A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
Last updated -- hours ago | Report incorrect information
Company ProductName Specs
Company ProductName Specs
What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize wider soundstage and comfort, go for the Sennheiser HD800S, and if you want clearer highs and a slightly more vivid overall sound quality, consider the HifiMan Arya Stealth. Both are open-back, over-ear headphones not suitable for noisy environments or exercise, with no active noise canceling and similar scores in sound quality. The HifiMan Arya Stealth is often less expensive, but if your use involves gaming or watching TV, keep in mind that both have high latency, which could be less ideal. Neither model has a microphone, limiting their use for calls. 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
- The HifiMan Arya Stealth has no clear advantages over the Sennheiser HD800S.
Advantages of the Sennheiser HD800S
- Best in class for TV and video
Key differences
Cost
$999
$1,600
$500
$480
$460
$440
$420
$400
The HifiMan Arya Stealth has a price of $999 and the Sennheiser HD800S costs $1,600.
Let Us Help Find Your Perfect Headphones
Find your new headphones
Key similarities
Music
10.0
9.9
The HifiMan Arya Stealth and Sennheiser HD800S are both best in class for music.
Gaming
7.1
7.5
The Sennheiser HD800S and HifiMan Arya Stealth are both good for gaming.
Phone Calls
5.1
5.0
The HifiMan Arya Stealth and Sennheiser HD800S are both poor for phone calls.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
8.1
8.1
The HifiMan Arya Stealth and Sennheiser HD800S are both very good for podcasts and audiobooks.
TV and Video
9.4
9.7
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Sennheiser HD800S to be best in class for TV and video, while the HifiMan Arya Stealth is excellent.
Noise Reduction
2.5
2.5
The HifiMan Arya Stealth and Sennheiser HD800S are both poor for noise reduction.
Build Quality
9.0
9.0
The HifiMan Arya Stealth and Sennheiser HD800S both have excellent build quality.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the HifiMan Arya Stealth and the Sennheiser HD800S compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| HifiMan Arya Stealth | Sennheiser HD800S |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$999 | $1,600 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | HifiMan | Sennheiser | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | November 1, 2018 | December 1, 2015 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 10/10 | 10/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.1/10 | 5/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 7.2/10 | 7.6/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 9.5/10 | 9.7/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.5/10 | 4.5/10 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 2.5/10 | 2.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.4/10 | 10/10 | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 408.2 Grams | 371.9 Grams | |
Waterproof Rating | |||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
Dustproof Rating | |||
Dustproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
HifiMan Arya Stealth
See more
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."
Sennheiser HD800S
See more
Dig into reviews and images
Sound Guys
Christian Thomas | March 2023
"The cans offer stellar sound quality, comfort, and good maintenance options—so they're an easy recommendation if you have the cash and the need for the last headphones you'll buy for years."
Get a great deal on the HifiMan Arya Stealth or the Sennheiser HD800S
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 Sennheiser
A family-owned company, Sennheiser is a German, high fidelity, audio equipment manufacturer founded in 1945. Their consumer audio division is now owned by the Swiss hearing aid and cochlear implant manufacturer Sonova. Sennheiser offers a wide variety of, very high quality, audio equipment solutions, from headphones to earbuds, full sets of monitoring speakers, amplifiers and microphones. They also make what is widely regarded as the best, and most expensive, headphones in existence, the HE-1 Orpheus, costing a whopping $59,000 dollars.
Give feedback
We're constantly perfecting our model
Earbuds or Headphones guides you might be interested in
More comparisons for you
Compare HifiMan Arya Stealth vs. Thieaudio Monarch Mk II
VS
Compare HifiMan Arya Stealth vs. Bang and Olufsen Beoplay H95
VS
Compare HifiMan Arya Stealth vs. Audeze LCD 2 Classic
VS
Compare Sennheiser HD800S vs. Focal Elex
VS
Compare Sennheiser HD800S vs. Focal Bathys
VS
Compare Sennheiser HD800S vs. AKG K712 Pro
VS
FAQs
FAQs about earbuds and headphones
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.
By the numbers
108
Earbuds and headphones evaluated
11,340
Earbuds and headphones stats compiled
15
Proprietary Earbuds and headphones ratings developed
111,200
Recommendations made
16,680
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.
Featured in
