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Updated April 11, 2024·
If you prioritize outstanding sound quality and are willing to invest in a high-end experience, the HifiMan Arya Stealth would provide you with best-in-class music listening, but they require a separate amplifier for optimal performance and are not suited for use during exercise, air travel, or for calls and meetings due to poor microphone and noise isolation qualities. On the other hand, the JBL 510BT is more affordable and offers good portability and wireless convenience, making it better for casual use, travel, and exercise, although the sound and build quality are fair and less impressive compared to the HifiMan Arya Stealth. The JBLs are on-ear with closed-back design providing some level of noise isolation, but if an expansive soundstage is important to you, the open-back design of the HifiMan has a very good soundstage, though it leaks sound and lets ambient noise in. 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 HifiMan Arya Stealth
Best in class for music
Good for gaming
Excellent for TV and video
Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the JBL 510BT
Good for air travel
Key differences
Music
10.0/10
6.2/10
The HifiMan Arya Stealth is best in class for music, while the JBL 510BT is only fair.
Gaming
7.1/10
5.4/10
The HifiMan Arya Stealth is good for gaming, while the JBL 510BT is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
8.1/10
5.6/10
The HifiMan Arya Stealth is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the JBL 510BT is poor.
TV and Video
9.4/10
5.5/10
The HifiMan Arya Stealth is excellent for TV and video, while the JBL 510BT is poor.
Noise Reduction
2.5/10
5.3/10
The JBL 510BT and HifiMan Arya Stealth are both poor for noise reduction, though the JBL 510BT is somewhat better.
Battery
N/A
38.0 Hours
The HifiMan Arya Stealth does not have a battery. The JBL 510BT has 38 hours of battery life.
Cost
$599
$30
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
The HifiMan Arya Stealth has a price of $599 and the JBL 510BT costs $30.
Build Quality
9.0/10
6.5/10
The HifiMan Arya Stealth has excellent build quality, while the JBL 510BT has only fair build quality.
"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."
"The JBL Tune 510BT is affordable and compact, making it a great companion for a commute, so long as you don't need active noise canceling. If you wear glasses or have ear piercings, the on-ear design might not be comfortable, since the ear cups will squish your ears."
Get a great deal on the HifiMan Arya Stealth or the JBL 510BT
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.
About JBL
JBL is an American audio equipment manufacturer. Owned by Harman International which is, itself, owned by Samsung Electronics. JBL markets a wide array of monitoring speakers, professional headphones and consumer market headphones and earbuds. It was founded in 1946 by James Bullough Lansing (whose initials give the company its name) and has become one of the most prolific audio companies ever. Their products were responsible for audio during the 1969 Woodstock Festival.
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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec earbuds & headphones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest earbuds or headphones information and makes it digestible for you.
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