I had the chance to preview the new Arya + HE1000 WiFi models and wanted to write up a little bit about my thoughts.

Both of these models take design inspirations from the new HE600/EXV line with the new headband design, so there is limited swivel on the earcups, but this has never been an issue for me, and I found the new suspension band to be quite comfortable for me. The overall fit is still very similar to the other egg-shaped Hifiman models. I also noticed they have extra damping on the inside of the earcups, with a star shaped thin foam piece on the inside part of the earcups. Other than that, they have buttons for turning them on, changing the mode between Bluetooth/WiFi/wired modes, as well as a volume rocker.

For sound impressions I’ll start with the HE1000 model, where I used exclusively the WiFi mode with them through netease music app. It just required your phone or device be connected WiFi and then selecting the output as the Hifiman model you have. Convenient, and surprisingly nice to be able to experience Hifiman headphones without having any cables attached, so you can move around freely and not worry about them becoming unplugged. Immediately I noticed a different presentation than the wired models in terms of their subjective qualities. While the imaging is still very accurate, it seems the soundstage to me was reduced compared to what I am used to of the HE1000 line up. The tuning however, was very similar to their wired counterparts, with good bass extension, fast bass response deep into the sub bass, and the Hifiman house sound throughout the mids and treble that emphasizes that sparkly, energetic feel. If you have tried any of the HE1000 or Arya wired variants before, you’re likely very acquainted with this sound. It works for me and many others, though depending on your preferences and music choice, it might be a little bit energetic for some. Otherwise, I found the technicalities to be pretty good for a wireless set of headphones, the tuning to be in line with what I expected, and actually found there to be a lot of headroom in terms of volume (in case you are somewhere that listens to their music much louder than they probably should).

For the Arya WiFi edition, I used exclusively the wired mode, as for some reason I could not connect to them with my phone / app, and only had limited time to stay, so I couldn’t troubleshoot. I’m not sure if it was because of the wired mode or not, but I immediately noticed the Arya WiFi having a much bigger soundstage, and very good technicalities (much the same with what you’d expect from any wired variant from the Arya or HEK lines). I was very much jamming to these for the short time I had with them, and I quite liked all aspects of these headphones. While I wish I could’ve had more time to play around with them and get a better view of the tuning, but I do think there is some difference in the tuning of these vs the wired variants. The Arya WiFi also had very good bass extension (though perhaps a teeny bit less sub bass and perhaps more mid bass compared to HEK WiFi), but also a surprisingly smooth mid range and treble. It’s not as difference as the new Edition XV, but I did seem to get less energy in the treble, and most presentation in the mids compared to what I’m used to (while still keeping the upper treble sparkle that leads to good detail retrieval. Typically when I listen to songs like D.A.N.C.E by Justice on my Arya Organics or some other Hifiman models, I find it to be just a little bit too energetic and maybe a little sharp in the treble, but i did not get the same feeling from the Arya WiFi. I also found the be Arya WiFi to be a little more on the side of natural timbre and having smoother FR in general. I don’t think it’s a mid or timbre forward headphone by any means, but definitely on the more natural side as far as Hifiman line ups go.

Of course my opinions may change on both of these models if I had more time to explore their other modes and listen for a long time, but this is the general first impressions I got from each.

Overall, I think both the HE1000 and Hifiman WiFi models are a very unique introduction to the line up. It was quite nice getting some of the tuning and technicalities I’m used to from Hifiman, but in a wireless form factor that definitely make them more comfortable to use. They are very similar to the wired variants in terms of build, technicalities and sound for the most part, and could be a good addition for anyone looking to add a high quality wireless headphone to their collection.

If you have any questions about either of them or comparisons to other models, feel free to ask :)