Alright, the Arya stealth has arrived and… holy mackerel what a pair of headphones is.
Forceful and detailed are the first adjectives that pop in my mind.
Massive presence especially in terms of low end but not boomy. I had a black owl and that was boomy in my perception.
Listening with the Arya to Muddy Waters Folk Singer vinyl from analogue production I can those key points of the headphone. Immense presence, beautifully staged without being too wide, but definitely enough to make you feel the space and get immerse in it. Instruments separation is particularly well done on this pressing and the Arya stealth emphasises those quality. The strong attack is the other key point of the Arya stealth, at least if you listen to a record meant to give you those vibes.
Switching to HD660S2, good morning little schoolgirl sounds much more delicate, almost delicate, light and airy. While with the Arya you feel the gravitas typical of Muddy Waters in those kind of tunes.
Playing Led Zeppelin Untitled (IV) 2020 180g EU pressing the Arya create such a cozy and warm atmosphere emphasising the first part of the song’s mood. When the drums kick in the energy of the song strongly emerges and explodes with the solo and vocals, where the highs are greatly separated from the bass and never strident. The dynamic is just unbelievable. And it increases with the volume level. So if you don’t make your ears bleed (this headphone makes you want to do that) the whole presentation is smoother and calmer.
With the HD660S2 the presentation is more blended, way less separation.
With the Arya you really feel the black when an instrument is not playing. HD660S2 delivers a more relaxing and gentle presentation, not boring, but certainly not exciting. The Arya it’s like an IV of red bull!
I have the impression the Arya stealth might be fatiguing if listened to at high volume for a bit, at medium level I believe it’s going to be fine.
Playing Personal Jesus from the album Violator first pressing, the Arya has less slam than I would have imagined. Dave Gahan’s voice stays smooth and polished while the drums and synths are exciting as ever. Obviously the rhythmic heavy breathing is the part better emphasised by the Aria stealth.
The presentation of the HD660S2 is much more fluid, you don’t perceive all the tone variations and attacks the Arya can deliver. I don’t want to say the HD660S2 is monotone, not at all. It’s very organic but with less emphasis on the swings created by the electronic effects.
Last record before moving to digital is Michael Nyman with was I consider his best and more captivating piece: Memorial. From the album the Cook the
Thief his Wife and her Lover. This time I have started with the HD660S2 and I was surprised by the authority of the headphone to present all the power typical of Nyman and in particular from this piece. It’s not an amazing pressing in my opinion, I’m not an expert to tell what’s not perfect but definitely I hear better recording.
The Arya on this piece is surprisingly much smoother than expected till the explosion of the wind section with such deep and low horns.
The Arya is much more forgiving than the HD660S2, the record doesn’t show as many defects as with the Sennheiser. Therefore in this case is a more pleasant listening with the Arya, more balanced. The part with wind and string sections duelling (I can’t find a better expression) is just beautifully and gloriously rendered.
Time to poor my second glass of Delamain pale & dry OX cognac and switch to digital.
Yesterday I have received my new dac. It’s an Okto dac8 stereo which I was lucky enough to get after only 3 weeks having expressed the wish to Eliska from Okto research.
As the pass labs HPA1 is only SE I’ll have to use the dac8 headphone output since the Okto has strictly only balanced output. I have used also the headphone output of my Mcintosh MA5300 but preferred way more the Okto being clearer and more precise without being analytical in a sterile way.
Listening to Marvin Gaye’s let’s get it on the differences are less evident or let’s say the HD660S2 is a much better performer than with the pass HPA1. It’s much more brilliant and dynamic, and so is in proportion the Arya but the difference is as I said more attenuated.
Listening to My Girl from The Temptations again the HD660S2 is closer to the Arya in terms of instruments separation and highlights. Being a relatively poor record the HD660S2 shows again the flaws and in this case in particular the song is some time a bit fuzzy and distorted in the background.
Isn’t she lovely by Stevie Wonder is perhaps the song where I found the two headphones closer to each other. Both dynamic- one more than the other of course with big slams - and both quite forgiving.
Overall I’d say that the Arya stealth is a fantastic headphone, with great dynamism, detailed and precise but never over analytical. Definitely not relaxed. You can feel the slams hitting your head. I think it’s a fun headphone at the end. Beautiful to listen to but not for long unless you keep the volume down, it you can
The HD660S2 is in my very modest opinion an excellent headphone very balanced to keep as an almost neutral reference. If you want to get excited that’s not going to be your first pick hit it’s a safe and mature choice. I wish it was less expensive.
So at the end I think I will end up with the HE1000v2 stealth or the Meze Elite. Very possible I will end up with the second.
I really would like to know from someone who tried it if the Meze Elite is worth his price (I’d get it second hand anywya) or if I’d better go for the classic HE1000v2 stealth.
P.s.: Hope nobody will get offended by the roughness and basic level of my writing. Please forgive my novice experience in this charming world the headphone is.
