HiFiman HE-500 (HE as in High End) please post your impressions. . loan pair for UK pg. 28. - Page 221

Just ordered the HE-500 and quite excited! Hoping to receive it on Wednesday. I'll post impressions after I get a good chance to put it through its paces.

Quote:

Originally Posted by roadcykler 

Can someone objectively explain to me (us) how a different ear pad material that doesn't change the distance from the driver to your ear, doesn't cover more or less of the black fabric that covers the driver, or make the opening smaller or larger, change the sound of a headphone?

Jerg might chime in and explain it to you.

The damping is different between pleather and velour. Actually, I think the distance from the driver is also different between the 2.

Add to this the ring foam in the pleather that muddies the sound a lot (not existent in the velour).

The pads form the "room acoustic" on a headphone. Like acoustic treatment changes the sound reproduction in a speaker setup, the pads change the sound reproduction of a headphone.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clemmaster 

 

Jerg might chime in and explain it to you.

 

The damping is different between pleather and velour. Actually, I think the distance from the driver is also different between the 2.

Add to this the ring foam in the pleather that muddies the sound a lot (not existent in the velour).

 

The pads form the "room acoustic" on a headphone. Like acoustic treatment changes the sound reproduction in a speaker setup, the pads change the sound reproduction of a headphone.

You pretty much got it. Elaborating on what you said;

1) the pleathers have a thicker dust screen that reduces treble quantity, compared to velour dust screen

2) the velours are thicker, consequently midrange is less bloomed compared to the pleathers where your ears are much closer to the drivers; it (velours) also allows for stronger clamping which increases bass extension and tactility

3) the pleathers stock have no damping to let excess resonance out of the closed internal opening that couples with your ear, so it is prone to midrange "glare" / ringing that velours have no trouble with - the velours themselves are porous and (over)damp the sound

Points 1 and 2a are the reason why I tried modifying pleather pads, because their advantages are precisely what I want, and I just needed to eliminate their disadvantages.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skooks 

Did your HE-500s come with the silver cable?

 

I just purchased my HE-500s this past Tuesday... they are burning in with about 96 hours so far. This is my 2nd HE-500s... the other ones I had shortly after they came out. Without being able to directly A-B them, I would have to say they have been improved some. I think the silver cables helped them also.

 

They are really opening up now, and I helped them a little by taking the cloth off the outside metal grills. It was like removing a veil... which actually it is. I also have gone back to the GE tubes in my Lyr from Schiit. And I use the Bifrost with an Oppo 83SE player. I have been switching in and out with several other tubes, including Amperex Orange label, but with the leather pads, the GE's really shine.

 

I tried the velour pads, and they were a little muffled... like a couple of veils. That's strange because I liked the velour pads with the earlier HE-500s and also with the HE-400s.

 

I will say now... hands down... these HE-500s are the best phones I've ever owned... and I've had the HE-5Le, HE-400, Senn 600, 650, 800, AKG 702, Beyer 880/600ohm, Grado 1000, and others. These are keepers!

 

I am interested in getting an upgraded cable. You seem to like the Norn Series 2. But, what are the other pieces in your chain?

 

Also, which Norn series 2 did you get? And how much is it for a 10 foot cable?

Skooks...regarding the cable. There are several good cables makers out there. I have had great success with Trevor at Norse and Steve Eddy at Q Audio...both great guys and true craftsman. If you are looking at the Norse, the Skuld and Reign are great choices. PM me if you have specific questions. 

Congrats on reaquiring the he500. It means something to me as I was the guy who bought your original pair. 

U forgot the upcoming man of the show..toxic cables..their cables are, according to many, some of the best sounding and assembled cables around..i tried a couple of cables until now...among an alsoexcellent dhc cable..but for the price toxic cables is unmatched until now...but dont take my word on it...check google and or here on headfi..

for me..a good copper cable complements the sound of the he500 (with velour cups!!).. Thats why i have the black widow 22 awg 4 conductor/wire version..hope to get the 8 wire version within 1 month..

^^ Yes, the Toxic Cables do seem to have a cult following around here. They are danged expensive though iirc. AND...I have not tried them so therefore I don't like to try to sell people on things that I haven't owned. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattTCG 

^^ Yes, the Toxic Cables do seem to have a cult following around here. They are danged expensive though iirc. AND...I have not tried them so therefore I don't like to try to sell people on things that I haven't owned. 

I agree with ur last line..i dont like to advice (selling is a bit to much in my understanding) products that i didnt buy/tried or owe now also..thats only being honest..

what u mean with danged expensive? Their prices are trully competitive. Imho...but ofcourse i respect other opinions.

Are there any decently priced aftermarket cables that fit very well with the HE-500s..the speaker like cable that came with mine is a bit ridiculous -_-. Ideally i'd like to spend about 100-150 on the cable.

Quote:

Originally Posted by hifimanrookie 

I agree with ur last line..i dont like to advice (selling is a bit to much in my understanding) products that i didnt buy/tried or owe now also..thats only being honest..

what u mean with danged expensive? Their prices are trully competitive. Imho...but ofcourse i respect other opinions.

Mostly professionally built cables from companies like Norse and Q Cables are around the $200 mark. I thought that Toxic Cables was quite a bit more. No? 

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattTCG 

 

Mostly professionally built cables from companies like Norse and Q Cables are around the $200 mark. I thought that Toxic Cables was quite a bit more. No? 

6' cryo OCC for only $118 seems pretty dang cheap, I'm actually really tempted to grab it, haven't seen any other Hifiman cryo OCC cables at anywhere close to that price.

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/HiFiMan-HE6-HE500-HE5-LE-HE4-HE300-6ft-Cryo-OCC-Stranded-Pure-Copper-Cable-/110947624754?pt=UK_Computing_Sound_Vision_Audio_Cables_Adapters&hash=item19d4fe6732&_uhb=1#ht_2354wt_1163

Quote:

Originally Posted by jerg 

6' cryo OCC for only $118 seems pretty dang cheap, I'm actually really tempted to grab it, haven't seen any other Hifiman cryo OCC cables at anywhere close to that price.

 

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/HiFiMan-HE6-HE500-HE5-LE-HE4-HE300-6ft-Cryo-OCC-Stranded-Pure-Copper-Cable-/110947624754?pt=UK_Computing_Sound_Vision_Audio_Cables_Adapters&hash=item19d4fe6732&_uhb=1#ht_2354wt_1163

Yes .... those are exactly what I ordered Dec 24, 2012 .... still waiting.... he says they'll be in the next batch he makes .......

Quote:

Originally Posted by jerg 

6' cryo OCC for only $118 seems pretty dang cheap, I'm actually really tempted to grab it, haven't seen any other Hifiman cryo OCC cables at anywhere close to that price.

 

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/HiFiMan-HE6-HE500-HE5-LE-HE4-HE300-6ft-Cryo-OCC-Stranded-Pure-Copper-Cable-/110947624754?pt=UK_Computing_Sound_Vision_Audio_Cables_Adapters&hash=item19d4fe6732&_uhb=1#ht_2354wt_1163

That's not bad. I need about 8 feet though. At the least 7ft.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobJS 

Yes .... those are exactly what I ordered Dec 24, 2012 .... still waiting.... he says they'll be in the next batch he makes .......

Hm, is 2+ month wait-time normal with custom cables? I have zero experience with regards to them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattTCG 

 

That's not bad. I need about 8 feet though. At the least 7ft.

I think 8' cable that is the exact same specs is just a few bucks more ($125) if you look through the toxic cable Ebay store.

I am still breaking my HE-500s in... just over a 100 hours now, and I haven't listened to them since I reported on switching from the leather (pleather) to the velours. I will give another listen and swapping when they get to 150 hours late Monday night or Tuesday morning. 

But, remember... it's the whole chain from source to ears... including cables... even power cables... that produce the final sound.

I will report back. But, I can say that my friend and fellow 'War Eagle' music nut, MattTCG, has advised me to get the J$ leather pads. Do any of you have these to compare?

Quote:

Originally Posted by jerg 

Hm, is 2+ month wait-time normal with custom cables? I have zero experience with regards to them.

I got mine from Headphone Lounge, Chris_Himself here on head-fi. They made by cable in a matter of 3-4 days and shipped it out using the cheapest method, which took around 10 business days to reach me from USA. Apparently it usually takes a week to make them, but since I put in a order of multiple cables, they got right to it.