response | 8Hz - 65kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 8Hz - 65kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | - | 1 lbs (458 g) |
Frequency Response Compared
Both headphones’ measurements overlaid on the Harman target. Above the target sounds louder in that range, below it quieter. Each curve is the median of several independent measurements, shifted so its 500 Hz to 2 kHz average sits at 0 dB, so only the tuning is compared.
Measurement data: the HiFiMAN Arya Unveiled from kuulokenurkka, sai, superreview and vsg; the HIFIMAN HE1000 Stealth from boizoff, sai and vsg, all via squig.link.
Related Headphone Comparisons
More top alternatives to HiFiMAN Arya Unveiled: