daltonlanny said:

 
Very nice and to the point write-up.
So would you say that you are sort of disappointed in their overall sonics, considering their price?

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This is beta testing...
 

preproman said:

   
 
If you had to give them a rank as of now - what would it be?

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Excluding the HE1000s for a minute, I don't even rank my existing 3 headphones that way, other than the LCD-3Fs get the least head time and the HE-6s the most. That is a fact. The HD800s have their niche of genres and recordings for me, where they get priority.

 
The way you described the HE1000 (laid-back, non-aggressive, etc.) makes it seem like it's not as much of a reference headphone as I thought. I mean, an accurate headphone will reproduce the energy and aggressiveness in recordings when it's there. If you just meant not overly aggressive, that's one thing, but it seems to be more than that. I just don't want to spend thousands of dollars on a headphone that doesn't have the utmost level of realism compared to the competition. I know there are many categories in which various headphones excel, and no one headphone is going to be the most accurate at everything...but from past impressions I've read, the HE1000 seemed like a good cross between the best aspects of the SR-009 and Abyss -- not merely an excessively laid-back headphone that smooths over detail. (I'm not implying it is that; just hoping it's not!)

The eagle has landed. Impressions tonight!

ohhgourami said:

The eagle has landed. Impressions tonight!

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I was just about to message you since we hadn't talked in awhile. I'm gonna watch this thread like a hawk!

goldmund said:

 
You didn't even sent me a PM to let me know that the answer was no. So there was no excess noise from you. I hope it sounds better than you behave. A friend has heard it, it sound great but not the greatest by far and it is like the HE-6 : a nighmare for the head when one wear it for over one hour. Well, will buy an audeze or a stax. Mixing great sound with torture in not my trip.

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Hmmm...how should I respond...
 
You have no previous credentials. While there is no general rule with post count, but it is easier to trust individuals who have invested the time into audio, into Head-Fi, and have provided a lot of contribution to the rest of the community.
 
Take it from our point of view. You have just recently registered for Head-Fi, and your one and only post is to apply for a beta testing program for the HIFIMAN HE1000. Despite how this program was handled, we are sincerely looking for feedback for the flagship HE1000. We were previously less selective with sending out with units for demo/beta/pre-production/whatever you guys want to call it, and after a good number of HE400i and HE560 units did not make it back to us, we have decided to be much stricter with our screening process.
 
Finally, Fang has taken steps with the HE400i and HE560 headband to improve the comfort. Hopefully other users who have had experience can comment here.

MA,  did you get my PM?

teamhifiman said:

Finally, Fang has taken steps with the HE400i and HE560 headband to improve the comfort. Hopefully other users who have had experience can comment here.

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The HE-400i was comfortable as heck! The only issue I had was that, even though it didn't hurt my neck at all, the weight was still pushed down on my back, which is unavoidable.

Dear TeamHiFiman,
 
Am I in the second batch?   I did not receive a PM.    Thanks
 
 
 
Anyhow, hope you lucky dogs who are getting theirs now are enjoying it.   I certainly enjoyed my brief listen of the HE1000 at Axpona.

@Music Alchemist  The best way to make up your mind on a $3K headphone is to listen to it. A lot is lost if you're just going by what other people say because their frames of reference different than your own especially when you reinterpret what's being said. I don't even see where negura mentioned it as being " laid-back". Laid back is different than how he described "Rich body and very smooth sounding." to me. He even mentions "upfront" a few times. A headphone can have that tonality but be forward sounding too rather than laid back.

dreamking said:

  @Music Alchemist  The best way to make up your mind on a $3K headphone is to listen to it. A lot is lost if you're just going by what other people say because their frames of reference different than your own especially when you reinterpret what's being said. I don't even see where negura mentioned it as being " laid-back". Laid back is different than how he described "Rich body and very smooth sounding." to me. He even mentions "upfront" a few times. A headphone can have that tonality but be forward sounding too rather than laid back.

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True, but I thought you read my post:
 

music alchemist said:

  I usually only buy headphones, though. I do live near at least two Head-Fi'ers who are beta testers, but barely know them, so I doubt I'd be able to hear it before buying it...especially since I kind of want to buy it next month if I can wing it. Given my wacky policy of buying before listening, comparing them directly would be even more expensive for me. So any info you can give me relating to how each headphone is more accurate and realistic than the others (in various categories) would be highly appreciated!

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And he described it as relaxed and smooth, which, as far as I can tell, can mean nothing else but laid-back. The only part he described as upfront was the soundstage, as in placement, not energy. Add "non-aggressive" to the mix and my red flags are flaring. The last thing I want is a boring headphone. So hopefully, this is just a choice of words that doesn't reflect everything about the sound. An accurate headphone is very dynamic and engaging when the recording calls for it, after all.

@Music Alchemist, I'm not able to read all your posts lol. 
 
If we go by head-fi conventions: 
 
"

To my ears, the detail on these was SPECTACULAR.  They were also smooth.  Yes BOTH.  WHY?  I believe they are more RESOLVING than other headphones (haven't heard Abyss, or Beyerdynamic T1, or Oppo PM1).  I wonder if people may be misperceiving their lack of exaggerated treble and upper midrange as a lack of detail. 

 

I'm not able to read all your posts lol. 

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You mean because I post so much? =D (I thought you kept up with this thread, though.)
 

If we go by head-fi conventions: 
 
"

Laid-back

 - Recessed, distant-sounding, having exaggerated depth, usually because of a dished midrange. Compare "Forward"." 
 
Depth plays an integral role in soundstage. And so if the depth is described a "a bit too upfront", that isn't laid-back. It is unrelated to the energy but I could see how you might be disappointed by the dynamics and the non-aggressive sound described as that doesn't seem to be one of its strengths compared to other headphones.
 

Though, I haven't seen anyone calling it outright boring. When a headphone is being described as euphonic and rich sounding, I've got a hard time imaging it being boring.

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There are various aspects of laid-back-ness, so to speak -- none of which I particularly care for. "Relaxed" and "smooth" are never something I have liked in a headphone, unless it merely reproduces the smoothness in the recording without being smoother than the recording.
 
By the way, soundstage depth and the depth in that definition are two separate things. Not applicable.
 
I'm just trying to figure out whether the HE1000 is more accurate than the other flagships in ways that would make it worth the higher cost for me. If the HD 800 is more accurate in most ways, it would be a shame, in my opinion. Notice how I keep mentioning accuracy. This is because I prioritize it above all else. There are many categories of accuracy, of course, but I just use it in general terms. When I'm spending this much on a headphone, there is only so much coloration I can tolerate.
 
Anyway, I've heard mostly amazing things about this headphone, so I probably have nothing to worry about. I just don't have the luxury of hearing it before buying it, so I'm counting on the beta testers to paint a more detailed picture of what it can do so I can make a more informed decision.
 
To any beta testers who are willing to try out lots of test tracks, please tag or PM me once you have the headphones and some free time, and I will provide you with a list!
 
Headphones I am most interested in seeing comparisons with the HE1000 include the Abyss AB-1266, STAX SR-009, Sennheiser HD 800, and HIFIMAN HE-6.

music alchemist said:

You mean because I post so much? =D (I thought you kept up with this thread, though.)

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Yeah I did to the best of my ability. I try to read every post in here but I only remember only a couple.
 

 
I'm just trying to figure out whether the HE1000 is more accurate than the other flagships in ways that would make it worth the higher cost for me. If the HD 800 is more accurate in most ways, it would be a shame, in my opinion. Notice how I keep mentioning accuracy. This is because I prioritize it above all else. There are many categories of accuracy, of course, but I just use it in general terms. When I'm spending this much on a headphone, there is only so much coloration I can tolerate.

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Alright, I see where you're coming from but I just don't want to see you dismiss the HE-1000 early. 
 

music alchemist said:

 
By the way, soundstage depth and the depth in that definition are two separate things. Not applicable.

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Alright, I see where you're coming from but I just don't want to see you dismiss these early. 

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I'm probably going to be among the earliest to buy it, so you needn't worry.
 
(I'm just looking for more opinions on whether it's more accurate than other headphones, and if so, how. I've already read many impressive things about it.)
 

"

Laid-back

 - Recessed, distant-sounding, having exaggerated depth, usually because of a dished midrange. Compare "Forward"." 

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Depth

 - A sense of distance (near to far) of different instruments. 

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I don't understand how that cannot be related to the headstage/soundstage. Different how?

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I am saying that there are two different definitions of depth being used, or at least it seems so to me. When the mids are recessed, it has a false sense of depth in the music that has nothing to do with soundstage or soundstage depth.