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Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize budget and require better noise isolation for commuting or office use, the AKG K361 would be a more suitable choice, plus it has a foldable design for easy portability. However, the HifiMan Arya Stealth would provide a superior sound quality, especially for music, with a wide soundstage, which can be great for home listening in a quiet environment. The Arya Stealth's emphasis on audio fidelity also comes with less portability and minimal noise isolation due to its open-back design. In terms of durability, both options are comparable, each offering a detachable cable and solid build. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the AKG K361
Good for air travel
Advantages of the HifiMan Arya Stealth
Best in class for music
Good for gaming
Excellent for TV and video
Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
7.5/10
10.0/10
The HifiMan Arya Stealth is best in class for music, while the AKG K361 is good.
Gaming
6.3/10
7.1/10
The HifiMan Arya Stealth is good for gaming, while the AKG K361 is only fair.
Phone Calls
3.2/10
5.1/10
The HifiMan Arya Stealth and AKG K361 are both poor for phone calls, though the HifiMan Arya Stealth is somewhat better.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.0/10
8.1/10
The HifiMan Arya Stealth is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the AKG K361 is poor.
TV and Video
7.8/10
9.4/10
The HifiMan Arya Stealth is excellent for TV and video, while the AKG K361 is good.
Noise Reduction
6.0/10
2.5/10
The AKG K361 is only fair for noise reduction, while the HifiMan Arya Stealth is poor.
Cost
$99
$599
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The AKG K361 has a price of $99 and the HifiMan Arya Stealth costs $599.
Build Quality
8.5/10
9.0/10
The HifiMan Arya Stealth has excellent build quality, while the AKG K361 has very good build quality.
"The K361 retains much of what makes the K371 such a winner, though it has a leaner sound, and the build changes made to trim the price down are immediately apparent. Still, it’s another excellent offering from AKG, and other companies in this fight should either be very worried or quickly designing updates to their old models."
"The Arya can easily be end-game headphones for 99% of consumers, satisfying most audio desires. Priced well above USD$1000, the Arya are obviously and gloriously not for the mass market consumer; they are designed and built by enthusiasts for enthusiasts – especially those who view their expenses on this level of gear as investments."
Get a great deal on the AKG K361 or the HifiMan Arya Stealth
About HifiMan
HiFiMAN is a Chinese, high-end, audio product manufacturer, with 20 years of experience, that specializes in amplifiers, digital audio players and planar magnetic headphones, some of which have become a staple in the audiophile community such as the entry-level Sundara, the midrange Edition X, and the very well-regarded, high-end, Arya.
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