A large package from Meier Audio has arrived today, containing a Corda StageDAC, a Concerto, a Headsix (which I got for free
) and finally a Beyer T1. I am now in the process of doing some completely unscientific comparisons between the T1 and the HE-6, driving the T1 with the single-ended Concerto and the HE-6 with the balanced Roc SA.
One thing I can say for sure, the StageDAC is a vast improvement over the DACMagic, and eliminated a number of flaws with the HE-6. The sound is more organic, more "meaty" now, which is excellent. The crossfeed filter is great too (recordings with a hard left/right channel separation are still unlistenable with the HE-6 though).
Regarding T1 vs HE-6, I really like the more upfront and more impactful presentation of the T1. Compared to the T1,
the mids of the HE-6 are somewhat recessed, which is most likely the reason they don't do too well with Rock or similar fast-paced music. Overall the T1 sounds more natural to me.
Despite this, the HE-6 has a cleaner, more refined sound, and - most obviously - the larger soundstage and better imaging of the two.
Looks like I'm going to keep both headphones
Next on my list is a Mini-Torii then, I guess... poor wallet.