HifiMAN HE-6 Planar Magnetic Headphone - Page 165

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunneebear 

The signal going to the Mini-i is optical so that is why I am using the Mini-i as a preamp.

Well probably not with the CDP, but when using a computer you could still control the volume through the music player software while using the Mini-i in DAC-only mode. I also have an attenuator on my amp, but it really isn't necessary even in DAC-only mode since I have control of the volume going in to the Mini-i via its optical in. From my Mac I use USB into a Bravo re-clocker/spdif converter, but I am also feeding the Mini-i with optical from an HP laptop and can control the volume from both computers with iTunes and Winamp or whatever, even if the system volume control is disabled.

Not that I can hear a difference in quality but I don't like software or hardware volume control on the computer.  Everything is always max.

When I get some time I will try other configs and gears and see what happens.

As for the HE-6, I have two cons.  The stiffness of the padding and drivers need to be slightly angled to get a dead center focus.  I think I can kill two birds with one stone by making my own pads in the future.  Everything else I just love.  Garage sale soon.

Quote:

Originally Posted by musicman59 

Quote:

Originally Posted by sillysally 

 

Any distortion at 12:00 is not coming from your Woo using low imp, maybe tubes or DAC/source player. Check out the gain from your source player/DAC. I have had my Woo at 2:00 and still no distortion.

 

That said I did hear a little distortion in the lows and highs when I first got my HE6's. After about 80 hours on my HE6s I found the distortion was coming from my Realiser when I went below a gain of -15 but I have corrected that with the addition of my ADG19 DSPv5 and not loosing any AQ. Now I can use my Realiser at gain of 0 with NP, there by lowering the volume level of my Woo. I should add that the distortion was not there with music but only with movies.

 

Anyway I now only use my HE6's.

 I emailed Jack to tell him about my experinece with the WA5-LE and the HE-6 reagrding the difference in sound between the high impedance and low impedance outputs. Here is his reply:

"There is no problem at all using the hi-z output. I am having the same problem here. This is puzzling us as we cannot get the reason for it. I will have to talk to Fang at Head-Direct to see what makes this phone different.

Jack"

 

At least I can  run the HE-6 out of the high impedance output safely where they sound magnificent.

 

I have been comparing the low and high imp jacks for about 7 hours, using my full system for MC.

As we know there is more volume using the high imp jack, but there is a loss of deep bass, 3D quality and a slight loss of background detail. It is almost like using a 5.1 DTS HD MA sound track but only getting the core track using the high imp jack. Also what i noticed was the vocals seem to more pronounced and forward using high imp jack.

The one thing I haven't tried is a 2Ch soundtrack, so I would think using a 2Ch soundtrack would to a lesser degree show these losses.

So understating volume is not a problem for me I have gone back to using the low imp jack.

I should add that I finally got around to changing my low imp jack to match my high imp jack that I installed a few months ago. I did these compressions after I installed the low imp jack.

On a side note you may have gotten the phone jacks I had sent jack to install in my WA5LE, but he forgot to install my jacks and I think he used them in a different WA5..
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by sillysally 

 

 

I have been comparing the low and high imp jacks for about 7 hours, using my full system for MC.

 

As we know there is more volume using the high imp jack, but there is a loss of deep bass, 3D quality and a slight loss of background detail. It is almost like using a 5.1 DTS HD MA sound track but only getting the core track using the high imp jack. Also what i noticed was the vocals seem to more pronounced and forward using high imp jack.

The one thing I haven't tried is a 2Ch soundtrack, so I would think using a 2Ch soundtrack would to a lesser degree show these losses.

 

So understating volume is not a problem for me I have gone back to using the low imp jack.

 

I should add that I finally got around to changing my low imp jack to match my high imp jack that I installed a few months ago. I did these compressions after I installed the low imp jack.

On a side note you may have gotten the phone jacks I had sent jack to install in my WA5LE, but he forgot to install my jacks and I think he used them in a different WA5..
 

 I just listen to 2 ch stereo. Let me know whatdo you think just on 2 ch.

What kind of jacks did you send to Jack? I can check if you want.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sillysally 

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by musicman59 

Quote:

Originally Posted by sillysally 

 

Any distortion at 12:00 is not coming from your Woo using low imp, maybe tubes or DAC/source player. Check out the gain from your source player/DAC. I have had my Woo at 2:00 and still no distortion.

 

That said I did hear a little distortion in the lows and highs when I first got my HE6's. After about 80 hours on my HE6s I found the distortion was coming from my Realiser when I went below a gain of -15 but I have corrected that with the addition of my ADG19 DSPv5 and not loosing any AQ. Now I can use my Realiser at gain of 0 with NP, there by lowering the volume level of my Woo. I should add that the distortion was not there with music but only with movies.

 

Anyway I now only use my HE6's.

 I emailed Jack to tell him about my experinece with the WA5-LE and the HE-6 reagrding the difference in sound between the high impedance and low impedance outputs. Here is his reply:

"There is no problem at all using the hi-z output. I am having the same problem here. This is puzzling us as we cannot get the reason for it. I will have to talk to Fang at Head-Direct to see what makes this phone different.

Jack"

 

At least I can  run the HE-6 out of the high impedance output safely where they sound magnificent.

 

 

I have been comparing the low and high imp jacks for about 7 hours, using my full system for MC.

 

As we know there is more volume using the high imp jack, but there is a loss of deep bass, 3D quality and a slight loss of background detail. It is almost like using a 5.1 DTS HD MA sound track but only getting the core track using the high imp jack. Also what i noticed was the vocals seem to more pronounced and forward using high imp jack.

The one thing I haven't tried is a 2Ch soundtrack, so I would think using a 2Ch soundtrack would to a lesser degree show these losses.

 

So understating volume is not a problem for me I have gone back to using the low imp jack.

 

I should add that I finally got around to changing my low imp jack to match my high imp jack that I installed a few months ago. I did these compressions after I installed the low imp jack.

On a side note you may have gotten the phone jacks I had sent jack to install in my WA5LE, but he forgot to install my jacks and I think he used them in a different WA5..
 

wouldn't the high Z jack just have a higher output impedance (which is apparently a non issue for planars) and more GAIN? I think Jack told you there would be no loss of sound quality because it is the same sound quality coming from both jacks...

Seems to be it should just be louder at the same given point on the pot with the high Z jack... haven't done any specific research on your amp though... maybe it is special.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sokolov91 

wouldn't the high Z jack just have a higher output impedance (which is apparently a non issue for planars) and more GAIN? I think Jack told you there would be no loss of sound quality because it is the same sound quality coming from both jacks...

 

Seems to be it should just be louder at the same given point on the pot with the high Z jack... haven't done any specific research on your amp though... maybe it is special.

 

 

 I agree.

Quote:

Originally Posted by musicman59 

Quote:

Originally Posted by sokolov91 

wouldn't the high Z jack just have a higher output impedance (which is apparently a non issue for planars) and more GAIN? I think Jack told you there would be no loss of sound quality because it is the same sound quality coming from both jacks...

 

Seems to be it should just be louder at the same given point on the pot with the high Z jack... haven't done any specific research on your amp though... maybe it is special.

 

 

 I agree.

x2 on my WA5.  SQ same both jacks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by musicman59 

Quote:

Originally Posted by sillysally 

 

 

I have been comparing the low and high imp jacks for about 7 hours, using my full system for MC.

 

As we know there is more volume using the high imp jack, but there is a loss of deep bass, 3D quality and a slight loss of background detail. It is almost like using a 5.1 DTS HD MA sound track but only getting the core track using the high imp jack. Also what i noticed was the vocals seem to more pronounced and forward using high imp jack.

The one thing I haven't tried is a 2Ch soundtrack, so I would think using a 2Ch soundtrack would to a lesser degree show these losses.

 

So understating volume is not a problem for me I have gone back to using the low imp jack.

 

I should add that I finally got around to changing my low imp jack to match my high imp jack that I installed a few months ago. I did these compressions after I installed the low imp jack.

On a side note you may have gotten the phone jacks I had sent jack to install in my WA5LE, but he forgot to install my jacks and I think he used them in a different WA5..
 

 I just listen to 2 ch stereo. Let me know whatdo you think just on 2 ch.

What kind of jacks did you send to Jack? I can check if you want.

I sent Jack a pair of switchcraft 112BX phone jacks. When I first got my WA5LE the high imp jack was reversed (R/L) so at that time I changed the high imp jack, but the ground wire was very short so now I have added a new ground wire running between the H/L imp jacks and of-course add the new 112bx jack for low imp also.

Yes I will check 2Ch stereo by running my BD-83SE/NE (Sabre  9016) dedicated 2Ch stereo analog outs directly to my WA5LE bypassing my Smyth Realiser and ADG DAC19 DSP1v5.

Setting my Realiser at a gain of -6 and setting my Alps RK50 at about 12:00 for HQ/MC movie soundtracks and about 11:00 for MC SACD DSD using the low imp jack on my Woo, is about as much volume as my ears can handle.

Thanks for the offer about checking the jacks but that's not important to me.

btw; when I check 2Ch stereo do you want me to use my WE300B's or my Shugang Treasure 300B's, I think the rest of are tubes are the same. Also would you like it better if I use the stock HE6 cable or my X-10 HE6 cable.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sokolov91 

 

wouldn't the high Z jack just have a higher output impedance (which is apparently a non issue for planars) and more GAIN? I think Jack told you there would be no loss of sound quality because it is the same sound quality coming from both jacks...

 

Seems to be it should just be louder at the same given point on the pot with the high Z jack... haven't done any specific research on your amp though... maybe it is special.

 

 

"I will have to talk to Fang at Head-Direct to see what makes this phone different." quote from Jack Wu.

How I read Jacks quote is he thinks the HE6 is a "different" kind of headphone. So if in fact that is the case then you can't generalize the HE6 to other dynamic or "planars" headphones.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sillysally 

 

I sent Jack a pair of switchcraft 112BX phone jacks. When I first got my WA5LE the high imp jack was reversed (R/L) so at that time I changed the high imp jack, but the ground wire was very short so now I have added a new ground wire running between the H/L imp jacks and of-course add the new 112bx jack for low imp also.

 

Yes I will check 2Ch stereo by running my BD-83SE/NE (Sabre  9016) dedicated 2Ch stereo analog outs directly to my WA5LE bypassing my Smyth Realiser and ADG DAC19 DSP1v5.

 

Setting my Realiser at a gain of -6 and setting my Alps RK50 at about 12:00 for HQ/MC movie soundtracks and about 11:00 for MC SACD DSD using the low imp jack on my Woo, is about as much volume as my ears can handle.

 

Thanks for the offer about checking the jacks but that's not important to me.

 

btw; when I check 2Ch stereo do you want me to use my WE300B's or my Shugang Treasure 300B's, I think the rest of are tubes are the same. Also would you like it better if I use the stock HE6 cable or my X-10 HE6 cable.

Try with you Treasure. I think the WE300B might be more powerful than my EML 330B Mesh and could de part of the difference. 

When did you order your WA5-LE and sent Jack those jacks? I placed my order last June around the third week and got it about mid August.

What is the X-10 cable? Let's try it with the stock so we can compare apples to apples.

BTW I already ordered a Zeus HE-6 cable.

I just received an email from Head-Direct with the tracking number for my HE-6. They were just shipped from China today via DHL. YEAH!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by musicman59 

I just received an email from Head-Direct with the tracking number for my HE-6. They were just shipped from China today via DHL. YEAH!!!

Me too!!

Can't wait to plug them into the WA5.

After hearing a friend's pair with my amp I knew these had to be a priority.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sillysally 

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by sokolov91 

 

wouldn't the high Z jack just have a higher output impedance (which is apparently a non issue for planars) and more GAIN? I think Jack told you there would be no loss of sound quality because it is the same sound quality coming from both jacks...

 

Seems to be it should just be louder at the same given point on the pot with the high Z jack... haven't done any specific research on your amp though... maybe it is special.

 

 

"I will have to talk to Fang at Head-Direct to see what makes this phone different." quote from Jack Wu.

How I read Jacks quote is he thinks the HE6 is a "different" kind of headphone. So if in fact that is the case then you can't generalize the HE6 to other dynamic or "planars" headphones.

Well my comments were with regards to your a/b of the high z / low z and not Jack's comments but yeah if they are different then it could very well be the case.

Since this is the HE-6 thread maybe Fang will comment on whether or not for some reason the HE-6 do need dampening or something.

What does the WA5 put into 50 ohms btw?

EDIT: can only find info it does 1.5 watts and not at which impedance but if you can drive the HE-6 well with your WA5... I should be able to drive them well with my phoenix... oh noes!
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by musicman59 

Try with you Treasure. I think the WE300B might be more powerful than my EML 330B Mesh and could de part of the difference. 

When did you order your WA5-LE and sent Jack those jacks? I placed my order last June around the third week and got it about mid August.

What is the X-10 cable? Let's try it with the stock so we can compare apples to apples.

 

BTW I already ordered a Zeus HE-6 cable.

I was using the Treasure's last night to make sure I had the R/L Ch correct on the jack before I soldered. Yes I am sure the WE300B's have a impact on what I am hearing because of the magical mids of the original WE300B's, really helps bring out the background detail better than any other 300B I have tried.
I got my WA5LE in March or April of 2010.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sokolov91 

Well my comments were with regards to your a/b of the high z / low z and not Jack's comments but yeah if they are different then it could very well be the case.

 

Since this is the HE-6 thread maybe Fang will comment on whether or not for some reason the HE-6 do need dampening or something.

 

What does the WA5 put into 50 ohms btw?

 

EDIT: can only find info it does 1.5 watts and not at which impedance but if you can drive the HE-6 well with your WA5... I should be able to drive them well with my phoenix... oh noes!
 

Don't know for sure I have never asked Jack Wu but I don't think he would give me a direct answer because he doesn't say much about his power supply, that's his secret source.

Yes I am sure the Phoenix would have the volume but I don't know about the power (transformers) could do the trick. And please don't misunderstand what I am saying because I do think that Kingwa really builds some great gears. My DAC19DSP1v5 is doing exactly as I hoped it would do for my Realiser, plus for what it is I would have to have spent a lot more from other DAC builders.