HIFIMAN - Arya Stealth Magnet Version

I got and returned the 109 Pro after few weeks. They are super comfortable, nice sounding and that is it. They are nice they didn't do much for me no complaints it just OK. I found my self going back more and more to my older Arya Stealth and 6xx. Obviously everyone is different but I think under $1000 there is much better at least objectively better headphones and you can listen to them first. Focal Clear, Arya Stealth, LCD-2C (used) I would even throw in 660S2. All these to me sounded better than 109 Pro.

Tried these, but the L and R that's stitched inside the cups destroyed all comfort for me, so I returned them. Also I couldn't wear them comfortably with glasses. Otherwise I agree that they are pretty comfortable. Got Arya Stealth now and can wear them all day without any discomfort even with glasses.

Love my Arya Stealth comfortwise (and also soundwise). First Headphone in my posession (DT770/880/1990) or that I've tried (HD490, Focal Clear, Amiron Home) that I can wear comfortably with glasses all day long.

Arya Stealths are amazing. Got them a few months ago (new for 550€ on an Amazon sale) after one of the drivers of my DT 1990 gave up after just 4 years. Otherwise they were really nice sound wise and decent comfort wise. Hope I'll have better luck with the Aryas, but so far I am really pleased with their sound and comfort. Especially comfort wise the Aryas were a gamechanger when wearing them with glasses.

My favorites in terms of "bank for your buck" are definitely the Arya Stealth. If you spend a bit more, you get the LC2C which are also absolute beasts. Focal Utopia stunned me by how good it sounds for dynamic headphones and it made me reconsider how I view dynamics. As for immersion, I'd pick Susvara any time of the day, they were the best sounding ones and the most resolving ones I've ever tried (if I had the budget ofc). Other than that, the ADX5000 are brilliant and if you can't afford them, the ADX3000 is a cheaper model but still sounds amazing.

I’ve got my stealths paired with a Merlin/Gremlin stack with the upgraded select tubes and they are truly wonderful.

Arya Stealth - a great Allrounder

Arya's are a improved version of the edition XS, better and smoother high's and less sibilant, similar tuning.

There is no best, it's subjective. Though I would generally prefer open-backs over closed backs, especially when you're just using them in your chair and not a noisy environment. "Audiophile grade" is also not a clearly defined term. There are a lot of good options available for under 1000$, I would recommend ordering a few different pairs and comparing them. Like, as far as open-backs are concerned, get a Hifiman Arya, Sennheiser HD 6XX and maybe a Beyerdynamic DT1990 (note that there's two versions, you can get some great deals on the older MK1 but it has a very spicy treble). If you really need/want something closed, your options will be more limited, you could try a Senny HD620 and Beyer DT1770. Personally, I think the AKG K702 (open) for 180 USD is an incredible deal, but some don't like the mid-heavy sound. And there's no doubt there are better headphones to be had for three or four times the price, but they won't really sound three of four times better, and whether it's worth it spending so much is up to you.

If you have a desk setup and don’t mind wired, you can put something amazing together. I’ve got a Fosi Audio K7 amp, Hifiman Arya Stealth headphones and a modmic. The PS5 Pro sees it as a headset. It sounds incredible.

A good over ear headphone that’s not wireless, will more times than not require/ benefit from an amp/dac. Besides that as many have recommended the Arya stealth, a closed back headphone will usually provide you that feeling of bass you sound like you’re looking for. Open backs tend to trade bass for sound stage, Arya stealth being one of the best in its price bracket especially if you find one used, that has amazing imaging detail and sound stage, bass however might not be super. I’m personally an advocate of IEMs but fit is super subjective so more times than not an over ear headphone will have more of a universal fit. IEMs also don’t produce the bass slam like headphones do simply because of basic physics, bigger over ear drivers move more air and therefore have more satisfying bass (as long as you don’t get an open back)

i did. i use hifiman arya and an el2 amp. way more expensive but you only live once so yolo.