If you want an open-back planar headphone with a nanometer-thin diaphragm and a 3.5mm user-replaceable connector, choose HIFIMAN Arya Stealth Magnet; if you need the Fosi Audio i5’s 97mm diaphragm, walnut-and-metal construction, and adjustable fit, choose Fosi Audio i5. For big ears, the over-ear designs make these more relevant than earbuds, but neither is a noise-cancelling neckband headset.
The key difference is how each approaches a wired, open-back listening setup: HIFIMAN emphasizes its Stealth Magnet design, while Fosi puts more weight on its large driver and fit adjustments. Neither offers noise control, so both are better suited to quieter listening spaces than noisy commutes.
• HIFIMAN Arya Stealth Magnet strength: Stealth Magnets are designed to reduce interference with sound waves; trade-off: it is a wired, open-back headphone with no noise control.
• Fosi Audio i5 strength: Its 97mm planar diaphragm and multi-axis pivoting earcups give it a distinctive combination of driver scale and fit adjustment; trade-off: it is also wired, open-back, and without noise control.
• Arya for listeners who prioritize HIFIMAN’s magnet design, its 8Hz–65kHz frequency response, and a user-replaceable 3.5mm connector.
• i5 for listeners drawn to a large diaphragm, adjustable earcups, and a headband made with memory steel and sheepskin.
• For big ears: both are described as over-ear models, but neither data sheet gives ear-cup dimensions, so fit cannot be guaranteed from the specs alone.
The Arya is a wired, over-ear planar magnetic headphone built around a nanometer-thickness diaphragm and HIFIMAN’s Stealth Magnet design. The manufacturer says the magnet shape lets sound waves pass through with less interference. Its open-back construction uses a “Window Shade” system, and the asymmetrical ear cups are shaped to follow the natural form of the ear. That design direction makes it an appealing option for a listener who wants an open-back headphone with a clearly defined driver approach.
How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-21 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
I’d skip the Arya if you need wireless listening, built-in noise control, or a compact option for travel. The over-ear shape may appeal to people looking for headphones for big ears, but there are no ear-cup measurements here to confirm that the fit will work for every person. Its 404g listed weight is also worth considering if you prefer especially lightweight headphones.
Fosi’s i5 is also an open-back, wired planar magnetic over-ear headphone, but its headline feature is a 97mm diaphragm. The product information describes a nano-thin diaphragm with a silver alloy coating and 44 symmetrical N50 neodymium magnets. Its frequency response is listed as 10Hz–50kHz, with 28-ohm impedance and 98dB/mW sensitivity at 1kHz. That gives buyers concrete design and specification points to weigh against the Arya, without establishing that one will sound better to every listener.
The i5’s fit features are a notable part of its pitch. It has a memory-steel headband, multi-axis pivoting earcups, silicone sliders for small adjustments, and breathable earpads. Its construction combines a CNC-milled aluminum frame with walnut wood chambers and a sheepskin headband.
Choose another category if you need a microphone, wireless connection, active noise cancellation, or an in-ear design. Despite the query people may use for the best earbuds for big ears, the i5 is not an earbud; it is a full-size over-ear headphone. It also is not an active noise cancelling neckband headphone for big ears: it is a wired open-back model, with no noise control listed.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best fit for someone prioritizing a large stated diaphragm → Fosi Audio i5. Its listed diaphragm measures 97mm.
• Choose the Arya for the broader stated frequency range. It is listed at 8Hz–65kHz, compared with 10Hz–50kHz for the i5. That specification alone does not predict which one you will prefer.
• Choose the i5 for more explicit fit-adjustment features. Its multi-axis pivoting cups and silicone sliders offer ways to adapt the fit; the Arya data sheet highlights asymmetrical cups shaped around the ear instead.
• Choose the Arya if a user-replaceable 3.5mm connector is important. Its cable connection is described as replaceable, with a 6.35mm plug on the supplied cable.
• Choose the i5 if you prefer its listed material combination. Walnut wood, CNC-milled aluminum, memory steel, and sheepskin give its design a different character from the Arya’s metal and high-grade plastic construction.
• For a quiet home or desk setup → either can make sense. Both are wired and open-back, and neither lists noise control. They are not the right match if you need isolation from surrounding sound.
• For a confirmed fit with especially large ears → neither can be selected from these specs alone. Both are over-ear, but neither listing provides ear-cup dimensions.
I’d choose the HIFIMAN Arya Stealth Magnet for its Stealth Magnet approach, wide stated frequency response, and user-replaceable connector. I would make that choice for a wired, open-back listening setup—not for travel or noise isolation. For big ears, I’d verify the fit before buying, since the available specs don’t give cup dimensions. If adjustable earcups and the i5’s 97mm diaphragm matter more to you, Fosi is the more targeted alternative.
FAQ
Both are described as over-ear headphones. The i5 lists pivoting earcups and silicone fit adjustments, while the Arya has asymmetrical cups shaped to follow the ear. Neither provides ear-cup measurements, so the specifications cannot confirm which will fit your ears better.
The Fosi Audio i5 lists a 97mm diaphragm. The Arya’s provided specifications describe its nanometer-thickness diaphragm but do not give a comparable driver diameter.
Value depends on what you want from the design and what each costs when you shop. Compare the current price on Amazon using the page’s price button, then weigh it against the features that matter most to you, such as the Arya’s replaceable connector or the i5’s adjustable earcups.
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