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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you're seeking top-notch sound quality and a superior sense of soundstage for a more immersive music experience, the HifiMan Arya Stealth headphones are the better option, though they are considerably pricier and lack a microphone for calls. Conversely, if you require a versatile set of headphones that offer good performance for calls and meetings, gaming, and air travel convenience due to wireless capabilities and active noise cancelling, the JLab JBuds Work Wireless should suffice and they're much more affordable. The Arya Stealth, with open-back design, excel for critical listening in quiet environments, while JBuds, being closed-back, provide better noise isolation for use in noisier settings. 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
- Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the JLab JBuds Work Wireless
- Good for phone calls
- Very good for gaming
- Very good for air travel
Key differences
Music
10.0
6.8
The HifiMan Arya Stealth is best in class for music, while the JLab JBuds Work Wireless is only fair.
Gaming
7.1
8.8
The JLab JBuds Work Wireless is very good for gaming, while the HifiMan Arya Stealth is good.
Phone Calls
5.1
7.3
The JLab JBuds Work Wireless is good for phone calls, while the HifiMan Arya Stealth is poor.
TV and Video
9.4
7.9
The HifiMan Arya Stealth is excellent for TV and video, while the JLab JBuds Work Wireless is good.
Noise Reduction
2.5
5.3
The JLab JBuds Work Wireless and HifiMan Arya Stealth are both poor for noise reduction, though the JLab JBuds Work Wireless is somewhat better.
Battery
N/A
60.0 Hours
The HifiMan Arya Stealth does not have a battery. The JLab JBuds Work Wireless has 60 hours of battery life.
Cost
$599
$79
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The HifiMan Arya Stealth has a price of $599 and the JLab JBuds Work Wireless costs $79.
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Key similarities
Podcasts and Audiobooks
8.1
7.9
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers HifiMan Arya Stealth to be very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the JLab JBuds Work Wireless is good.
Build Quality
9.0
9.0
The HifiMan Arya Stealth and JLab JBuds Work Wireless both have excellent build quality.
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How the HifiMan Arya Stealth and the JLab JBuds Work Wireless compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| HifiMan Arya Stealth | JLab JBuds Work Wireless |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$599 | $79 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | HifiMan | JLab | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | November 1, 2018 | October 1, 2021 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wired + Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 10/10 | 6.9/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.1/10 | 7.3/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 7.2/10 | 8.9/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 9.5/10 | 8/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.5/10 | 6.3/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | N/A | 60 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | N/A | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | N/A | 3 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | N/A | 5 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 2.5/10 | 5.3/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | N/A | No | |
Android App | |||
Android App | N/A | No | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | N/A | No | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | N/A | 9/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.4/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 408.2 Grams | 158 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | N/A | Boom | |
Waterproof Rating | |||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
HifiMan Arya Stealth
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Dig into reviews and images
Headphonesty
Eric D Hieger | October 2022
"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."
JLab JBuds Work Wireless
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PC Magazine
Tim Gideon | February 2022
"The JLab JBuds Work is an affordable headset-headphone hybrid that you can use to listen to music in stereo and communicate on video calls thanks to a retractable boom mic, and we particularly like its convenient mono and passive wired modes. You won't find any frills here like you will with the costlier Jabra Evolve2 65 or Plantronics Voyager 4220 UC, but for less than half the price, the JBuds Work is an effective lower-cost alternative."
Get a great deal on the HifiMan Arya Stealth or the JLab JBuds Work Wireless
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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Why trust us
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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About the Earbuds or Headphones team
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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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.
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