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Updated April 10, 2024·
The HifiMan Arya Stealth offers best-in-class overall sound quality with a very good soundstage, suitable for immersive listening experiences; however, they're open-back and don't isolate noise well, making them less ideal for noisy environments or air travel. They are also bulkier, require a dedicated amplifier for optimal performance, and don't have built-in controls or microphone. The Sony MDR-ZX110, on the other hand, is more portable, budget-friendly, and closed-back, which provides some noise isolation, but they offer only fair sound quality and may not be as comfortable for long periods. Consider the Arya for critical listening at home and the Sony if you need an affordable, portable option for casual use. 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 Sony MDR-ZX110
The Sony MDR-ZX110 has no clear advantages over the HifiMan Arya Stealth.
Key differences
Music
10.0/10
7.6/10
The HifiMan Arya Stealth is best in class for music, while the Sony MDR-ZX110 is good.
Gaming
7.1/10
5.9/10
The HifiMan Arya Stealth is good for gaming, while the Sony MDR-ZX110 is poor.
Phone Calls
5.1/10
3.0/10
The HifiMan Arya Stealth and Sony MDR-ZX110 are both poor for phone calls, though the HifiMan Arya Stealth is somewhat better.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
8.1/10
4.3/10
The HifiMan Arya Stealth is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Sony MDR-ZX110 is poor.
TV and Video
9.4/10
6.9/10
The HifiMan Arya Stealth is excellent for TV and video, while the Sony MDR-ZX110 is only fair.
Noise Reduction
2.5/10
5.3/10
The Sony MDR-ZX110 and HifiMan Arya Stealth are both poor for noise reduction, though the Sony MDR-ZX110 is somewhat better.
Cost
$599
$10
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
The HifiMan Arya Stealth has a price of $599 and the Sony MDR-ZX110 costs $10.
Build Quality
9.0/10
6.0/10
The HifiMan Arya Stealth has excellent build quality, while the Sony MDR-ZX110 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."
"My opinion about Sony MDR ZX110 is they are the best budget headphones of Sony with top-class sound. Clear vocals, great bass, and balanced sound with low sound distortion. The treble could be sharper, but it's ok. 30 mm neodymium dynamic drivers give clear and precise audio, and an inline remote with a mic give decent call quality. Closed-Back Design also helps to improve sound performance."
Get a great deal on the HifiMan Arya Stealth or the Sony MDR-ZX110
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 Sony
Sony is a multinational corporation, based out of Japan, with over 75 years of experience in the consumer electronics industry. In the audio market, Sony has been a trendsetter several times throughout its history. In 1979 they released the first-ever portable music player, the Sony Walkman, followed by the Discman 20 years later. Today, Sony is one of the leaders in the wireless headphone and earbud market, especially in terms of Active Noise Cancellation technology.
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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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