HeAudio 1.3, 1.2B and the new JADE Stat Headphones

[jp11801]

Originally Posted by foo_me

electrostats will be a completely different sound, especially in terms of soundstage and listening to live music, so if you really like the k1ks, i don't think these will change your mind.
though you might like these enough as a complementary rig.
i still prefer my k1000s over the he90s i had.

the HE Audio stats are completely different sound wise than the HE90s, where I find the HE90s to be lush and slightly sluggish the HE audio cans have speed and agility with a better sense of space. The HE Audio stats have more in common soundwise to the K1ks than the HE90s to my ears.

[immtbiker]

What more can a Head-Fier ask for? An entire afternoon and evening of relaxed music listening, doing comparisons, drinking some Heiney's and Starbucks and making a new friend. The food part I am used to, but always feel luckily blessed

It seems that vcoheda and I pretty much felt the same way about the differences in the models, and yes Jimmy (jpelg) they did have some hours on it before the fall NYC meet, and since then, I have listened to them almost every day for 30 minutes to 3 hours. I have to get my "before I go to bed" fix.
The time gets shared between the 1.2's and my new, old friend...Mr. HP-2 I assume that the 1.2's have between 300-500 hours on them.
They are as different as night and day but we know that "variety is the spice of life".
The 1.3's are a great headphone and if I never heard the 1.2's I still would want a pair when you bundle in sound and pricing together.

I'm happy to see a distibutor (Head-Direct) and manufacturer (HeAudio) wanting to hear feedback on their products and are feverishly trying meet the needs of their consumers (that, and they have to eat ).

You won't get that from a megalopolistic company like Senn and Sony. Although, I should take that back because Jan Meier went to bat for us after much public outcry and talked Sennheiser into making 36 more Orpheus's out of the spare parts they had on their shelves.

As far as the headband being wider on the 1.3's, to me they both fit my head with equal comfort, but the 1.3's straight design seem more like a "military haircut" and the 1.2 rounded design seem more like a "shaggy" haircut.
I like the shaggy haircut design better, but I wouldn't kick the other one out of bed or off my head (thank you, Johnny Cochran).

[Richter Di]

vcoheda, immtbiker,

as you two seem to keep contact with Mr. He, two questions from my side:

When will the fitting amplifier be available?
Is it possible to get the currently sold version 1.2b also in the bright wood version (like aaron's 1.3)?

[immtbiker]

PM the distributor (Fang):

Head-Fi: Covering Headphones, Earphones and Portable Audio - View Profile: Nankai

[cosmopragma]

Originally Posted by spritzer

The SR-007 is basically an upgraded SR-X with more of every thing so you should like them. I know I do love the SR-X Pro and the SR-007.

Birgir, I've almost spilled the tea all over the keyboard .........
Well, we all hear differently, but besides of being electrostats the SR-X and the SR-007 don't have anything in common at all - at least to my ears.
Tonal balance, headstage, weight, forward sounding versus laid back, supraaural versus circumaural, just as different as it gets.
Ah, wait, you were talking about the SR-X Pro, not normal bias SR-X, but still ...........

[cosmopragma]

Originally Posted by jpelg

Seems like any HE60 owners planning to sell off their units had better do it quickly, as the v1.3 & 1.2(B) may spell their death knell (or at least the insane prices they are going for these days).

>Cosmopragma looks at his near mint HE60s that costed him a small fortune and shudders<

I don't think so Jimmy, at least not in Europe in the foreseeable future.The Senns are supported by a huge company with spare parts and service for many years. These chinese newcomers first have to pass the test of time and there's still no european distributor.

I'd like to compare them to my baby O. and my SR-007, but I'll most definitely wait if there are some "childhood diseases".This time someone else has to be the guinea pig.
I hope my countryman RichterDi who has posted in this thread can't resist.
He does live less than 20 miles apart .........

C'mon, Reiner, be the first german head-fier with one of those chinese überelectrostats .......

[spritzer]

Originally Posted by cosmopragma

Birgir, I've almost spilled the tea all over the keyboard .........
Well, we all hear differently, but besides of being electrostats the SR-X and the SR-007 don't have anything in common at all - at least to my ears.
Tonal balance, headstage, weight, forward sounding versus laid back, supraaural versus circumaural, just as different as it gets.
Ah, wait, you were talking about the SR-X Pro, not normal bias SR-X, but still ...........

I was talking about the SR-X Pro and it is quite different. The main point is that they are both born out of the same idea so to me they have quite a few things in common... the SR-007 is just much, much better.

[shokunin]

I'm getting really excited about the HE1.2's... If they are somewhat similar to the K1000's I'm pretty sure I'll like these, especially if the bass is deeper. Next we need some impressions on the HE's being hooked up to KGSS, KGBH, & SP ES-1.

[immtbiker]

Cosmopragma,
I hope those aren't your "nearly mint" HE-60's that are on your cute cuddly avatar . There be lots-o-fuzz near those stators.

[cosmopragma]

Originally Posted by immtbiker

Cosmopragma,
I hope those aren't your "nearly mint" HE-60's that are on your cute cuddly avatar . There be lots-o-fuzz near those stators.

No, my avatar is wearing Grados SR-225s.
You should watch him playing air guitar when he listens to progressive metal ........

[immtbiker]

He makes those Grados look almost circumaural.

[Jon L]

Originally Posted by shokunin

I'm getting really excited about the HE1.2's... If they are somewhat similar to the K1000's I'm pretty sure I'll like these, especially if the bass is deeper. Next we need some impressions on the HE's being hooked up to KGSS, KGBH, & SP ES-1.

Me, too. Even though I own (Headphile) HE60, I would absolutely *LOVE* it if the HE1.2 sounds genuinely better. One can't have too many good 'stats around

However, I have a sneaking suspicion from what's been said that *I* may still prefer the HE60 over HE1.2 for the same reason I like HE60 over HE90, especially for non-bass heavy music. I'm sure HE1.2 has deeper, more bass than HE60, but HE60's smaller driver and limited bass extension does do wonders for the clarity and articulation of vocals and instruments, which are my faves.

Hope you get yours soon, so we can listen for ourselves..

[MaloS]

Originally Posted by Jon L

Me, too. Even though I own (Headphile) HE60, I would absolutely *LOVE* it if the HE1.2 sounds genuinely better. One can't have too many good 'stats around

However, I have a sneaking suspicion from what's been said that *I* may still prefer the HE60 over HE1.2 for the same reason I like HE60 over HE90, especially for non-bass heavy music. I'm sure HE1.2 has deeper, more bass than HE60, but HE60's smaller driver and limited bass extension does do wonders for the clarity and articulation of vocals and instruments, which are my faves.

Hope you get yours soon, so we can listen for ourselves..

Falacy...just matter of the rig behind it, assuming the headphone does not fail horribly by overpowering the midbass. Clarity and Articulation on HE90 are incredible, and bass extension does not fall short either. I think you are more concerned with overpowered bass (in which case other instruments may get overshadowed).

[Guss2]

MaloS,I could'nt agree more.Gary.

[vcoheda]

Originally Posted by jpelg

Interesting comments about the amps. Seems more like the classic differences between tubes & SS, rather than any weakness on the HE-Audio amp's part. Can you open up the HE-Audio amp for some internal pics?

yes. the he amp is surprisingly good. a combo headphone + amp for around $1400-1500 or so would certainly be some real competition for stax. sometime this week, i will try to take some pics of the insides.

How many hours do you guys have on your v1.3's?

we each have about 60-65 hours on our EH-1.3s. the 1.2 had maybe 150 to 200 hours or more.

With regard to fit-&-finish, the biggest cosmetic diff is the outer grills. Also, the top headband on the 1.3 seems much wider than on the 1.2 - perhaps to accomodate a wider range of heads? I wonder if that accounts for any sonic differences? How does each respective model fit on you gentlemen?

yes. on the 1.3 there is a larger wooden outer rim on the cup and then stripes, which are not on the 1.2 at all. the headbands are different as well. not sure if the different headband designs affect the sound. it is possible. but both are very comfortable and have some clamping force to stay snug on the head. also aaron's pair uses different wood color (lighter) from mine. but otherwise they are identical.

Seems like any HE60 owners planning to sell off their units had better do it quickly, as the v1.3 & 1.2(B) may spell their death knell (or at least the insane prices they are going for these days). Thanks to Nankai & HE-Audio for bringing them to us.

i'm sure the HE60 is quite safe. but if i could only have one, based on what i heard last night with the HE60 by comparison sounding a bit smaller, somewhat thinner, and a tad weaker bass-wise, it would not be too difficult a choice.