- HiFiMan just unveiled two new headphones
- HE1000 and Arya are open-back Wi-Fi wireless cans with onboard DAC
- Driver improvements is what sets them apart — as does the price
Open-back headphones are the kind of indulgent tech I'd always buy if money was no object (and nor was my flatmate), and reputed audio brand HiFiMan has a new two pairs of ear blasters for us to ogle at.HiFiMan has unveiled the HE1000 WiFi and Arya WiFi, two new open-back headphones which, as the name suggests, can utilize your home internet to send wireless signals at a better quality (and something we might have expected Sonos to harness and implement, with its Sonos Ace headphones… but alas, no). Before you start to draw up this year's Christmas list though, know that they're expensive: the Arya is set for an MSRP of $1,449 (about £1,080, AU$2,040, though HiFiMan doesn't sell in Australia) while the HE1000 is set for $2,699 (roughly £2,000, AU$3,800).They are, after all, part of the brand's premium range. The company also sells affordable open-packed and in-ear options for those who like the sound of the new models, but don't have a small fortune to spend.
Justifying 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 little eyebrow-raising, and 6.5-7.5 hours of Wi-Fi streaming, so you'll basically get one playthrough of Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg. But that goes up to 23 hours if you decide that 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 main difference between the two is in the driver department. The HE1000 gets a more advanced Nano Diaphragm, which is desgined to give fast response speeds, and is paired with the brand's Stealth Magnet tech to offer a superb sound. The brand says this combo allows for "the sonic output being clear and non-fatiguing". The Arya gets a Neo Super Nano Diaphragm, which is thin but not HE1000 thin.At 452g each, they're not exactly light, but HiFiMan has put attention (or at least marketing focus) into the improved headband design, keeping your noggin comfy as you listen to tunes.
