HiFiman HE-500 (HE as in High End) please post your impressions. Proving to be a great headphone... - Page 140

Upgrade from bifrost/lyr to mjolnir/gungnir, new combo will arrive next week, can't wait to listen that with my norse audio cable!

The HE-500 headphones are not "bright" -- they actually have recessed treble, as can be seen on the datasheet provided at InnerFidelity (http://www.innerfidelity.com/images/HiFiMANHE500.pdf) From 1kHz to about 8kHz there is a ~7db dip, and then it goes back up again until about 10kHz at which point it quickly drops off again for the remainded of the spectrum.

To be honest, these headphones are some of the most linear I have ever seen; you shouldn't have too many problems with them if they are powered by a neutral source.

HE500s are not bright; they are just right.

(Is that a haiku?)

That was quite

A really nice

Way to

put it

(definetly not haiku)

Quote:

Originally Posted by rgs9200m 

HE500s are not bright; they are just right.

(Is that a haiku?)

Quote:

Originally Posted by ardilla 

Headphones with a totally flat FR will be too bright, so most phones try to roll of the highs a bit. The reason is the closeness by phones to the ear. A speaker is not located milimeters from your ear, the air between the speaker and the listener will filter the higher frequencies more than the lower frequecies - thus a natural roll of will occur. I other words a lowered frequency response in the highs is desired. the big variation of the FR in the highs is however due to technical shortcomings...
There are som exeptions, that exaggerate the highs, though.... None of them are considered "neutral", and many just cannot use them due to fatigue... e.g. (Click to show)

soooo.. as is said in another thread...modding the he500 with a audeze lcd2 vagan pads of a lawton audio denon angled pads would improve the sound then...as those are much much MUCH thicker then the skinny velours one of the hifiman.

Quote:

Originally Posted by preproman 

 

 

That's a good point you said "you seen".  Who said all HE-500 headphones are exactly alike?   I can tell you from my ears they're not. Those data sheets are not for every headphone some may vary.   Anyway, I didn't say they was "bright" in general.  I said compared to....      So the statement was not in general it was in companion.

Headphones of the same type will vary, but to try to predict or allow for that would drive you bonkers. In the case of the HE-500, however, there's another factor: was the measurement taken with velour of pleather pads?

Upon further listening, its become apparent that both amps are VERY well matched for the HE-500's, it just depends the sound signature one is going for.

In comparison with the ROC SA the Auditor sounds like a 'monitoring' amp.  If I want to analyze music, hear all of the nuances, concentrate on single instruments, that's my amp.  Not my first choice for EVERYDAY listening, could get tiresome.  I find it excels at electronic music.

The ROC SA on the other hand is more musical and in a very good way.  I can get lost in the music for hours on this amp.  It retains great amounts of detail and yet its very smooth in its presentation.  The lows, mids and highs are never a bother and are presented very nicely.

Keep in mind, to tell these two amps apart, critical listening needed to be done along with critical listening over an extended period of time.  Once you get into the higher end gear, the performance is so very similar, all you have to do is choose your coloration.

On a side note I would like to add, what Kingwa designed with the ROC SA is VERY impressive.  For his higher-end builds, he deserves more credit than he gets.

Keep listening :)

 

Originally Posted by rezolver (Click to show)

Quote:

Originally Posted by rezolver 

I describe the HE-500's with a few -- simple adjectives.  Smooth, Engaging, Clear, Punchy, Detailed, Sparkly, Smooth, Hypnotizing, Seductive, Precise and Groovy.

 

The SPL Auditor add's a level of precision not found on the Audio-gd ROC SA, giving the ROC a more 'musical' and relaxed sound.  The control Auditor has over the bass is astonishing.  Making it extended, punchy, controlled, detailed.  The ROC on the other hand handles bass with some added 'bloom'.  There's also a veil over the bass, which hampers detail retrieval in the lower octaves.

 

On the Audio-gd ROC SA, the high's are also not as extended, which adds a level of 'smoothness'.  Once again, the smoothness covers up extension and detail.  Its there, although more difficult to make out.

 

ROC is at a disadvantage here as well.  I'm running RCA's to it from the DAC and using SE output.  While the SPL Auditor is running Balanced from DAC and using native SE output.

Soon the ROC will be running off of balanced via Auditor passthrough.

 

Needless to say, HE-500's sound amazing running off of either amp.  There will be times where I will forget which amp I'm currently using.  No hearing adjustment necessary when switching amps, that's for sure.  You can call the Auditor a VERY refined ROC SA.  The Auditor has been with me for around a month and received exclusive and extensive listening time.  No 'new toy syndrome' here folks.

 

Until next time ... Happy Listening. 

 

Ps. If someone knows of a deal on a balanced cable for the HE-500, feel free to PM me.