- HiFiMan has just unveiled two new headphones
- HE1000 and Arya are open Wi-Fi wireless boxes with built-in DAC
- Driver improvements are what set them apart – as does the price
Open-back headphones are the kind of indulgent tech I’d always buy if money were no object (and neither was my roommate), and reputable audio brand HiFiMan has two new pairs of earbuds for us to check out.
HiFiMan has unveiled the HE1000 WiFi and Arya WiFi, two new open-back headphones that, as the name suggests, can use your home internet to send better quality wireless signals (and something we might have expected Sonos to take advantage of and implement with its Sonos Ace headphones… but alas, no).
Before you start making this year’s Christmas list, though, know that they’re expensive: the Arya is set at an MSRP of $1,449 (about £1,080, AU$2,040, although HiFiMan doesn’t sell in Australia), while the HE1000 is set at $2,699 (about £2,000, AU$0).
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After all, they are part of the brand’s premium range. The company also sells affordable open-packaged and in-ear options for those who like the sound of the new models but don’t have a small fortune to spend.
Reason for the price
So what do you get for your money? A big selling point here is that both headphones have a built-in DAC, bespoke HiFiMan chip and amplifier in the cups to reduce signal length.
The battery life is a bit eyebrow-raising, and 6.5-7.5 hours of Wi-Fi streaming, so you basically get one playthrough of Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg. But that goes up to 23 hours if you decide you’re fine with Bluetooth listening (LDAC, aptX HD and AAC should be some consolation).
There’s also wired listening in both, with a USB-C port, but no mm jack of any kind. You can get up to 32-bit listening if you play your cards right, with DSD512 and PCM 44.1kHz-768kHz response.
The biggest difference between the two is in the driver department. The HE1000 gets a more advanced Nano diaphragm, which is designed to provide fast response rates, and is paired with the brand’s Stealth Magnet technology to offer a superb sound. The brand says this combination allows for “the sound output to be clear and non-fatiguing”. Arya gets a Neo Super Nano Diaphragm, which is thin, but not HE1000 thin.
At 452g each, they’re not exactly lightweight, but HiFiMan has put attention (or at least marketing focus) into the improved headband design that keeps your body comfortable while listening to tunes.
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