The HD 600 is still the best headphone for me . I had a lot of headphones ordered / tested in a price range up to 2000€. And nothing can beat the HD600 / R70X (for hip hop music) for me (PERSONALLY). All those "higher end" headphones are hard to listen to for many hours and I always have switched back to my HD600. I had the LCD-2C, Focal Clear, LCD-X, Sundara, Ananda, DT1990, DT880, Focal Elex etc etc. And I always have send them back (except for the Focal Clear which I still have but I do not really use them that much) becasue my HD600 is just the King... Yeah, it is a hobby and so it is somehow logical to strive to find something "better" and "new". But "unfortunatley" (or luckily because of the money) I can't find anything that is replacing my HD600. So I have to spend my money into Speakers.. haha :)
Old school audiophiles used to say that the HD600 was known for the ability to isolate istruments in the mix, almost to the point of distracting the listener; some loved this, some hated it.
17:00, holly crap, this is exactly what i'm passing through with Edition XS. You described the XS with Arya in almost everything. The dips on the mids, the crazy subbass, great imaging, and the volume. Why? IDK, maybe the ''softness'' of Hifimans made us to up the volume, because it does present more and more detail and body, but at the same time, it's not an agressive sound, in the upper mids or the bass, then we just up the volume. Holly crap, it's so exact, i'm laughing.
I had the Arya and HD 800s for a few weeks and preferred my Ananda to both of them. Arya and 800s are really overpriced as long as the Ananda exist at half the price.
@@EnormeEkoH Haven't heard them. Just recently traded in my Ananda to Hifiman who has a "Trade Up" program and got the Arya Stealth Magnet which are really good. I like the Arya SM more than the Ananda and earlier Arya versions. The SM really has some nice Bass and just a wow factor the previous Arya didn't have when I heard them
@@JTB-- i dont know a lot of audio things but this hifiman edition xs seems new, i found no rewiews on it, and for 500$ seems very good, but as i said no reviews...
I'm hoping that as my channel grows a bit, I can reach out to Zach and possibly get a good chunk of review units sent my way so I can do a ZMF saga (and not spend thousands of dollars in the process lol)
Good point. I would have no problem with a plastic centric headphone at the 1000 + price point if the design underlined durability. In fact, please put the money in the driver's over beautiful but flimsy build. I appreciate your comparisons
Since I own Focal Clear gonna sell my HD600, not using it very often. Arya soon will join my little collection so I have to get rid of headphones that I dont use even if I really respect HD600
Hd 600 (late 2022-2023) are good, matching or even some cases better than the marble hd 600. They use a light semi-transparent fabric like baffle plate now instead of the silver ones in 2018-2021 hd 600. Personally I found it to have more clarity and precision. Dynamics have improved too I guess.
The summary at 18:35 was really helpful for me. Sounds like the Arya does not completely trump the HD600 but rather presents a different set of compromises. So often reviewers do not mention buying used so that is another good tip. I really wonder why that is e.g. whether reviewers are somehow just trying to sell us stuff..even where they appear to have no vested interest in doing so. Btw I compared HD600 to Sivga Phoenix and for me apart from for comfort and cosmetics the Phoenix is another compromise I could live with, especially since it needs no headphone amp which adds to the cost and inconvenience of using headphones.
I thought the same way until I bought a set after owning several upper mid-fi cans. The Arya's require a good amount of clean power and burn in to settle in - they're not their best fresh out of the box. Too little power/current = flat sounding. New with no burn in - sharp treble, less detail, bass not as detailed. Now they're the best cans I've ever owned by far. Jaw droppingly good.
The HD 600 is still the best headphone for me . I had a lot of headphones ordered / tested in a price range up to 2000€. And nothing can beat the HD600 / R70X (for hip hop music) for me (PERSONALLY). All those "higher end" headphones are hard to listen to for many hours and I always have switched back to my HD600. I had the LCD-2C, Focal Clear, LCD-X, Sundara, Ananda, DT1990, DT880, Focal Elex etc etc. And I always have send them back (except for the Focal Clear which I still have but I do not really use them that much) becasue my HD600 is just the King... Yeah, it is a hobby and so it is somehow logical to strive to find something "better" and "new". But "unfortunatley" (or luckily because of the money) I can't find anything that is replacing my HD600. So I have to spend my money into Speakers.. haha :)
"These are dark yet bright, lacking in detail, and also have sibiliance." 🤣 well there's a glowing review if ever I heard one.
That sounds like the hd700 to me lol
I really dig your reviews bro, keep it up
Old school audiophiles used to say that the HD600 was known for the ability to isolate istruments in the mix, almost to the point of distracting the listener; some loved this, some hated it.
17:00, holly crap, this is exactly what i'm passing through with Edition XS. You described the XS with Arya in almost everything. The dips on the mids, the crazy subbass, great imaging, and the volume. Why? IDK, maybe the ''softness'' of Hifimans made us to up the volume, because it does present more and more detail and body, but at the same time, it's not an agressive sound, in the upper mids or the bass, then we just up the volume. Holly crap, it's so exact, i'm laughing.
best video ever! Solve a lot of mystery for me and crystal clear explanation! Thank you!
One of your best comparisons, thanks dude
Anytime, my guy ;)
These pair(arya) is to die for. Thanks for the insight!
Hd600 is a reference mid-fi earphones. Very neutral and clean sound. The hd6xx is similar but offers better value
I had the Arya and HD 800s for a few weeks and preferred my Ananda to both of them. Arya and 800s are really overpriced as long as the Ananda exist at half the price.
What about hifiman edition xs?
@@EnormeEkoH Haven't heard them. Just recently traded in my Ananda to Hifiman who has a "Trade Up" program and got the Arya Stealth Magnet which are really good. I like the Arya SM more than the Ananda and earlier Arya versions. The SM really has some nice Bass and just a wow factor the previous Arya didn't have when I heard them
@@JTB-- i dont know a lot of audio things but this hifiman edition xs seems new, i found no rewiews on it, and for 500$ seems very good, but as i said no reviews...
@@EnormeEkoH Hold off a bit and wait for some reviews on it. Maybe check out some headphone forums and Reddit for some info
@@JTB-- ok ty
Curious have you tried the ZMF Aeolus? I heard them this week and for hd600 fans they are very good headphones.
I'm hoping that as my channel grows a bit, I can reach out to Zach and possibly get a good chunk of review units sent my way so I can do a ZMF saga (and not spend thousands of dollars in the process lol)
Good point. I would have no problem with a plastic centric headphone at the 1000 + price point if the design underlined durability. In fact, please put the money in the driver's over beautiful but flimsy build. I appreciate your comparisons
The two headphones I have and will always own
Since I own Focal Clear gonna sell my HD600, not using it very often. Arya soon will join my little collection so I have to get rid of headphones that I dont use even if I really respect HD600
Have you heard the new HD600 revision by the way? If so, is it different?
R u talking about the 6xx? Cuz he did a review over those
@@stratelite1337 Yah the new color no marble look one thats now made in Romania
@@donvittoriosierra I have not, actually. It's not a priority, but I do intend on taking a look at it at some point.
Hd 600 (late 2022-2023) are good, matching or even some cases better than the marble hd 600.
They use a light semi-transparent fabric like baffle plate now instead of the silver ones in 2018-2021 hd 600.
Personally I found it to have more clarity and precision.
Dynamics have improved too I guess.
The summary at 18:35 was really helpful for me. Sounds like the Arya does not completely trump the HD600 but rather presents a different set of compromises. So often reviewers do not mention buying used so that is another good tip. I really wonder why that is e.g. whether reviewers are somehow just trying to sell us stuff..even where they appear to have no vested interest in doing so. Btw I compared HD600 to Sivga Phoenix and for me apart from for comfort and cosmetics the Phoenix is another compromise I could live with, especially since it needs no headphone amp which adds to the cost and inconvenience of using headphones.
I would love more Sivga Phoenix reviews. That headphone is amazing
@@jfleysh Ask, and ye shall receive. Lol yeah, I intend on reviewing it relatively soon!
What DAC(s) and amp(s) did you use to test?
I've been using the SMSL SU-8 DAC and THX AAA 789 BAL amp for quite some time now :)
Nice to see a recent review including the Arya - I have an Edition X V2 and looking to what the next step in my progression might be.
How do you think the Ananda compares to the Arya?
Hi, I have the focal clear og worth upgrading to hifiman Arya?
Not sure, haven't heard the clear og yet
I want to do the inverse upgrade youre doing haha, Arya to Focal clear og
Arya price is way too high for that low budget build
That's fair
@@chuckolatte600 for example I can have Focal clear MG still cheaper than Arya but Focal make outstanding quality and great looks
I could compare the HD600 to a $10 headphone, and I'm sure I could point out a few things that the $10 headphone does better.
Have you tried the HD600s?
Now the only thing that remains is HD800 vs Arya
;)
Pls. It is about time 😲
Arya vs HD800s! Chuckolate r u in NYC? I drop it in ur house
@@gdimitrov Nah
"are you hard" lol
ARE YOU??
I heard "Arya hard?"
@@RyougiVector Is-rael Life Now?
@@RyougiVector You heard what you wanted to hear ;)
@@chuckolatte600 but I thought Arya soft and comfy :'(
yea i don’t see a point in getting the Arya
I thought the same way until I bought a set after owning several upper mid-fi cans. The Arya's require a good amount of clean power and burn in to settle in - they're not their best fresh out of the box. Too little power/current = flat sounding. New with no burn in - sharp treble, less detail, bass not as detailed. Now they're the best cans I've ever owned by far. Jaw droppingly good.
The background music make this video unwatchable. As does the vox panning. Just some constructive criticism. Other than that, keep it up.
Ah yeah, I forget to convert my audio to mono. Thanks!
@@chuckolatte600 Ha, no problem. Good video. Thanks for your input.