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HiFiman HE-500 (HE as in High End) Proving to be an enjoyable experience in listening.
Jun 18, 2013 at 6:08 PM Post #5,566 of 20,386
HiFiMAN tried to justify their price to me telling me that because the plastic was stripped somehow the drivers may have been damaged and they will need to replace the entire headphone.
 
 
confused.gif

 
 
The drivers are working fine, mind you. There's no cable going through the headband..that's why there's a Y connection..sigh.
 
I contacted Jay's Headphone Repair and this idiot contacted HIFIMAN about it. I wanted YOU to fix it, not HIFIMAN..that's why I contacted YOU not HIFIMAN (Actually I did contact HIFIMAN). They told him "they should contact us as only we can fix it."
 
Anyway..highly disappointing. I see no other option than to pay this ridiculous price and have my entire headphone replaced because stripped plastic is a doombringer for $700 headphones.
 
Jun 19, 2013 at 2:01 AM Post #5,567 of 20,386
The fact this is not an isolated case is troubling. I fear the news of this will spread and many of us will face unexpectedly hastened depreciation of our prized he-500s... 
 
Jun 19, 2013 at 2:28 AM Post #5,568 of 20,386
Quote:
greq said:
The fact this is not an isolated case is troubling. I fear the news of this will spread and many of us will face unexpectedly hastened depreciation of our prized he-500s... 
Click to expand...

This isn't a surprise, not to me at least. There was a pretty graphical post of a HE6 snapping at the exact same spot some time ago in the HE6 thread over in summit-fi. Knowing that all of Hifiman full-sized headphones are the same design and parts (other than paintjobs and drivers), it's pretty apparent that this is a weakpoint of the design.
 
It shouldn't be much of a worry unless you travel with the cans a lot, or man-handle the cans often, though. If it's just 99% at-home use, and handled with care always, it shouldn't fail. Thus far to my memory it's just that one HE6 case, AngelicFantasy's HE500 case, and maybe another, that have been described on head-fi. That's not a lot compared to the sheer number of head-fiers owning Hifiman headphones.
 
 
 
 
angelicfantasy said:
HiFiMAN tried to justify their price to me telling me that because the plastic was stripped somehow the drivers may have been damaged and they will need to replace the entire headphone.
 
 
confused.gif

 
 
The drivers are working fine, mind you. There's no cable going through the headband..that's why there's a Y connection..sigh.
 
I contacted Jay's Headphone Repair and this idiot contacted HIFIMAN about it. I wanted YOU to fix it, not HIFIMAN..that's why I contacted YOU not HIFIMAN (Actually I did contact HIFIMAN). They told him "they should contact us as only we can fix it."
 
Anyway..highly disappointing. I see no other option than to pay this ridiculous price and have my entire headphone replaced because stripped plastic is a doombringer for $700 headphones.
 
Click to expand...


Have you posted about this in the official hifiman support thread? If not, I urge you to.
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/629253/head-direct-hifiman-customer-service-team
 
Jun 19, 2013 at 3:54 AM Post #5,569 of 20,386
Woohoo, I bought this today and hopefully it sounds great as it is in the review.
 
Jun 19, 2013 at 4:01 AM Post #5,570 of 20,386
My HE-500's along with bunch of other accessories is on sale. Prospective canadians buyers, check out my signature.
 
 
 
 
I'll miss them 
frown.gif

 
Jun 19, 2013 at 6:54 AM Post #5,571 of 20,386
i damaged one driver to hardwire the cable.
thanks to prepoman i wrote to hifiman.
driver repair + cable hardwired 110 dollars
i think that this is a great customer servisse
p.s.: and yes. hifiman hardwire the cable on your hifiman
 
Jun 19, 2013 at 9:19 AM Post #5,573 of 20,386
Quote:
modulor said:
GLWS on these and the LCD-2...sad to see them go I'm sure but for prospective buyers these are great deals!
Click to expand...

 
Thanks. Definitely sad to see them both go. HE-500 were my first "woah, headphones allowed to do that!!??" They were the first open headphone I owned as well.
 
Gonna miss the LCD-2 as well for sure. Although I suspect it won't be too bad. I hope the LCD-3s will fill in for the LCD-2's nicely at least. Regarding Hifiman maybe HE-6 in the future or another Hifiman that's coming out next year. Who knows, might pick up another HE-500 down the lane.
 
Jun 19, 2013 at 9:28 AM Post #5,574 of 20,386
Quote:
zoom25 said:
 
Thanks. Definitely sad to see them both go. HE-500 were my first "woah, headphones allowed to do that!!??" They were the first open headphone I owned as well.
 
Gonna miss the LCD-2 as well for sure. Although I suspect it won't be too bad. I hope the LCD-3s will fill in for the LCD-2's nicely at least. Regarding Hifiman maybe HE-6 in the future or another Hifiman that's coming out next year. Who knows, might pick up another HE-500 down the lane.
Click to expand...

Ah, so you're moving up to the LCD-3?  Those shouldn't disappoint, I got to sample them not too long ago 
cool.gif
  I'm also interested to see what HiFiMan has in store for next year, but like the LCD-3, the HE-6 on a good amp is hard to beat apparently.
 
Jun 19, 2013 at 9:47 AM Post #5,575 of 20,386
Quote:
modulor said:
Ah, so you're moving up to the LCD-3?  Those shouldn't disappoint, I got to sample them not too long ago 
cool.gif
  I'm also interested to see what HiFiMan has in store for next year, but like the LCD-3, the HE-6 on a good amp is hard to beat apparently.
Click to expand...

 
Yeah, looks like it. I haven't heard the LCD-3s yet. I never heard the LCD-2 before I got them either. I was thoroughly disappointed with them for the first two hours. I took the O2 to power them when I bought them from the owner, so that also didn't help. Still bought them LOL. Good decision on my part. Absolutely loved it. I usually give headphones an absolute minimum of 1 month to get used to. I think at about 5-6 months, you usually have a good sense of them. After a year, you're solid.
 
I won't be judging the LCD-3s at all for a few weeks. No expectations going in whatsoever. The only expectation I have going in is softer earpads and better comfort, besides that I'm not even going to think about the sound or value and all that stuff. I usually let the sound come to me over time. Any expectation bias is usually gone after a few months and you can pick up on the subtle stuff.
 
HE-6....I have the Emotiva which should drive them well, it's good enough for the moment. Probably upgrading the DAC before amp. Looking at NAD M51 in that regard. Then an amp is what it looks like. There's also the HD 800. LOL I should probably delete my account after I get the LCD-3 for the sake of my wallet and time.
 
Jun 19, 2013 at 10:24 AM Post #5,576 of 20,386
At the price I would have hoped that they would be full metal with no plastic weakpoints... Ah well hopefully they will sort this out with later revisions / new models... Are those circular bits plastic? (holding the cups to the headband)
 
Jun 19, 2013 at 3:41 PM Post #5,577 of 20,386
I post here my impressions as posted in the HE-500 shootout thread...
 
Well, against my better judgment I paid RETAIL for these phones without ever hearing them!  Relied solely upon reviews here on HF.  As I listen now with less than an hour on them I think I'm not sorry.  My preferences have been the Grado sound, especially the SR225i's (with comfy's) and yes, the SR60i cheapie.  I liked the upfront presentation and oh those mids!  Bass was very adequate when necessary.  I've not heard the expensive Grados but could not tolerate the SR325 with it's very aggressive, screechy high end...sold them immediately!.  Also enjoy my Senn 650's but they do have a "veil" to my ears although this improves with better amps.  I also owned the LCD2, not bad but heavy and with a somewhat soft and recessed sound quality...just did not impress me overtime.  I use the Woo WA6SE, LD MKIVSE, Shiit Asgard I/II/Valhalla, Benchmark USB DAC, MF VDAC-II, Cambridge Audio DAC's, etc...not deprived of toys!  My initial listening comments on the HE-500 are favorable.  Upfront sound which I prefer, similar to Grados, very nice detail, better than LCD2/Senn 650 and prominent mids (again, Grado like).  Bass is yet to develop and somewhat less prominent than the Senn 650 but have a lot of listening to do with various CD's and downloads (all either lossless, CD's  or hi res).  Not disappointed!  Oh yes, came in a nice leather presentation box but wish these manufacturers would please put ALL the money into quality of the headphones.  More comments as they hopefully "break in".  Forgot soundstaging...as stated, the first impression is an upfront presentation which I prefer, again Grado like.  First row rather than mid orchestra seats with reverberant surround.  I find tubes amps (with tube rolling) will provide the ambience necessary as I progress however this is very music source dependent. 
 
OK, here is a definitive track to bring out the differences in amps and headphones...Van Morrison's Haunts of Ancient Peace on "Common One" (CD remastered).  The bass line is one of the strongest, cleanest I've heard along with the purity of the Sax, and ethereal choral backgrounds.  Compare your tube amps bottom end vs. a solid state amp's control against your headphone of choice. This one track alone has convinced me the HE-500 is a keeper!
 
Jun 19, 2013 at 4:27 PM Post #5,579 of 20,386
Quote:
amham said:
I post here my impressions as posted in the HE-500 shootout thread...
 
Well, against my better judgment I paid RETAIL for these phones without ever hearing them!  Relied solely upon reviews here on HF.  As I listen now with less than an hour on them I think I'm not sorry.  My preferences have been the Grado sound, especially the SR225i's (with comfy's) and yes, the SR60i cheapie.  I liked the upfront presentation and oh those mids!  Bass was very adequate when necessary.  I've not heard the expensive Grados but could not tolerate the SR325 with it's very aggressive, screechy high end...sold them immediately!.  Also enjoy my Senn 650's but they do have a "veil" to my ears although this improves with better amps.  I also owned the LCD2, not bad but heavy and with a somewhat soft and recessed sound quality...just did not impress me overtime.  I use the Woo WA6SE, LD MKIVSE, Shiit Asgard I/II/Valhalla, Benchmark USB DAC, MF VDAC-II, Cambridge Audio DAC's, etc...not deprived of toys!  My initial listening comments on the HE-500 are favorable.  Upfront sound which I prefer, similar to Grados, very nice detail, better than LCD2/Senn 650 and prominent mids (again, Grado like).  Bass is yet to develop and somewhat less prominent than the Senn 650 but have a lot of listening to do with various CD's and downloads (all either lossless, CD's  or hi res).  Not disappointed!  Oh yes, came in a nice leather presentation box but wish these manufacturers would please put ALL the money into quality of the headphones.  More comments as they hopefully "break in".  Forgot soundstaging...as stated, the first impression is an upfront presentation which I prefer, again Grado like.  First row rather than mid orchestra seats with reverberant surround.  I find tubes amps (with tube rolling) will provide the ambience necessary as I progress however this is very music source dependent. 
 
OK, here is a definitive track to bring out the differences in amps and headphones...Van Morrison's Haunts of Ancient Peace on "Common One" (CD remastered).  The bass line is one of the strongest, cleanest I've heard along with the purity of the Sax, and ethereal choral backgrounds.  Compare your tube amps bottom end vs. a solid state amp's control against your headphone of choice. This one track alone has convinced me the HE-500 is a keeper!
Click to expand...

Hmm.. you just trashed the HD650 and LCD-2, two phones I like a lot, but I'll forgive you since the HE-500 is my favorite amongst them. LOL. Great little write up and man you've got some gears!
 
The bass of the HE-500 improves with speaker taps. Much tighter, punches harder/deeper (IMO of course...). It sounds a little flabby/loose with the Magni.
 
Jun 19, 2013 at 5:44 PM Post #5,580 of 20,386
I wonder if anyone agrees with me when I say that the HE-500s bass sounds amazing when the song is NOT complicated/busy. If you're listening to a bass guitar solo or something..the bass sounds fantastic..but as other sounds are introduced..the bass weakens a lot. I can definitely understand why..I just didn't expect it to be so prominent on a planar magnetic headphone.
 
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