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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The HifiMan Arya Stealth headphones are better suited for critical music listening due to their exceptional sound quality, open-back design, and planar drivers, offering a superior soundstage for an immersive experience. However, they lack portability, are not wireless, and are not suited for exercise or travel. In contrast, the Sony WF1000XM4 earbuds provide good sound quality with the convenience of being wireless, compact, and equipped with active noise cancelling, making them versatile for various situations including travel and exercise. The Sonys also have an advantage for calls and meetings due to the built-in microphone, and they support high-quality LDAC Bluetooth codec. Choose the HifiMans for high-fidelity home listening and the Sonys for a versatile, on-the-go option with active noise cancellation. 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
Advantages of the Sony WF1000XM4
- Very good for air travel
- Best in class for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
10.0
9.0
The HifiMan Arya Stealth is best in class for music, while the Sony WF1000XM4 is excellent.
Gaming
7.1
5.6
The HifiMan Arya Stealth is good for gaming, while the Sony WF1000XM4 is poor.
Phone Calls
5.1
6.7
The Sony WF1000XM4 is only fair for phone calls, while the HifiMan Arya Stealth is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
8.1
10.0
The Sony WF1000XM4 is best in class for podcasts and audiobooks, while the HifiMan Arya Stealth is very good.
TV and Video
9.4
6.0
The HifiMan Arya Stealth is excellent for TV and video, while the Sony WF1000XM4 is only fair.
Noise Reduction
2.5
8.3
The Sony WF1000XM4 is very good for noise reduction, while the HifiMan Arya Stealth is poor.
Battery
N/A
9.0 Hours
The HifiMan Arya Stealth does not have a battery. The Sony WF1000XM4 has 9 hours of battery life.
Cost
$599
$220
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The HifiMan Arya Stealth has a price of $599 and the Sony WF1000XM4 costs $220.
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Key similarities
Build Quality
9.0
8.9
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers HifiMan Arya Stealth to have excellent build quality, while the Sony WF1000XM4 has very good build quality.
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How the HifiMan Arya Stealth and the Sony WF1000XM4 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| HifiMan Arya Stealth | Sony WF1000XM4 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$599 | $220 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | HifiMan | Sony | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | November 1, 2018 | July 1, 2021 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 10/10 | 9.1/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.1/10 | 6.7/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 7.2/10 | 5.6/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 9.5/10 | 6/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.5/10 | 6.7/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | N/A | 9 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | N/A | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | N/A | 1.5 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | N/A | 5.2 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | N/A | 24 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 2.5/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | N/A | Yes | |
Android App | |||
Android App | N/A | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | N/A | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | N/A | 5.4/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.4/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | N/A | Large | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 408.2 Grams | 6.5 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | N/A | Integrated | |
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 WF1000XM4
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Dig into reviews and images
What HiFi?
What HiFi? | March 2023
"The headphones deliver a satisfying user experience, class-leading battery life, some of the best noise-cancelling we’ve heard in this category, and absolutely stunning sound quality."
Get a great deal on the HifiMan Arya Stealth or the Sony WF1000XM4
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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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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Earbuds and Headphones Expert
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