[uncola]

Hey guys, anyone have the california hifiman address handy, for when I return my tour he-400i?  I sent them a PM and asked in the he-400i tour thread but no one answered :|  I thought maybe the he-560 tour guys would know

 

[conquerator2]

It is a no brainer because not only does it offer more comfort, it also offers sonic improvements in some areas.

Plus the damage for obtaining a pair is less than 5% the cost of a new or used HE-560...

I disagree. The Focus pads are the better pads for me by a significant margin

 

[conquerator2]

I have a request:  your subjective opinion of both cans at both low volume, around 70 dB, and higher volume- depending on how loud you listen.  I suspect that the 400i may be the better choice for low-to-moderate volume.  I felt the 560's wanted some juice to sound their best.

Noted.
Though I am suspecting quite the opposite but I'll test it out

 

[Bill-P]

I disagree. The Focus pads are the better pads for me by a significant margin

 
Surely not with comfort? I can't imagine those edges along the ear pads doing anyone any good. 

 
I can agree sonic preferences would divide people here as different gears would act differently with the HE-560, though. I thought orthos shouldn't change so much with amping as I never found Audeze headphones and previous Hifiman headphones so dependent on gears.
 
But the HE-560 is just so picky with regards to source components.

 

[conquerator2]

Surely not with comfort? I can't imagine those edges along the ear pads doing anyone any good. 

I can agree sonic preferences would divide people here as different gears would act differently with the HE-560, though. I thought orthos shouldn't change so much with amping as I never found Audeze headphones and previous Hifiman headphones so dependent on gears.

But the HE-560 is just so picky with regards to source components.

Comfort as well, sorry
With regards to amping and source, the 560 is nowhere near as picky as the 6s, trust me.
You can't give it complete rubbish, sure. But there are many options in the sub-500$ price range, mostly DAC/amp combos... HE-6 had maybe one... And that was barely (the one I had)...
IMO.

 

[TooPoor]

My AudioGD 10.33 is supposedly putting out 6W@50ohms (balanced) and it sounds exponentially better than my LaFigaro339(Tungsol 5998)/Emotiva DC-1 setup single ended. At the moment, I am a firm believer that the 560 benefits hugely from more power. It could also have to do with the dual Wolfson chips as well (ie the whole AMP/DAC combo)... Just sharing my experience. There don't seem to be many 10.33's out there so it's tough to compare my subjective experiences.

 

[Clemmaster]

Watch out, I can see hifimanrookie coming from here ...

 

[Bill-P]

Comfort as well, sorry

With regards to amping and source, the 560 is nowhere near as picky as the 6s, trust me.
You can't give it complete rubbish, sure. But there are many options in the sub-500$ price range, mostly DAC/amp combos... HE-6 had maybe one... And that was barely (the one I had)...
IMO.

 
You probably have a much smaller head than I do. My ears rub off against the edge of the ear pads very regularly so the production ear pads are quite grating... both sonically and physically to me. 

 
Maybe the 560 isn't so picky like the 6, which needs a lot of current (thus power), but I don't think it is so easy to drive that just any random sub-$500 amplifier can drive it to its fullest. So with DAC/Amp, the picking is even thinner. I'm inclined to believe it needs solid-state to control the bass, and yet it needs tubes to smooth out the high end just a bit more.
 
Unless you're strictly talking about used DAC/Amp combos, then I do see the potential there.

 

[TooPoor]

My LaFigaro w/ HE-500 was amazing. He has (had?) a modded 337 that sounded pretty stout from his description. The 560 is a different sound signature and I prefer it currently. The Ragnarok may be on my horizon though as I'd like to pick up a pair of KEF LS50's while keeping my 560/Enigma combo.

 

[Za Warudo]

I'll have to disagree with all the posts about amping the HE560, it's driven quite well even on a portable amp like a X3 or Stepdance, that is unless you listen at ridiculously loud volumes.

 

[Maxvla]

My thoughts on the HE-560. Thanks to Hifiman for the opportunity.

http://www.head-fi.org/t/728482/hifiman-he-560-us-tour-thread-impressions-and-reviews#post_10837076

 

[Soundsgoodtome]

  I'll have to disagree with all the posts about amping the HE560, it's driven quite well even on a portable amp like a X3 or Stepdance, that is unless you listen at ridiculously loud volumes.

How's the soundstage? How's separation? How's the bass extension and impact? Details all there? Can you listen at 70-80db with swells and not clip? You might be able to get the hE560 to a loud damaging volume with your X3 but without proper power it'll probably sound like well.... a poorly driven he560. It's never just about getting to a loud volume, the quality of a headphone will shine through only if you have power to play with. 

+- 200mw @  50 ohms does not do the HE560 justice no matter how loud you can get it. (X3) I tried it with the FiiO X11 which should have similar power ratings and it did not sound at all good with the 560s. Loud sure, but it sounded closed in, the highs were harsh, and lows felt muddled, you get the picture. That's my experience, I'll leave the benefit of the doubt that somehow the X3 manages to not do that with the 560s... but I doubt it.

 

[Rudiger]

My Nad Bee c356 havec 120 ohm headphone Output impedance and I fear that this is not a good thing.
Does anyone have listened to the HE-560 with  Asgard 1 ? Maybe I'll buy one. Cheap.

 

[HarleyZH]

Oh no, here comes the debate about driving headphones to their fullest.
 
 
Anyway, I'll be buying a HE560 very very soon, cannot wait to compare to my other cans (a few of which will be going soon).

 

[DaemonSire]

If there are any Canadians around looking to sell their FocusPads, PM me!