HE-6 powered by a.... (need help!) - Page 3

I just bought a pair of HE-6s and I'm hoping to tap into the collective knowledge of the Head-Fi community:

1. Anyone have any idea whether the Trends TA-10.2SE speaker amp can adequately power the HE-6s? I note that it does

2 x 15W @ 4ohm
2 x 10W @ 8ohm

If you assume halving of wattage from there on out, it would imply something like 1.25W at 50 Ohms, maybe a bit more. Is there any sort of consensus on what the HE-6 really need to shine?

2. When I bought my used HE-500s, they came with a short cable that was bare wires on one end, and a female 4-pin XLR on the other. I assume this is for connecting the HE-500s (or HE-6s) to speaker amp output terminals. Can I just do that directly? Or do I have to use the HiFiMAN HE Adapter? I assume the HE adapter is more for use with high-power amps, is that right? If not, then I don't understand the point of the lead that came with my HE-500s, which looks like a genuine HiFiMAN product. Since it has a 4-pin Female XLR jack on one end, and speaker terminals on the other, I don't see how you would use that with the cable I have (bare wires with female XLR). What does the HE adapter actually do?

Any input would be appreciated!

I´ve used the HE-6 with the HE-adapter on the following stereo amps:

a) Primare I32

b) Abrahamsen V2.0

c) Rega Brio-R

d) (disclaimer) Yamaha RX-V2067

I would say that the litera a) intriged me the most. That is a bit surprising - given the fact that the Violectric V200 and LCD-2 is my favourite combo. :)

You don't need the adapter. That cable with bare wires should be connected to the speaker terminals at the back of the Trends. I also have a T-amp, a Dayton Audio DTA-100 rated at 50wpc @ Ohms. Its adequate but not as good as a bigger speaker amp.

I recently purchased the Minute EL34 SE to replace my Lyr in driving my HE-6's. Couldn't be happier. Overall, Lyr did a good job - but the 10w per channel of the Minute really makes them sing. At $850, I believe this hand made amp is one of the very best value propositions in driving the HE-6's. I'm bringing it to the LA meet this weekend, if anyone in the area is interested in hearing it.

Thanks for the feedback. Has anyone heard the HE-6s out of a Woo Audi WA6-SE or a Bottlehead S.E.X.?

Quote:

Originally Posted by amcananey 

[OK...deep breath....put on flame-retardant suit...]
I dunno, maybe I'm just crazy, but the HE-6s don't seem THAT hard to drive...
...as long as you use a solid state amp. My Audio-Gd NFB-10SE doesn't even break a sweat driving these through the balanced output. When set on high gain, my M^3 only needed to got to about 12 o'clock on the volume pot. Heck, even my little O2 did a good job on high gain (although admittedly set to 3 o'clock on the volume pot). I'm getting my Neco Soundlab MOSFET amp this week, and don't expect it to have any problems, either.
In contrast, my SinglePower MPX3 didn't even pretend to put up a fight. At full volume it still wasn't loud and just produced tons of distortion. I haven't tried my Woo Audio WA6, but I expect a very similar result.
So long story short, I think the HE-6s just like solid state amps. Beyond that, I'm not quite sure what all the fuss is about. Maybe I just haven't given these enough time, or haven't heard an EF-6 and therefore don't know what the HE-6s are truly capable of, but they sound pretty damn sweet to me out of the above, and the NFB-10SE in particular. At some point I'll get around to trying them directly off the speaker taps of my Vincent SV-236 Mk...
And just to avoid any doubt, I like my music loud. I don't listen to jazz or classical at polite volume levels, I listen to contemporary music at rude levels. I took off the HE-6s to get something from the other room, and was shocked how they sounded like miniature speakers...

Same question.... http://www.head-fi.org/t/538737/amazing-and-dynamic-he6/285#post_8325420

It doesn't take a lot of current to drive the HE-6's. It take more to drive them better (more dynamics, weightier bass), and a lot to drive them well (spatial imaging comes into sharp focus, huge air). I bought the Minute to see if 'more is better' with the HE-6's (Lyr was my previous amp). Short answer - yes, it is. I had it out to the Village meet yesterday, and quite a few head-fi'rs agreed. I might be strange this way, but if I buy a pair of headphones like the HE-6, I want to know I'm getting the best out of them. 

Here is what I wrote in the other thread:

"I had that problem with both my HE-400s and my HE-500s. In short, the same answer held true: they sounded thick, slow and muddy out of tube amps (WA6, SinglePower MPX3, Eddie Current Laconic EC-01) and good (for the HE-400) or wonderful (for the HE-500) out of solid state amps. My favorite amp for my HE-500s is my Neco Soundlab PORTABLE amp. Crazy? Sure, but I know what I hear. I've recommended the Neco to two others for use with the HE-500 and they were blown away. Build quality is absolutely phenomenal to match the sound quality and they are relatively cheap.

As to your specific question, the NFB-10SE > M^3 > O2. The Audio-Gd is definitely the best. I thought I heard a bit more noise with the M^3. No particular complaints with the O2, but I suspect it would start to clip if I turned the volume up higher. But to be clear, the sound was NOT muddy out of any of these. The HE-6s sounded marvelous. Check my profile...I know what good gear sounds like. Was this the best the HE-6s can sound? No idea. I'll get around to trying them with my Vincent amp at some point, and we will find out then."

I've spent some more time with the HE-6s and the NFB-10SE since then. The NFB-10SE will put 6W into 50 Ohms. I'm ready to be proven wrong, but I'm confident that the NFB-10SE is driving the HE-6s very, very well. Tons of bass, good spatial imaging. But I don't think the HE-6s will ever catch my HD800s when it comes to imaging, no matter how much power is backing them up.

BTW, I consider the NFB-10SE a real steal at the current Audio-Gd pricing. And the DAC section is outstanding, too.

Regards,

Adam

Re: the NFB-10SE having enough power, I'd agree; 6w at 50Ohm should do it. My sense is 6-10 is the sweet spot (required current, plus extra for headroom). Nope, the HE-6 isn't likely gonna catch the HD800's with imaging. But, I don't think the HD800's will catch well driven HE-6's with good, tight, impactful bass.

Couldn't disagree more, but to each his own...

As for bass, I agree, but bass no longer has the impact or wow factor that it once had, whereas the HD800s startle me each time I put them on with their imaging. They bring something unique and new to my music, whereas bass impact is relatively easy to come by.

Best regards,

Adam