The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If you prioritize outstanding audio quality and are using them in quiet environments like at home, the HifiMan Arya Stealth headphones with their open-back design will offer an immersive experience, especially for music and TV, but they lack portability and are not suitable for exercise or noisy places. On the other hand, the JBL Tune Flex earbuds are a more versatile, portable option with good sound quality and features like sweatproof certification and active noise cancelling, making them suitable for a variety of situations including exercise and travel, but they may not match the Arya Stealth in terms of pure sound fidelity. The JBLs also have a wireless design which adds to convenience and they come at a substantially lower price. Consider your usage scenarios and budget when making your decision. 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
Excellent for TV and video
Advantages of the JBL Tune Flex
Very good for gaming
Good for exercise
Very good for air travel
Excellent for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
10.0/10
7.3/10
The HifiMan Arya Stealth is best in class for music, while the JBL Tune Flex is good.
Gaming
7.1/10
8.5/10
The JBL Tune Flex is very good for gaming, while the HifiMan Arya Stealth is good.
Phone Calls
5.1/10
6.3/10
The JBL Tune Flex is only fair for phone calls, while the HifiMan Arya Stealth is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
8.1/10
9.0/10
The JBL Tune Flex is excellent for podcasts and audiobooks, while the HifiMan Arya Stealth is very good.
TV and Video
9.4/10
7.8/10
The HifiMan Arya Stealth is excellent for TV and video, while the JBL Tune Flex is good.
Noise Reduction
2.5/10
6.5/10
The JBL Tune Flex is only fair for noise reduction, while the HifiMan Arya Stealth is poor.
Battery
N/A
6.5 Hours
The HifiMan Arya Stealth does not have a battery. The JBL Tune Flex has 6.5 hours of battery life.
Cost
$649
$60
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The HifiMan Arya Stealth has a price of $649 and the JBL Tune Flex costs $60.
Build Quality
9.0/10
8.5/10
The HifiMan Arya Stealth has excellent build quality, while the JBL Tune Flex has very good 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."
"JBL is offering a similar design and arguably better resolution than the more expensive AirPods 3rd Generation. Add to that a comfortable and versatile fit, an equalizer and pretty decent ANC, and you’ve got a quality wireless earphone. I would have loved longer battery life and more crystal calls, but for the price, you can’t complain. A solid deal overall."
Get a great deal on the HifiMan Arya Stealth or the JBL Tune Flex
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.
Give feedback
We're constantly perfecting our model
Earbuds or Headphones guides you might be interested in
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.
By the numbers
108
Earbuds and headphones evaluated
11,340
Earbuds and headphones stats compiled
15
Proprietary Earbuds and headphones ratings developed
91,100
Recommendations made
13,665
Consumer hours saved
About the Earbuds or Headphones team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Earbuds and Headphones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Luis Torres
Earbuds and Headphones Expert
Luis is a Mexico-based headphones expert. He’s been making headphone recommendations for five years and has close to 100 pairs in his personal collection.