Hifiman HE-5 Orthodynamic Headphones

[Sasaki]

sorry I am posting this via iPhone. something wrong..

PS. now fixed

[NSRodds]

Sasaki,

Looks good.
Do you feel that HE-5 is heavy?

[Sasaki]

no, I felt it is comfortable.

[HeadphoneAddict]

Originally Posted by Sasaki

Ive got a demo unit of HE5 today, I will bring this one for our coming Tokyo headphone show.



The build quality is fairly nice, woods looks like solid. The plugs are detachable as seen in the picture.

I was told HE5 needs some burnt in, however HE5 sounded damn good even just out of box.
I first felt expansive spatial feeling and large sound staging. Overall sound is rich and I also felt a beautiful timbre.
Highs and bass are very sharp and quick, this is surely a planar characteristic. Violin and wood bass sounding exceptional. At the same time, this is not sibilant. This must be carefully developed, I was impressed.

I have been a bit occupied by photo trip over this weekend, so here is just a quick inpression and only one picture available.

Please include what source and amp you are using. Thanks!

[Audio Addict]

I just picked my HE-5s up at the post office this morning. Build quality looks very good and similar to the pair at the RMAF CanJam. Packaging a little different with loose bubble wrap in the actual headphone box and everywhere else. This did keep them tight in shipping but not how you would store them.

I currently have them plugged single ended into my Apache, which is connected balanced with my Meridian CD player. I set the Apache to high gain but don't need the volume more than 9 to 10 to be too loud. I just put a CD on repeat for a few hours to let everything settle in. I won't comment at this point since they just arrived and it looks like they came direct from the manufacturer in China.

[Sasaki]

The source component is a PC with DAL CardDeluxe professional soundcard. Digital out of the CardDeluxe is hooked up into the DAC portion of Headroom desktop balanced. I used desktop balanced as a single-ended.
I hope Head-Direct to provide a balanced cable as its detachable.

Originally Posted by HeadphoneAddict

Please include what source and amp you are using. Thanks!

[Sasaki]

Now I am listening again, HE5 sounded silky smooth and well articulate. I think this is a good marriage of musicality and high performance.

[HeadphoneAddict]

Originally Posted by Sasaki

The source component is a PC with DAL CardDeluxe professional soundcard. Digital out of the CardDeluxe is hooked up into the DAC portion of Headroom desktop balanced. I used desktop balanced as a single-ended.
I hope Head-Direct to provide a balanced cable as its detachable.

Okay, so a SS amp with a lot of current output. I think that's what the HE-5 really need is a lot of juice when I tried them.

[woodcans]

I received my HE-5 yesterday and have several hours on them. Note, these are initial impressions only, and the HE-5's are SE, my hd800's are balanced w/ a custom cable. I am using my pc/foobar/weiss/badac source and switching amps b/n my B22 and the EF1(also received yesterday). First impression, I am very, very impressed. The level of detail approaches, but does not quite reach hd800 level, no matter which amp is driving. Bass is more full and deeper when using B22. Upper octave range and detail extended when using B22. However, the EF1+HE-5 combo for the money is a ridiculous value. The differences, though not entirely subtle, only emphasize what a resolving set of headphones these are. In two aspects, they are more easy-going than the hd800 as they are not nearly as component sensitive and do not accentuate pre-existing sibilance as the Senn's do. Which is better? I'll definitely need more time. But the fact that there is such a close comparison speaks volumes for this can. Comfort-wise, I prefer the larger diameter of the hd800. The cups on the EF-5 are on the verge of being slightly too small. Fang, congrats on a top-notch product and an incredible value. Any chance of your offering a balanced cable? I would love to put these cans head to head against the balanced hd800's.

[Audio Addict]

Originally Posted by woodcans

.... Any chance of your offering a balanced cable? I would love to put these cans head to head against the balanced hd800's.

I have asked Fang that as well and he indicated they are working on it and to be patient.

[FauDrei]

Originally Posted by Audio Addict

I have asked Fang that as well and he indicated they are working on it and to be patient.

If you have 4-pin female XLR balanced output on your headamp - it should be rather easy...

If I'm not mistaken, HE-5 uses Neutrik NP3X-B plug on it's standard cable. So... you cut the HE-5 cable cca. 30cm from the plug, determine L+, L-, R+ and R- wires and solder them to the male 4-pin XLR connector from headphone side and to female 4-pin XLR connector from plug side of the cut cable. Voila - you've just "balanced" your HE-5 while still having ordinary SE possibility.

See here what I mean (on some other headphone patients ):

[woodcans]

I am experiencing some static in my left ear, it is reproducible, particularly with short, transient bass notes. Anyone else experienced this?

[woodcans]

double post

[blackbuck]

getting static is not a good sign ....
but how is the overall experience ....!!!!

[woodcans]

Overall experience is great, very great. But hard to get past annoying, intermittent single channel static/distortion.