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Head to head · for music listening
HIFIMAN Arya vs Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO
More people recommend the HIFIMAN Arya overall (53 vs 38). None of the 19 comments that name both says outright which one to buy, so read the loves and complaints and decide by taste.
- Comments naming both
- 19
- Say they own both
- 1
- Choose the Arya
- 0
- Choose the DT 1990 PRO
- 0
Preference evidence:Limited0 explicit choices among 19 comments naming both.What the levels mean
Counted across 13 review videos, harvested Sep 2026. A comment counts as a choice only when it says so in plain words (prefer X over Y, upgraded from Y to X); questions never count. Quotes are whole sentences of 12 words or fewer, linked to where they were said. How we count.
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical price | $599cheaper | $700 |
| Overall rank | #13higher | #17 |
| People who recommend it | 53more | 38 |
| Say they own it | 68more | 51 |
| Mentions | 689more | 470 |
| Type | open-back planar wired | open-back wired |
| Known for | Planar end-gameSpace | DetailTwo pad setsNeeds amp |
| Best for | Recommended as the planar end-game most people can actually afford now that it sells for about $600. | Recommended to detail-first listeners and home producers who want a headphone that will outlast several amps. |
| Buy | Amazon · $599 | Amazon · $700Direct |
#13 overall
HIFIMAN Arya (Stealth Magnet)
4 of the 19 comments naming both come from people who say they own this one.
What owners love
- Named the best headphone heard by a member who has used more than 260 sets
- Owners moved to it from Focal Clear and HD 6XX and stopped looking
- Light for its size; effortless, wide planar sound
The complaints
- Big; the egg-shaped cups do not suit every head
- HIFIMAN build and quality-control worries follow it
- Needs power
In their words
“Arya Organic's probably my go-to sub-grand cans”
A commenter under The best headphones under $1000 (2025 edition) (The Headphone Show) · Apr 2025
“Best value on the market is Arya Stealth at 500$”
A commenter under The Best Value in Audiophile Headphones (The Headphone Show) · Aug 2025
“I love my Aryas but man the 800s so sexy looking”
A commenter under CLEAR MG PRO vs ARYA vs HD800S! Headphone Comparison (Joshua Valour) · Apr 2021
#17 overall
Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO (now sold as MKII)
4 of the 19 comments naming both come from people who say they own this one.
What owners love
- Build quality owners describe as the best in its class; metal, made in Germany, everything replaceable
- Detail and technical precision that producers and mixers pick it for
- Comes with two pad sets (analytical and balanced) that genuinely change the sound
The complaints
- Treble peaks: the reason most people who move on from it give
- Heavy and warm on the head after long sessions; pads flatten over time
- 250 ohm, needs an amp
In their words
“I got the DT-1990 mkiis and I love them”
A commenter under Almost all headphones are inaccurate. Only these are good. (AP Mastering) · Dec 2024
“These DT 1990 are worth every penny”
A commenter under Z Review - Beyer-Dynamic DT1990 [Like a German Porno...] (Z Reviews) · Mar 2017
“I love my DT 1990 Pros :)”
A commenter under Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro Review: Big, Built, but TOO Bright?? (BadSeed Tech) · Oct 2019
Questions people ask about this pair
Every answer is built from the counts on this page, not from our own listening.
- Is the HIFIMAN Arya better than the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO?
- None of the 19 comments naming both says outright which one to buy. Overall, 53 people recommend the HIFIMAN Arya and 38 the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO. Read what owners love and complain about below and decide by taste.
- Which is cheaper, the HIFIMAN Arya or the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO?
- The HIFIMAN Arya is cheaper: $599 against $700 when we last checked. Prices move, so the buy buttons show the live price.
- Which do more people recommend, the HIFIMAN Arya or the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO?
- The HIFIMAN Arya: 53 people recommend it against 38. On the site-wide leaderboard the HIFIMAN Arya is #13 and the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO is #17.
- Do people own both the HIFIMAN Arya and the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO?
- Yes. 1 of the 19 comments that name both come from people who say they own both pairs. 4 say they own the HIFIMAN Arya and 4 the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO.
- What do owners complain about on the HIFIMAN Arya and the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO?
- The most repeated complaint about the HIFIMAN Arya: big; the egg-shaped cups do not suit every head. About the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO: treble peaks: the reason most people who move on from it give. The full lists are on each side below.