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Hifiman HE-400i and HE-560: From CES to Pre-Launch
Feb 13, 2014 at 8:05 PM Post #1,741 of 3,091
nimzerz said:
 
I beg to differ... that 'air' is more or less things you shouldn't be hearing in the recording IMO
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I just still don't quite follow you?
 
Of course it also depends on the specific recording and such.
 
Feb 13, 2014 at 8:09 PM Post #1,742 of 3,091
Maybe he's saying that those frequencies are just recording hiss, but I would agree that those frequencies are traversed by many instruments and that it would sound less realistic to have them missing.
 
Feb 13, 2014 at 8:15 PM Post #1,743 of 3,091
Let me ask a simple question to those who own HD800 and drive it with a quality amp.  Would you say the HD800 is airy? very airy?  the most airy?  
TBH, it doesn't matter what your answer would be, I would say the HE500 and the HE-6 won't be far behind.  The HE-6 will be a little closer to the HD800.  IMO, not because it's much more airy than HE500 but because of its more balanced freq response that let the upper highs shine through more clearly.  I love hearing the airiness in music, especially in vocals but never find the HE500 to be lacking in this aspect.  Let's not make such a generalized statement about planars cuz I don't think it would serve any purpose.
 
Feb 13, 2014 at 8:22 PM Post #1,744 of 3,091
ethan7000 said:
Maybe he's saying that those frequencies are just recording hiss, but I would agree that those frequencies are traversed by many instruments and that it would sound less realistic to have them missing.
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no small part of recording's upper frequencies are contributed by equipment electrical noise & other audio artifacts but yes, instruments do traverse that high range.
 
Feb 13, 2014 at 8:25 PM Post #1,745 of 3,091
koiloco said:
  Let me ask a simple question to those who own HD800 and drive it with a quality amp.  Would you say the HD800 is airy? very airy?  the most airy?  
TBH, it doesn't matter what your answer would be, I would say the HE500 and the HE-6 won't be far behind.  The HE-6 will be a little closer to the HD800.  IMO, not because it's much more airy than HE500 but because of its more balanced freq response that let the upper highs shine through more clearly.  I love hearing the airiness in music, especially in vocals but never find the HE500 to be lacking in this aspect.  Let's not make such a generalized statement about planars cuz I don't think it would serve any purpose.
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Haha my HD800 is far from airy through my chain. Through the Vali, it is quite airy and crisp, but for my Bottlehead chain, I chose to sacrifice airiness for a more tactile and visceral bottom end. I've come to believe that you can only have one of the other (airiness and crispness vs. tactility and bass impact). When you reach a certain level of bass impact, it drowns out the treble and airiness. If you try to balance the two and still keep airiness, you won't have enough bass for it to have that sense of tactility. Also trying to balance the two can result in an incoherent mess. Like when I tried Quickie + Vali, it lost all the airiness treble qualities, but the treble still pierced my ears, and there wasn't enough bass for it to be fun or in any way impactful. Maybe there's a solution out there to get both airiness and tactility, but I have had no such luck so far. So I chose the one I prefer: bass impact and tactility. It's quite interesting how different the HD800 sounds depending on your chain. Through the Vali, it sounds close to an electrostat, whereas through my Bottlehead gear, it sounds planar-like (has a lot of body), but faster and more open.
 
Feb 13, 2014 at 8:44 PM Post #1,746 of 3,091
Reuben sandwich from Arby's for lunch washed down with Barq's rootbeer, fantastic synergy.

However later today in the afternoon my back-vent mod between the pads had extra airy-nes. Mostly inaudible but definitely a presence that's quite apparent. Thank god there's no tube amp action causing a wet sound. Schiit's crazy
 
Feb 13, 2014 at 8:44 PM Post #1,747 of 3,091
Some of you need to learn Octaves and Harmonics in regards to music...
 
Feb 13, 2014 at 8:54 PM Post #1,748 of 3,091
brunk said:
  Some of you need to learn Octaves and Harmonics in regards to music...
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Ahhh, I keep hearing the guy who tunes my grand piano using these terms.  So they are related to music after all.  I thought they were tuning tech lingo.  
wink.gif

 
Feb 13, 2014 at 8:58 PM Post #1,749 of 3,091
koiloco said:
  Ahhh, I keep hearing the guy who tunes my grand piano using these terms.  So they are related to music after all.  I thought they were tuning tech lingo.  
wink.gif
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lol 
tongue_smile.gif

 
Feb 13, 2014 at 9:12 PM Post #1,750 of 3,091
nimzerz said:
That's ironic because just like 1 hour ago a girl walked up and talked to me saying I'm cute haha
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Had she just finished her shift, gyrating on a pole to Daft Punk's "Get Lucky"? 
biggrin.gif

 
Whatever you do, DO NOT go into the Champagne Room! No headphones in there, young man...lol
 
beerchug.gif

 
Feb 13, 2014 at 9:16 PM Post #1,751 of 3,091
oldskool said:
 
Had she just finished her shift, gyrating on a pole to Daft Punk's "Get Lucky"? 
biggrin.gif

 
Whatever you do, DO NOT go into the Champagne Room! No headphones in there, young man...lol
 
beerchug.gif
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I am spinning that vinyl right now.  Just can't get the image of Russian Army in uniform performing that song at Sochi's opening out of my mind though.  
biggrin.gif
 
 
Feb 14, 2014 at 1:05 AM Post #1,753 of 3,091
nimzerz said:
I beg to differ... that 'air' is more or less things you shouldn't be hearing in the recording IMO
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That really depends on how it was recorded you know. I'll give you that one if it's a live recording.
 
Feb 14, 2014 at 1:11 AM Post #1,754 of 3,091
keithpgdrb said:
That really depends on how it was recorded you know. I'll give you that one if it's a live recording.
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+1 most noticeable on the Eric Clapton Unplugged album
 
Feb 14, 2014 at 3:15 AM Post #1,755 of 3,091
sonido said:
 
Haha my HD800 is far from airy through my chain. Through the Vali, it is quite airy and crisp, but for my Bottlehead chain, I chose to sacrifice airiness for a more tactile and visceral bottom end. I've come to believe that you can only have one of the other (airiness and crispness vs. tactility and bass impact). When you reach a certain level of bass impact, it drowns out the treble and airiness. If you try to balance the two and still keep airiness, you won't have enough bass for it to have that sense of tactility. Also trying to balance the two can result in an incoherent mess. Like when I tried Quickie + Vali, it lost all the airiness treble qualities, but the treble still pierced my ears, and there wasn't enough bass for it to be fun or in any way impactful. Maybe there's a solution out there to get both airiness and tactility, but I have had no such luck so far. So I chose the one I prefer: bass impact and tactility. It's quite interesting how different the HD800 sounds depending on your chain. Through the Vali, it sounds close to an electrostat, whereas through my Bottlehead gear, it sounds planar-like (has a lot of body), but faster and more open.
Click to expand...

 
If you ever get the chance to try the HD800s with the Bottlehead Mainline I think you'll be pleasantly surprised - think Crack's smooth and full bottom end with plenty of treble extension (and smoother than the Crack's treble too). I have T1s rather than HD800s, but it gives me tactile and visceral plus air (although not quite as much air as the S.E.X., but the S.E.x. doesn't have as much oomph down low)
 
I'm really looking forward to hearing the HE-500s with the Bottlehead range and then to go to the HE-560 for a different flavour again.
 
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