HifiMAN HE-6 Planar Magnetic Headphone - Page 147

Thanks for the hint, but I think I don't need Audi R8 to satisfy the need for speed. 

Enough rubbish talk.  Let's go back to topic.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by wuwhere 

Whenever you have the chance, try listening to a pair of Wilson Audio WATT monitors or any of their small speakers.

 

Who really cares, they're just earphones that sound to me.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by dukja 

Thanks for the hint, but I think I don't need Audi R8 to satisfy the need for speed. 

 

Enough rubbish talk.  Let's go back to topic.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by wuwhere 

Whenever you have the chance, try listening to a pair of Wilson Audio WATT monitors or any of their small speakers.

 

I have been on the lookout for a headphone that gives me performance close to my stats (speakers) with more weight to the sound. The HE-6 does just that for me.

Actually, needing a speaker amp for the HE-5LE's and the proto HE-6's, are what started me down the path to getting this setup which is giving me as much joy in the bedroom rig than my fully insane speaker setup in the living room.

I spend at least an hour a day nearfield listening in the bedroom in the evenings, while the wife and kids take over the living room space.  

If it wasn't for my search for the right amp to drive the 5's and 6's, I never would have gone down this path (the sound is sublime, even at low listening levels):

I included this Anthony Gallo to fill in the space below 75 Hz:

If the Lyr won't be out until March then the EF6 will probably come out before it, right?

I must say that in my previous posts about the 6prorotypes I may have been underpowering them a bit. 

I hooked them up to a NAD integrated amp (I wanted to use the phono stage for the rest of my system - older NAD gear is suposed to have awesome phono's) and figured why not give it a whirl. The first record was an outstanding listen, easily one of the best I have had in a long time. 

Having nice musical experiences is what this hobby is all about!

Quote:

Originally Posted by XLR1 

I may have the strangest shipping story; we will see as it unfolds.  I was hoping to report out on the HE-6 mated with my 3-board Beta 22 by now.  

 

My box arrived from China on 12/23, before Christmas.  Good so far.  The box was huge.  I opened one end and what did I find?  One HE-5LE!  But wait, still more in the box.  I opened the other end, another HE-5LE.  OK.  Nice bonus, but where is the HE-6 I bought.  I separated the package in the middle, and 2 more HE-5LEs. A total of 4 HE-5LEs, but not one HE-6! 

 

Anyone missing four HE-5LEs?  I think someone mixed up shipping labels.  I called and sent an email to Head Direct.  They may want them back.  The headphones are undisturbed and the boxes retaped like new.

Shipping issues resolved.

Head Direct took care of me.  I just got my HE-6 today; I am breaking it in now with white noise.  I sent the HE-5LEs back to customer service to resend to their rightful owner.  (They paid for shipping.)  They are sending me a really nice gift for my help (and I am sure for being such a nice customer).  I am feeling way ahead right now.  Bet you wish you could have had shipping delays too.     

Glad it worked out for you. Unless someone is very compulsive, it sounds like you got a dealer's order.

Head-Direct has always taken care of their customers, even at the risk of losing their profit.

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A large package from Meier Audio has arrived today, containing a Corda StageDAC, a Concerto, a Headsix (which I got for free ) and finally a Beyer T1. I am now in the process of doing some completely unscientific comparisons between the T1 and the HE-6, driving the T1 with the single-ended Concerto and the HE-6 with the balanced Roc SA.

One thing I can say for sure, the StageDAC is a vast improvement over the DACMagic, and eliminated a number of flaws with the HE-6. The sound is more organic, more "meaty" now, which is excellent. The crossfeed filter is great too (recordings with a hard left/right channel separation are still unlistenable with the HE-6 though).

Regarding T1 vs HE-6, I really like the more upfront and more impactful presentation of the T1. Compared to the T1, the mids of the HE-6 are somewhat recessed, which is most likely the reason they don't do too well with Rock or similar fast-paced music. Overall the T1 sounds more natural to me.

Despite this, the HE-6 has a cleaner, more refined sound, and - most obviously - the larger soundstage and better imaging of the two.

Looks like I'm going to keep both headphones

Next on my list is a Mini-Torii then, I guess... poor wallet.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mad Dude 

A large package from Meier Audio has arrived today, containing a Corda StageDAC, a Concerto, a Headsix (which I got for free ) and finally a Beyer T1. I am now in the process of doing some completely unscientific comparisons between the T1 and the HE-6, driving the T1 with the single-ended Concerto and the HE-6 with the balanced Roc SA.

 

One thing I can say for sure, the StageDAC is a vast improvement over the DACMagic, and eliminated a number of flaws with the HE-6. The sound is more organic, more "meaty" now, which is excellent. The crossfeed filter is great too (recordings with a hard left/right channel separation are still unlistenable with the HE-6 though).

 

Regarding T1 vs HE-6, I really like the more upfront and more impactful presentation of the T1. Compared to the T1, the mids of the HE-6 are somewhat recessed, which is most likely the reason they don't do too well with Rock or similar fast-paced music. Overall the T1 sounds more natural to me.

Despite this, the HE-6 has a cleaner, more refined sound, and - most obviously - the larger soundstage and better imaging of the two.

 

Looks like I'm going to keep both headphones

Next on my list is a Mini-Torii then, I guess... poor wallet.

Strange that you find the midrange recessed. Mine don't have a recessed midrange or lack anything with rock or fast paced music.

However my source has a forward midrange so maybe you are hearing synergy issues with your amp that you are not getting with your T1's because of the totally different amping needs.
 

Speed isn't something that relates negatively with this headphone. Now some would say because I own a pair that my subjective influence is skewed. OK, I accept that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jian 

My cx300x system with speaker spade driven HE6 is finally set up. The sound of HE6 this time is convincingly one of the greatest sound I've heard. Like they said, this combination is truly special.

Indeed - the HE-6 via the Leben's speakers outs is something very special!