HiFiman HE-500 (HE as in High End) please post your impressions. . loan pair for UK pg. 28. - Page 208

Been comparing the HE-500 to the HE-400 over the past week or so.

I prefer the HE-500 immensely. HE-400 reminds me of the HE-4 in sound, but I'm pretty sure I liked the HE-4 better.

Just wish they still had the Canare pairing as opposed to the sliver twist cable.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katun 

Been comparing the HE-500 to the HE-400 over the past week or so.

 

I prefer the HE-500 immensely. HE-400 reminds me of the HE-4 in sound, but I'm pretty sure I liked the HE-4 better.

 

Just wish they still had the Canare pairing as apposed to the sliver twist cable.

Look for my upcoming review I will be doing on the CablePro Freedom cable for the he500. Been listeniong all day and most of yesterday and like what I have been hearing on this UPOCC copper cable.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katun 

Been comparing the HE-500 to the HE-400 over the past week or so.

 

I prefer the HE-500 immensely. HE-400 reminds me of the HE-4 in sound, but I'm pretty sure I liked the HE-4 better.

 

Just wish they still had the Canare pairing as opposed to the sliver twist cable.

Strange, to my ears the HE-4 and HE-400 have nothing in common (planar wonders aside).

The HE-4 is airy, fast with better sub-bass extention. It is also well balanced.

The HE-400 is the least balanced can I listened to. It's dark with splashy treble and heavy vocals. It has overall a better definition (close to that of the HE-500) and more texture in the bass (again close to that of the HE-500, but not better, YMMV).

I prefer the 500s over the 400s, no doubts. The HE-4 gives me a different presentation that I also like.

I just wish the 4s could be a tad more technical...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clemmaster 

 

Strange, to my ears the HE-4 and HE-400 have nothing in common (planar wonders aside).

 

The HE-4 is airy, fast with better sub-bass extention. It is also well balanced.

The HE-400 is the least balanced can I listened to. It's dark with splashy treble and heavy vocals. It has overall a better definition (close to that of the HE-500) and more texture in the bass (again close to that of the HE-500, but not better, YMMV).

 

I prefer the 500s over the 400s, no doubts. The HE-4 gives me a different presentation that I also like.

 

I just wish the 4s could be a tad more technical...

Maybe u need the he5le?

Quote:

Originally Posted by hifimanrookie 

Maybe u need the he5le?

I read opposing comments regarding the 5LE.

Some say they are overall similar to the HE-500 with more extention to both end and less forward midrange. Still warm sounding headphone.

Other say they are a more refined version of the HE-4 (the 4s being a "half-magnet" version of the 5LE with V-shape signature).

The 4s and 500s do clearly have a different voicing so the 5LE cannot be similar to both at the same time :D

I also read the 6s has similar voicing to the 4s...

Quote:

Originally Posted by preproman 

 

Clem,

 

Explain a little more please?  By the way,  Spot on.  I see them the same way - just about..  I don't feel the 4s have better sub bass when compared to the 400s.

About the sub-bass, I would explain it as a different balance between sub and mid-bass between the 4s and 400s.

Considering both have a sub-bass emphasis, I would say:

- The 400s also have an emphasis on the mid-bass (V-shape sound sig).

- The 4s don't (U-shape sound sig).

As a result, I hear the sub-bass more clearly in the 4s than the 400s (and 500s, which are similar). This manifest in the bass as more "kick" but less quantity (tighter sounding).

A "less warm" sound if you like.

That does not mean that, technically, the extention is better on the 4s, I don't think it is. Yet, this extention is not hidden by the mid-bass emphasis so I can hear it more clearly on more tracks. I hope it makes sense.

Regarding the technical note. I feel that on busy passage, the 4s tend to "blur" things out a bit when the 500s retains its excellent instrument separation.

Lushness aside, I also find the midrange to be more textured on both the 400s and 500s with overall better detail retrieval.

The 6s might be what I'm after.

This plus the MDs w/ Alpha Pads might be my upcoming combo (the former for critical listening, the latter for transportable/efficient/forgiving use).

Yet I also can go the 5LE route. Everyone seem to agree that this is less warm/more airy sounding than the 500s though I'm having a hard time positionning it on the warm/airy scale (let alone dark/bright scale. Mike @ Headphonia stated the 5LE is the darkest sounding Hifiman, prior having heard the 400s, I don't know).

Mike said the 5LE are the darkest Hifiman he heard but I don't know if, overall, he would say it is a dark headphone (like the LCD-2).

If he was referring to the 4s and 6s, I think he cannot be wrong.

So the 6s might be the future replacement. Or I stick with both the 500s and 4s... Difficult choice :D

Does anyone know the best place to buy the HE-500 in the UK? as they are around £700 on Amazon which seems pretty pricey compared to US...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clemmaster 

 

Strange, to my ears the HE-4 and HE-400 have nothing in common (planar wonders aside).

Both the HE-400 and HE-4 sound thin and less rich compared to the HE-500. Both have a slightly brighter side to the treble than the HE-500. Both have a wispier sounding vocals compared to the HE-500. Both have a midrange that, while good, can't compete with the HE-500. The HE-4 reminds me more of a DT880 while the HE-400 reminds me more of a tamed D2000. HE-4 is more balanced, while the HE-400 is slightly more fun (although I find nothing "fun" about it's sound). So, not blood brothers (obviously, people) but I encountered the same results when comparing my first HE-500 to the HE-4, and my current HE-500 to the HE-400. I could have written two separate comparisons and interchanged many parts without knowing which I wrote it for.

Quote:

Originally Posted by preproman 

Say what   WOW..  IMO nothing alike

Above. But if you want to get really picky, even the iBuds sound like the HE-500. Both play whatever music I tell them to play.

Quote:

Originally Posted by spark3 

Does anyone know the best place to buy the HE-500 in the UK? as they are around £700 on Amazon which seems pretty pricey compared to US...

Toxic cables..no doubt about that..they are official agent in uk..check their apreciation thread here on headfi and sent frank( owner) a pm..u wont get better service! And he makes one of the best cables for the money...some say the best  If u ask nicely he maybe ships ur he500 with a toxic cable already attached instead of the standard cable.

Check them out..they also are agent of audio gd..

Ps..price is 699 gbp in all of UK..if u want to pay 699 euro..get it here: madooma.de i bought my he500 there..also perfect people to deal with..good service and helpfull..i asked them to change the pleather pads on the phones for the velours ones and they did that BEFORE sending it out..no extra costs..the pleathers they took off was in plastic in the package...now thats service!