HifiMAN HE-6 Planar Magnetic Headphone - Page 347

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidMahler 

has anyone compared the HE6 out of the Woo Audio 5 K1K output to the Darkstar?

 

The K1K output pumps 8 watts per channel at 140 ohms.  The HE6 sounds beast out of this!  Amazing.  One of my favorite pairings in my whole collection.

Agreed!

Yes these are very impressive headphones - unfortunately the brightness becomes addictive and makes darker than neutral headphones like LCD-2 sound murky - so much so I can only use them with very poor recordings such as Nile and various black metal bands.  As I no longer listen to much heavy metal I will probably consider selling the LCD-2.

New velour earpads - not so comfortable for the big-eared, but nicer prequency balance and one million times better taking on and off.

Original early model cable - good wire, badly terminated.  Do not pull on the connector too hard - it is not actually crimped on very well.  I can see why they redesigned the SMA connectors - these ones are a real pain.

I should probably hold onto my LCD-2 a while longer but I am tempted to sell it to invest the money in a better DAC and interconnects.

My experience has been similar (with the LCD-3), specially when using the HE-6 on a speaker amp.

Quote:

Originally Posted by drez 

Yes these are very impressive headphones - unfortunately the brightness becomes addictive and makes darker than neutral headphones like LCD-2 sound murky - so much so I can only use them with very poor recordings such as Nile and various black metal bands.  As I no longer listen to much heavy metal I will probably consider selling the LCD-2.

 

 

Sold my LCD-2 a few months ago, a recabled Rev.2. A well-powered pair of HE-6s (esp the new variant) just sound more realistic and clearer to me. I don't hear any sibilance from them anymore (did hear some from one of the older pairs I had).

I also don't think people realize how good the bass from the HE-6 can be. The LCD-2 are known for their bass, but I think the HE-6 do it better. More speaker-like, airy, resonant and appear to extend even lower. With a good source/amp it's taught and detailed too.

Another one of their strengths IMO are female vocals, or any vocals for that matter. Among the best here.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shahrose 

I don't hear any sibilance from them anymore (did hear some from one of the older pairs I had).

Is this a budding revisions rumor?  Or are you now rocking pleather pads (or some other variable change)?  

I thought the HE-6s sounded quite nice out of a custom tube amp I'm having built for my LCD-2s.  According to the designer it only puts out one watt into an HE-6/LCD-2 load but the amp has an adjustable "amperes" knob.  I had it set to the maximum...anyway it was quite nice.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sphinxvc 

Quote:

Is this a budding revisions rumor?  Or are you now rocking pleather pads (or some other variable change)?  

---

I thought the HE-6s sounded quite nice out of a custom tube amp I'm having built for my LCD-2s.  According to the designer it only puts out one watt into an HE-6/LCD-2 load but the amp has an adjustable "amperes" knob.  I had it set to the maximum...anyway it was quite nice.

I heard some high-end peakiness in one of 3 pairs. That's all. We could probably chalk that up to production variances.

I used velour pads on all of them. Leather's not bad, but I prefer velour for both sound and comfort.

The HE-6s (and K1000s) sound awesome from the Dynahi. Too bad it's such a pain to build one...it's the best headphone amp I've heard, SS or otherwise.

Despite its much lower power output, the Peak/Volcano does a very good job too (depending on the tube). I've always said this but the experience just underscores the point that power quality is just as important as quantity.

Which tube gives good result for driving HE6 with peak/volcano?

Quote:

Originally Posted by cacatalysis 

Which tube gives good result for driving HE6 with peak/volcano?

For clarity, detail-retrieval and speed: 1940s Sylvania 6SN7W, 1950s Sylvania "Bad Boy" 6SN7GT

For bass authority/extension and overall smoothness: Shuguang Treasure CV-181

There are a lot of mediocre tubes floating around on the net, especially eBay. Even, the stock Tung Sol is garbage.

Very valuable impression.  This is the first time that I see specific details with respect to how different tubes work with peak/volcano when driving HE6.  I also checked Mike Ting's review of peak/volcano, to my suprise only a general comment of "very good with HE6" was provided.     

Just tried STAX 007 mkii pads on the HE-6.  Does solve some of the imaging problems (ie most of the instruments are now in front rather than directly to left/right) but possibly could go even further as center imaging is still just a tiny bit nervous/vague.

Still highly recommended - if you have the newer pads you can just take off the hifiman earpads from their base and replace with STAX 007 pads.

Inner radius of the leather lip might need a bit of trimming to get these to attach to the headphone but nothing drastic, maybe 3-4mm.  All in all a very straightforward and worthwhile mod to try IMO.

EDIT: I should probably add the caveat that this mod also has an effect on the sound signature slightly fleshing out the lower mids and taming the upper mids/treble.

The sound signature is different from the hifiman pleathers though, even more tamed treble, less bass than pleathers, it is mostly mid-centric.  By contrast the pleathers have more forward and incisive treble and much less soundstage.

Overall I consider the sound signature very neutral and balanced with good soundstage and imaging, but less airy and incisive than the velour pads.

If only STAX made some velour angled pads there would be a solution for everyone, as it is this mod has a lot of merit but mostly I would say it is for those who are really bothered by the imaging of the OEM pads.

I might try Audez'e vegan pads to see if they have a different sound signature, just they won't look so good lol.

It looks real nice as well drez. Nice job!

LCD-2 earpads have arrived - I have been testing for a few days now.  I hope to assemble this information into a review soon but here are some initial pictures and notes:

Leather LCD-2 earpads:

Unfortunately these are a bit bigger than the STAX 007 mkii earpads - but luckily they come with their own plastic base-plates which can then be attached to the HifiMan base-plates.

Comfort wise these are excellent - better than the stock pads or even the STAX 007's - absolutely no contact with my ears at all - ultra supra-aural.

Bass impact is subjectively a step down from the STAX, and those about equal with HifiMan pleathers.

Midrange has greater clarity than the 007 pads as well as the HifiMan pleathers (which have recessed mids to my ears).  Upper midrange is more clearly articulated whereas the 007 pads smooth the upper mids.  The LCD-2 leathers however retain some body and warmth in the mids while adding clarity.

Imaging is even better than the STAX pads and makes them sound comparatively flawed in this regard.  Much more forward projection and space to the soundstage and much better imaging.  These are the real deal in this regard.

Cost: $80 plus postage from audeze.com

LCD-2 faux suede "vegan" pads

Unsurprisingly these are very similar to the leather Audeze pads - same imaging, very similar bass response (too close for me to tell at this stage) frequency balance identical as far as I can tell.

What these do offer is unsurpassed clarity and transparency throughout the frequencies but especially in the midrage which is very similar to the stock velour pads in terms of transparency but more balanced in the treble and upper mids.  

Almost laid bare, there is very little sign of body-enhancing resonance except for a very slight airiness or dither to the sound which pervades the frequencies.  This is really not bothersome at all but it does separate this from the leather Audeze pads.  Overall these are slightly less lush than the leather pads, slightly more airy whereas the leather pads had slightly more body - but the two are really very close.

Unfortunately the vegan Audeze do look terrible on the HE-6, but some may not mind how they look.

Overall I preferred both of these to the STAX which by comparison sound compromised.  For imaging the STAX are 50% improved on HifiMan, these are 100% there.  They are also clear winners for comfort and soundstage, as well as clarity over the 007 pads.

If you don't mind the way these look and are not averse to (a very small amount of) DIY then I highly recommend trying these pads.  They are dirt cheap compared to the 007 mkii pads, excellent quality, and will probably make a much greater impact on the sound than aftermarket cables.

Quote:

Originally Posted by drez 

LCD-2 earpads have arrived - I have been testing for a few days now.  

 

Unfortunately these are a bit bigger than the STAX 007 mkii earpads - but luckily they come with their own plastic base-plates which can then be attached to the HifiMan base-plates.

 

 

Thank you for this!

Did you use double sided adhesive tape or something else to mount Audeze's pads to the Hifiman's base plate?

These are angled pads. Did the sounstage came any forward? 

Thanks for the description and pics, Drez!  It sounds like those Audeze leather pad rock.:) They look huge. 

"Much more forward projection and space to the soundstage and much better imaging."

- Sounds intriguing, I'd like to try out those pads eventually.

Of the pads I've tried so far, I think I prefer the Hifiman pleather ones.