- HiFiMan has just revealed two new headphones
- HE1000 and Arya are open Wi-Fi wireless boxes with integrated DAC
- Driver upgrades are what sets them apart, as is the price
Open-back headphones are the kind of forgiving tech I’d still buy if money wasn’t an issue (and neither was my roommate), and popular audio brand HiFiMan has two new pairs of ear blasters for us to look at.
HiFiMan has revealed the HE1000 WiFi and Arya WiFi, two new open-back headphones that, as the name suggests, can use your home internet to send higher quality wireless signals (and we might have expected Sonos to leverage and implement, with its Sonos Ace headphones… but alas, no).
Before you start putting together this year’s Christmas list, be aware that they’re expensive: the Arya is set at an MSRP of $1,449 (around £1,080, AU$2,040, although HiFiMan doesn’t sell in Australia) while the HE1000 is set at $2,699 (around £2,000, AU$3,800).
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They are, after all, part of the brand’s premium range. The company also sells affordable open-back and in-ear options for those who like the sound of the new models, but don’t have a small fortune to spend.
Justify the price
So, what do you get for your money? A big selling point here is that both headphones feature a built-in DAC, a custom-made HiFiMan chip, and an amplifier in the cups to reduce signal length.
Battery life is a bit scary and 6.5-7.5 hours of Wi-Fi streaming, so you’ll basically get playback of The blackmailers of Nuremberg. But it goes up to 23 hours if you decide Bluetooth listening is right for you (LDAC, aptX HD, and AAC should be some consolation).
There’s also wired listening in both, with a USB-C port, but no mm jack of any kind. You can get up to 32-bit listening if you play your cards right, with DSD512 and PCM 44.1kHz-768kHz response.
The main difference between the two is in the driver department. The HE1000 features a more advanced nano-diaphragm, designed to deliver fast response speeds, and is paired with the brand’s Stealth Magnet technology to deliver superb sound. The brand claims that this combo allows “clear and non-fatiguing sound output”. The Arya gets a Neo Super Nano diaphragm, which is thin but not HE1000.
At 452g each, they’re not exactly lightweight, but HiFiMan has placed emphasis (or at least marketing) on the improved headband design, keeping your noggin comfortable while you listen to music.
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