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Head to head · for music listening
Sennheiser HD 800 S vs HIFIMAN Arya
More people recommend the Sennheiser HD 800 S overall (71 vs 53). Only 1 of the 65 comments naming both explicitly choose one (1 for the Sennheiser HD 800 S, 0 for the HIFIMAN Arya), too few to call a winner.
- Comments naming both
- 65
- Say they own both
- 6
- Choose the HD 800 S
- 1
- Choose the Arya
- 0
Preference evidence:Limited1 explicit choice among 65 comments naming both.What the levels mean
Counted across 21 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 | $2000 | $599cheaper |
| Overall rank | #10higher | #13 |
| People who recommend it | 71more | 53 |
| Say they own it | 71more | 68 |
| Mentions | 675 | 689more |
| Type | open-back wired | open-back planar wired |
| Known for | ClassicalHuge spaceNeeds amp | Planar end-gameSpace |
| Best for | Recommended for classical, acoustic and anyone who wants the biggest sense of space from a headphone. | Recommended as the planar end-game most people can actually afford now that it sells for about $600. |
| Buy | Amazon · $2000 | Amazon · $599 |
People who mention both, in their own words
“I’ve had the Clear, Arya v.2 and HD800S”
Picks the HD 800 SA commenter under CLEAR MG PRO vs ARYA vs HD800S! Headphone Comparison (Joshua Valour) · Apr 2021
“I’ve owned two HD800, a Clear, and i own now the Arya”
Owns bothA commenter under CLEAR MG PRO vs ARYA vs HD800S! Headphone Comparison (Joshua Valour) · Apr 2021
#10 overall
Sennheiser HD 800 S
8 of the 65 comments naming both come from people who say they own this one.
What owners love
- Huge soundstage and detail; the classic end-game dynamic headphone
- Several owners keep it as the serious-listening set beside a cheaper everyday pair
- Comfortable despite its size
The complaints
- Lean bass and bright treble; can be analytical rather than fun
- Needs a good amp and good recordings
- Price
In their words
“Ok, i got encourage to get the HD800 after i saw this”
A commenter under Sennheiser HD 800 Unboxing, Review & Shootout w/ HiFiMAN HE-500 Headphones (Music + BF4) (Barnacules Nerdgasm) · Oct 2013
“I have all sennheiser hp and hd800 my daily driver”
A commenter under Is Sennheiser's new headphone REALLY an upgrade? (The Headphone Show) · Feb 2023
“I use HD800s as my daily driver”
A commenter under Open vs Closed Back Headphones for GAMING - Which Is Best? (Hardware Canucks) · Jul 2019
#13 overall
HIFIMAN Arya (Stealth Magnet)
9 of the 65 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
Questions people ask about this pair
Every answer is built from the counts on this page, not from our own listening.
- Is the Sennheiser HD 800 S better than the HIFIMAN Arya?
- Only 1 of the 65 comments naming both choose one (1 for the Sennheiser HD 800 S, 0 for the HIFIMAN Arya), too few to call a winner. Overall, 71 people recommend the Sennheiser HD 800 S and 53 the HIFIMAN Arya.
- Which is cheaper, the Sennheiser HD 800 S or the HIFIMAN Arya?
- The HIFIMAN Arya is cheaper: $599 against $2000 when we last checked. Prices move, so the buy buttons show the live price.
- Which do more people recommend, the Sennheiser HD 800 S or the HIFIMAN Arya?
- The Sennheiser HD 800 S: 71 people recommend it against 53. On the site-wide leaderboard the Sennheiser HD 800 S is #10 and the HIFIMAN Arya is #13.
- Do people own both the Sennheiser HD 800 S and the HIFIMAN Arya?
- Yes. 6 of the 65 comments that name both come from people who say they own both pairs. 8 say they own the Sennheiser HD 800 S and 9 the HIFIMAN Arya.
- What do owners complain about on the Sennheiser HD 800 S and the HIFIMAN Arya?
- The most repeated complaint about the Sennheiser HD 800 S: lean bass and bright treble; can be analytical rather than fun. About the HIFIMAN Arya: big; the egg-shaped cups do not suit every head. The full lists are on each side below.