HE-6 Loaner Program - Page 31

Quote:

Originally Posted by XXII 

A question: If I didn't really like the overall sound signature of the HE-5, is there any chance I will like the HE-6?

The highs are smoother and the mids are fuller and more cohesive, so yes there is a chance you'll like the HE-6.

Quote:
Originally Posted by XXII  
" A question: If I didn't really like the overall sound signature of the HE-5, is there any chance I will like the HE-6?"



The HE-5LE and HE-6 share the same DNA that's for sure. I'd say the HE-6 is an improved HE-5LE. If you don't like the HE-5LE I'd first ask what amp you've used? The HiFi Man planars need LOTS of power and, to my ears, sounded best when I've hooked both of them to speaker posts. The HE-5LE made quite a difference in performance when I switched them from my Gilmore Lite to the back of the NAD amp. If you don't like it's sound sig then, you probably wouldn't like the neutral sounding HE-6 either.

Right.  I think we'd need to know more about WHAT you didn't like about the HE-5 to really answer the question well...

Quote:

Originally Posted by techenvy 

 i would have trouble believing they are more comfortable then d 7000,

 

 

Owning both, for my head, the HD800s are indeed more comfortable than the really comfy D7000s.

For me HD 800 are most comfortable too. But T1 or D-7000 are well comfortable too so I you own one of them you will find them like comfortable.

MacedonianHero – Are you in loaner programme too? You are well known here, you are great music lover so your impressions or suggestions are interesting. I have interested on it and during two or three weeks I will obtain them. I am enjoyed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by neptius 

For me HD 800 are most comfortable too. But T1 or D-7000 are well comfortable too so I you own one of them you will find them like comfortable.

 

MacedonianHero – Are you in loaner programme too? You are well known here, you are great music lover so your impressions or suggestions are interesting. I have interested on it and during two or three weeks I will obtain them. I am enjoyed.

Sadly I'm not. I don't think Canadians were included. But to be honest, I've been too busy recently to devote the time that I would need to write up a proper review. Not to mention, I don't have the desktop space for a speaker amp to drive these headphones.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skylab 

Right.  I think we'd need to know more about WHAT you didn't like about the HE-5 to really answer the question well...

To me, the HE-5s are technically reasonably proficient but I find they just sound strange: somehow the HE-5s have reasonably forward mids but at the same time, the mids seem laid-back and non-engaging. It's as if they are saying "hey look at me" but then have nothing to really to show for. I don't know if anyone feels the same.

Quote:

Originally Posted by baka1969 

Quote:
Originally Posted by XXII  
" A question: If I didn't really like the overall sound signature of the HE-5, is there any chance I will like the HE-6?"



The HE-5LE and HE-6 share the same DNA that's for sure. I'd say the HE-6 is an improved HE-5LE. If you don't like the HE-5LE I'd first ask what amp you've used? The HiFi Man planars need LOTS of power and, to my ears, sounded best when I've hooked both of them to speaker posts. The HE-5LE made quite a difference in performance when I switched them from my Gilmore Lite to the back of the NAD amp. If you don't like it's sound sig then, you probably wouldn't like the neutral sounding HE-6 either.

Well I used my Cary integrated amp so I'm sure power is not an issue. I've also greatly enjoyed many phone purported to be neutral: HD800, LCD-2, O2, 4070, K1000 etc.

Neutrality is a concept that seem to be overused these days. To me the HE-5s just don't sound right to my ears.

Still, I'm still interested in trying the HE-6s. I suspect my 20W KT88 amp would do a great job of driving them.
 

I felt a similar thing in the original HE-5 mids, but in my first impressions of the HE-5 LE I knew that they had fixed that.  It stays fixed in the HE-6, but the HE-6 also add improved transparency and air in the treble as well.  You can improve the transparency and air in the HE-5 LE by removing the grill clothe, but then the bass impact and quantity drop some and I didn't like the trade-off in the end.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MacedonianHero 

Owning both, for my head, the HD800s are indeed more comfortable than the really comfy D7000s.

i am at a loss 4 words!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by techenvy 

i am at a loss 4 words!!!

Please explain yourself, lol.

Quote:

Originally Posted by HeadphoneAddict 

I felt a similar thing in the original HE-5 mids, but in my first impressions of the HE-5 LE I knew that they had fixed that.  It stays fixed in the HE-6, but the HE-6 also add improved transparency and air in the treble as well.  You can improve the transparency and air in the HE-5 LE by removing the grill clothe, but then the bass impact and quantity drop some and I didn't like the trade-off in the end.

Very well put.  I couldn't have said any of it better.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skylab 

Very well put.  I couldn't have said any of it better.

Thanks, high praise indeed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by HeadphoneAddict 

I felt a similar thing in the original HE-5 mids, but in my first impressions of the HE-5 LE I knew that they had fixed that.  It stays fixed in the HE-6, but the HE-6 also add improved transparency and air in the treble as well.  You can improve the transparency and air in the HE-5 LE by removing the grill clothe, but then the bass impact and quantity drop some and I didn't like the trade-off in the end.

Thanks, Larry, for the explanation (though my wallet hates you for it!).

So, with the speaker out from a SI T-Amp Gen 2, the HE-6 have uncanny bass extension.  A tone generator, combined with subjective listening, tells me that there is no obvious roll-off right down past 30hz.  More to follow, using speaker out from Proton D540.

Just wanted to let everyone know that I just received the west coast loaner pair from Skylab.  He was very on top of it and kept his exactly a week before shipping them out, so I wanted to thank him for keeping this loaner program on track.  I'll be posting my impressions of the HE-6 starting tonight.  They'll be hooked up to my WA5 and I'll see how they react differently according to how they are fed (1/4" headphone out, K1000 out, speaker out).

-Alex