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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 10, 2024·
Choose the HifiMan Arya Stealth if you prioritize outstanding sound quality for music and a spacious soundstage, and primarily listen at home; note that they need a dedicated amplifier for best performance and are not portable due to their open-back design and weight. Go for the Sony MDREX15AP if you're seeking a budget-friendly, portable option for general use, like listening to music or videos on the go, and don't mind sacrificing sound quality and the lack of advanced features like active noise cancellation and wireless connectivity. 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
- Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Sony MDREX15AP
- The Sony MDREX15AP has no clear advantages over the HifiMan Arya Stealth.
Key differences
Music
10.0
8.3
The HifiMan Arya Stealth is best in class for music, while the Sony MDREX15AP is very good.
Phone Calls
5.1
3.5
The HifiMan Arya Stealth and Sony MDREX15AP are both poor for phone calls, though the HifiMan Arya Stealth is somewhat better.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
8.1
5.4
The HifiMan Arya Stealth is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Sony MDREX15AP is poor.
Noise Reduction
2.5
7.0
The Sony MDREX15AP is good for noise reduction, while the HifiMan Arya Stealth is poor.
Cost
$599
$20
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
The HifiMan Arya Stealth has a price of $599 and the Sony MDREX15AP costs $20.
Build Quality
9.0
8.0
The HifiMan Arya Stealth has excellent build quality, while the Sony MDREX15AP has very good build quality.
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Key similarities
Gaming
7.1
6.7
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers HifiMan Arya Stealth to be good for gaming, while the Sony MDREX15AP is only fair.
TV and Video
9.4
9.3
The HifiMan Arya Stealth and Sony MDREX15AP are both excellent for TV and video.
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How the HifiMan Arya Stealth and the Sony MDREX15AP compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| HifiMan Arya Stealth | Sony MDREX15AP |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$599 | $20 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | HifiMan | Sony | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | November 1, 2018 | March 1, 2014 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 10/10 | 8.3/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.1/10 | 3.5/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 7.2/10 | 6.8/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 9.5/10 | 9.3/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.5/10 | 4.6/10 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 2.5/10 | 7/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 8/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.4/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | N/A | Small | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 408.2 Grams | 3.1 Grams | |
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."
Sony MDREX15AP
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Make It Sound Great
Pete Anthony | June 2022
"At the ultra budget $10 price-point (and we’ve seen the no-mic version go for as cheap as $7), I’d say these are a decent option if you’re looking for a passable pair of earbuds for basic use that’s as cheap as possible. I wouldn’t say they feel or sound as good as some of the ultra-budget alternatives out there – of which there are a few at this point – but some might disagree. I will say though that the cable is a little bit nicer than those of that same competition."
Get a great deal on the HifiMan Arya Stealth or the Sony MDREX15AP
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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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.
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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.
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