REVIEW HIFIMAN HE500 A DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH - Page 4

Alright.. thanks for the help!

Originally Posted by klo 

I currently have an Argon HA1 (Pretty much the same as Firestone Cute Beyond as far as I know), do you think it will do a decent job?

If HeadRoom's backorder would ever end, I could let you know, as I have a Cute Beyond v2. But, what I can offer is my own idle speculation on amps for the HE-500 from a few days ago in the main thread:

Originally Posted by Nepenthe 

I picked up a Gilmore Lite (version 1) just for interim use until I decide if I want to keep these HE-500s and then until I decide what amp I want to pair them with. My Cute Beyond is a great little pure class A "currenty" amp with nearly "0" output impedance and ideal for my M50Ss and D1001s, but it doesn't really have the numbers down low for low efficiency / low impedance loads, so the more robust GL should be able to push about 800 mW through the HE-500.

 

I was impressed with the GL before (version 2) and was lucky to find another. If it doesn't work out with the HE-500 then at least I have good solid state power for home and can leave the Cute Beyond at work instead of transporting it each day.

 

I'm well aware the GL probably isn't going to be the best pairing with the HE-500:

• bright pads (new velours)
• bright cable (silver)
• bright amp (GL)

 

Hell my source (Marantz CD Player) is probably bright too, along with my power and cables and my music. But I'll bear all that in mind while I'm auditioning. I don't tend to listen at very high volume, so that should help tame the highs (see loudness contours / human hearing) and make up for the fact that the GL only pushes less than a watt.

 

According to Tyll's Innerfidelity measurements, the HE-500 needs 2.04 mW to produce 90 dB at ear distance (technically an efficiency of 87 dB/mW). That means 800 mW should be able to produce 116 dB peaks. Since I listen in the 75 dB continuous range, maybe 84 at the absolute most (so the numbers come out), and giving a wide 16 dB dynamic range swing (my music usually doesn't come close to that), 20 mW should be all the GL is asked to send through the HE-500 by me, which gives *another* 16 dB or 780 mW of headroom. The Cute Beyond would probably do okay but the GL is just a torquier, revvier engine. It's a Porsche inline-six vs. the Cute Beyond's leaner 2 liter four-cylinder.

Numbers-wise, the Cute Beyond pushes in the 300 range of mW at the HE-500's impedance, which should actually be plenty, as it should be able to produce peaks of 111 dB. You oughta be able to listen at 85 dB continuous with dynamic peaks 15 dB above that and still be only using less than one-tenth the CB's peak power capability.

But it's not as easy as just the numbers -- how will the Cute Beyond hold up at these power levels and this load, will it sound strained or compressed?

Then there's the subjective question of sound quality -- even if the CB (or GL for that matter) takes the electrical loads, current demands, voltage swings etc. in stride, is a pure class A single-ended solid state amp with extremely low output impedance, fast attack and decay, and virtually no frequency response or distortion colorations really the ideal way to push music through HE-500s? We'll see...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nepenthe 

If HeadRoom's backorder would ever end, I could let you know, as I have a Cute Beyond v2. But, what I can offer is my own idle speculation on amps for the HE-500 from a few days ago in the main thread:

Numbers-wise, the Cute Beyond pushes in the 300 range of mW at the HE-500's impedance, which should actually be plenty, as it should be able to produce peaks of 111 dB. You oughta be able to listen at 85 dB continuous with dynamic peaks 15 dB above that and still be only using less than one-tenth the CB's peak power capability.

 

But it's not as easy as just the numbers -- how will the Cute Beyond hold up at these power levels and this load, will it sound strained or compressed?

 

Then there's the subjective question of sound quality -- even if the CB (or GL for that matter) takes the electrical loads, current demands, voltage swings etc. in stride, is a pure class A single-ended solid state amp with extremely low output impedance, fast attack and decay, and virtually no frequency response or distortion colorations really the ideal way to push music through HE-500s? We'll see...

Very good analysis of power requirements of HE-500! 

Lets hope it can drive it decently until I get a chance to upgrade it at least :-)

That being said, my order is already shipped from Head-Direct!

Originally Posted by klo 

That being said, my order is already shipped from Head-Direct!

Wow, I really chose poorly going with HeadRoom. I don't think I'll get these before January...

Enjoy your new audio equipment!

Anyone have experience with electronic music with these (trance, dubstep, house, etc)?

- Have any wondered why he is talking in pre-tense? I´m just asking...

- This thread is getting out of proportions. The HE-500 is good, but NOT that good

This thread needs some alignment.

Quote:

Originally Posted by plin 

This is a very strong statement from someone who, among other headphones, have Audeze LCD-3 and HiFiMan HE-6!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loevhagen 

- Have any wondered why he is talking in pre-tense? I´m just asking...

- This thread is getting out of proportions. The HE-500 is good, but NOT that good

 

This thread needs some alignment.

I thought it was pretty clear. Not everyone feels the need (or has the ability) to own multiple high-dollar headphones. If you need one can as an all-arounder, the HE-500 can make anything you throw at it sound pretty good. I have personally not experienced a headphone that does a better job with all genres.

If you are fortunate enough to have the ability to own multiple headphones -- as I do, you do, and most of us do -- you can tailor synergystic amp-can-recording combinations that create individual listening experiences that far exceed what the HE-500 is capable of.

But is it worth it to you? Do you care enough to have four pairs of headphones that do some things well, but other things not so well? Or is it just about the music, and the gear should get out of the way? Me, I like gear. I like toys, I like fidgeting with dials and details and cables. I sold the HE-500 because I don't need a great-but-not-excellent all-arounder. I can handle the LCD-2, which sounds great with rock but sucks with orchestral music, because I have the HE-6 right next to it when I feel like a little Beethoven.

No wild hyperbola, no outlandish claims. No alignment necessary.

I have only one comment: I still own the HE-500. Because? I love it with some amps and music genres.

Do you still have the HE-500?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loevhagen 

I have only one comment: I still own the HE-500. Because? I love it with some amps and music genres.

 

Do you still have the HE-500?

Nope. See above.

If (for economic or other reasons) I was forced to go back to just one headphone, I'd buy another HE-500 in a heartbeat. Especially at the new lower price.

Sorry. Double post.

I see. Just out of curiosity: Which headphone replaced the HE-500? :)

PostScript: There is some irony to this. I have a balanced view on the HE-500, but still love it, while you elaborate on how fantastic the HE-500 is - but sold it. It might be a good reason for it - it's just that readers should be aware of that fact. 

I just want something that reminds me of the ESS Heil AMTs I had as a teenager. First comes headphones, then speakers (actually considering the Mini Maggie system since planars for my main living room aren't completely practical). I won't get rid of my M50, because it's for the office, and I'm also considering the ATH-ANC7B or the ER-4S because they would have specific purposes, but I'm not really into multiple open headphones or multiple closed headphones. I'd rather have one in each category that does it all well. We'll see if it's HE-500.

HeadRoom did me wrong and lost my order, so I canceled and ordered with Head-Direct.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loevhagen 

 but NOT that good

I think you meant "but not THAT good" lol. Your supposed to emphasize the "that", not the "not".