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Head to head · for music listening
HIFIMAN Arya vs Focal Clear MG
More people recommend the HIFIMAN Arya overall (53 vs 22). None of the 47 comments that name both says outright which one to buy, so read the loves and complaints and decide by taste.
- Comments naming both
- 47
- Say they own both
- 4
- Choose the Arya
- 0
- Choose the Clear MG
- 0
Preference evidence:Limited0 explicit choices among 47 comments naming both.What the levels mean
Counted across 16 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 | $1499 |
| Overall rank | #13higher | #24 |
| People who recommend it | 53more | 22 |
| Say they own it | 68more | 30 |
| Mentions | 689more | 255 |
| Type | open-back planar wired | open-back wired |
| Known for | Planar end-gameSpace | DetailPunchNeeds amp |
| Best for | Recommended as the planar end-game most people can actually afford now that it sells for about $600. | The money-no-object pick people recommend for punch and warmth instead of analytical detail. |
| Buy | Amazon · $599 | Amazon · $1499 |
#13 overall
HIFIMAN Arya (Stealth Magnet)
5 of the 47 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
#24 overall
Focal Clear MG
7 of the 47 comments naming both come from people who say they own this one.
What owners love
- Punch and dynamics owners rate above any planar; several call it their daily driver over the Arya
- Warm, even tuning that makes every recording sound good, without fatiguing treble
- Built and finished like a luxury object
The complaints
- Price, and Focal's steep discounting means owners who paid full price feel burned
- Focal drivers can clip on very bass-heavy music at high volume
- Pads and headband discolour; cables wear
- The original Clear was cheaper and some prefer it
In their words
“I also love my Stellias, and focal Clear MG's”
A commenter under the GIANT headphone tier list (end of 2023) (The Headphone Show) · Dec 2023
“I love my Focal Clear MG Pro's”
A commenter under The Best Headphones for Mixing and Mastering (ALL Models Compared) (SonicScoop) · Aug 2023
“You could get a focal clear for under 500, in decent shape”
A commenter under The Best Value in Audiophile Headphones (The Headphone Show) · Aug 2025
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 Focal Clear MG?
- None of the 47 comments naming both says outright which one to buy. Overall, 53 people recommend the HIFIMAN Arya and 22 the Focal Clear MG. Read what owners love and complain about below and decide by taste.
- Which is cheaper, the HIFIMAN Arya or the Focal Clear MG?
- The HIFIMAN Arya is cheaper: $599 against $1499 when we last checked. Prices move, so the buy buttons show the live price.
- Which do more people recommend, the HIFIMAN Arya or the Focal Clear MG?
- The HIFIMAN Arya: 53 people recommend it against 22. On the site-wide leaderboard the HIFIMAN Arya is #13 and the Focal Clear MG is #24.
- Do people own both the HIFIMAN Arya and the Focal Clear MG?
- Yes. 4 of the 47 comments that name both come from people who say they own both pairs. 5 say they own the HIFIMAN Arya and 7 the Focal Clear MG.
- What do owners complain about on the HIFIMAN Arya and the Focal Clear MG?
- The most repeated complaint about the HIFIMAN Arya: big; the egg-shaped cups do not suit every head. About the Focal Clear MG: price, and Focal's steep discounting means owners who paid full price feel burned. The full lists are on each side below.